Customer Reviews

Primeval: Volume 1 (Series 1 and 2)

5 star:		(59)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Possibly a few scattered SPOILERS...

Okay, the Brits have sure been bringing it to the TV sci-fi genre. Originally aired on the U.K.'s ITV network, PRIMEVAL is the latest offering to reach the States, and, to me, it's just as addictive as DOCTOR WHO (Doctor Who - The Complete First Series) or TORCHWOOD (Torchwood - The Complete First Season).

PRIMEVAL basically plonks prehistorical and futuristic monsters into the present and has them scaring the bejesus out of the unsuspecting British population. These often frightening beasties come from rifts in the space-time continuum which are manifesting unpredictably in the U.K. A small team of scientists, led by maverick evolutionary professor Nick Cutter, investigates these temporal doorways. But Cutter and company are often hampered by the British government, which (perhaps understandably) seeks to keep a lid on these mind-boggling goings-on. But it's hard going, keeping it all on the covert, what with these things occasionally popping up in public areas and a certain young member of the team unable to quite keep his mouth shut. Anyway you slice it, to quote the resident nerd Connor Temple, "I think the scientific term is 'really bad news.'"

As the team encounters each new anomaly, the mystery just deepens. Each anomaly presents its own challenge, as a different and often lethal entity seems to emerge each time. Cutter states that "Some force out there ripped the boundaries of space and time to shreds." I can't say how far away this show is from answering that big conundrum, but the journey to that revelation can't be any more fun and exciting. Meanwhile, a running story arc involves Cutter's long-vanished scientist wife, Helen, whose mysterious disappearance eight years ago has been torturing him ever since. Ensuing episodes provide an answer, and it's one that Cutter doesn't feel too good about. Anyway, Cutter's wife proves to be crucial to figuring out what's going on.

What first jumps at you is how convincing these paleontological horrors look. And what a range of nightmarish creatures. The pilot features a killer dinosaur and a lovable flying lizard. Further episodes would provide creepy arachnids and monster centipedes skittering and crawling in the London Underground, sea monsters in the basement, dinosaur raptors tearing up shopping malls, and a mammoth rampaging on the freeway. It makes for an arresting contrast and it's so dang cool, seeing these fantastical hundred-million-years-old creatures messing about in modern-day U.K. That they're so realistically rendered allows these episodes to generate ample levels of suspense and fear. Those spiders... Uuuuggghhhh...

But not all the creatures are gross and scary. One of my favorite and funniest episodes features the now extinct dodos, who are cute and bloody stupid (they also come carrying deadly parasites). By the way, I really like this one also because it shines the spotlight on Andrew-Lee Potts, who is simply fantastic in the episode's closing minutes.

The acting is far from shabby. While the characters initially play second fiddle to the creatures, most of the cast do grow on you. I happen to think that the most endearing ones are the aforementioned Connor Temple (Andrew-Lee Potts) and Abby Maitland (Hannah Spearritt). Connor is the most sympathetic character here, a student of Prof. Cutter, although Connor never went to any of Cutter's seminars. He also gives us the most laughs. Abby is the reptile zoologist but, more importantly, she looks smoking in skimpy undies. The team's leader, Nick Cutter, is reserved and brooding and obsessed in all the ways that render me indifferent. Stephen Hart is the lab technician, and, for purposes of good TV ratings, fills in the role of all-around handsome devil and intrepid man of action. As a fellow guy, I'm rather jealous of him. Rounding out the core characters of Series 1, the lovely Claudia Brown, of the British Home Office, serves as the team's supportive government liaison.

Meanwhile, a character pops up the third episode, someone who's been temporally around the block and now touts a more clinical and longview perspective with regards to humanity and its future. This character would prove to be the most fascinating person in the series.

Series 2 introduces several new key characters: Jenny Lewis, a public relations officer, and Oliver Leek, another of Cutter's assistants. I don't want to spoil anything, so the less said about them, the better. Series 2 tends to focus more on futuristic and even more dangerous predators. Series 2 also really puts the characters thru the wringer.

There's a bit of a soap opera factor here. These actors are beautiful folks, so romantic tensions are expected. Assorted crushes and pinings develop, and, yes, I've my own ideas as to who I want paired up. Connor's my dude, and he's liking someone fierce. But the odds are against him. To my regret, PRIMEVAL doesn't even try to be as racy as, say, TORCHWOOD. Did I already mention that Abby looks really good scampering about in her undies? It bears repeating, says the pig in me.

