This show does not hold a candle to the original British series. It is kind of lame, unimaginative, and the plots are not very interesting. The people involved in this show are not that well developed so far. Some of the new characters appear to be physical replacements for the original cast from Britain. There is no super smart professor type nor a hotty like Hannah Speritt. While I will continue to watch this show (unless it goes downhill) I am not that impressed to this point. The special effects and the CGI are okay but not that impressive in today's computer generated monsters. So far the ancient creatures that show up are not nearly as impressive as the original British show.
45 Reviews
Seen better, seen worse, but sadly not as good as the original
mike-ryan4559 November 2012
I saw the first two episodes and so far I must say that while I look forward to more episodes I am not overwhelmed. As most everyone else has said, suddenly the whole world doesn't know that there are anomalies all over the place. That bothers me but you have to get past it and move on.
The plot is very familiar.
Missing things: Connor and Abby. OK, they were cute. In two episodes, they had no hint of this with anyone.
Rex. So far, everything brought through is gigantic and eats people. For every gigantic creature in a real world ecosystem there should be thousands of small ones.
Nick Cutter. There is no wise man who has a clue. They're all kids.
Common sense. By the second episode, they should darn well know that they could be going after very, very large creatures. They should equip themselves appropriately or at least make a very visible effort to do so. If you're going after a predator the mass of an elephant, bring an elephant rifle or better yet something in .50 BMG. Did they? Not in the second episode.
I hope that they will wise up and produce something as durable as Sanctuary or Primeval. Let's see if they do it.
The plot is very familiar.
Missing things: Connor and Abby. OK, they were cute. In two episodes, they had no hint of this with anyone.
Rex. So far, everything brought through is gigantic and eats people. For every gigantic creature in a real world ecosystem there should be thousands of small ones.
Nick Cutter. There is no wise man who has a clue. They're all kids.
Common sense. By the second episode, they should darn well know that they could be going after very, very large creatures. They should equip themselves appropriately or at least make a very visible effort to do so. If you're going after a predator the mass of an elephant, bring an elephant rifle or better yet something in .50 BMG. Did they? Not in the second episode.
I hope that they will wise up and produce something as durable as Sanctuary or Primeval. Let's see if they do it.
Jurassic Park Meets Stanley Park In Fresh Sci-Fi Thriller
jawp5631 October 2012
Warning: Spoilers
If nothing else — and fortunately there is much more — you can't fault "Primeval: New World" for a lack of Sci-Fi-Fantasy bona fides. A spin-off from Britain's popular "Primeval" series, this ambitious Canadian project is produced by Sci-Fi diva Amanda Tapping, fresh from her signature role as Helen Magnus in "Sanctuary". Niall Matter, who played the brash but brilliant Zane Donovan in "Eureka", heads the talented ensemble cast as the brash but brilliant Evan Cross, full-time CEO of 'Cross Photonics' and part-time hunter of dinosaurs and temporal anomalies. Or maybe it's the other way around.
After witnessing his wife die in a freak Tyrannosaurus Rex accident years earlier, Cross became obsessed with discovering the origins of the strange magnetic anomalies which appear out of nowhere and seem to be portals to Jurassic Park. With his faithful CFO Ange Finch (Miranda Frigon -- "Heartland", "Sanctuary", "Supernatural") keeping his business solvent and his agenda clear, Cross dedicates his time and considerable resources to solving the mystery, unaware that across the pond in the mother country, savvy secret agents have been spanking the same lizards for years.
Accompanying Cross on his Quixotic quest are faithful employees and fellow loose cannons Toby Nance (Crystal Lowe -- "Smallville") and Mac Rendell (Danny Rahim -- "Young James Herriot"). Rounding out the team is new recruit Dylan Weir (Sara Canning -- "The Vampire Diaries", "Supernatural") a Vancouver Predator Control Officer whose boss, and Cross' best friend, just became dinner for a wayward Raptor. It falls to the ever so competent Ange to keep the loose cannons tied down and the team's activities under wraps since the sudden appearance of Pterodactyls and Raptors in Vancouver's Stanley Park is likely to cause some concern amongst the general public, even if they are technically native species.
Unable to find The Ministry of Prehistoric Terror in the blue pages, Ange stumbles instead upon an "above top secret" and heretofore comatose government agency, Project Magnet, whose single employee, Lieutenant Ken Leeds (Geoff Gustafson — "Eureka", "Once Upon A Time") works out of a basement office like something out of "Hoarders" that hasn't seen action since the 1950's. Nonetheless, the flustered Lieutenant assures the dubious Ange that he has the political clout to give Cross secret government support and semi-official status; to cut red tape and create cover-ups. And he's just chomping at the bit to "kick some alien ass".
"Prehistoric ass," Ange reminds him.
"Even better," he says.
While Ange and Ken are dusting off cold war alien invasion contingency plans, Cross and his team are investigating the latest in a string of dino deaths, the first being a "base jumper" snatched from mid-air and skewered by a Pterodactyl's beak. Amongst the bystanders is Connor Temple (Andrew Lee Potts — "Primeval" Great Britain) one of the aforementioned savvy secret agents from England, who warns Cross cryptically to cease and desist. Cross goes like "yeah, whatever" while admiring Temple's cool uniform with the cryptic Team Britain patch on the shoulder which Cross vaguely remembers from the tragic T-Rex episode that started this whole thing. And then Temple slips cryptically away into the crowd leaving Cross, and the viewer, to wonder why he would travel so far to share so little, and so cryptically. It will be interesting to see if this is a one-off crossover with PGB or if we can expect a few more guest appearances and entanglements.
Space, the Canadian cable TV company which has co-produced several projects with its US counterpart SyFy, has taken things up a notch with its first big solo effort. Promising a series that will be a bit "darker and scarier" while staying true to the British original, they've thrown caution to the wind, along with the typical Canadian reserve, and made a real financial and creative commitment to PNW. If the first episode is any indication, fans of PGB should be delighted with the high production values, great CGI, competent writing, and the talented cast and likable characters. The Vancouver scenery, as always, is gorgeous, and the production crew plays around with some creative cinematography and editing. Producer Tapping directs the first episode with a steady hand and even takes a few risks (e.g., some atypical flashback cuts) which is a promising sign that the series won't go stale quickly.
Having seen only one episode of PGB, I'm not qualified to opine on PNW's relative "darkness" although I can report that it certainly is not as unrelentingly grim and gruesome as some other Sci-Fi-Fantasy fare like "The Fades", "Fringe", or "The Walking Dead" to name three. PNW sprinkles plenty of wit in with the gore and tops it off with a few action sequences to tickle the adrenals. Based on what I've seen so far, I'd give it a "Safe For Parents" rating.
On a major (or American) network, PNW would likely be a success. It's head and shoulders above recent Sci-Fi drek like "Falling Skies" (renewed for season 3) or "Revolution" (renewed for a 2nd season) and there is a modest, but loyal, audience for the genre. Much will depend upon how it plays on SyFy in the U.S. and Watch in Great Britain. With a little luck, PNW could be running alongside Showcase's "Continuum" next season giving Vancouver bragging rights as the time travel capitol of North America.
