Two bitches, so little time. When Nick and Jenny respectively left the show, their names were immediately excised from the credits. And yet, week after week, there we saw Juliet Aubrey’s name. So we knew Helen Cutter was still out there.

Considering she’s been at the center of the anomalies since the beginning, I think we knew we weren’t done with her yet … at least until we’re done with her. My guess is next week’s finale, especially considering the fact that the show’s canceled in the UK after this third season. At least there’s hope of a film and/or spinoff. Read the rest of this entry »

FHM

(Season 2, Episode 6)

Can you believe it’s almost the second series finale of Primeval. And no we won’t get to enjoy the third season premiere the following week. It won’t start until 2009 in the UK, and I’ve not found any specific word on when it might air on BBC America. If they can promise more Hannah Spearritt in her panties than in the first season, I’ll start a campaign right now to get it on the air as soon as possible. Apparently, the show gained some critical credibility and they decided they didn’t need near nudity to sell it anymore. How wrong they are!

That picture over there does not appear in this or any episode of Primeval … but it should. Near nudity always sells a television show. Chuck is a much better show when there’s an excuse to get Sarah in her knickers. Hot chicks always sell, just look at any random billboard. I mean sure, the dinosaurs are kind of cool and there is the threat of Leek and Helen and their cohorts. We do finally get some payoff as to what they’ve been up to all this year, as well as a helluva cliffhanger.

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BBC America

(Season 2, Episode 5)

Well, we’re closing in on the season finale in two weeks, and this time the premiere won’t be coming up a week later. We’re just about caught up to the UK production schedule. With the 10-episode third series tentatively scheduled to begin in January 2009 across the pond, hopefully BBC America will be a little quicker to pick it up and air it in the US than they were these first two seasons.

With the addition of the ongoing menace of Helen Cutter and her ruthless team of hooligans, there’s a whole new layer of suspense and intrigue beyond the “monster of the week.” This week’s addition to our roster of made-up prehistoric beasties initially looked inspired by Tremors. “Get on the rocks!” When Cutter and Stephen head across an anomaly to rescue a missing girl who disappeared through it, they may need rescuing of their own when the anomaly closes in on them.

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BBC America

(Series 2, Episode 4)

I’m just not warming up to Jenny. I miss Claudia and I don’t care that they look identical. I just had to put that out there.

The looming threat hanging over this second series of Primeval came to a little more light in this installment, and even though I didn’t see it coming, I think that was more me just being intellectually and speculatively lazy. In retrospect, there aren’t really any other reveals there could have been, are there? It does add an interesting wrinkle to things in regards to the altered time line, or Primeval 2.0, that we’re living in.

Connor and Abby’s relationship almost took a dramatic move forward, but that damned Caroline keeps getting in the way. In fact, with what she did in tonight’s episode, Connor is clearly not thinking with the right brain to have bought her stupid excuse. Oh, enough of this, let’s get past the jump so we can talk properly.

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BBC America

(Series 2, Episode 3)

While Cutter continues trying to deal with the changes wrought in the series one finale, he’s most distraught by the transformation of Claudia Brown into Jenny Lewis. While he and Brown were developing feelings for one another, Lewis is proving to be more of a thorn in his side. Meanwhile, Abby Maitland has been keeping her pants on the last few episodes, which is a huge disservice to the fan-base. It’s interesting that Lucy Brown (Claudia/Jenny) is only two years older than Spearritt (Abby), and yet on the show the difference seems significantly greater.

Tonight, the gang faces off against a saber-toothed tiger in a theme park. But there may be more going on than just another prehistoric creature coming through another random anomoly. You know, saber-toothed tigers have really long teeth … that can catch on clothes … like Abby’s pants. Or Jenny’s. I’m not picky. I’m not saying it will happen. I’m just saying it should happen.

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BBC

(Series 2, Episode 1 (or in American: Season 1, Episode 7) – Season Premiere … Sorta)

Welcome to Primeval 2.0. After the events of last week’s season finale, Cutter has returned to find that Claudia Brown, for whom he’s grown quite fond, has ceased to exist and he’s the only one who remembers her and the way the world was. Just imagine the possibilities if you could harness this ability and control it. Release a few future bat-children into the past and BAM!, no more ex-wife. You could make a fortune!

It also looks like Team Anomaly has gotten a much bigger budget in reality 2.0, complete with swanky new facilities and arsenal. It all just looks much slicker and more official-like now. All just in time to face one of the nastiest things the Dinosaur Age ever created: raptors! The problem I had was that with this being basically a “monster of the week” formula, it was driving forward by the character relationships and subplots. And then after upending all of that in the finale, it was essentially ignored throughout the first part of the episode to deal with our raptor friend. Read the rest of this entry »