LONDON: There’s a stark brutality about the opening of “The English” that mirrors the feral, uncontrollable nature of its setting. Written and directed by the acclaimed British filmmaker Hugo Blick (“The Honorable Woman,” “The Shadow Line”), this glossy, six-part series — showing on OSN+ regionally — is set in the American Wild West of 1890 and tells the  story of Lady Cornelia Locke (Emily Blunt), who has journeyed to the new territory seeking revenge for the death of her son, and Eli Whipp (Chaske Spencer), a Pawnee warrior-turned US cavalry scout who simply wants the claim of land he feels he is owed by the government after turning his back on his people.

From the get-go, “The English” is violent and unsettlingly dark, but there’s so much more to it than its lavishly polished brutality and slickly choreographed set pieces. Blick has crafted a short, sharp, terrifying story set in a dazzlingly vivid world that is as beautifully drawn as it is hostile.

Blunt and Spencer are excellent, and their partnership of convenience feels lived-in and authentic. They are ably backed up by a committed cast, including Rafe Spall and Tom Hughes, as well as some big-name (albeit brief) appearances from Ciaran Hinds and Toby Jones. Those performances, however, are given a living, breathing canvas to work with, thanks to Blick’s steady hand, eye for stunning cinematography, and ability to weave together tales that carefully combine shocking acts of cruelty, the wide-eyed optimism of frontier folk, and the ever-present dehumanization of the Native Americans who had a system of government simply imposed upon them.

It’s by no means an easy watch, but “The English” is an enthralling one. What’s more, it’s a welcome reminder of what TV can sometimes do that movies, with their shorter run times, simply cannot — delving deep into a fascinating part of history, and filling it with people, places and stories that feel as real as anything set in today’s world.