Primeval 301
hooray! Primeval is back! Oh silly dino fun, how I've missed you.
With no Doctor Who regular series this spring, and all my other shows either off for the season or turning all serious and stuff, I was in desperate need of the wacky and ridiculous.
Overall, it was a mehish episode. I mean, it's Primeval, I'm not asking for the moon, but still. The pace felt very odd, kind of trying to force in the introduction of new characters and new storyline. Not a bad ep, but just sort of middling.
Things that were awesome (aside from the critter, which was, of course, awesome, because, hello, DINO! Dino alligator that can walk on two legs! (I found an alligator lizard on the front walk yesterday. OMG! SO ADORABLE! I LOVE LIZARDS AND DINOS AND LIZARD/DINO COMBOS):
• When I saw promo images of Douglas Henshall's new hair, I thought, man that is some kind of folicular nightmare, but, damn if he wasn't looking really fantastic with the longer hair.
• The wardrobe department lost Cutter's appalling SS jacket! Hooray!
• Conner being, you know, competent and figuring stuff out with the sun cage, while still being Conner.
• Abby having lines and things to do! Admittedly, they were much better about this in series two, but still, it's nice to see they haven't regressed.
• "You can't change the past." "You don't know the half of it, Claudia Brown." Heh.
• Lester being all wigged at the military liaison chick hitting on him right and left. And also, Lester in general, but particularly "well, you know have her shot, and dispose of her body discretely. Just kidding."
• Helen Cutter, looking evil and fabulous and viciously up to no good, as ever.
• The effects looked really excellent. Dino, horrifying bat people, apocalyptic future city.
• Storylines that seem to be going somewhere, rather than just chasing random anomalies all over England.
Things less good:
• One step forward, two steps back with the wardrobe department -- they've continued the Claudia Brown/Jenny Lewis fashion nightmare. What in the hell was that blue, frilly blouse thing she was in? Just, no. And also, they've continued with the weird Conner neckerchief fetish. I don't remember if they made him wear the material girl fingerless sleeve-gloves, but I'm afraid to go back and look.
• New spec ops guy isn't nearly as good as old spec ops guy. I will join Cutter in not liking him on principle until I have reason to think otherwise.
• Daniella Jackson (who, I'm sure has a real character name, but, whatever -- maverick egyptologist. Oh, her name is Dr. Page. Okay), and her "I guess I'm just not any good at taking orders." Oh for crying out loud, can we have a independent, mavericky character who does not feel the need to utter that stupid line? Ever? Lester could have obliged me with an eyeroll, but I think it was sort of implied in his "you should fit right in, then."
• The music was a little ... much. Like it wanted to be sweeping and grand but remembered it was on a cheesy tv show with dinosaurs. It sort of overwhelmed some scenes. Ease up on the piccolos, folks.
Next week: When house elves go bad and evil Helen is evil! Welcome back, show. Oh, how I missed you.
With no Doctor Who regular series this spring, and all my other shows either off for the season or turning all serious and stuff, I was in desperate need of the wacky and ridiculous.
Overall, it was a mehish episode. I mean, it's Primeval, I'm not asking for the moon, but still. The pace felt very odd, kind of trying to force in the introduction of new characters and new storyline. Not a bad ep, but just sort of middling.
Things that were awesome (aside from the critter, which was, of course, awesome, because, hello, DINO! Dino alligator that can walk on two legs! (I found an alligator lizard on the front walk yesterday. OMG! SO ADORABLE! I LOVE LIZARDS AND DINOS AND LIZARD/DINO COMBOS):
• When I saw promo images of Douglas Henshall's new hair, I thought, man that is some kind of folicular nightmare, but, damn if he wasn't looking really fantastic with the longer hair.
• The wardrobe department lost Cutter's appalling SS jacket! Hooray!
• Conner being, you know, competent and figuring stuff out with the sun cage, while still being Conner.
• Abby having lines and things to do! Admittedly, they were much better about this in series two, but still, it's nice to see they haven't regressed.
• "You can't change the past." "You don't know the half of it, Claudia Brown." Heh.
• Lester being all wigged at the military liaison chick hitting on him right and left. And also, Lester in general, but particularly "well, you know have her shot, and dispose of her body discretely. Just kidding."
• Helen Cutter, looking evil and fabulous and viciously up to no good, as ever.
• The effects looked really excellent. Dino, horrifying bat people, apocalyptic future city.
• Storylines that seem to be going somewhere, rather than just chasing random anomalies all over England.
Things less good:
• One step forward, two steps back with the wardrobe department -- they've continued the Claudia Brown/Jenny Lewis fashion nightmare. What in the hell was that blue, frilly blouse thing she was in? Just, no. And also, they've continued with the weird Conner neckerchief fetish. I don't remember if they made him wear the material girl fingerless sleeve-gloves, but I'm afraid to go back and look.
• New spec ops guy isn't nearly as good as old spec ops guy. I will join Cutter in not liking him on principle until I have reason to think otherwise.
• Daniella Jackson (who, I'm sure has a real character name, but, whatever -- maverick egyptologist. Oh, her name is Dr. Page. Okay), and her "I guess I'm just not any good at taking orders." Oh for crying out loud, can we have a independent, mavericky character who does not feel the need to utter that stupid line? Ever? Lester could have obliged me with an eyeroll, but I think it was sort of implied in his "you should fit right in, then."
• The music was a little ... much. Like it wanted to be sweeping and grand but remembered it was on a cheesy tv show with dinosaurs. It sort of overwhelmed some scenes. Ease up on the piccolos, folks.
Next week: When house elves go bad and evil Helen is evil! Welcome back, show. Oh, how I missed you.