John Peterson
After witnessing his wife die in a freak Tyrannosaurus Rex accident years earlier, Cross became obsessed with discovering the origins of the strange magnetic anomalies which appear out of nowhere and seem to be portals to Jurassic Park. With his faithful CFO Ange Finch (Miranda Frigon -- "Heartland", "Sanctuary", "Supernatural") keeping his business solvent and his agenda clear, Cross dedicates his time and considerable resources to solving the mystery, unaware that across the pond in the mother country, savvy secret agents have been spanking the same lizards for years.
Accompanying Cross on his Quixotic quest are faithful employees and fellow loose cannons Toby Nance (Crystal Lowe -- "Smallville") and Mac Rendell (Danny Rahim -- "Young James Herriot"). Rounding out the team is new recruit Dylan Weir (Sara Canning -- "The Vampire Diaries", "Supernatural") a Vancouver Predator Control Officer whose boss, and Cross' best friend, just became dinner for a wayward Raptor. It falls to the ever so competent Ange to keep the loose cannons tied down and the team's activities under wraps since the sudden appearance of Pterodactyls and Raptors in Vancouver's Stanley Park is likely to cause some concern amongst the general public, even if they are technically native species.
Unable to find The Ministry of Prehistoric Terror in the blue pages, Ange stumbles instead upon an "above top secret" and heretofore comatose government agency, Project Magnet, whose single employee, Lieutenant Ken Leeds (Geoff Gustafson — "Eureka", "Once Upon A Time") works out of a basement office like something out of "Hoarders" that hasn't seen action since the 1950's. Nonetheless, the flustered Lieutenant assures the dubious Ange that he has the political clout to give Cross secret government support and semi-official status; to cut red tape and create cover-ups. And he's just chomping at the bit to "kick some alien ass".
"Prehistoric ass," Ange reminds him.
"Even better," he says.
While Ange and Ken are dusting off cold war alien invasion contingency plans, Cross and his team are investigating the latest in a string of dino deaths, the first being a "base jumper" snatched from mid-air and skewered by a Pterodactyl's beak. Amongst the bystanders is Connor Temple (Andrew Lee Potts — "Primeval" Great Britain) one of the aforementioned savvy secret agents from England, who warns Cross cryptically to cease and desist. Cross goes like "yeah, whatever" while admiring Temple's cool uniform with the cryptic Team Britain patch on the shoulder which Cross vaguely remembers from the tragic T-Rex episode that started this whole thing. And then Temple slips cryptically away into the crowd leaving Cross, and the viewer, to wonder why he would travel so far to share so little, and so cryptically. It will be interesting to see if this is a one-off crossover with PGB or if we can expect a few more guest appearances and entanglements.
Space, the Canadian cable TV company which has co-produced several projects with its US counterpart SyFy, has taken things up a notch with its first big solo effort. Promising a series that will be a bit "darker and scarier" while staying true to the British original, they've thrown caution to the wind, along with the typical Canadian reserve, and made a real financial and creative commitment to PNW. If the first episode is any indication, fans of PGB should be delighted with the high production values, great CGI, competent writing, and the talented cast and likable characters. The Vancouver scenery, as always, is gorgeous, and the production crew plays around with some creative cinematography and editing. Producer Tapping directs the first episode with a steady hand and even takes a few risks (e.g., some atypical flashback cuts) which is a promising sign that the series won't go stale quickly.
Having seen only one episode of PGB, I'm not qualified to opine on PNW's relative "darkness" although I can report that it certainly is not as unrelentingly grim and gruesome as some other Sci-Fi-Fantasy fare like "The Fades", "Fringe", or "The Walking Dead" to name three. PNW sprinkles plenty of wit in with the gore and tops it off with a few action sequences to tickle the adrenals. Based on what I've seen so far, I'd give it a "Safe For Parents" rating.
On a major (or American) network, PNW would likely be a success. It's head and shoulders above recent Sci-Fi drek like "Falling Skies" (renewed for season 3) or "Revolution" (renewed for a 2nd season) and there is a modest, but loyal, audience for the genre. Much will depend upon how it plays on SyFy in the U.S. and Watch in Great Britain. With a little luck, PNW could be running alongside Showcase's "Continuum" next season giving Vancouver bragging rights as the time travel capitol of North America.
John Peterson
More gore, but less charm and heart, not a good example for a successful remake
supermaggie4 August 2016
I strongly believe in story/the idea, and I tend to believe that the story is everything. That this is not the case is proved by remakes. I am not in general against remakes, but most remakes do not add to the story, but take things away. Perfect examples are the remakes of Life on Mars and Primeval. Primeval may be overdoing it, but it does not add something more, quite the opposite, the new version has more gore, but no new ideas and the viewer painfully misses the charm, the fun, the soul and heart of the original version. This does not mean that the idea isn't still strong, but the original version is just a lot better. But as with all things: in the end it is a matter of taste and therefore there will be and should be fans for each version. I, personally, e.g., prefer the US-Version of Being Human, which is criticized by many fans of the original. I think the creators of the remake made great casting decisions in this case and the US-version has (still) a lot of soul and fun and charm. This is not (and cannot be) true in the case of Life on Mars - if something is this perfect, why change it? It is not 60 years old and outdated and even the language (and pretty much of the culture) is the same, so why bother and make things worse? So: the new Primeval has nothing on the original, but the idea is still strong and tastes differ, so a well-meant 6.
Just as Good as the Original
andiaspden31 March 2013
I've seen a lot of bad to mediocre reviews on this series and I felt it was time it received a review that really actually does the show justice. If you're expecting it to be exactly like Primeval then don't watch the show or ignore the original while you're watching it, view it as its own entity. This is a spin-off of the original and therefore it will have its own story arc.
Some of the most common complaints I've seen is how different it is from the original and how it's 'just a bunch of people getting chased by dinosaurs'. Every show has to start somewhere and most of the reviews I've seen are from people expecting the characters to know exactly what's going on from the very beginning. That's not what happens they, just like in the first season of Primeval, are learning as they go.
This show has much better CGI than the original, granted the original got better graphics the longer it went it still doesn't compare to how well done the graphics are in New World. I was actually impressed when I compared them side to side. It's not easy making dinosaurs look realistic, but I think New World does a fairly decent job.
The characters all have a great amount of depth to them and I really hope to see a season two so their backgrounds can be explored more. There are also some great dynamics between the characters and it is obvious the cast has a great amount of chemistry between them. There are also plenty of witty one liners if that's what you enjoyed in Primeval.
On the downside the first few episodes are rather slow. It's needed to introduce the characters, but it can be a bit much if you're used to Primeval's quick moving plot, which was really only that way because each series was about six episodes long (New World has over twice that many episodes in its first season). After those first few episodes, however, it becomes a roller coaster ride that leaves you breathless and wanting more.
Some of the most common complaints I've seen is how different it is from the original and how it's 'just a bunch of people getting chased by dinosaurs'. Every show has to start somewhere and most of the reviews I've seen are from people expecting the characters to know exactly what's going on from the very beginning. That's not what happens they, just like in the first season of Primeval, are learning as they go.
This show has much better CGI than the original, granted the original got better graphics the longer it went it still doesn't compare to how well done the graphics are in New World. I was actually impressed when I compared them side to side. It's not easy making dinosaurs look realistic, but I think New World does a fairly decent job.
