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Primeval
Primeval is a British science fiction television programme produced for ITV by Impossible Pictures. Created by Adrian Hodges and Tim Haines, who previously created the Walking with... documentary series, Primeval follows a team of five scientists tasked with investigating the appearance of temporal anomalies across Great Britain and containing prehistoric and futuristic creatures which enter the present. First broadcast in the UK on 10 February, 2007, it has since expanded to an international audience. Overall reception of the programme was positive during the first and second series, maintaining a 25 percent audience share in the United Kingdom during both series to date.[1] Prior to its 9 August 2008 broadcast on BBC America, the programme received generally positive reaction from American critics as well.[2] The third series, which ITV announced on 30 January 2008,[3] began on 28 March 2009 and has now finished. In the US, series 3 premièred on 16 May 2009 on BBC America and has finished airing. On 29 September 2009, it was announced that a deal had been struck between ITV, Watch, Impossible Pictures, German broadcaster Pro7 and BBC Worldwide to produce two new series of the show for transmission in 2011.[4]
SynopsisThe first series followed the efforts of Professor Nick Cutter and his associates as they investigate the appearance of space-time continuum anomalies (called "earthquakes in time") that allow the passage of life-forms through that invariably threaten the lives of citizens. The British government, in the form of the Home Office becomes involved after a gorgonopsid travels through one such anomaly and wreaks havoc in a subdivision. Professor Cutter's wife, presumed missing in the first episodes, is revealed to have been stuck inside one anomaly for years and is now using the anomalies to try to access the future. The final episode of the first series involves the first appearance of a future anomaly, allowing predators from the future access to the present, and ultimately, the past. The second series builds upon the first, in establishing that the destroyed camp of time travelers discovered in the first episode was actually that of the team and that they had created their own past. Due to Professor Cutter and his estranged wife's visit to the camp, they affect the timeline, removing key personnel from the first series. The only people aware of the changes to the timeline are Professor Cutter and his wife. Cast
Initial Third series cast: (left to right:) Hannah Spearritt, Andrew-Lee Potts, Lucy Brown, Douglas Henshall, Ben Mansfield and Laila Rouass (not including Ben Miller, Jason Flemyng and Juliet Aubrey).
The series also uses several minor characters, some of whom appear in several episodes. EpisodesPrimevals first series in 2007 comprised six episodes. Each instalment contributed to a story arc which continued into the second series. The following series in 2008 was slightly longer with seven episodes.[7] The third season began broadcasting on 28 March 2009 in the UK (22 in Spain, 23 in Germany), and had ten episodes.[6] The fourth and fifth series will have 13 episodes between them. ProductionSettingThe series takes place in a alternate universe that shares some features of the times covered in other Impossible Pictures shows such as Prehistoric Park and the Walking with... series. Tim Haines and Adrian Hodges have added places and characters not covered there. There is also the possibility that the Primeverse will be featured in future Impossible Pictures productions as writer Adrian Hodges has stated that he'd like to take the Primeverse "in another direction one day".[8] The series includes various imaginary species which are not native to the series setting, with some being prehistoric and others being futuristic. For the first series, various creatures were designed with some artistic license, for dramatic effect.[9] FilmingThe first series was filmed partly at Pinewood Studios, Black Park, Buckinghamshire, London Underground, New Den Stadium (home of Millwall FC, although apparently the Matchroom Stadium, home of Leyton Orient F.C. according to the official website) and CEME (the Centre for Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence near Ford's Dagenham)[10][11] Whipsnade Zoo, London Zoo, the Canary Islands, Thorpe Park and Bournemouth beach.[12] The Duke of Kent building at the University of Surrey, Guildford is used as the back-drop for the team's HQ, the ARC (Anomaly Research Centre). Filming of the second series completed on 1 October 2007, and was broadcast in early[11] 2008.[13] Caroline Steel and Oliver Leek, portrayed by Naomi Bentley and Karl Theobald respectively, were two new characters for the second series, both of whom conspired with Helen Cutter.[13] WritingThe penultimate episode of the second series was written by Doctor Who scriptwriter Paul Cornell.[14] AdvertisingPrimeval billboards and banners are often erected around London shortly before the airdate. Series 1 has several posters, most of which had exaggerated creatures from the show (the Arthropleura was depicted as being roughly human-sized in the show but was shown as being as large as a house in the billboards). Series 2 and 3 have also had prominent advertising campaigns. Cancellation and revivalIn May 2009, The Sun had reported that Primeval was to be axed owing to ITV's recent admission of a £2.7 billion loss (though not solely as a result of Primeval's budget). ITV strongly denied this claim, with a spokesperson stating "It's not true, it's not going to be axed, it just hasn't been recommissioned and it is not unusual to wait for a series to run before considering recommission."[15] However, by June 2009, ITV confirmed the show was axed.[16] On 15 June 2009, ITV announced that they had canceled the show and that there would not be a fourth series.[16] At the same time, it was suggested that the production team would attempt to keep "Primeval alive in other ways."[17][18] An ITV spokesman is quoted as saying:
