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Primeval: Science Fiction with Dinosaurs

Primeval is a science fiction TV show featuring dinosaurs and other prehistoric reptiles, mammals, insects, etc. who wander into the modern world by way of anomalies.

Nick Cutter, professor of Paleontology and evolutionary zoologist, and his team track down the anomalies try to control the prehistoric creatures while believing there is all something bigger to it.

The team includes: Stephen, Cutter's lab technician, Connor, an uber-geek paleontology student and Abby, a zoo keeper.

The Research, the Anomalies and the Apocalypse

Cutter starts out researching how some prehistoric creatures appear, disappear and then reappear at different time periods. His wife, Helen, is also a scientist in the same field but, Helen has been missing 8 years and is presumed dead. Only she isn't dead at all.

As it turns out Helen has found some part of the answer to Nick Cutter's research. But, her point of view is different. They believe the prehistoric creatures aren't all from our past, some of them could be our future. They think humans are headed for their own extinction and will become some of these creatures in a future time. Helen and Nick both take different slants on how to solve or fix the problem which seems to be caused by these anomalies.

Big Trouble in Modern History

By the end of the second season Stephen has been eaten by prehistoric creatures. Being the security type of guy on the team is hard work. The next security guy is another tall, dark and handsome lad, Captain Becker who has survived so far.

By the end of the third season Nick Cutter himself is deceased. Helen, his dead again wife, is killed by a raptor dinosaur in the next season.

Sarah Page was a good character who joined in season 3 but didn't come back for season 4. They say she was killed during an attempted rescue mission, trying to find Abby and Connor. Sarah Page became a favourite character when she travelled back in time to help a knight and a dinosaur who looked like a dragon. I was sorry her character wasn't there when Primeval got picked up for season 4 and 5.

This TV show has a way of losing main characters, getting temporarily cancelled and yet still coming back with an interesting story and a continuing theme of fixing those anomalies. As of yet, they are not fixed.

My Primeval Favourites

The characters of Abby and Connor have a quiet romance. At one point Connor confesses his love while holding Abby's hand (keeping her from falling over the edge of a steep drop). Later he can't admit he said it and they both let things slide. In later episodes they end a season by having Connor and Abby lost in the time of the dinosaurs, together and unable to get home. Of course, they do get home at the start of the next season.

Even though on and off romances tend to ruin most shows for me, I can't help liking the characters of Connor and Abby as they continue on in their mixed up, quiet romance.

The other character I really enjoy, who has stuck through every season of the show, is James Lester. He's the real stiff upper lip type with a heart of gold. No matter what he is always behind the team, even when he pretends not to care. He isn't the typical leading man and yet he does have many of the usual qualifications in an offkey kind of way. Still, James Lester is the character I like most of all.

The Future for Primeval?

I looked and looked online but there is no hope for a new season for Primeval UK. I didn't read a true, definite 'never', but it looks like it will be a good long wait before we see a return of the UK Primeval crew.

"Primeval New World on Space Channel"), filmed in Vancouver, BC, Canada had one season before being cancelled.  I've seen fans protesting, trying the petition route. But, I have a feeling it won't get a second chance. As a fan of Primeval, I liked seeing the story continue and a couple of the UK characters put in appearances. Actors from Eureka got another science fiction TV show too. But, it was very US-ian. Watching the show I forgot it was Canadian made at all. In that way it was disappointing. I'd still watch if it were back on. I watched every episode of the first season because I wanted to see where they would take the story. So, I would like to see it get more time.

Links to More about the Primeval TV Show

Primeval: New World (The New Version)