Time twists and shocking reveals and the deepest of betrayals. And heaps of cool monster action. Keep on watching, and don't be too surprised when you get rapidly drawn into the story. PRIMEVAL - THE COMPLETE SERIES 1 & 2 collects Series 1 (six episodes) and Series 2 (seven episodes). The good news is that production for Series 3 is already underway. With the bar having already been raised so high, I can't imagine what's in store for us in Series 3, which is projected to contain 10 episodes. But keep raising that bar, ITV...

Those of you who subscribe to BBC America, you are in for a treat - Primeval (Series One) is coming soon. For the rest of you, here's your chance to buy a great series ahead of the curve. I have the Complete Series One and Two from Region 2 (UK) and I'm going to assume that they are the same even though no details were provided.

It's a great series about time portals being discovered by the British government when creatures from prehistoric time (and the future in the second season) suddenly appear to wreck havoc on it's citizens. An evolutionary zoologist named Nick Cutter (Douglas Henshall) is brought in to contain the problem. He brings his assistant, Stephen (James Murray), the UK equvilent of post grad assistant (Hannah Spearritt), and the newcomer - a geeky college student with a gift for prehistoric info (Andrew Lee Potts).

Of course this group butts heads with the government types but there is romance too between Dr. Cutter and the government agent (Lucy Brown). At least until Cutter's lost wife (Juliet Aubray) reappears with one of the time portals. There are romantic undercurrents with the grad student and the assistant and the college geek as well. It all plays out nicely. There is plenty of witty banter and cool creatures to keep everyone entertained. Although none of it is very scary, I know the spider and bug episode from Series One really creeped me out.

For the parents out there: it's rated PG. It has some prehistoric creature violence but it is not too gory. There is a scene of a woman walking around in her underwear and tee shirt but nothing serious.

I predict this series will be a huge hit here too. The special effects are outstanding for a tv series. This show was made by the same guys who did Walking with Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Park. My only problem was with the poor production value in the transfer to dvd, some scenes are totally washed out and others too dark. I did not deduct any points since it is not the series fault.

Each series is made up of six episodes on two discs. My version contains extras on the making of the series on Series One and commentaries on Season Two.


co-creator - Tim Haines
co-creator & writer - Adrian Hodges

I'm not going to go on another rant about canceled sci-fi/fantasy series again. I'm not! Instead, I'm going to praise the good people of Great Britain for bringing us quality entertainment when nobody on our side of the Atlantic will do so. God bless the BBC for giving shows like this one and Hex room to grow. "Primeval" is packed with cool characters with charming accents, great-looking CG beasties by the boatload, beautiful women with the inevitable sexual tension that results from hot people working together under high-stress situations, some wicked good humor, and more of the mind-bending time-travel conundrums that sci-fi fans flip for than you can shake a velociraptor at. If you like dinosaurs, time-travel, or science-fiction thank the BBC for this gift.

The series follows a group of scientists whose job it is to keep under wraps a series of anomalies in the form of space-time rips. Through these rips, something inevitably comes out and other things go in which could potentially lead to world-ending results. What if an advanced predator from the future got loose in our time and bred, leading to the extinction of the human race? Or if a diseased rat went back in time and ended life on Earth before mankind ever existed? And ain't it a pain when you go back in time just as you're about to seal the deal with the hottest girl on the show and come back only to find that nobody knows who the hell you're talking about? So whenever one of these portals opens, our protagonists have to track down the monster-of-the-week, solve the problem, attempt to study the cause of the rift, and then lie like hell to cover the whole thing up. But wait, there's more! There's always more. One of our heroes' ex-wife left ditched him years ago to become a time-travel survivalist and now she's back. Just what for? Probably has something to do with the other strange people who keep showing up at the sites of the anomalies. Just a guess.