A likely contributing factor to the show's cancellation was ITV suffering severe financial troubles during 2009, reporting a £105 million half-year loss. As a result some of its other popular shows including Heartbeat were axed.[19] On 29 September 2009, it was announced that two new series of the show will be produced for transmission in 2011, retaining all the cast of series 3.[20] The new deal means a seven-part season four will air on ITV1 before being repeated on UKTV?s Watch channel, while the six-part season five gets its debut on Watch before showing on ITV1.[21] Filming is due to begin in Ireland in March 2010.[22] Spin-offsPlans for a feature film version of Primeval have been revealed by ITV with Warner Bros. reportedly having acquired the screen rights with Akiva Goldsman and Kerry Foster named as the producers.[23] In addition to the movie, Jonathan Drake and Tim Haines are rumoured to be working on plans for a spin-off series, possibly based in the US.[24] MerchandiseToys and action figuresThe master toy licence for Primeval was given to Character Options, the same company that created the Doctor Who toy line. Jon Diver, joint MD at Character Group, stated that the series one toy line will be "extensive" and was scheduled for release in October 2007, followed by a series two toy line released in January 2008 to correspond with the second series. The toy line includes all of the main characters and a few of the creatures.[25] A large plush toy version of Rex was also put into production. It is unknown if the toys will be shipped over to America. The Primeval Toy line includes:
BooksLadybird Books has so far published 2 sticker books (one of which is a glow in the dark sticker book) a poster book, a tattoo activity title, a wipe-clean activity book, and a summer annual for children from 5?8 years old. They will also publish additional activity titles for February 2009.[26] Puffin Books are also publishing four Primeval paperback books named A Rip in Time, Dangerous Dimension, The Lost Predator and Fight for Survival.[26] Several original novels have also been published by Titan Books, to behave more like extra episodes than novelizations. The first is Shadow of the Jaguar by Steven Savile, which revealed that anomalies do appear overseas. A second novel, written by acclaimed fantasy writer Paul Kearney, is entitled The Lost Island. A third one was released entitled Extiction Event written by Dan Abnett who has also written one of the Torchwood books, and a fourth book entitled Fire and Water.[27] DVD releasesA box set for Series 1 and 2 was released by Warner Home Video on 17 March, 2008 in Region 2 and on 4 November, 2008, in Region 1. These sets were composed of four DVDs with an aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The series were also released individually (not in the US). Series 3 was released in Region 2 on 1 June, 2009, with the finale included before it was aired on television, Series 3 was released in Region 1 on 15 September, 2009. Viewing statisticsThe first episode gained a final viewing figure of 7.09 million people. The series averaged 6.39 million viewers.[28] When shown in Germany it gained a total audience of 2.78 million viewers. These figures do not take into account the viewing figures for repeats of the programme.[29] After all 7 episodes, series 2 averaged 6.29 million viewers making a very slight drop of 100,000 from the series 1 average. Although episode 3.3 received low viewer ratings in the UK, the second half of the show was aired during the opposing BBC transmission of a special edition of Doctor Who.[30][31] Season 3 was also broadcast much later in the year than previous seasons so warmer weather could be a factor to explain a small decrease in viewership but little change in the percentage of audience share. Nevertheless, Primeval remains in the Top 30 most viewed programmes for ITV per week, beating many of the Top 30 for other stations as well.[29] Series 1
Series 2
Series 3
ReceptionTV critic Charlie Brooker reviewed Primeval in the final episode of his BBC Four show Screenwipe, and gave it a rave review saying that it was "far better than Torchwood for instance" commenting "I hope you're listening, Russell T Davies". "Unashamedly Saturday night populist viewing for the masses" with "some of the best special effects I've ever seen... in a British TV show" he went on.[33] First broadcast on BBC America on August 9, 2008, Primeval met with generally favourable reviews among American critics, earning 73 out of 100 on the aggregate review site Metacritic.[2] Calling the show both child-friendly and entertaining for adults, Maureen Ryan of the Chicago Tribune noted the unusual date of the American première, stating that "most networks...have shied away from launching shows during August, when the Beijing Olympics are expected to dominate the TV landscape."[34] Rob Owen of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette praised Primevals special effects and sense of humor.[35] Mary McNamara of the Los Angeles Times criticized the music and emotional direction of the narrative, saying of protagonist Nick Cutter "I know your wife has been missing for years, but ye gods, man, that's a bloody dinosaur."[36] Comparisons have been made between Primeval and the popular BBC series Doctor Who, which is famous for its use of time travel. The producers of Primeval have consistently resisted comparison of the series with Doctor Who, calling Primeval more "reality-based." Actor Douglas Henshall instead compared the series to The A-Team, calling Primeval an ensemble piece featuring characters with different backgrounds who must work together.[37] Torchwood creator and former Doctor Who head writer Russell T Davies commented on the show in 2007, criticizing Primevals lack of ethnic casting as "shameful," but then adding "apart from that, I think it's excellent".[38] The show has since introduced Sarah Page, played by the Moroccan-Indian actress Laila Rouass, as a permanent member of the team. International broadcasts
ReferencesExternal links
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