The second series of ITV’s Saturday night monster-fest, “Primeval“, is much better than the first. The creatures that emerge from the anomalies are much more frightening and far more realistic this time round. Come to think of it, so is Hannah Spearritt’s acting.
The current series has lots more tension. For example, last week Spearritt’s character, Abby, was dragged into a canal by an urban version of the Loch Ness monster. There was an agonising ten minutes where we didn’t know if she would escape. In the event, plucky Abby survived her ordeal with hardly a hair out of place.
This week’s episode was much more emotional though. I mean, it’s one thing to put the human characters in danger. But poor old Rex really doesn’t deserve to be having such a tough time. Last week, he was put in the fridge by Connor’s girlfriend, Caroline; this week, the last we saw of him, he was lying stunned on the floor, while Caroline stood over him ready, we assume, to strike the fatal blow. Our prayers (natch) are with Rex; everyone else can take care of themselves. Can this programme possibly get any more addictive?
By the way, Primeval fans take note: a third series of Primeval is planned for 2009.
We would have let our readers know sooner about the excellent supernatural dark comedy, Reaper — except that we just watched our recording of the last one in the (18 part) series earlier tonight. Sorry, but you’ve missed a real treat, including (and I’m just rubbing it in now, gloating even) Ray Wise giving what may well be the best portrayal of the Devil — or should I say, Jerry Belvedere? — that you will ever see. Well, that’ll teach you to scan the TV listings more carefully, won’t it? Let’s just hope a second series is in the pipeline soon.
