Primeval – Episode 11

BBC America

(Season 2, Episode 5)

Well, we’re closing in on the season finale in two weeks, and this time the premiere won’t be coming up a week later. We’re just about caught up to the UK production schedule. With the 10-episode third series tentatively scheduled to begin in January 2009 across the pond, hopefully BBC America will be a little quicker to pick it up and air it in the US than they were these first two seasons.

With the addition of the ongoing menace of Helen Cutter and her ruthless team of hooligans, there’s a whole new layer of suspense and intrigue beyond the “monster of the week.” This week’s addition to our roster of made-up prehistoric beasties initially looked inspired by Tremors. “Get on the rocks!” When Cutter and Stephen head across an anomaly to rescue a missing girl who disappeared through it, they may need rescuing of their own when the anomaly closes in on them.

In fact, Helen’s inside man, Leek, continues causing problems for the team. He was able to circumvent Connor’s anomaly detector so that he could get the details of the anomaly. We’re still not sure what Helen is after through these anomalies but whatever it is, it’s worth taking lives and bringing in a whole team of her own.

The actual adventure on the other side of the anomaly wasn’t nearly as dramatic as it could have been. I’ll give credit to the actress playing Taylor, as she proved an entertaining foil for Cutter and Stephen while they made their way through Tattooine. The battle at the end between the scorpions, in which Stephen escaped, wasn’t as exciting as it should have been either. Admittedly, at first I though Stephen might just die, but he didn’t. Later, when Cutter was shooting at them and barely escaping … well that all was just too ridiculous, as was the sled ride down the hill toward the new anomaly.

The big questions remaining as we lead up to the finale are: what Helen’s up to, if Leek will get caught before it wraps up, and if they’re going to end the second season by again disrupting the timeline like they did the first. The story potential in dealing with altered timelines is just so unlimited. And I’m still holding out hope that Claudia Brown is out there or that her timeline can somehow be restored. Nick deserves some happiness and I’m just not as interested in a Nick/Jenny relationship.

Clacked by Jason Hughes
on Oct 19, 2008 @ 12:53 EST5EDT