The show starts off admittedly slow. it took me several episodes just to decide who was hotter: Claudia, the voluptuous brunette, or Abby the tomboyishly cool bleach-blonde. Adding to the cast who seem devoid of personality at first but soon grow on you are geeky-chic Connor, Nick Cutter the stoic bada$z of the group, and his aforementioned AWOL wife Linda (manly, but still hot). The monsters vary from an evolved predatory sea lion from the future to a mammoth rampaging on a freeway to a sabre-toothed tiger lurking in the woods near an amusement park. That last one leads to a blatant Jaws homage that is as amusing as it is embarrassing for our friends. Naturally, no prehistoric monster show is getting too far without a few raptors wrecking up the place after Jurassic Park made them everybody's favorite, but they're saving the really big gun for a later date in a grand show of restraint. Bravo! My only complaints are of a nerdy nature and involve things like the scientists mixing up the meanings of "venom" and "poison", the notion of surviving a giant centipede bite when a regular centipede bite can potentially kill a man, and Tremors-inspired menace that turns out to be an arthropod that is not only not streamlined for rapid underground travel but can walk normally above ground yet doesn't bother to do so when it's prey scrambles onto a rock. Trying to build suspense, I suppose. [rolls eyes] These are the kinds of useless predators that would go extinct before they could evolve. Nitpicky, yes; but these problems could have been fixed with a little common sense and/or research.

More high points include the hottest girlfight I've seen since Buffy Season 3's Slayer showdown, an evolved bat that makes for the most terrifying of the show's monster gallery (until it's sadly overused in future episodes), a romance that's too good to be true, and a second-season finale that brings the whole gang together and gives you a final scene that will drop your jaw at the possibilities of the show's next volley. It can't come too soon for me. This is highly recommended science-fiction hotness with killer special effects, a rock-solid cast, and more mysteries to solve yet. The episodic nature of the shows makes it possible for casual fans to drop in and out without getting too lost, but there is a definite arc that fans will absolutely want to follow to it's conclusion.

4 1/2 stars rounded up for giving the people what they want: monsters and lots of them!

A clever, well written series put into production to compete with "Doctor Who", "Primeval" focuses on a team of scientists dealing with a series of anomalies that create a tear in time and space allowing creatures from other time periods in Earth's future and past to slip through to the present. Eschewing the sexuality that "Torchwood" seems to focus on (sometimes to its detriment), "Primeval" works primarily due to some strong scripts, strong performances and some very good CGI to created convincing dinosaurs and monsters from other times.

Professor Cutter (Douglas Hensall) and his team Stephen (James Murray), Abby (Hannah Spearritt) and Connor (Andrew-Lee Potts)must contend with these creatures and find a way to prevent them from chowing down on humanity. There is a wrinkle in their plan--Cutter's wife Helen (Juliet Aubrey) shows up after having disappeared eight years ago and knows more about the "anomalies" than she's telling.

This set contains all 13 episodes which comprised both the first and second season of the series. Although the series could easily become repetitive (and there are a couple of episodes that don't live up to the promise of the first season), the second season makes up for that by including an unusual story arc that alters Cutter's team significantly. I can't say much more than that without spoiling the show but if you enjoy "Doctor Who" and "Torchwood" you'll enjoy "Primeval". I actually found it to be better than "Torchwood" and almost on a par with the best episodes of "Doctor Who".

The DVD set includes two featurettes one on the series creation and other that takes us behind-the-scenes with Andrew-Lee Potts. We also get two commentary tracks on episodes 7 & 10 (which was the 4th episode of season two). I would suggest beefing up the extras next time perhaps giving us behind-the-scenes footage on the story planning for season three (which I understand will be shooting next year) and commentary tracks with a mix of cast, crew and visual effects wizards to give us a better perspective the making of the episodes.

Overall, this is quite a good show with some nice but limited extras.

Yes, this series is a "monster of the week" show, but
it is a lot of fun, the monsters are so realistic that
you would swear they are real, and the characters are
very likable. Some TV series just don't work because the
characters don't "click" with each other, but all of the
characters in Primeval do. After watching the first two
episodes, I figured the character "Connor" would be a
pain to watch, but after watching several more episodes
he became very likable - mostly because his character
is so honest and open. Then there is the character "Abby",
who - besides being terminally cute - is also a strong
young women who adds a lot to the show besides just eye-
appeal - especially when running around in her underwear.
The plots are very interesting & most of all - they are
original, and since the characters can visit both the past
and the future, the variety of sub-plots is unlimited.

