Thoughts on Primeval

BBC America has a new show for their Sci-Fi Saturday line-up called Primeval. I watched the three first episodes this past weekend, on demand on cable and on air, and was really impressed. The premise sounds a little silly, especially as it involves dinosaurs, but it seems to work.

Eight years ago, evolutionary zoologist Nick Cutter’s wife Helen, also a scientist, went missing without a trace. Now Cutter (Douglas Henshall) and colleague Stephen Hart (James Murray) find that there are anomalies in space and time allowing for prehistoric creatures to come through into our time. And it turns out, Helen might not be dead as believed, but hanging out in different prehistoric times. Cutter and his crew must work each episode to manage new anomalies, and any creatures that may come through them. It’s a little bit like if Buffy’s Hellmouth was mobile and opened onto the Land of the Lost instead of hell.

Sounds a bit silly, right? But it works. I think it’s the tone that makes it work. It plays straight, almost like a standard British police procedural. It doesn’t wink at us at its silliness, like Torchwood does, but gives the anomalies a weight in terms of science. As Cutter says, as he’s trying to explain the magnitude and impact of what is happening to a room full of bureaucrats, they are, “doorways in time – conclusive proof that the past exists.” For anyone who was ever a kid who wondered about dinosaurs, it’s an exciting proposition.

It doesn’t hurt that there is believable chemistry and triangulated interest between several of the characters. The fact that Cutter’s wife may have been avoiding him in prehistory while he pined, twists his interest in the anomalies. The cast is strong and there seems to be set-up for some interesting character arcs. Plus the monsters are awesome. (So far there have been dinosaurs, giant spider/scorpion beasts, ancient crocodiles, and this week's preview promises dodos.)

If you’re interested in Sci-Fi, or are interested in a different type of show before your favorites come back from summer holiday, check out Primeval on BBC America at 9 pm. 

(This is cross-posted at newcritics.)