(S01E06) Over in the UK, the length of a show's season is dictated by story instead of tradition. So while we have 22 episode seasons on network television and somewhere around 12 or 13 on cable, they can have a show run only six or seven episodes and it's seen as perfectly normal. Thus, when BBC America imported Primeval over here to the US, they've combined the first two seasons into one thirteen episode run. Welcome to the first season finale of Primeval. And I'll see you here next Saturday for the second season premiere.After several weeks of battling the prehistoric threat of the week, the team tackled a whole new kind of foe in this important chapter. Helen Cutter was back, confronting Claudia about the burgeoning feelings between her and Nick. And also apparently being unintentionally responsible for the latest threat to humanity. Consider anything past the jump a spoiler (if you've not seen it why are you reading a review anyway?).
The show has really grown on me in the past six weeks. Sure, it's shamelessly light and fluffy, plotted and scripted more like a big Hollywood summer popcorn blockbuster than the cerebral fare we've come to expect from our British science fiction. But while it's nowhere near as clever as Doctor Who, or even Torchwood at times, there's enough entertainment to keep you interested.
When the show gets repetitive, because they're basically tracking creatures every episode, you have the developing character interrelations to move things forward. Between the love triangle of Abby, Stephen and Connor and the whole situation with the Cutters and Claudia, there's more sexual tension here than even Torchwood at its steamiest. At least we got closure on one of them, even while at the same time opening a whole new can of worms into the other.
Shimmering Fragments
- Is it really possible to have a giant growling, slathering creature walking a few feet behind you in a hallway and be completely unaware of it? I don't care who you're on the phone with.
- I wonder what the future looks like where evolved bats have possibly become the dominant species. With no vision, do you think they still appreciate fine art? Or are they more music lovers?
- Why would evolution remove the bats' abilities to fly? I'd think that'd be a downgrade.
- Of course right after Claudia reciprocates Nick's kiss they have to go and f*** up the timeline and erase her from existence.
- Loved the synchronicity of this trip into the anomaly creating the camp that was discovered Nick's first time in. Not so much the creature from the first episode saving them. I can only take so much corn with my sci-fi *tongue-in-cheek*.
- I will say that Mama is a bat-ass, though, and put up one helluva fight.
- What in the past could be changed that would alter the future so specifically as to remove one person from existence while essentially, as far as we can tell, changing nothing else. Bat babies? Really?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-14-2008 @ 2:51AM
Gordon Werner said...
its not one thing that changes the future ... it is one thing that causes a chain of events that happen in a certain order that manifest themselves in some small change.
I believe that Claudia said in an earlier episode that she was surprised that she became a government worker ... maybe the change made her simply chose another path in life (like Donna turning the other direction in that Dr. Who episode)
I am sure that we'll see her again ... maybe as a different person ... but she'll be back
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9-14-2008 @ 3:44AM
Paul said...
This series is worth it for Lucy Brown alone, but it is also great fun too.
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9-14-2008 @ 5:25PM
Carissa said...
Hey Paul, I've seen that type of comment all over the net. What is it about Lucy Brown that is so much loved? Don't get me wrong, I enjoy her character and the actress does a fine job. She reminds me of Saffron Burrows.
Has she done other things in the UK that have endeared her to the public? Thanks!
9-14-2008 @ 3:09PM
K.V.C said...
Does the BBC do Sci-Fi for adults? Dr.Who/Sarah Jane are clearly for kids. Torchwood was dumbed and sexed down for the uneven season 2 and this show wastes too much time on the digital pet lizard.
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9-14-2008 @ 5:28PM
Carissa said...
That's an interesting observation. At what time does a show like Primevil play in the UK?
As opposed to Skins, which I would think is targeted toward kids, but is oh so adult in nature. Wonder when it plays.
9-14-2008 @ 5:33PM
Carissa said...
And, my specific take. :-) I read ahead for what's coming up on Series 2 because I'm a spoilerphobe, and I will continue to watch.
I really like the characters, especially Connor. I watched him on the short lived Strange and I think he is just a very enjoyable actor. The only character I tired of before she even came on screen was Helen. There is just nothing appealing to me at all about her attitude, knowledge, story, etc.
I like the critters. They are fun and cute. I want a lizard that seems to talk to me! ;-) The little babies in this episode were so cute. Its a fun a goofy concept all around that lends itself to fun. It would never be bankrolled by a network in the US, although we were lucky enough to have some pretty game shows in the 90s that ran independently.
I'm glad its here!
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9-14-2008 @ 8:24PM
TanaLT said...
I was sad that they killed Tom Ryan off, but I guess that made sense with the storyline. I'm really going to be upset if Claudia doesn't make it back into the timeline.
I've really enjoyed this series. Although, if they only put out 6 episodes a season, it may be a while before the US gets Season 2 (or is it 3?).
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9-19-2008 @ 12:57AM
Mike said...
Did they kill Tom Ryan off? If Claudia wasn't there in the new timeline when they went back maybe Tom Ryan wasn't part of the team either.
The question I had was what caused Claudia not to be there...the baby superbats or does helen do something to keep Claudia from joining. Not sure how close Dr Curtter was to the magnetic field when Helen went back in. Only if he was close enough to be protected from a timeline change is that possible but I wondered.
If the babies caused a change then I would think we and Dr Cutter would see big differences in the world.
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9-20-2008 @ 4:54AM
AC said...
Tom Ryan was still a part of the changed world (in what capacity, we'll never know), because Cutter mentioned when he first returned, and no-one seemed to notice.