Primeval is one of the best shows you can watch on a Saturday night. I knew the brand new series (series 3) would be starting soon, so I decided to re-watch the first two to refresh my memory.
Series 3 trailer:
What makes Primeval so good then? Well, a number of things. Obviously it is about dinosaurs and it’s always fun to see what kind of beasties they’ll come up with each week. But that alone doesn’t make good television. I was very disappointed with similar CGI-orientated shows Demons and Merlin, both of which boasted some good actors but with the missing oomph that could have made them great. They were predictable and the characters flat. In Primeval, sure, you have the stereotypes – Cutter the adventurous everyman, Conner the nerd, Stephen the action man, etc, but they are all very likeable and well-written. This alone could have carried the show for a few episodes, perhaps even an entire series, but perculiar things start to happen to keep your interest. For instance, in the first series we meet not only creatures of the past but those from the future, and it becomes evident that the show does plan to play with time in a non-linear fashion. First of all We realise that Cutter’s wife Helen is alive and kicking, but she’s now completely independent and decidedly slippery. Not the warm-hearted woman we expect. Then we discover that Stephen has had an affair with Helen, which destroys the group dynamic as Cutter realises his most trusted ally has stabbed him in the back. Finally, when Claudia Brown (a beautiful, high ranking Home Office employee) and Cutter get together they are separated in the most chilling fashion. After going into the future to save the present, Cutter finds that time has altered her out of existence (at least how he remembers her). It becomes more and more apparent that other things have also changed.
Conner and Abby
When I was younger I’d probably have loved the dinosaurs regardless of the strengths (or weaknesses) of the actors and plot, but now I’m a bit older I quite enjoy all the adultery, the Abby and Conner thing and Cutter with his beautiful Claudia/Jenny Lewis. The fact that the show does contain elements of love, hate and sexual tension is why it can and does appeal to adults and the show now has a pretty good following. I could see younger children being freaked out by the whole thing (as with Doctor Who), especially since there is blood and violence every now and then – the hint of Stephen’s demise at the close of series 2 and the man falling on top of the car courtesy of the mammoth – it’s quite gory and suggestive in places.
Stephen's last stand?
If you have not yet seen the end of series 2, this vid does contain SPOILERS. Otherwise, if you need a recap, go ahead!
Primeval series three starts Next Saturday (the 28th) and will feature an ancient croc in a Natural History Museum. What could go better with a nice stir fry?
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