[Barracute]

Well i am watching series 5 for the first time, as dont have "Watch" been a very long wait, could have done with a "previously on Primeval" intro. Found Ben Miller pretty annoying, come on it was obvious from pretty early on that Phillip was going to be made a Sir not him! Thought the xf were pretty naff, those creatures were barely believable when there was just one on screen, a whole room full of them was too much and the "explosion" to kill them all was short and hardly shown, budget obviously didnt stretch - the dumpster our heroes were hiding in wasnt even scorched either which didnt help the realism!

Still despite my criticisms i did enjoy having Primeval back, if you switch your brain off for the duration and just enjoy it as the mindless entertainment it is, it is not a bad way to waste an hour. Look forward to the rest of the series

[catsitter]

Yes, I'm watching series 5 for the first time too, and could have done with a "Previously on..." It's so long since series 4.

If I'd gone down into that tunnel at the beginning, I would have wanted a hard hat!

[StressMonkey]

Originally Posted by Matt35

Anyone know when the spin off will air? i know amanda tapping is in it. would have been great if she was starring as same character as the one in sanctuary.

Oh dear god no

Can not stand to her.

[zwixxx]

^according to a wiki page, Amanda is down as one of the directors and NOT as actor - so that's a or and depending on your inclination.

imho have a series following another Primeval team as they deal with ### (just what are those things called again) in another country, well that just sounds cool. Makes me wonder, when someone thinks of a great tv idea involving some global event, why they couldn't then 'franchise' the idea to various tv stations in different countries, so of the participating countries could have their own series following their "own people" as they deal with the event in their own unique ways - and having the possibility of characters/events from one series affecting other series.

[Matt35]

Originally Posted by zwixxx

^according to a wiki page, Amanda is down as one of the directors and NOT as actor - so that's a or and depending on your inclination.

imho have a series following another Primeval team as they deal with ### (just what are those things called again) in another country, well that just sounds cool. Makes me wonder, when someone thinks of a great tv idea involving some global event, why they couldn't then 'franchise' the idea to various tv stations in different countries, so of the participating countries could have their own series following their "own people" as they deal with the event in their own unique ways - and having the possibility of characters/events from one series affecting other series.

I wish amanda was in it. i bet the show will be similar to sanctuary which for me isn`t a bad thing as i loved that show until it was stupidly axed.

[StressMonkey]

Originally Posted by zwixxx;58884673[B

]^according to a wiki page, Amanda is down as one of the directors and NOT as actor - so that's a or and depending on your inclination.[/b]

Phew

I so wanted to watch Santuary - it looked real fun. But I
lasted two episodes before Tapping, her dubious 'acting' and her awful English accent made me want to smash the TV.

I now refuse to watch anything with her in it includiing the SG1 and any episode of SG Atlantis that she's in.

I would have boycotted the Primeval spin off had she been in it. Glad to hear I'll potentially be able to enjoy it

[k9fan]

Originally Posted by Granny McSmith

His character makes it, for me.

(You know I want Ben Miller for the 12th Doctor, don't you? Surprisingly, I actually got quite a bit of support when I proposed this on the DW forum. )

I love Primeval especially Connor and Abby.

[Gutted Girl]

I remember really enjoying these episodes back when they were shown on Watch and thinking that these were the episodes that had had the money spent on them. For example London (Dublin) not being empty at the start of the episode.

I'll be rewatching. I don't know how much to post as I don't know if people who are watching for the first time want it as a no spoilers thread.

[Talea100]

Clarifying some various info:

-There will be no new series of the UK team as we know them.

ITV got decent ratings for its airing of series 4 early last year, but not quite as well as they wanted in order to justify recommissioning, so they're out. Also, cast, crew and production co. have all moved on to other things in the 18+ months since 4/5 filming ended. If there were to be a series 6 of the UK edition, another entity would have to take over ITV's (not-insignificant) share of the funding, and they'd likely be hiring an all-new cast. Or, in short: it's dead.

-ITV was barred from airing series 5 last year.

Part of the funding deal that gave us series 4/5 included a clause that Watch had exclusive rights to series 5 through 2011. As to why ITV waited another six months to air? I'm guessing the above issue is part of it. They're done with Primeval. They're burying it during a time when they'd be getting low ratings anyway so they're not wasting airtime they could charge more ad money for.

-The spinoff, Primeval: New World, is currently shooting in Vancouver.

It's set in Canada, with a Canadian/UK cast and crew, and is being co-produced by Impossible Pictures (the original production co.) As well as Amanda Tapping (who, by the way, comes by her accent naturally) coming on to direct, there are some other Sanctuary vets, plus folks from Eureka and The Vampire Diaries. Good hands, in other words. I have high hopes for it.

-PNW is a true spinoff--set in the same universe--something like the CSI spinoffs (different city, same world.)

Andrew Lee Potts (Connor) will be in the first episode, and there are hints he may be in more. The show picks up after the end of series 5, so there will be at least a little bit of plot continuity, and the potential for more cast crossover.

Watch has the rights to air it in the UK, and should be doing so late this year/early next. In Canada it'll be airing on Space (the channel that commissioned it), and it also has deals for Germany and France. No word yet on US or Australia.

-A movie is in the works--theoretically.

Warner Bros. has the rights to the premise, and a script is being written by Akiva Goldsman and Jeff Pinkner, most recently of Fringe. Whether it actually gets greenlit is anyone's guess, but it won't have the same cast/characters.

