TV Review - Primeval Series 5 Episode 4 (Spoiler-free)

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Created by: Adrian Hodges and Tim Haines
Directed by: Robert Quinn
Written by:  Helen Raynor
Starring: Ciaran McMenamin, Andrew-Lee Potts, Hannah Spearritt, Ben Mansfield, Ruth Kearney, Ruth Bradley, Alexander Siddig 
Genre: Sci-Fi
Air Date: 14th June 2011 (Watch), 7th July 2012 (ITV)

This episode had good potential as the idea of a swarm and a man made anomaly was something new. However it got a bit cheesy as the queen was massively over sized and really, they can dig through reinforced concrete in seconds. Philip the added threat of Philip blowing everyone and abby going to save her pet at the last minuet hummm. This made for some cheesy lines. And Gamma rays are light so move at the speed of light you stupid TV effects people not like 10 mph!!

Also half way though the episode I started thinking this whole cast is way to attractive what is up with this !! Now this hasn't detracted from the acting to much but does leave the atmosphere and feelings down a little. 

Now it did build suspense quite nicely and was possibly a scarier and darker episode, ish, which I liked although when i'm thinking to myself just die you useless model this kind of detracts from the mood.

3/10

Kieron :O

TV REVIEW - Primeval Series 5 Episode 3 (Spoiler-free)

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Created by: Adrian Hodges and Tim Haines
Directed by: Robert Quinn
Written by: Paul Mousley & Gabbie Asher
Starring: Ciaran McMenamin, Andrew-Lee Potts, Hannah Spearritt, Ben Mansfield, Ruth Kearney, Ruth Bradley, Stephen Hogan
Genre: Sci-Fi
Air Date: 7th June 2011 (Watch), 30th June 2012 (ITV)

You may remember last week I was a bit down on Primeval. I eat my words.

In this week's episode, a raptor escaped through an anomaly into a pop-art gallery. The team forced it back through the anomaly, then realised they'd got the wrong anomaly and had sent the raptor back to Victorian England, where it turned out to be responsible for a series of murders that had thought to have been committed by Spring-heeled Jack. Matt followed the raptor through the anomaly in order to track it down, to find Emily on the other side.

This episode was alot better than the first two of the series. It was tense and kept you glued all the way through. The pacing was fast and, for once, the plot wasn't obvious and predictable, especially towards the end.

The other advantage the episode had over the last two was Emily. Ruth Bradley is one of the best actresses the franchise has seen, and the character of Emily is alot more interesting than all the others put together. It's great that she now seems to have permanently returned to the series.

Primeval also hugely benefitted from a change of scenery. Modern-day was getting very samey, using Victorian England added alot more fun and romance to the story. Typical Dickensian clichés such as the puppeteer at the beginning and the story of Jack the Ripper were too charming not to be loved.

Of course, it wasn't flawless. As with every episode of Primeval, parts were badly written, and came across as corny. But this shouldn't take away from the overall piece.

Definately better.

7/10


What did you think of this week's Primeval? Let us know in the comments.
Tom :)

TV EPISODE GUIDES - Primeval Series 5

THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS SPOILERS


As with all our episode guides, this will be updated every time we hear something new about the series. This guide was last updated on the 16/6/12.
Plot synopsis' taken from cultfix.co.uk.

Episode 1
Directed by: Mark Everest
Written by: Chris Lang
Original Air Date: 24th May 2011
UK Viewers: 857,000
An underground creature brings chaos to the city, forcing the team to chase around the city to track down the movements of this vicious burrowing creature. When the creature strikes for the final time, the team find one of their own in mortal danger and fight to save their life.
See The Review Here.

Episode 2
Directed by: Robert Quinn
Written by: Steve Bailie
Original Air Date: 31st May 2011
UK Viewers: 761,000
When a nuclear submarine encounters an anomaly and Liopleurodon in the sea, the team are called aboard to help. They soon find themselves under attack once more, and get sucked through an anomaly, with Liopleurodons damaging the outside of the sub. The team must not only capture the panicked Eustreptospondylus aboard, but fix the sub exterior in order to get home.
See The Review Here.

Episode 3
Directed by: Robert Quinn
Written by: Paul Mousley & Gabbie Asher
Original Air Date: 7th June 2011
UK Viewers: 755,000
Following a displaced raptor through an anomaly, Matt ends up in Victorian London. Realising its to blame for several gruesome murders in the area, he tracks it down only to find Emily attempting to do exactly the same thing. Despite attempts from an angry mob and her own husband, Emily and Matt are forced through the anomaly with an angry raptor, where Emily is forced to make a tough decision about her future.
See The Review Here.

Episode 4
Directed by: Robert Quinn
Written by: Helen Raynor
Original Air Date: 14th June 2011
UK Viewers: 650,000
Philip and Connor secretly open an anomaly within the ARC, only to be invaded by a mass of scurrying future-beetles, who force the ARC into lockdown. The team have just moments to save the day before the ARC and the beetle threat is destroyed when Philip threatens to incinerate the building.
See The Review Here.

Episode 5
Directed by: Cilla Ware
Written by: Michael A. Walker
Original Air Date: 21st June 2011
UK Viewers: 477,000
With increasing numbers of anomalies running the ARC ragged, Matt realises his mission is coming to a climax and, determined to stop Philip, races to his machine. The team meanwhile are struggling to keep up with demand. When Philip escapes Connor's custody, the clock is ticking for them to stop him in his tracks.

Episode 6
Directed by: Cilla Ware
Written by: Steve Bailie & Adrian Hodges
Original Air Date: 28th June 2011
UK Viewers: 496,000
Connor has disappeared through Philip's anomaly, and Matt thinks that his mission is over - Philip has won, and seemingly, nothing has gone wrong. Matt has a decision to about what to do next - and jumps through the anomaly to save Connor only to find himself in a barren desert world, with Connor struggling in the immense heat and deadly sun's rays. It's a world we recognise from Matt's dreams. Worse still, coming towards them are a group of disgustingly mutated future predators, intent on causing some damage...

TV NEWS - Primeval Returns and First Look At New Who Companion

There's barely any news from the TV world this week. Here's all I've managed to scrounge.


Primeval Returns to ITV1 This Month
Better late than never I guess. ITV have announced that they will air the fifth series of the sci-fi, dinosaur cult show this year, starting next week. The show was originally was axed by ITV after series 3, but was resurrected by co-production deal with Watch. Only now have ITV actually decided to show the programme.
For more on this story, click here.

First Picture Of Doctor And New Companion
The first official picture of the new pairing of Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman for the hit series Doctor Who was released on Saturday. Smith said that his new companion "brings a really different energy to the show - one that I think is really interesting.". More importantly though, hey doc, is that a new suit? Liking the waistcoat. Waistcoats are cool.

For more on this story, click here.

So there's your (very short) bulletin for this weeks TV. Later, we'll have a review of the 2005 first series of Torchwood.

Tom :)