And, so begins Primeval, a fantastical quasi paranormal time traveling tale where prehistoric creatures roam the streets and rips in time allow for passage to and from pristine uncharted worlds millions of years gone by. The show links past and present in a unique blend of fast action and dramatic sequences to hold the emotions engaged and just enough science to glue it all together..
The first episode begins in such an intense way as a screaming woman, by the name of Helen Cutter, runs frantically through a parking lot being chased by a ravenous prehistoric monster. After that night she is never heard from again and presumed dead.
Fast forward eight years later, and Helen’s evolutionary scientist husband, Professor Nick Cutter is drawn back to the same location at the Forest of Dean to investigate a similar prehistoric creature sighting where he discovers the time portal that has allowed these strange creatures into our time line.
Along with the help of his team, Professor Cutter tracks down and battles a prehistoric monster called a Gorgonopsid that is terrorizing the Forest of Dean community and uses the portal to go back in time to discover that his wife may not have actually died so long ago but had been living in a prehistoric era, in the late Permian period, about 250 million years ago.
Lots of fast paced action packed into just the first half, with three really good monster chases, numerous scene changes and too many characters being introduced to keep track of. Other than that, the show shines.
This taught, edge of your seat thriller was only marred mildly by a slight lull in the action about halfway through when Nick finds himself embroiled in an emotional drama with bureaucrats as they try to silence him with their Secrets Act and control his ability to use the portal to transport through time.
The only thing that kept me from tuning out was the palpable dramatic tension and noticeable agitation of the lead character Nick Cutter as he desperately struggled to explain how he believed the portal was a link to his missing wife and deserved exploration. His concern drew me into the character and helped me understand the deep affection he still held for this woman who had been missing for almost a decade. It was at that moment, i realized that i liked the show.
A few too many characters in the first episode, including a meddlesome Home Office bureaucrat and his lackey that charmed her way into a ride along in the investigation. Plus some obvious holes in logic like where the zoologist goes traipsing off into the woods with a child she just met on a hunch he had discovered a new species.
Very realistic creature effects, not exactly what you might expect from Walking with Dinosaurs but good enough, cause who’s to say what they really looked like back in that prehistoric era.
One of the characters that might pose some tension for Professor Cutter is Claudia Brown who works for a government agency trying to control these time anomalies. She could be a potential romantic interest for Cutter and that would complicate his situation. Though we just see a hint of it here.
Over all, a very satisfying conclusion that again ended with a frantic chase through the woods and some actual gun fire play. Not something you would expect from sci-fi but a nice addition still.
A good way to begin the show. Will be looking forward to seeing what’s next.
