Primeval

:

Season 1
Season #: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
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Critic Reviews

  1. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Maureen Ryan
    80
    Though it’s kid-friendly, there are things for adults to enjoy. Henshall is a quietly appealing actor, the pace is crackling and the dialogue has its share of witty asides.
  2. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Ray Richmond
    80
    Dinosaurs are certainly alive and well in Primeval, a crackling-good new BBC America sci-fi series thriller that's packed with vivid CGI prehistoric predators galore and a story line that's almost plausible.
  3. Orlando Sentinel
    Reviewed by: Hal Boedeker
    80
    With its campy humor, poignant drama and potent scares, Primeval will appeal equally to adults and children.
  5. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    80
    Primeval mixes elements of "Jurassic Park” and "Stargate," rarely taking itself seriously while also warning of the consequences of not confronting these threats to mankind.
  6. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    80
    It's a rollicking adventure with decent special effects and better stories and character development than, say, Sci Fi Channel's "Eureka."
  7. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Ginia Bellafante
    70
    The camp factor churned out is fairly high, and with Primeval, a new series starting Saturday on BBC America, it climbs up Big Ben and right on over the top of the London Eye.
  8. Variety
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    70
    The soapy elements are generally a rollicking snooze, and in the premiere, one worries that too many of the dinosaurs will resemble those in "Land of the Lost," stampeding around but never really doing much. Yet the investigation surrounding the anomalies--and Cutter's personal story--does thicken as the series progresses, and many of the computer-animated visuals are striking, especially given the TV budget.
  9. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Kyle Smith
    63
    This show could evolve into something more interesting than a guilty pleasure.
  10. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Mary McNamara
    50
    Almost from the get-go there's far more galumphing than trotting going on, and not all of it done by prehistoric feet. Things pick up in the third episode and there are dodos in the fourth, but it's not enough, no, not nearly enough.

Awards & Rankings

23
#23 Best TV Season of 2007
76
#76 Most Discussed TV Season of 2007
29
#29 Most Shared TV Season of 2007

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 46 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 35 out of 46
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 46
  3. Negative: 9 out of 46
  1. PrimalHunter70
    Apr 22, 2012
    8
    Having watched Series 1-5, I can say that Primeval is a really gripping show to watch. Rarely predictable, there are many twists and turns inHaving watched Series 1-5, I can say that Primeval is a really gripping show to watch. Rarely predictable, there are many twists and turns in the plot to keep the viewer satisfied. The special effects weren't too good in Series 1, but gradually got better, and Series 3 onwards all keep a satisfying level of visual effects. Hopefully, we'll get a Series 6, because I really want this to continue.… Full Review »
  2. MungoS.
    Aug 30, 2008
    4
    even for sci-fi this is unbelievable. Why do so few critters come through to modern times? Why is the dialogn, especially from Douglas even for sci-fi this is unbelievable. Why do so few critters come through to modern times? Why is the dialogn, especially from Douglas Henshall so dry & boring? Why isn't the blonde in more scenes ?… Full Review »
  3. lightningbarer
    Sep 29, 2011
    0
    Having watched seasons 1-4, I decided to post a General Review on the beginning.

    This is perhaps a prime example of bad thinking - British    Having watched seasons 1-4, I decided to post a General Review on the beginning.

    This is perhaps a prime example of bad thinking - British style! And I hate pointing this out, being British myself, but no one seems to either want to or to see it.

    Everything, from the writing, casting, development and production is flawed, in -oh so many ways. There are no genuine characters in this series, only 'character types' i.e. the angry and surly genius, the gun toting hotty, the token female sex kitten, the goofy oddball and the main character love interest. This kind of sloppy, ham-fisted way of writing is(unfortunately)a staple of British drama, with only a few things not tied to that horrible brush.

    While I will express interest and general enthusiasm in the visuals(the animals are all very well done, especially for a British TV budget)-I'm not willing or able to forgive the horrid thing that the visuals make up for. You watch a show, not for the graphics you get to see, but to watch the story unfold, to become interested in the characters and want them to succeed. If-as I am-you're a sci-fi lover, do not expect rational explanations for this, the flag of suspension of disbelief is flying high over this series from the get-go. While with time travel, you can use the flag, this series uses it unabashedly constantly and gives tenchobable answers that would make the crews of Voyager and the NX Enterprise turn and say 'Huh?'

    As the series progresses, you'd think that the writing would improve and the story would get going(we all can agree that it's a rarity that any series gets it all right on the first season)but you'd be wrong, as the series progresses, the rationalizations get more and more ludicrous, to such a level at the end of season three that I practically had to turn off my brain to get through it.

    I'm not expecting a great deal out of season five and I seriously hope that they don't do a season six, plug that money for something that has decent characters and story.

    All in all, the series was flawed from the beginning, with the creator of the documentary Walking with Dinosaurs coming up with the initial pitch idea-ideas for documentaries don't translate well into drama-EVER!    … Full Review »
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