Last weekend in the UK saw the first episode of PRIMEVAL (no connection to any giant croc movie of the same name).

This is the main commercial channel's attempt to ride the recent wave of SF-based success, following on from the DR WHO revival and TORCHWOOD. And it's not half bad, given it's totally formulaic.

The main strength is the cast: Douglas Henshall plays the lead, a moody scientist looking for his missing wife, and there are the usual bunch of implausibly attractive (and young) cardboard characters following him around. And of course they're all mavericks who will be constantly told off by snooty Home Office bigwigs (including comedian Ben Miller and posh Lucy Brown who will inevitably develop an unrequited thing for Henshall in the coming weeks). Rounding out the cast is ex -S Club 7 singer and SEED OF CHUCKY star Hannah Spearritt.

The plot involves, wait for it, a rip in space/time, which appears in a forest and lets assorted dinosaurs and ugly stuff through. And that's concidentally where Henshall's wife is. The effects appear to be a mostly convincing mix of mechanics and CGI, with the exception of one scene where a young boy is menaced by a giant sock puppet posing as a dinosaur. The tone is uneasily pitched between kids adventure and adult SF, and there's a fair bit of TORCHWOOD-style standing around on impressive buildings while staring into the distance. Unlike John Barrowman, Henshall at least looks a bit dishevelled and not like he's about to belt out a show tune.

Next week promises giant bugs and big guns, as well as Spearitt who appears in the trailer in her underwear. Count me in.

No idea when this will hit the US, but it seems to be made with the international market in mind. Could be worth keeping an eye out for it.

It sounded interesting when I read about it in SFX. Glad to know it's finally being broadcast. I suppose there's a reasonable chance it'll show up on BBC America. (Is it a BBC show)?

No it's made by ITV, who are the oldest and biggest of our 3 terrestrial commercial channels. However I believe that ITV have sold shows before to BBC America (eg the hideous Footballers Wives, just to pick one from today's schedule). This series is only 6 episodes long and as I said it looks glossy enough to be aimed at an international audience. And the accents are toned down enough to travel without subtitles. I expect you'll get it soon.

You can also tell it's an ITV show by the big musical build before the commercial breaks.

Lots of ITV stuff on BBC-A, but this could also go to SciFi. They got DOCTOR WHO before BBC-A started airing it and I think I heard they were going to air TORCHWOOD as well. (Did I hear that?)

We've now had 5 episodes of PRIMEVAL in the UK, and it's found its feet very well. The latest episode, a BIRDS rip-off with pterodactyls, was perfect early evening viewing.

The makers seem to have figured out which jokes work and the right level of 'terror' to go for (given the intended family audience). The effects are still occasionally dodgy, and the continuity is all over the place, but the cast play it with a commendably straight face, in particular Dougie Henshall. Some scenes are repeated each week but only get funnier each time - the Special Forces guys are invariably late for the party and do nothing except jump out of vans and run down corridors, and the excuses for the cast to undress are getting a bit tenuous (not that anyone's complaining).

The good news, with only one episode left, is that series 2 has been commissioned. Hopefully they'll find a different plot or two before then, and will develop the angle with Henshall's wife, which has finally started to make more sense.

Season 1 of PRIMEVAL ended last week here in the UK on a high point, with a bit of a shock and a plot direction that no-one saw coming. Unfortunately we'll have to wait almost a year before season 2 is shown, but at least it's left us wanting more. The season 1 DVD is already out on pretty cheap Region 2 PAL, for those with the capability.

It's also left a big hole in Saturday night viewing, hopefully about to be filled by the new series of DOCTOR WHO, which will feature LIFE ON MARS star John Simm as the Master.

By the way, the new (and final) series of LIFE ON MARS has been just as good as the first one. I mentioned it here a few months back but it seems to have been met by general indifference in the US. Anyway, it should be appearing on BBC America soon.

AAAAAAAHHHHH! Doctor Who spoiler! :(

That said, interesting choice (seeing Eric Roberts again would have been cool though).

Primeval - they've sort of hinted at it throughout the series, though no one seemed particularly concerned about the possibility. I have to admit I kept wondering why they didn't have a physicist with them, but that's just me. Even so I admit the ending caught me off guard as well.

Looking forward to seeing the rest of Life on Mars and where they finally go with it. It's all pretty ambiguous, except for that creepy little girl. I haven't decided whether she's just an unpleasant Death or just a deathwish.

Oops, sorry Terry. Although apparently there's a publicity shot of him in front of Big Ben in the role, if he's wearing black and a pointy beard then I won't feel as bad.

I wouldn't have minded Eric Roberts returning either, but most people seem to regard the TV movie as an aberration. Then again, most people would rather see Julia Roberts.

As for LIFE ON MARS, I read somewhere that the US version has been delayed due to being unable to find the right actor. I'm intrigued to see which old cop show the hero is pitched into - presumably either STARSKY AND HUTCH or MIAMI VICE. And of course there is no US equivalent of the test card girl.

PRIMEVAL is a "monster of the week" series -- but people talk about it like that's a bad thing! Pretty enjoyable. Thought the cast was strong, the stories pretty decent, and the whole thing about three gazillion times better than TORCHWOOD. Still no DOCTOR WHO or LIFE ON MARS, but entertaining.

I was especially impressed that the final episode was so satisfying -- as it did three things -- evolved the danger to an entirely new level, tied back in to the first episode very neatly, and teased season two with a whole new and seemingly unsolvable problem ahead. All that with what was essentially a PREDATOR rip off.

I'm on the fence re: the DVD until I decide on a new player, my old one's crapped out and I'm not sure if the new will be region free AND do PAL conversions...

-- Peter

The second series/season of PRIMEVAL kicked off here in the UK last Saturday, with a few noticeable differences.

They seem to have used the twist ending to justify a higher production budget and a slightly more adult attitude. The first episode was a DAWN OF THE DEAD -type story with raptors, set in a very glossy mall, which for some reason didn't give us any excuse for Hannah Spearitt to walk around half-dressed. I also missed the hand puppet from the last series.

And I'd better say nothing else for now, except it did follow on more or less directly from the last series and it's still a lot more fun than TORCHWOOD could ever be.

Just saw that BBC America has bought the rights to the first two series of Primeval (13 episodes total).

Also just watched the last ep of series two, very good. Helen, what a Bitch; the only other character I've annointed with that appellation is Azula, from Avatar, The Last Airbender, though of the two, only Helen wants to play God. Looking forward to series three and with any luck some R1 dvds.

It was good to see they managed to end season two with another shock, even if it was a lot more telegraphed this time. And also good to see a series with a genre-savvy attitude (was that a TREMORS or a BLOOD BEACH tribute?) as well as some cinematic moments.

It's just a shame that my nephews are too frightened to watch it now, but I suppose they'll love it in a year or two. Season Two has just been given a 12 certificate on DVD, which is a bit unusual for an ITV teatime show.

I didn't pick up on it; perhaps I was distracted by all the monsters, but I think I see one of the places it'll be going for series three. Only thing is will she stop at just one (evidence suggests otherwise)?

I think most people probably got TREMORS, though I got the BLOOD BEACH (it didn't hurt that I saw a BLOOD BEACH trailer a couple of weeks before).

Well, this thread inspired me to check out the first episode. Sorta neat, but a little too television-y for my tastes... but somehow it clicked and before I knew it, I'd sat through the whole first season. That doesn't happen too often.

Maybe it's that I grew to like the characters (well, aside for one that I never warmed to... and in the season ender found out why).

Fun stuff... can't wait to blow off another night on Season Two.