As you watch Netflix's "American Primeval," learn more about a key moment in the first episode: the Mountain Meadows Massacre.

Yes, and no. American Primeval is a work of historic fiction. Meaning, Sara and Isaac’s story is made up, as is the story of Jacob and Abish. However, the backdrop of American Primeval is based on reality.

American Primeval is fiction. But the Mountain Meadows Massacre was a real event – one with which many viewers might be unfamiliar.

While Brigham Young (Kim Coates) succeeds in burning down Jim Bridger’s (Shea Whigham) beloved fort, Bridger survives the fire. In real life, Jim Bridger would head east to plea his case to the U.S. Government against Young. Fort Bridger would be resurrected as a key U.S. military base of operations and Bridger wouldn’t die until 1881.

A new Netflix series breaks "with the historical record in ways that may bemuse the average viewer but will likely displease any Latter-day Saints," a New York Times reviewer says.

While the story that unfolds on-screen took place in the 19th century Utah Territory – now Utah state – the show was filmed entirely in New Mexico, 600 miles to the south east.

Peter Berg directs an epic six-part drama about the Mountain Meadows Massacre of 1857, in which more than 100 settlers were murdered by militant Mormons.

American Primeval has just landed on Netflix and the Western series is a fictional story set in 1857, but it is based on real events including the Mountain Meadows Massacre