Despite the fact that the characters speak a strange version
of English (bits of which is barly intelligible), & drive
their cars on the wrong side of the road, I find this show
very enjoyable. In fact it is much too good to watch on TV,
where it is interrupted constantly by commercials. Therefore
after seeing only two episodes on the Sci-Fi Channel, I
quickly ordered this package of 4 disks from amazon, & have
now watched the series multiple times commercial free. I
wish this show a long run, and I hope to be able to order
many more DVDs of new episodes. Of course I will instantly
order Series 3 as soon as it becomes available on DVD.

I sooo agree with the First Review If I could I woud give Primeval 10 Stars. The Past Creatures and the Future Creatures are Fantastic. My Fav Star is Rex, The Last Show in season 1 the Battle of the Gorgonopsid and the Future Predator (Bat Critter) Was Great,
I Own Season 1,2 from the UK. I Look forward to season 3,(And getting the DVD season 3 when it comes out!!) and they are Making more shows (10 I belive,They wanted 13, Hears Hoping) Watch it you will Like it.
And the Book "shadow of the Jagaur" Is Just as Good.

My son recently loaned me "Primeval: Volume 1 (Series 1 and 2)," an amazingly written, directed, acted, and (CGI) visual effects filled British television series. After watching all the episodes, I went on-line to find out if more episodes were available. Much to my surprise, the thirteen episodes (on the four disc DVD set) are actually the first two seasons, and that Season Three will not even air until "Spring 2009" in England. I found no indication of when it will air in the US! (Since I don't have access to cable, I guess I will be waiting a very long time to watch the next (ten) episodes--if they release Season Three separately).

While reading about the DVD set, I also read the "Customer Reviews" and was interested in how many people commented on the lack of information available about the DVDs; that is, there is no separate disc/episode guide or description of the regular and bonus features.

Knowing that I would want to know more about what is on the DVDs, if I did not already have access to them, I decided to write this review to provide some of this information. Therefore, I have listed here, for each of the four discs in the set, the picture on the disc itself, the trailers before the Main Menu, the information on the menu page, the information on the sub-menus for the "Episode Selection" and "Scene Selection" options, and a short description of the bonus materials--including who does the episode commentaries.

Disc 1: Claudia Brown (Actress Lucy Brown) seen through creature's teeth
Trailer for "Planet Earth" DVDs, HDVDs, and Blue Ray
Animated Advertisement for BBC America
PRIMEVAL
DISC 1
PLAY ALL
EPISODE SELECTION
Menu Options:
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
MAIN MENU
SCENE SELECTION
Menu Options:
Episode 1, Scene 1-6, NEXT MAIN MENU
Episode 2, Scene 1-6, NEXT MAIN MENU BACK
Episode 3, Scene 1-6, MAIN MENU BACK
SUBTITLES ON/OFF (English only; in black bar and picture on my set)

Disc 2: Abby Maitland (Actress Hannah Spearritt) reaching up to Rex
Trailer for "Robin Hood - Season Two" DVD set
PRIMEVAL
DISC 2
PLAY ALL
EPISODE SELECTION
Menu Options:
Episode 4
Episode 5
Episode 6
MAIN MENU
SCENE SELECTION
Menu Options:
Episode 4, Scene 1-6, NEXT MAIN MENU
Episode 5, Scene 1-6, NEXT MAIN MENU BACK
Episode 6, Scene 1-6, MAIN MENU BACK
BEHIND THE SCENES--45:46 minutes
(FEATURE SUMMARY: Aired 17 March, 2007, narrated by James Murray. Discussions about: creating the show; casting the actors; filming the show; doing blue screen and stunt work; and creating the creatures. Also discussions and personal comments with the cast and crew.)
SUBTITLES ON/OFF (English only; in black bar and picture on my set)

