Sunday 13 January 2008

PRIMEVAL

Start Date: 12th January 2008, 7PM
Channel: ITV1


The Dinosaur hunters are back! After last years’ cliffhanger, it should be interesting to see how Nick Cutter can find out what happened to Claudia, who seems to not have existed. It was billed as ‘ITVs answer to Doctor Who’. But its nothing like Doctor Who! Some Doctor Who fans have been almost foaming at the mouth, at Primeval. Labelling it ‘low budget’, ‘poorly acted’ and ‘just plain crap’. These are the same people who praise Torchwood and the BBC in general, so I guess the words, ‘pot’ ‘kettle’ and ‘black’ spring to mind!

Primeval is basically a family show about how different gateways (anomalies) appear and lead to a different prehistoric time - and it works really well! So far we’ve had giant insects, gay lizards and more Dinosaurs than an Eastenders cast! A team lead by university teacher, Nick Cutter, investigates the anomalies and his team just cause more problems than they solve, to be honest!

Personally I would love for the different (because its easier, I going to call them) gateways, to lead to a more recent time zone. That would really piss the staunch WHO fans off!

Perhaps more people will warm to it this year because highly praised Doctor Who writer, Paul Cornell, is writing an episode. It should be interesting to see what he comes up with!

I have only a few criticisms of it – ITV hasn’t promoted it enough. If I didn’t read a TV guide, I wouldn’t have known about it! I haven’t seen any trailers but recently, the only telly program I watch on ITV is corrie! But where are the billboards? The web advertisements? I’m sure if the BBC can do this then certainly ‘the masters of advertising (and ripping off phone callers)’ ITV can!

Another disappointment is the lack of episodes. With no Doctor Who for the next 3(ish) months, surely they could have stretched to 10, 12 or maybe 13 episodes? Unfortunately, only 7 have been commissioned, although we did have 6 last year!

What To Look Forward To: More hot-flat, no clothes antics from a former S-Club ‘singer’ and her lizard.
What NOT To Look Forward To: Constant Ad-breaks (although a few nice brews could be made during these!)

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