| Reviews of Primeval on BBC America |
| Last week's opener said ancient creatures are taking advantage of a rip in the fabric of time. Scientists and soldiers are trying to stop them.
Tonight's hour is partly just creature-of-the-week stuff. (Tonight: subway spiders.) Still, the special effects are great, Douglas Henshall is a solid star and Hannah Spearritt (formerly of the S Club 7 pop group) suggests an early Meg Ryan. That's a good thing. MIKE HUGHES • GANNETT NEWS SERVICE • AUGUST 16, 2008 Of course, it doesn't hurt to have a great actor in the lead role and Douglas Henshall completely rocks as Cutter. He sells the emotional beats of his missing wife perfectly and has just enough fascination in the unexplained to make him believable. I can't stand it when characters in sci-fi shows approach the unbelievable as if they see it every day. Henshall makes his character three-dimensional, which makes the "out there" elements of the show easier to swallow. The writers of Primeval even take the time to develop a love triangle between three of the members of Cutter's team that's pretty interesting and not the kind of thing that sci-fi shows usually take the time to include. The whole ensemble works with each character already starting to develop their own personality and quirks that should make them as interesting as the deadly creatures they discover. Andrew Lee Potts and the super-cute Hannah Spearritt do particularly good work in the second episode. Primeval by Brian Tallerico - the deadbolt.com - August 9th 2008 What makes Primeval prime entertainment? *A winning premise: Through rips in the fabric of time, wildly different prehistoric creatures jump into our world, and humans step into theirs. The animals generate terror. When a dinosaur pokes its head in a boy's bedroom, the child fights back by tossing toys. The behemoth stalks the lad to school and prowls halls. The setup also creates wonder. Professor Nick Cutter (Douglas Henshall), a zoologist, registers awe at witnessing the prehistoric world. *The strong team: Dashing Cutter leads a distinctive crew. Research assistant Stephen Hart (James Murray) endures the most dangerous scrapes. Student paleontologist Connor Temple (Andrew-Lee Potts) supplies knowledge and comic relief. Zoologist Abby Maitland (Hannah Spearritt) knows her lizards and befriends a mesmerizing little animal from the past. *The promising mysteries: The U.K. government scrambles to hide the threat of dinosaurs and giant spiders. Still, the effort seems beyond officials James Lester (Ben Miller) and Claudia Brown (Lucy Brown). She takes a quick liking to Cutter, but he's in for personal shocks. With its campy humor, poign- ant drama and potent scares, Primeval will appeal equally to adults and children. Sentinel Television Critic - August 7, 2008 - Orlando Sentinel. |