Disc 3: Connor Temple (Actor Andrew-Lee Potts) beating back a Mosasaur
Trailer for "Dr Who" DVDs
Main Menu:
PRIMEVAL
DISC 3
PLAY ALL
EPISODE SELECTION
Menu Options:
Episode 7
Episode 8
Episode 9
Episode 7 Audio Commentary--with Creator Adrian Hodges, Co-Creator
and episode writer Tim Haines, and Director Jamie Payne
MAIN MENU
SCENE SELECTION
Menu Options
Episode 7, Scene 1-6, NEXT MAIN MENU
Episode 8, Scene 1-6, NEXT MAIN MENU BACK
Episode 9, Scene 1-6, MAIN MENU BACK
THROUGH THE ANOMALY with Andrew-Lee Potts--39:35 minutes
(FEATURE SUMMARY: Aired 23 February 2008, narrated by Andrew-Lee Potts. Andrew-Lee Q & A's the cast and crew, and makes sneak up shots of people. This is interwoven with discussions about: the new stage, A.R.C. (Anomalies Research Centre); actor's comments about their characters, costumes, actions, etc.; crews comments; new characters; how CGI work is accomplished; filming at Port of Ventura; use of steady cam; still pictures and their uses; cast antics on set; re-voicing; and the making of toy figures. Ends with a cast and crew set photograph session.)
SUBTITLES ON/OFF (English only; in black bar and picture on my set)

Disc 4: A Pteranodon chasing Prof Nick Cutter (Actor Douglas Henshall)
Trailer for "Walking With Dinosaurs" DVD
Trailer for " Allosaurus"
Main Menu:
PRIMEVAL
DISC 4
PLAY ALL
EPISODE SELECTION
Menu Options:
Episode 10
Episode 11
Episode 12
Episode 13
Episode 10 Audio Commentary--with Executive Producer and Co-Creator
Tim Haines, Co-creator and Head Writer Adrian Hodges, and
Director Jamie Payne
MAIN MENU
SCENE SELECTION
Menu Options:
Episode 10, Scene 1-6, NEXT MAIN MENU
Episode 11, Scene 1-6, NEXT MAIN MENU BACK
Episode 12, Scene 1-6, NEXT MAIN MENU BACK
Episode 13, Scene 1-6, MAIN MENU BACK
SUBTITLES ON/OFF (English only; in black bar and picture on my set)

One aspect I found interesting about the show from the commentary is that in the first season the two directors each had 9 weeks to film and 9 weeks post production for three episodes (in comparison to American and Canadian shows that get 7-10 days total for one episode). Given this extraordinary amount of time, I find it hard to believe the number of production errors in the episodes. For example in one shot Stephen Hart (played by James Murray) has a rifle, then he doesn't, then he does, etc. These problems are even pointed out in the commentaries--especially Episode 7. One other aspect I had a problem with was the unnecessary "unrealistic" scenes. For example, there is a scene where Connor Temple (played by Andrew-Lee Potts) is attempting to pull Abby Maitland (played by Hannah Spearritt) up a ledge, the camera zooms in on their hands as they slowly slide apart. With only their thumbs still grasped, Nick Cutter (played by Douglas Henshall) grabs onto Conner's arm and they quickly pull Abby up! (Again, this is laughed about by the commentators of Episode 10 as being ridiculous).

Having said that, I want to reiterate that "Primeval" is a five star television show with amazing visual effects, strong interpersonal relationships, intriguing plot lines, and wonderful editing that keeps you wanting more.

I watched this when it aired on BBC-America the first time. It's not exactly the highest quality show out there, but its heart is in the right place and I had enough fun watching it that I decided to buy myself the DVDs.

There doesn't appear to be any kind of disc/episode guide included in the packaging. The DVDs are marked with the season and disc number, but nowhere do I see any indication of which episodes are on which discs, much less a summation of what each episode is about. (If it's there and I missed it, please let me know!)

Other than that, the quality of the discs is fine and they play without a problem in both my DVD player and my laptop. Other than the lack of an episode guide, the packaging is good -- better than some other DVD sets I've purchased. Fold-out cardboard sleeves that hold the discs securely but also let you see the disc numbers without having to remove them from the package.

I don't regret the purchase, but I am disappointed in the lack of an episode guide.

I have enjoyed this series. I am a little upset because it has not returned. They can't leave Conner and the rest of the crew in another time dimension.
I enjoy most sci-fi. I am 65 years young. I love to see the new creative side of the production group when they develope new creatures. Please bring them back for another a season.

Old Woman

Great program! Can't find in the stores or at the movie rental locations. Being able to purchase it from Amazon was the best way I could get it. Great service, quick delivery. I Definately reccomend this show to all sci-fi lovers!