The characters all have a great amount of depth to them and I really hope to see a season two so their backgrounds can be explored more. There are also some great dynamics between the characters and it is obvious the cast has a great amount of chemistry between them. There are also plenty of witty one liners if that's what you enjoyed in Primeval.
On the downside the first few episodes are rather slow. It's needed to introduce the characters, but it can be a bit much if you're used to Primeval's quick moving plot, which was really only that way because each series was about six episodes long (New World has over twice that many episodes in its first season). After those first few episodes, however, it becomes a roller coaster ride that leaves you breathless and wanting more.
Wow. After 5 years of Primeval we get a spin-off. How well does it fair?
OlieRendch21 February 2014
Primeval: New World is now set in Canada and very much like the UK series you have a main male character and something happens to his wife. This urges him to research about the anomalies and hunt dinosaurs with a few friends. Now in the first few episodes they established and created everything that first 4 series of the UK Primeval did. I mean it took until series 3 to point out that anomalies effect mythology whereas in New World they stated it in episode two. And also some episodes did feel like remakes - a lot; honestly, on some episodes it's like someone got the original screenplay and then just changed names and locations. But apart from all that it was very enjoyable; they kept making references to Primeval every now and again and the ARC plays an role in there too. So I think it is a pretty good spin-off to one of my favourite shows and it even brought new story-lines and events what were quite new but also a lot of plots that we'd seen before back in the UK. It did end on a cliff-hanger like pretty much every Primeval series did and unfortunately it has now been cancelled so we will never see season 2; but like I said, this spin-off was a good run and pays homage to its roots so that was good.
I suppose that's the end of the Primeval franchise all together now then but I hope people remember this great piece of entertainment.
I suppose that's the end of the Primeval franchise all together now then but I hope people remember this great piece of entertainment.
Yes, It is quite painful.
chrisc-4314 November 2012
Warning: Spoilers
I watched 3 episodes to really give this spin-off a chance. However I'm sad to say I'm done... I simply can not watch this anymore.
I can usually stomach a sci-fi that at least "tries". Amanda Tapping's previous show "Sanctuary" seemed pretty low budget and incredibly cheesy at times, but it at least had a an involved story and interesting characters that kept me watching.
"Primeval: New World" is not even trying....
The *original* UK Primeval did something quite amazing... It took a relatively simple (and somewhat silly) concept of random "portals in time" that would let through the occasional creature and made it into something brilliant...
What made the UK Primeval worth watching were the interesting characters, complex character development and interaction, the interesting and thought provoking story arcs. All with a touch of mystery and action in just about every episode.
However the North American version "Primeval: New World" simply takes the one thing that was silly about Primeval and absolutely NOTHING ELSE... Normally a "spin off" either takes a popular character into a new show or expands on an existing story or concept. This show does absolutely none of that.
This is no continuation of "Primeval" it's simply a B-version of the original Primeval on a different continent. The writing displays no imagination, no intrigue, instead it just copies a concept and add some gratuitous drama.
I hate to be "that guy", but if you have any interest in this show at all do yourself a favor and watch the UK Primeval. It is surprisingly good.
However there is absolutely no reason what so ever to watch Primeval New World.
It is nothing more than monsters running around killing people, without any rhyme, reason, or story to speak of.
I can usually stomach a sci-fi that at least "tries". Amanda Tapping's previous show "Sanctuary" seemed pretty low budget and incredibly cheesy at times, but it at least had a an involved story and interesting characters that kept me watching.
"Primeval: New World" is not even trying....
The *original* UK Primeval did something quite amazing... It took a relatively simple (and somewhat silly) concept of random "portals in time" that would let through the occasional creature and made it into something brilliant...
What made the UK Primeval worth watching were the interesting characters, complex character development and interaction, the interesting and thought provoking story arcs. All with a touch of mystery and action in just about every episode.
However the North American version "Primeval: New World" simply takes the one thing that was silly about Primeval and absolutely NOTHING ELSE... Normally a "spin off" either takes a popular character into a new show or expands on an existing story or concept. This show does absolutely none of that.
This is no continuation of "Primeval" it's simply a B-version of the original Primeval on a different continent. The writing displays no imagination, no intrigue, instead it just copies a concept and add some gratuitous drama.
I hate to be "that guy", but if you have any interest in this show at all do yourself a favor and watch the UK Primeval. It is surprisingly good.
However there is absolutely no reason what so ever to watch Primeval New World.
It is nothing more than monsters running around killing people, without any rhyme, reason, or story to speak of.
Primeval returns with a Big Bang, despite certain reviews.
richardhiskens20 February 2013
Please give this show a chance, a lot of the reviews to date are overly judgmental and biased, unfairly in my eyes. Do not dismiss this because it is a one of those shows which will grow on you, and the ending to this series is sensational, and very unexpected. The production team and values are the same as the original, which is brilliant. They have managed to maintain the spirit of the original version, and make the series equally as good as the British show. I speak as a humble Brit too. The characters are rounded and well acted. Clearly a lot of time and effort went into the values of maintaining the integrity of the original show, but also making it more grown up. Nice to see the series running longer too. A lucky 13 episodes in this series which I hope will lead to another series or five.
Could have been better ...
DrAGGill4 February 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Given the writers of this series were well-published authors in sci-if already, I expected better ideas. While it finally hit its stride in the finale, I suspect it was too little, too late. You gotta admit you wanted to know just what had been changed once they got back to their own time! Besides frozen Mac now wearing Canadian military fatigues.
Oh Dear
daisylgouldie28 May 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I really wanted to like this programme, I loved the original and I miss it. I thought that it might actually bear some form of resemblance to the English one because Connor turns up in the opening episode, but from there it's just a bunch of fairly dull characters running around chasing large lizards. I don't see the point in this, after watching the amazing discoveries of all these anomalies in the English series having to watch a new load of characters get to grips with them seems a little pointless. The attempt at an underlying storyline is also a little dodgy, I won't post spoilers, but overall I wouldn't recommend watching it anyway.
Great addition to the franchise.
j-sheppard13 November 2012
Primeval started in 2007 and went for five seasons; The show opened up a great universe full on interesting stories that could be explored. Primeval: New World has picked one of those promising stories. It isn't the best show ever but it has the potential to be a great show, the original series took a few episodes to fully expand its potential and this show has definitely started doing that. It has an interesting array of characters,also has an interesting connection to the original and that story line will be great when it fully comes up. So Primeval: New World has some short comings but it has just started but it has a great potential and will no doubt get better and better through each episode. Recommend a watch.
Good North American transfer
sdgmcnamara21 September 2013
I felt this was a good North American transfer of an English television series. The appearance of the character Temple from the original series helped the integration into this series for myself.
As spin offs go this one does a good job of following in the originals path but making sure it isn't a copy of it.
If you expect this to be exactly like the original then I am sorry it isn't and its all the better for that. I wouldn't say it is as good as the original Primeval however it is a solid addition to the world.
It's emotional, exciting, and decently acted. Test it out yourself.
GLHF. Hope you enjoy the show.
As spin offs go this one does a good job of following in the originals path but making sure it isn't a copy of it.
If you expect this to be exactly like the original then I am sorry it isn't and its all the better for that. I wouldn't say it is as good as the original Primeval however it is a solid addition to the world.
It's emotional, exciting, and decently acted. Test it out yourself.
GLHF. Hope you enjoy the show.
