Primeval (TV Series) Medical Mayhem (2009) User Reviews

Primeval Wars Episode XVI : Ellen Strikes Back

[igoatabase · 7/10 · 13 April 2009]

First the creatures were cute and they actually reminded me of the fourth episode dodos. However I found the scenes involving the pregnant woman quite boring and not original. It has been done so many times, in the French film Neuf Mois for example. Considering the reporter's ethnicity I'm also starting to believe that they only switched to an ensemble cast for legal reasons. But I have to admit that his role could be interesting if the writers decide to better plot the upcoming episodes. There was also that girly scene involving Jennifer and Sarah that I liked because her relationship with Nick is one of the main reasons I watch the show actually.

About the story I was really glad of Helen's return because her charisma reminds me of characters like Trinity (The Matrix) and Ellen Ripley (Alien). What she said about the future really intrigued me and Juliet Aubrey's performance was quite good, it really felt like her character had witnessed horrific events. The scenes involving her soldiers were interesting and warned us about the danger of human cloning. In fact I really enjoyed the "jump" reference to the film The Matrix. Moreover a clone was specially important because someone tried to free its mind from Helen's control voice (A reference to Dune ?). And even if these controversial subjects have already been covered in many works, like the film The Island for example, I think the writers managed to place their own pieces of the puzzle.

Last but not least the ending was anything but expected. It's a major twist and almost felt like a cliffhanger. However I was quite disappointed by the way it was written because it didn't feel right, nearly stupid and the acting was even clumsy at times. However considering the past episodes I expect something even more twisted to happen in the upcoming episodes. Moreover the previews revealed that a supporting character will return and as I really liked its performance… So overall it was an average installment because some scenes were just too annoying. But instead of cursing the writers I think we should use it as an excuse to become fan fiction story writers. Because even if "Whatever Happened, Happened" (Lost) I think that everything is possible when it comes to fiction. And I'm almost certain that Primeval will prove me right so the best is yet to come.

Cute dinosaurs run amok in a hospital while Helen takes over the ARC

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 8 December 2017]

When an anomaly opens up in a hospital Cutter leads the team to discover what is going on. They find that several small herbivorous dinosaurs have come through; they won't attack anybody but as they burrow into the walls they damage the hospital's electricity supply. The team works isn't helped by a journalist, who is determined to break the story about dinosaurs, who locks Cutter and Abby in a room with the anomaly… and a woman who is about to give birth. While all this is going on Helen executes her plan to take over the ARC with her clone army. She has also created a clone of Cutter who goes ahead and opens the facility for her. She captures those inside and when Cutter's team return they are captured too. We then learn why Helen is doing what she has been; she believes that the ARC is responsible for creating the creatures that will end humanity.

This episode was rather impressive; the early scenes in the hospital were enjoyably light-hearted with cute dinosaurs and the journalist failing to get the proof he needed; the second half is rather darker with a real sense of threat as Helen takes over the ARC. I liked how we learn more about Helen's motives and the almost total control she appears to have over her clones. The ending came as a real surprise with a major character apparently killed… there isn't much doubt as it his stated that the person is dead but one never knows. There is some good action in the scenes where the team fight to take back the ARC and an impressive explosion that leaves the building severely damaged. The cast does a solid job; most notably Douglas Henshall who is great as he plays both Cutter and his Clone as they interact, Juliet Aubrey was also notable as Helen. Overall a really good episode that left me very keen to watch the next episode so I can learn whether the character is really dead.