Primeval UK Review Part 1 – Seasons 1 & 2

A couple of weeks ago I reviewed Primeval New World, the Canadian spin off series of the UK’s Primeval. If you like you can read it here: http://www.fruitlesspursuits.com/2013/04/primeval-new-world-review-5-reasons.html People commented and told me to watch the original series, so here I am giving it a go and reviewing it along the way.

My disclaimer has to be that Primeval seems to be of its time. I am watching it in 2013 when digital technology is a lot better and we are spoiled with amazing and life like graphics that defy imagination. Primeval seems to be underfunded and therefore, the dinosaurs and creatures featured sometimes shatter the suspension of disbelief.

Before seeing Primeval New World many people warned me off Primeval saying that it was boring with poor CG and not worth the time. My opinions can be found under the jump. Before you go there, if you are still thinking about watching Primeval unspoiled or sullied, I will say this; get yourself a Bene. A Bene is a friend who loves Primeval already and will agree to watch it with you, at least for the first season, so that when you yell at the TV (there will be yelling) or you feel like you can’t go on (it has its moments), your Bene can gently assure you that it’s worth it and it will get better. Note: My friend happens to be named Bene, I am sure any friend of any other name with similar strength and qualifications will be suitable.

Enough rambling... let me tell you about Primeval seasons 1 and 2.

Primeval New World Review: 5 Reasons This Show Should Be Renewed

There are a few things you should know to begin with; I have never seen the original UK Primeval series. I want to give it a shot, but many people have warned me off it saying that the effects are terrible and the plots hang by a shoe string at best. But when Canada picked up a spin off show in Primeval New World, I thought it might be worth a crack, especially given the directors and producers making appearances are Stargate alumni and Niall Matter from Eureka was leading the show. Already, there were some favourable ingredients.

Another thing to know, I love dinosaurs, but I rarely see them done well on television. I cannot believe what a joke Terra Nova was and that was a recent failing in the foray of dinosaur animation and storytelling. Primeval New World certainly was on the money with the dinosaurs.

I believe the show is being run on the American channel SyFy in June if you haven’t had a chance to see it yet, but the DVD has already been released in the UK.

To give you the background; Evan Cross (Niall Matter) is a genius with his own company, Cross Photonics, but instead of working on his next innovation in the industry, he hangs out with Predator Control in the city. As it turns out, it’s because he has discovered that dinosaurs are coming through temporal disturbances known as Anomalies, and these dinosaurs are killing people... one of the victims was his wife.

Under the cut I’ll discuss the shows plot, some speculation on where it could be going and also give 5 reasons why this show should be renewed as sadly, after just 13 episodes it has been canned. I’m not suggesting that this is the next Firefly, but I think the record speaks for itself on solid shows not given enough of a go after their first season, and Primeval New World certainly fits that bill. It starts a little clunky, finding its style and feel, but it quickly delivers a solid storyline with interesting characters and arcs and I am told is much darker than the UK version, yet still accessible.

More discussion under the cut.