Disappointing
farquarg22 June 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Having watched the original Primeval I was expecting substantially more out of this spin off. I don't fault the show for not being 100% consistent with the original. It's a different show on a different continent with different characters.
I have three general complaints with this version:
1.) The acting simply isn't very good. Evan will get upset when discussing his late wife. But you simply don't believe that he lost someone. Mac is supposed to be the guy that protects Evan, but you never believe that there's any real connection between the two. In order for the show to work, Mac needs to not just be doing a job, he needs to care for Evan and the rest of the team.
2. The writers seem to have looked at the original and decided to create similar characters without any thought to character development. The original had a genius/leader, so they have Evan. It had military/security person so it has Mac. They had biologist/zoologist, so they throw in Dylan. They needed a "James Lester" so they throw in Ange. There's no sense of tension within the group. There's no building of relationships among the characters. So much of a good drama is that the various characters have some chemistry. These characters have none.
3. The story is abysmal. The original had a feeling of wonder, exploration, discovery. The New World has none. A group of people discover portals through time and there's no sense of amazement? The characters are shocked for all of 5 minutes then it becomes matter of fact. They don't struggle with the implications of changing time, just accept as matter of fact that you don't do anything to alter the past. Where's the natural human temptation? Where's the fear of a creature winning out over logic? I also take issue with the believably. Yes, it's a Sci-Fi series. But to think that something this big would be happening and there's be no governmental involvement save one soldier in a office? Or that a private company would be able to do this without anyone knowing? The writers of The New World seem to have stripped Primeval of all the substance that matters and created a show that is little more than hunting monsters in various locations around Vancouver.
******************
After watching some additional episodes I generally stick with my original assessment. I do have to say that Toby seems to be the move developed character. You see her curiosity and her desire to see an anomaly first hand. Crystal Lowe is doing a fine job with this character. Niall Matter does seem to be giving it his all, but I still have trouble believing it.
My fears have come true, this show seems to be little more than "chase the monster of the week." While the original had a over arching theme with Helen Cutter, the New World seems quite shallow.
I have three general complaints with this version:
1.) The acting simply isn't very good. Evan will get upset when discussing his late wife. But you simply don't believe that he lost someone. Mac is supposed to be the guy that protects Evan, but you never believe that there's any real connection between the two. In order for the show to work, Mac needs to not just be doing a job, he needs to care for Evan and the rest of the team.
2. The writers seem to have looked at the original and decided to create similar characters without any thought to character development. The original had a genius/leader, so they have Evan. It had military/security person so it has Mac. They had biologist/zoologist, so they throw in Dylan. They needed a "James Lester" so they throw in Ange. There's no sense of tension within the group. There's no building of relationships among the characters. So much of a good drama is that the various characters have some chemistry. These characters have none.
3. The story is abysmal. The original had a feeling of wonder, exploration, discovery. The New World has none. A group of people discover portals through time and there's no sense of amazement? The characters are shocked for all of 5 minutes then it becomes matter of fact. They don't struggle with the implications of changing time, just accept as matter of fact that you don't do anything to alter the past. Where's the natural human temptation? Where's the fear of a creature winning out over logic? I also take issue with the believably. Yes, it's a Sci-Fi series. But to think that something this big would be happening and there's be no governmental involvement save one soldier in a office? Or that a private company would be able to do this without anyone knowing? The writers of The New World seem to have stripped Primeval of all the substance that matters and created a show that is little more than hunting monsters in various locations around Vancouver.
******************
After watching some additional episodes I generally stick with my original assessment. I do have to say that Toby seems to be the move developed character. You see her curiosity and her desire to see an anomaly first hand. Crystal Lowe is doing a fine job with this character. Niall Matter does seem to be giving it his all, but I still have trouble believing it.
My fears have come true, this show seems to be little more than "chase the monster of the week." While the original had a over arching theme with Helen Cutter, the New World seems quite shallow.
Canadian Primeval
whiterose-548286 December 2021
After the original Primeval was cancelled for a second time in the UK, Impossible Pictures turned to the international market to keep the show alive. In late 2012 we got Primeval: New World, a North American spin-off of the show that takes the action from London (and Dublin) to the rugged landscape of Vancouver.
I appreciate that New World is a spin-off rather than a complete reboot or remake of the series, though it largely ignores the events of Series 5 of the original show with only a short appearance of Connor and a nod to the ARC to tie the two shows together. As a result it's unclear if New World can be considered part of the same continuity or not.
The first (and only) season is 13 episodes long, making it even longer than Series 3 of the original show. This is not necessarily a good thing as it results in a lot of episodes feeling unnecessary in the grand scheme of things. It takes until episode 5 for the show to get going and until episode 8 for it to start getting good. I can't help but feel that cutting a lot of the earlier episodes would make the show more engaging and help the story flow better, especially when you consider that the first series of the original show managed to achieve far more in only six episodes.
The characters are fine and the actors do a good job playing them but they're not quite as memorable as the characters from the original. The standout characters for me are Mac Rendell who brings some familiarity with his British accent and Becker-like personality, and Lt. Ken Leeds who has some fun comedic moments and constantly tries to convince team leader Evan Cross that he's there to help, to no avail.
The creatures for me were a bit of a disappointment. Unlike the original show which made the effort to use varied and unique creatures in each episode, New World instead opts for using mostly generic dinosaurs. It may just be because of the higher resolution but the CGI creatures also didn't feel as convincing as they did in the original.
Overall Primeval: New World is a fine show and worth watching if you're desperate for more Primeval content but it lacks the heart and story that made the original work. It seemed to be getting somewhere with it's last few episodes and could have improved in subsequent seasons but as the show met the same fate as the original, I guess we'll never know.
I appreciate that New World is a spin-off rather than a complete reboot or remake of the series, though it largely ignores the events of Series 5 of the original show with only a short appearance of Connor and a nod to the ARC to tie the two shows together. As a result it's unclear if New World can be considered part of the same continuity or not.
The first (and only) season is 13 episodes long, making it even longer than Series 3 of the original show. This is not necessarily a good thing as it results in a lot of episodes feeling unnecessary in the grand scheme of things. It takes until episode 5 for the show to get going and until episode 8 for it to start getting good. I can't help but feel that cutting a lot of the earlier episodes would make the show more engaging and help the story flow better, especially when you consider that the first series of the original show managed to achieve far more in only six episodes.
The characters are fine and the actors do a good job playing them but they're not quite as memorable as the characters from the original. The standout characters for me are Mac Rendell who brings some familiarity with his British accent and Becker-like personality, and Lt. Ken Leeds who has some fun comedic moments and constantly tries to convince team leader Evan Cross that he's there to help, to no avail.
The creatures for me were a bit of a disappointment. Unlike the original show which made the effort to use varied and unique creatures in each episode, New World instead opts for using mostly generic dinosaurs. It may just be because of the higher resolution but the CGI creatures also didn't feel as convincing as they did in the original.
Overall Primeval: New World is a fine show and worth watching if you're desperate for more Primeval content but it lacks the heart and story that made the original work. It seemed to be getting somewhere with it's last few episodes and could have improved in subsequent seasons but as the show met the same fate as the original, I guess we'll never know.
