Primeval

When strange anomalies start to appear all over England, Professor Cutter and his team must track down and capture all sorts of dangerous prehistoric creatures from Earth's distant past and near future.

Primeval (2007-2011) is a British science fiction adventure series created by Adrian Hodges and Tim Haines for ITV1. Professor Nick Cutter (Douglas Henshall) leads a team that includes his wife Helen Cutter (Juliet Aubrey), Stephen Hart (James Murray), and Matt Anderson (Ciarán McMenamin), tracking dangerous creatures that slip through mysterious anomalies appearing across England. The engine of each episode is a capture mission: the team must locate a prehistoric or near-future beast loose in a town or countryside, contain it, and understand where it came from before it does damage. Over five seasons the show builds a continuing mythology around the anomalies, so the case-of-the-week hunts gradually connect into a larger story. Set in present-day England, it carries a pulpy, energetic register with dinosaur spectacle, brisk set pieces, and an affectionate sense of wonder. Fans of Doctor Who, Torchwood, and Terra Nova will find resonance in its blend of time travel, creature peril, and team-based adventure, along with the monster-movie appeal of Jurassic Park. The tone stays playful and accessible, suited to viewers who want a fast, imaginative ride with a recognizable team at its heart.

Critics and audiences generally enjoy the series for its creature spectacle and fast, family-friendly adventure, though its plotting and acting are often judged uneven.

• Doctor Whocreature-feature sci-fi adventure, time portal premise, serialized monster hunting
• Terra Novadinosaur time travel adventure, prehistoric creatures loose in the present
• Jurassic Park (1993)prehistoric creatures and monster hunting in a contemporary setting
• Torchwoodserialized monster-of-the-week sci-fi with a dedicated investigative team

Created by

Adrian Hodges, Tim Haines

Release Date

2007-02-10

Episode runtime

52 min

Rating

7.2 / 10 (355)

What is Primeval about?

A British science fiction adventure in which a professor and his team hunt dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures that pour through time anomalies into modern England.

What is Primeval like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Primeval as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is Primeval violent?

Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Primeval as mild.

What did critics think of Primeval?

Critics and audiences generally enjoy the series for its creature spectacle and fast, family-friendly adventure, though its plotting and acting are often judged uneven.

Which shows are like Primeval?

Shows with a similar feel include Doctor Who, Terra Nova, Jurassic Park (1993), and Torchwood.

How long is Primeval?

Primeval: 5 seasons, 36 episodes.

Is Primeval still running?

No, Primeval has ended.

Where can I watch Primeval?

In United States, Primeval streams on Amazon Prime Video, Peacock Premium, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus.