PRIMEVAL: VOLUME THREE (2009)

Primeval – Volume Three collects all 13 episodes of series 4 and 5 originally broadcast in 2011 of this British TV show about a special team that tracks down dinosaurs which have wandered into our modern era via so-called “anomalies” – unexplained portals in the space-time continuum.

An expensive show to produce, Primeval has once escaped extinction, but a deal between several firms saved it for this run of episodes. Since the show wrapped though a Canadian spin-off called Primeval: New World has been announced, but there has been no word as yet as to the future of Primeval itself. A pity, as the show ends on a cliff-hanger of sorts. Primeval does however appear as dead as its dinosaurs . . .

Sad news for sci-fi fans. Despite its faults Primeval has always been entertaining and in many ways more action-packed than, let’s say, Terra Nova, its American “counterpart” show also featuring dinosaurs.

In this volume of episodes some new cast members are introduced as well as old ones returning. Old plot holes also make a return: our team of dinosaur hunters may have a bigger budget this time round thanks to private sector investment, but they never have any backup around when they need it. Union rules regarding over-time one supposes. (Their SWAT team backup is just as expendable as those red- shirted security team members who always got bumped off in old ‘Sixties Star Trek episodes.)

A new villain is introduced in the guise of an evil scientist who wants to harness the power of the anomalies as a renewable energy source, but some more ambiguity would have served the plot better. The character is doing the wrong thing, but for the right reasons. If he had been less of an OTT moustache-twirling style villain then [PLOT SPOILERS!] his eventual self-sacrifice would have been more believable [END SPOILERS!] and there would have been more suspense – what if the “good guys” are actually wrong?

Needless to say if you’re new to this franchise then it is best that you start at the beginning. It isn’t necessary to have seen any of the earlier episodes, but it will make this new batch of episodes a richer viewing experience.

THE DISCS: In addition to the episodes, several “prequel” webisodes are included, but it is unclear who exactly watches this sort of thing. They can be safely skipped. There is also a making-of featurette in addition to the usual trailers, also for BBC shows such as a Doctor Who special and the new Sherlock series (it may not be sci-fi, but is recommended).

WORTH IT? Yes.

RECOMMENDATION: Long-time fans wouldn’t be disappointed. Newbies would want to check out earlier collections. Even those dreaded Brit accents aren’t all that unintelligible . . .