A Brave New World
zachary-t-dase-130 October 2012
Warning: Spoilers
An amazing genesis in the next chapter of anomaly fighters, Primeval New World's pilot episode does not disappoint. As a huge fan of the original series, I was scared to death that PNW would ruin the franchise. I was DEAD. WRONG. The new team is great, with dynamic and interesting characters and the promise of the chemistry between the team that made the original Primeval the masterpiece that is was. The creatures are spectacular, surpassing the original and offering some of the best special effects you will see on television. The plot, while containing the necessary exposition, is engaging. The last 10 minutes of the episode delivers what the fans wanted, and even what the fans didn't know they would want until they saw it. A brief but brutal clash between a Pteranodon and a Utahraptor, a chilling flashback to the death of Evan's wife at the jaws of a hungry Albertosaurus, and a mysterious reveal in the last minutes of the episode that will leave you hungry for next week's journey into the Primeval universe. A must see.
Not surprising
erikwigren16 October 2022
It's not surprising that the show was cancelled. Unfortunately.
The viewership was low probably because the writing wasn't very good. The storyline and characters were were fine.
It just wasn't written well.
The screenplay was not thorough with the subplots and characters.
It's really too bad. I like shows like this.
Next time try better writing, directing and production.
Looks like I'll be checking out the original British version which is much more highly reviewed. As can be seen by the number of seasons.
Of course British television is going to be different. They always are. But they have improved quite a bit in recent years.
The viewership was low probably because the writing wasn't very good. The storyline and characters were were fine.
It just wasn't written well.
The screenplay was not thorough with the subplots and characters.
It's really too bad. I like shows like this.
Next time try better writing, directing and production.
Looks like I'll be checking out the original British version which is much more highly reviewed. As can be seen by the number of seasons.
Of course British television is going to be different. They always are. But they have improved quite a bit in recent years.
Likable characters, boring stories
erose00126 July 2013
The original UK *Primeval* remains to this day one of my favorite guilty pleasures. And while some of the characters in that version left me a bit cold, and I found the ups and downs caused by poor network treatment frustrating, I never tired of the dry humor or complicated and mixed character motivations as they battled anomalies, creatures, and humans determined to use both to achieve greater power. The situations created suspense: You were always wondering how they were going to get out of this week's predicament. In this version, the motives are straightforward, all goodness all the time: Save the modern world from time anomalies and creatures that arrive through them. These creatures often predate humans, and, being out of place, generally cause trouble, including approaching humans an interesting new prey species. The problem I have is that we have not yet (as of July 2013 on the SyFy run of the first season) been given a clear reason as to why these particular characters are doing this; there is very little to motivate them to do this work, and the context does not make the need for them doing it particularly critical nor gripping. There's no scientific researcher like Cutter, driven by pure scientific curiosity about the phenomenon, just a entrepreneur who lost a loved one to an anomaly creature and who finds the experience an adrenaline rush. We have no sense of what he hopes to achieve long-term. There are no hard-core nerds like Connor, no animal lovers like Abby, and apparently no interest in obtaining the tech that enabled the UK team to put anomalies in a holding pattern to prevent more wayward creatures from getting lost in the wrong time (while of course dealing with those that had slipped through before they could be stopped). (Which means there is always at least one character left "guarding" the anomaly. Boring....) And when this team discusses tech, it's in the context of the tech expert providing a nice app for their phone as a done deal, whereas the process of creating tech in the original was suspenseful: Will it work, will it help, how much does it need to be tweaked, etc. Sometimes tech failures contributed to the action.
So every week we're introduced to a new creature that must be returned to its time, and we watch the characters do relatively boring things to figure out how to accomplish this. Civilians are tangentially involved, but with the exception of one episode, rarely do we see their involvement in any depth. (And that episode's civilian was not depicted in a manner that even made us worry about her or collateral damage in general, as we always did in the original, which even included a character who had grown to adulthood by traveling through alternate times after being drawn into an anomaly as a child.) Meanwhile, as the creatures are being tracked, the characters tell us their life stories, which gets very old very quickly. (Seriously, why would we be interested, beyond the basic reason they're involved in the first place? Backstories are for storyboards to guide the actions of a character in the current situation, but it's the current situation where the focus for the audience exists.) For example, in an episode that should've ratcheted the suspense to the rafters, main characters being stalked by raptors similar to the velociraptors of Jurassic Park, we're being bored to death listening to one character talk to two others about their feelings about the death of loved ones. The ultimate capture was so anti-climatic, it was hard to believe they were in any danger to begin with. And there is no "big bad" here, either, a character with a hidden agenda, wanting to use the phenomenon to achieve bigger goals, like the original's Helen Cutter and her first quest to start a prehistoric zoo, and then ultimately end humanity because humanity was destroying the planet. (Granted, her character was a bit of a mess, but at least she kept things interesting, and kept viewers guessing.) While the butterfly effect is alluded to, no one seems particularly interested in either changing history, nor showing concern that others might want to.
Ultimately, even if they want to limit this version to a weekly creature feature, they need to up the action, reduce the chit-chat, and make the process of capturing the creatures suspenseful. If they really want to make this sci-fi in the tradition that the original followed, they need far more depth to the characters and the stories. The UK *Primeval* was not a perfect show by any means, but by comparison to this show, it was imaginative and action-packed. It's as if these showrunners have found a formula and are sticking to it, even if it is boring as hell.
There is potential here. The actors are good, and the characters have the potential to be interesting. Now they need to add more imagination, suspense, and action. i.e., they should ask themselves the question that it was clear the original's creators asked, what would I do if I were in this situation? It is, after all the question that every good sci-fi story wants its audience to ask.
So every week we're introduced to a new creature that must be returned to its time, and we watch the characters do relatively boring things to figure out how to accomplish this. Civilians are tangentially involved, but with the exception of one episode, rarely do we see their involvement in any depth. (And that episode's civilian was not depicted in a manner that even made us worry about her or collateral damage in general, as we always did in the original, which even included a character who had grown to adulthood by traveling through alternate times after being drawn into an anomaly as a child.) Meanwhile, as the creatures are being tracked, the characters tell us their life stories, which gets very old very quickly. (Seriously, why would we be interested, beyond the basic reason they're involved in the first place? Backstories are for storyboards to guide the actions of a character in the current situation, but it's the current situation where the focus for the audience exists.) For example, in an episode that should've ratcheted the suspense to the rafters, main characters being stalked by raptors similar to the velociraptors of Jurassic Park, we're being bored to death listening to one character talk to two others about their feelings about the death of loved ones. The ultimate capture was so anti-climatic, it was hard to believe they were in any danger to begin with. And there is no "big bad" here, either, a character with a hidden agenda, wanting to use the phenomenon to achieve bigger goals, like the original's Helen Cutter and her first quest to start a prehistoric zoo, and then ultimately end humanity because humanity was destroying the planet. (Granted, her character was a bit of a mess, but at least she kept things interesting, and kept viewers guessing.) While the butterfly effect is alluded to, no one seems particularly interested in either changing history, nor showing concern that others might want to.
Ultimately, even if they want to limit this version to a weekly creature feature, they need to up the action, reduce the chit-chat, and make the process of capturing the creatures suspenseful. If they really want to make this sci-fi in the tradition that the original followed, they need far more depth to the characters and the stories. The UK *Primeval* was not a perfect show by any means, but by comparison to this show, it was imaginative and action-packed. It's as if these showrunners have found a formula and are sticking to it, even if it is boring as hell.
There is potential here. The actors are good, and the characters have the potential to be interesting. Now they need to add more imagination, suspense, and action. i.e., they should ask themselves the question that it was clear the original's creators asked, what would I do if I were in this situation? It is, after all the question that every good sci-fi story wants its audience to ask.
Lots of premature reviews, but a great show.
relo999-601-49604020 February 2013
I've read all reviews of this series here and it baffles me how most are premature often after 3 to 6 episodes. Which, as I just finished watching the first season. And some even expect a carbon copy from spin-off. Also some people questioned why they didn't see any effect from the whole anomaly apocalypse from the original series, but its been suggested in the new world that the shows don't run in the same time or that it might be an alternative reality (both were established realities in the original series).
The first half of the season was clearly made to get people in to the universe who weren't before. They are great episodes for dino-hunting but not really great if you watched the original series because you then already know the rules of the universe. But it not like they are not fun to watch, just no great for a set-up for a story arc.
The second half of the season was far more based around a story arc, while still keeping the feel it set out in the first part of the season, which is great. It quickly became more a complex story arc and started to show how an ARC-like company is being set up in Canada, something you didn't see in the original series as there it came from nowhere.
The first half of the season was clearly made to get people in to the universe who weren't before. They are great episodes for dino-hunting but not really great if you watched the original series because you then already know the rules of the universe. But it not like they are not fun to watch, just no great for a set-up for a story arc.
The second half of the season was far more based around a story arc, while still keeping the feel it set out in the first part of the season, which is great. It quickly became more a complex story arc and started to show how an ARC-like company is being set up in Canada, something you didn't see in the original series as there it came from nowhere.
The same Primeval we all know and love... but it's more edgy!
walkingwithprimeval6 February 2020
As you can probably guess, the huge success of the hit British programme is what eventually lead to this foreign spin-off happening. The series has quite an ensemble cast of well-known Canadian actors who all did a decent job with the source material they where given to work with and I'd also say the showrunners pretty much pulled off adapting it faithfully for a new audience overseas in North America.
The CGI animation on the models has slightly improved since the later seasons of the original series and the prehistoric creatures themselves are portrayed in a more realistic manner with behavioural traits of wild animal in the real-world, which is unlike how they were shown previously in the UK version (something I find to be a refreshing change of pace), having almost always been represented to the TV viewing audience in the past as hyperactive carnivores equipped with "exaggerated predatory features", while half the time they're literally bouncing off the sides of walls (not so much grounded in reality). Mind you, the sound design could've been better.
It seems like rather a fitting choice for Albertosaurus to be the main antagonistic creature for the series, as they were actually native to Canada 70 million years ago and I especially loved the little added details on its design, like for instance the deformed arm and slashes along its body help to make it stand out as being more "significant" to the show's overall storyline than some of the other creatures are.
A criticism I have to make would be the fact there where no creatures depicted from the future in any of the episodes and that really just goes to show how the behind-the-scenes production team lacked imaginative thinking, since Impossible Pictures was way better at that sort of stuff when it came to creating what a speculative piece of futuristic evolution would look like.
I absolutely HATE cliffhangers because of this and the original show, they never manage to get resolved! The entire series as a whole had a lot of potential to be just as good as the original because even though it started off feeling a little bit repetitive of what's come before, by the end it really started to pick up the pace. It's a real shame it didn't get the chance to continue and conclude (or at least partially wrap up) the story they had already established.
While it's nowhere near as great as the original show, I'd still take watching this any day over seasons 4 and 5 of the original series (I think I'd rank it higher than the both of them combined).
The CGI animation on the models has slightly improved since the later seasons of the original series and the prehistoric creatures themselves are portrayed in a more realistic manner with behavioural traits of wild animal in the real-world, which is unlike how they were shown previously in the UK version (something I find to be a refreshing change of pace), having almost always been represented to the TV viewing audience in the past as hyperactive carnivores equipped with "exaggerated predatory features", while half the time they're literally bouncing off the sides of walls (not so much grounded in reality). Mind you, the sound design could've been better.
It seems like rather a fitting choice for Albertosaurus to be the main antagonistic creature for the series, as they were actually native to Canada 70 million years ago and I especially loved the little added details on its design, like for instance the deformed arm and slashes along its body help to make it stand out as being more "significant" to the show's overall storyline than some of the other creatures are.
A criticism I have to make would be the fact there where no creatures depicted from the future in any of the episodes and that really just goes to show how the behind-the-scenes production team lacked imaginative thinking, since Impossible Pictures was way better at that sort of stuff when it came to creating what a speculative piece of futuristic evolution would look like.
I absolutely HATE cliffhangers because of this and the original show, they never manage to get resolved! The entire series as a whole had a lot of potential to be just as good as the original because even though it started off feeling a little bit repetitive of what's come before, by the end it really started to pick up the pace. It's a real shame it didn't get the chance to continue and conclude (or at least partially wrap up) the story they had already established.
While it's nowhere near as great as the original show, I'd still take watching this any day over seasons 4 and 5 of the original series (I think I'd rank it higher than the both of them combined).
A Real Let Down
evafuller22 January 2013
Warning: Spoilers
For those of you who enjoyed the original series of Primeval, do not watch this. You will constantly be expecting an actual story line like there was in the original and there really isn't. In the original there were people actually trying to learn about the anomalies (Nick Cutter, Sarah Page and Connor Temple)whereas now they don't have that at all. It's basically like you've spent 40 minutes watching a load of stupid children running around after dinosaurs. All this is is an attempt to copy the old series with none of the humor, romance or action. This series has no mystery or even a clear villain.Unfortunately I can't see this series going anywhere.
I like this show!
t-mastersheinrichs20 February 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I've really enjoyed Primeval: New World.
Usually, when a spin off occurs from a BBC production, it's merely a redoing of scripts without understanding why the original worked so well. Primeval New World (PNW) didn't do that. It takes place in the same universe, at the same time but from a different perspective. The writers, cast and crew, are coming at it fresh while keeping the rules from the original series. I love it.
One of my favourite things is that the main male lead, Evan Cross (Niall Matter) is a beta character, not the standard alpha. He's smart (genus level), active and engaging. The character doesn't solve every problem with a gun, doesn't do the 'macho' stuff that turns such characters quickly into caricatures of leading men. He's believable and relatable. And like all good characters, he's wounded in a way the audience can connect to. He's emotionally stuck in a state of mourning for his wife, whose death he feels responsible for.
The other primary characters Dylan Weir (Sara Canning) and Mac Rendell (Danny Rahim) aren't fluff but integral. They work together well. There is conflict, where the lead, Evan Cross (Niall Matter) uses his position of 'boss' to keep control. I love the fact that this power has been taken from him by the direction the show has travelled. Now he only has the friendships he's developed to try and advert disaster with. This is excellent.
The supporting characters come across more like secondaries, which is wonderful. They are quirky, are carrying their own baggage (which gives them depth) and carry their own weight both on and off camera.
I love the fact that the government has stepped in. This is something that would happen. Trying to keep a lid on the incursions, is clearly impossible in this day and age (cell phones, cameras, etc.). I hope the show gets a second season and continues to deal with this issue, along with the many others brought up. I would love the fact that a little change further back is more damaging then a dead dino relatively recently. (Think dropping a snowball down a mountain that leads to an avalanche at the bottom.)
Who among our friends are watching PNW? It seems to appeal to those in their 20s to the late 40s (going by my friends and acquaintances). Of course, we have quite a few friends who do the second season truth, as they call it. (They refuse to watch any series until it has a second season, they then watch the entire first season in one or two sittings, before they start watching the second season.) Many people I know, won't even watch pilots, until they know a show has a second season. I'm hoping for a second season of PNW, not just for them, but for myself.
I'm looking forward to buying the DVD for all the extras, lol.
As for the danger, now that the characters are established, it can be ramped up, including the danger of a time-line changing that has been done so well in the original. I would love to see a missing sports team, a plant that has gone away (used to be eaten and/or medicinal), a missing pet or entire species, or other such little changes that will bring to the audience the power of messing with time.
Depending on what in the time-line has changed (dramatic music), Evan Cross may not be allowed to enter anomalies in the world he enters (which would make sense) or he may not exist, literally being a man out of time. LOL!
Usually, when a spin off occurs from a BBC production, it's merely a redoing of scripts without understanding why the original worked so well. Primeval New World (PNW) didn't do that. It takes place in the same universe, at the same time but from a different perspective. The writers, cast and crew, are coming at it fresh while keeping the rules from the original series. I love it.
One of my favourite things is that the main male lead, Evan Cross (Niall Matter) is a beta character, not the standard alpha. He's smart (genus level), active and engaging. The character doesn't solve every problem with a gun, doesn't do the 'macho' stuff that turns such characters quickly into caricatures of leading men. He's believable and relatable. And like all good characters, he's wounded in a way the audience can connect to. He's emotionally stuck in a state of mourning for his wife, whose death he feels responsible for.
The other primary characters Dylan Weir (Sara Canning) and Mac Rendell (Danny Rahim) aren't fluff but integral. They work together well. There is conflict, where the lead, Evan Cross (Niall Matter) uses his position of 'boss' to keep control. I love the fact that this power has been taken from him by the direction the show has travelled. Now he only has the friendships he's developed to try and advert disaster with. This is excellent.
The supporting characters come across more like secondaries, which is wonderful. They are quirky, are carrying their own baggage (which gives them depth) and carry their own weight both on and off camera.
I love the fact that the government has stepped in. This is something that would happen. Trying to keep a lid on the incursions, is clearly impossible in this day and age (cell phones, cameras, etc.). I hope the show gets a second season and continues to deal with this issue, along with the many others brought up. I would love the fact that a little change further back is more damaging then a dead dino relatively recently. (Think dropping a snowball down a mountain that leads to an avalanche at the bottom.)
Who among our friends are watching PNW? It seems to appeal to those in their 20s to the late 40s (going by my friends and acquaintances). Of course, we have quite a few friends who do the second season truth, as they call it. (They refuse to watch any series until it has a second season, they then watch the entire first season in one or two sittings, before they start watching the second season.) Many people I know, won't even watch pilots, until they know a show has a second season. I'm hoping for a second season of PNW, not just for them, but for myself.
I'm looking forward to buying the DVD for all the extras, lol.
As for the danger, now that the characters are established, it can be ramped up, including the danger of a time-line changing that has been done so well in the original. I would love to see a missing sports team, a plant that has gone away (used to be eaten and/or medicinal), a missing pet or entire species, or other such little changes that will bring to the audience the power of messing with time.
Depending on what in the time-line has changed (dramatic music), Evan Cross may not be allowed to enter anomalies in the world he enters (which would make sense) or he may not exist, literally being a man out of time. LOL!
Seriously? Are we looking at the same show?
brainwerx-110 January 2013
Warning: Spoilers
After seeing the first couple of episodes, I realized that 1) it was not going to live up to the original 2) is it me or do this people seem whinier, and wimpier? Frankly, there are many things that could have been done better.
Granted, there are some neat twists (I'm not including spoilers), but not enough to make this show even remotely compelling to watch. The writing is truly mediocre at best (no I could not do a better job, but I'm not a writer), the acting ... on par with the writing. Overall, it is a really poor runner up to the original series. If this makes a the full episode list for the season I really wonder what the hell are you people smoking?!?!?!
Over all, I feel that my ranking of 2 is generous. But, I am a harsh critic and really was looking forward to a better show! Too bad!
Granted, there are some neat twists (I'm not including spoilers), but not enough to make this show even remotely compelling to watch. The writing is truly mediocre at best (no I could not do a better job, but I'm not a writer), the acting ... on par with the writing. Overall, it is a really poor runner up to the original series. If this makes a the full episode list for the season I really wonder what the hell are you people smoking?!?!?!
Over all, I feel that my ranking of 2 is generous. But, I am a harsh critic and really was looking forward to a better show! Too bad!
Primeval New World
filathor15 February 2013
Warning: Spoilers
This series started of a little slow,and with little progress,but as the series developed, I like it more and more. The story arcs follows some of the same stories as the original series; Dinosaurs and creatures from a time that was.But in a different country(Canada) and time frame.But as the series episodes continues on, we get small hints about what happens in the British series and the old team.so there is a continuation from that show,the last episodes are fantastic. which promises very very good for more seasons, that will bring that continuation even further.
When it comes to the the cast, it was at first little weird to look at new faces in a show, that I knew and was so familiar with from the beginning of the British series, But with a good continuation from the original,even if they were a little stiff at first , they get warm in their suits fast and gets both likable and good.
The show has lots of promises and become a great great show, if the writers keep up the pace and keeps its audience on their edge,and blend in some hints and maybe some of the old cast here and there, its after all a crossover show from the original series,and that means that they need to keep it true to its original show but still be able to bring in new stories and get the show to flow in both new directions and still be a series they can call Primeval.
But there is one thing I cant get used to, and that is the main title theme.Its not the original main theme from primeval by Dominik Scherrer ,wich was a symphonic driven fast paced theme ,that told everyone that watched the show, This is Primeval.Now its some what slow and boring compared to the old theme.So please consider to bring back the original main theme.
Besides that,the show is great,it does not lack on creatures and it does not lack in suspense.
So this is a show I would recommend to all to watch that likes dinosaurs and action. well done.
When it comes to the the cast, it was at first little weird to look at new faces in a show, that I knew and was so familiar with from the beginning of the British series, But with a good continuation from the original,even if they were a little stiff at first , they get warm in their suits fast and gets both likable and good.
The show has lots of promises and become a great great show, if the writers keep up the pace and keeps its audience on their edge,and blend in some hints and maybe some of the old cast here and there, its after all a crossover show from the original series,and that means that they need to keep it true to its original show but still be able to bring in new stories and get the show to flow in both new directions and still be a series they can call Primeval.
But there is one thing I cant get used to, and that is the main title theme.Its not the original main theme from primeval by Dominik Scherrer ,wich was a symphonic driven fast paced theme ,that told everyone that watched the show, This is Primeval.Now its some what slow and boring compared to the old theme.So please consider to bring back the original main theme.
Besides that,the show is great,it does not lack on creatures and it does not lack in suspense.
So this is a show I would recommend to all to watch that likes dinosaurs and action. well done.
50/50
bravo1127 December 2012
The BEST thing about Primeval: New World is that it shows how brilliant the ORIGINAL Primeval series is. The original is like your favorite childhood desert, so tasty and flavorful. Now, as an adult, you find that while someone has resurrected the brand, it's now just bland and nothing special.
In New World, the main character is Evan Cross, the team LEADER, unlike the original where Conner, the sidekick, is the protagonist. Except for the "pocket change" appearance of Conner in the 1st episode, the surviving original cast are nowhere to be seen, nor are any story lines carried forward. New World is "leader centric" - everything revolves around Evan, so no risk of anything happening to him... Yawn.
The series does pick up (trudging through 8 episodes), and episode 8 does have a nice twist, unlike the original where a number of episodes had "nice" twists. Here, most episodes are "cookie cutter": man-eating creature {fill in the blank name} comes through, causes havoc, and must be returned to its own time. Yawn.
What you don't see is the humor of the original: James Lester is SORELY missed. The Conner/Abby relationship interest is replaced by a triangle (or should that be quadrangle if you don't exclude the dead), but the situations merely serve as pauses between the man-eating dino's (as in CGI is expensive, and we need to have 45 minutes in an episode, so...). Yawn.
Again, where the original had an arc, a sense of direction carried through multiple seasons, a PLAN (I imagine the creators had a notebook with a design of where they wanted to be at the end of each season, for a number of seasons, with directions of how to get there), New World's playbook seems to be "Let's make Season ONE, and we'll worry about subsequent seasons IF we're renewed. It seems that a shorter season (original) IS better than a longer season (New World).
So maybe it'll pick up after the Christmas break. It is worth slogging through the season so far just in case. Consider it an "ironing" program - you know, something that you can watch while you iron, distracting, but not something you have to, nor want to, devote full attention to. (Maybe that's their market: an audience wrapped up in texting, checking e-mail, needing noise as background).
In New World, the main character is Evan Cross, the team LEADER, unlike the original where Conner, the sidekick, is the protagonist. Except for the "pocket change" appearance of Conner in the 1st episode, the surviving original cast are nowhere to be seen, nor are any story lines carried forward. New World is "leader centric" - everything revolves around Evan, so no risk of anything happening to him... Yawn.
The series does pick up (trudging through 8 episodes), and episode 8 does have a nice twist, unlike the original where a number of episodes had "nice" twists. Here, most episodes are "cookie cutter": man-eating creature {fill in the blank name} comes through, causes havoc, and must be returned to its own time. Yawn.
What you don't see is the humor of the original: James Lester is SORELY missed. The Conner/Abby relationship interest is replaced by a triangle (or should that be quadrangle if you don't exclude the dead), but the situations merely serve as pauses between the man-eating dino's (as in CGI is expensive, and we need to have 45 minutes in an episode, so...). Yawn.
Again, where the original had an arc, a sense of direction carried through multiple seasons, a PLAN (I imagine the creators had a notebook with a design of where they wanted to be at the end of each season, for a number of seasons, with directions of how to get there), New World's playbook seems to be "Let's make Season ONE, and we'll worry about subsequent seasons IF we're renewed. It seems that a shorter season (original) IS better than a longer season (New World).
So maybe it'll pick up after the Christmas break. It is worth slogging through the season so far just in case. Consider it an "ironing" program - you know, something that you can watch while you iron, distracting, but not something you have to, nor want to, devote full attention to. (Maybe that's their market: an audience wrapped up in texting, checking e-mail, needing noise as background).
The Dinosaur and the Elephant
o-lO-o-Ol-o22 December 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Both shows, Primeval (2007) and Primeval: New World (2012), primarily revolve around the premise of detecting holes in the universe followed by finding prehistoric dinosaurs that pop out of those holes, capturing them, and sending them back through to the other side. The 2007 series eventually introduced creatures from the future. It is logical to assume that the 2012 series will do the same. However, the penultimate discovery in the original series was the ability to maintain some degree of control over the anomalies, such as predicting and locking them. That showed promise, from which could have arisen a unique blend of elements from the past and future while mostly taking place in the present. Yet, they failed to find that balance and instead chose to reveal that, ultimately, the workings of a psychotic lady managed to influence a billionaire into creating a failed energy producing experiment that would ruin the Earth's atmosphere and ozone layers, thus resulting in an End of Days scenario. In other words, that show was doomed from the moment they introduced Doom's Day. The 2012 series will follow in the same footsteps if they take a similar route.
The 2007 series failed to realize the full potential of what made up half of the premise of the show: science fiction. The title in itself, Primeval, emphasizes the significance of the other half of the show: monster thriller. The moment the show creators decided to introduce the subject of time travel into the mix, and with an extreme science fiction flavor, while relying too much on the dinosaur component with mostly asinine uses of characters, is the moment that we found a very large elephant in the room. We only received half of a story. Dinosaurs running a muck in present day? Sure, that works. Ignoring the catalyst with which that is even possible? No. While they obviously didn't entirely ignore the catalyst - the anomalies - they never fully explored that component of the show and, thus, led themselves into a dead end.
The 2012 series has the monster thriller component with the potential of a fully realized science fiction component. However, it is mimicking one of the weaker points of the original series: the asinine uses of characters. While both shows incorporate the characters' usefulness to somewhat of an effective degree, only the new series has potential of steering clear of the abysmal mistakes of the original. Both shows manage to make do with the characters that they have, yet the original also failed to introduce new characters with different back-stories that could've provided great momentum for the series. It's not too late for the new series to do that. Likewise, it's not too late for the new series to fully realize the science fiction component. However, if they continue to rely too heavily on asinine uses of characters, then they will only end up with a disappointment on par with the original series.
If the writers and producers of the new series put any effort into avoiding the mistakes made in the original series, then they will remind themselves of the very title of the new show. Primeval: New World. The monster thriller is in the Primeval. The science fiction is in the New World. If they incorporate a balance of both components, then the show could be a success.
The 2007 series failed to realize the full potential of what made up half of the premise of the show: science fiction. The title in itself, Primeval, emphasizes the significance of the other half of the show: monster thriller. The moment the show creators decided to introduce the subject of time travel into the mix, and with an extreme science fiction flavor, while relying too much on the dinosaur component with mostly asinine uses of characters, is the moment that we found a very large elephant in the room. We only received half of a story. Dinosaurs running a muck in present day? Sure, that works. Ignoring the catalyst with which that is even possible? No. While they obviously didn't entirely ignore the catalyst - the anomalies - they never fully explored that component of the show and, thus, led themselves into a dead end.
The 2012 series has the monster thriller component with the potential of a fully realized science fiction component. However, it is mimicking one of the weaker points of the original series: the asinine uses of characters. While both shows incorporate the characters' usefulness to somewhat of an effective degree, only the new series has potential of steering clear of the abysmal mistakes of the original. Both shows manage to make do with the characters that they have, yet the original also failed to introduce new characters with different back-stories that could've provided great momentum for the series. It's not too late for the new series to do that. Likewise, it's not too late for the new series to fully realize the science fiction component. However, if they continue to rely too heavily on asinine uses of characters, then they will only end up with a disappointment on par with the original series.
If the writers and producers of the new series put any effort into avoiding the mistakes made in the original series, then they will remind themselves of the very title of the new show. Primeval: New World. The monster thriller is in the Primeval. The science fiction is in the New World. If they incorporate a balance of both components, then the show could be a success.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
