Primeval: Season 1
User Score
7.3 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 26 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 26
  3. Negative: 3 out of 26

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  1. 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 Henshall so dry & boring? Why isn't the blonde in more scenes ?
  2. 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 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 serie    s, 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!    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
73 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critics

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