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

Previous Episode     Next Episode

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)

Previous Episode     Next Episode

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 :)