Primeval
Starting February on ITV 1
Who says family adventure is restricted to BBC One in the spring in the form of a new Doctor Who? ITV has stepped up to the plate, risen to the challenge and produced it’s own version of the small screen-screen adventure series in the shape of Primeval.
Douglas Henshall is a recognisable and sympathetic lead, on a quest to solve the mystery surrounding his missing wife. Strange portals leading to different periods of Earth’s pre-history provide him with clues, but also allow dirty great big dinosaurs to invade our modern world, alongside some smaller, cuter critters too (and I’m not talking about Hannah Spearritt)…..
Although the CG creatures require a degree of wilful suspension of disbelief (but wasn’t that in the genre?), the series itself features such a winning sense of humour that it works, somehow. There are shades of The X-Files in the interest from mysterious Government factions, the thrill of seeing dinosaurs rampage through supermarket car parks and the undoubted benefit of decently written scripts. Like last year’s Life on Mars, Primeval is different from any other drama airing on British TV, and may succeed in attracting the crucial cross–over audience required to make a fantasy show a hit, if it’s scheduled properly. Definitely recommended: who doesn’t like dinos?
Brian J. Robb
Managing Editor, Titan Magazines
Dreamwatch Issue 150 page 17