TIME AFTER TIME

Primeval - Series Four, Episode Three. Three strange individuals arrive in an old theatre through an anomaly, quickly followed by a creature. Meanwhile, Matt (Ciarán McMenamin) has another meeting with Gideon (Anton Lesser). At the ARC, Connor (Andrew-Lee Potts) would like to step into action and follow Abby (Hannah Spearitt) and Becker (Ben Mansfield) on field. But Philip (Alexander Siddig) wants him to check a new security protocol.

Axed by ITV after its third series for financial motives Primeval was resurrected under an unexpected funding deal for 13 new episodes (split into "series four" and "series five") filmed in Dublin. Some fortunate changes in the regular cast and Irish locations brought some fresh air and the series premiere showed a real potential. The second episode was classic but effective, with shades of Primeval's first couple of years and a welcome touch of humour.

Written by Debbie Oates and directed by Cilla Ware, this third episode of a 7-episode block has "cost containment" stamped all over it. But the development of the new story arc remains interesting, thanks to two words dropped by Philip and the arrival of anomaly travelers from the 19th century Emily (Ruth Bradley) and mentally damaged Ethan (Jonathan Byrne).

Aired on January the 1st by ITV1, the premiere was watched by 4.4 million viewers but the second episode aired the night after with just 3.2 million. 3.7 million viewers tuned in for the third (1). If at least the next four episodes manage to stay as watchable, this fourth series could serve as a proper word of apologies for the terrible series three. For now that's all we can hope rather than an hypothetic "series six".

(1) http://www.atvtoday.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=468:primeval-continues-to-struggle-in-the-ratings&catid=2:cult-sci-fi&Itemid=5

See also:

http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2011/01/revenge-of-drop-out.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2011/01/primeval-too.html