[donna255]

Originally Posted by StressMonkey

Phew

I so wanted to watch Santuary - it looked real fun. But I
lasted two episodes before Tapping, her dubious 'acting' and her awful English accent made me want to smash the TV.

I now refuse to watch anything with her in it includiing the SG1 and any episode of SG Atlantis that she's in.

I would have boycotted the Primeval spin off had she been in it. Glad to hear I'll potentially be able to enjoy it

Amanda is English.

[StressMonkey]

Originally Posted by donna255

Amanda is English.

She's Canadian.

She left England aged three.

If that was her natural accent, she wouldn't sound canadian in interviews and she would speak with a Rochford/Essex/Estuary accent - not that awful pseudo RP.

[claire2281]

Originally Posted by Talea100

ITV got decent ratings for its airing of series 4 early last year...

That's the only part I disagree with - the ratings weren't in any way decent. Averaging 3.7m overnight for such a series is far too low (compare it to what Doctor Who and Merlin get and its about half their figures when, realistically, it's a similar type show and therefore would hope to get similar ratings). Episode 1 was just about okay but after that it dropped into the 3.somethings for the rest of run.

[Barracute]

Originally Posted by Talea100

Clarifying some various info:

-There will be no new series of the UK team as we know them.

ITV got decent ratings for its airing of series 4 early last year, but not quite as well as they wanted in order to justify recommissioning, so they're out. Also, cast, crew and production co. have all moved on to other things in the 18+ months since 4/5 filming ended. If there were to be a series 6 of the UK edition, another entity would have to take over ITV's (not-insignificant) share of the funding, and they'd likely be hiring an all-new cast. Or, in short: it's dead.

-ITV was barred from airing series 5 last year.

Part of the funding deal that gave us series 4/5 included a clause that Watch had exclusive rights to series 5 through 2011. As to why ITV waited another six months to air? I'm guessing the above issue is part of it. They're done with Primeval. They're burying it during a time when they'd be getting low ratings anyway so they're not wasting airtime they could charge more ad money for.

-The spinoff, Primeval: New World, is currently shooting in Vancouver.

It's set in Canada, with a Canadian/UK cast and crew, and is being co-produced by Impossible Pictures (the original production co.) As well as Amanda Tapping (who, by the way, comes by her accent naturally) coming on to direct, there are some other Sanctuary vets, plus folks from Eureka and The Vampire Diaries. Good hands, in other words. I have high hopes for it.

-PNW is a true spinoff--set in the same universe--something like the CSI spinoffs (different city, same world.)

Andrew Lee Potts (Connor) will be in the first episode, and there are hints he may be in more. The show picks up after the end of series 5, so there will be at least a little bit of plot continuity, and the potential for more cast crossover.

Watch has the rights to air it in the UK, and should be doing so late this year/early next. In Canada it'll be airing on Space (the channel that commissioned it), and it also has deals for Germany and France. No word yet on US or Australia.

-A movie is in the works--theoretically.

Warner Bros. has the rights to the premise, and a script is being written by Akiva Goldsman and Jeff Pinkner, most recently of Fringe. Whether it actually gets greenlit is anyone's guess, but it won't have the same cast/characters.

Thanks for all that info (where did you get it ) Sad no more UK Primeval, the spin off having Connor in at least the first ep is something, i wonder if ITV will show it (i dont have Watch). There has been talk about a movie for some while now, and nothing has developed so i wont hold my breath.

[Cat.J]

I really lost interest in Primeval when they killed off Cutter but I stuck with it because of Connor and Abby, and now because of Alexander Siddig who I used to really fancy as Dr Bashir!

But I wasn't too impressed with yesterday's episode - it's such a shame because Primeval used to be one of my favourite shows.

[Abomination]

Originally Posted by Cat.J

I really lost interest in Primeval when they killed off Cutter but I stuck with it because of Connor and Abby, and now because of Alexander Siddig who I used to really fancy as Dr Bashir!

But I wasn't too impressed with yesterday's episode - it's such a shame because Primeval used to be one of my favourite shows.

Hang in there with it... opinion of Series 5 is quite high. Though I actually enjoyed that episode, I have to admit that this series does get better and better (again, only opinion). The final three episodes of this series are some of my favourites.

[Ricky_Leeds]

Not a bad first episode, i'm liking Jess and i preferred Abbey and Conner when it was a will they wont they think, now they are together its just weird.

If it had not been confirmed that there would be no new series it would probably be axed anyway as the first ep of series 5 only got 2.93 Million viewers! it was beaten by Pointless celebrities!

[StressMonkey]

Originally Posted by Ricky_Leeds

Not a bad first episode, i'm liking Jess and i preferred Abbey and Conner when it was a will they wont they think, now they are together its just weird.

If it had not been confirmed that there would be no new series it would probably be axed anyway as the first ep of series 5 only got 2.93 Million viewers! it was beaten by Pointless celebrities!

Ouch - those are not good ratings.

I feel a bit like Primeval was hard done by.

It wasn't amazing, ground breaking TV but it was potentially great family entertainment to rival Dr Who (or compliment it in this age of IPlayer etc)

It was one of the best ideas touted on ITV for a very long time - confirmed IMO by the rescue attempt by Watch and the spin off.

The Watch rescue hasn't been amazing. Season 4 was not great. Season 5 I am rewatching like I never watched it before because I missed so much (hidden on Watch) - I think I saw two episodes and wasn't impressed.

But my ten year old son LOVES it. That is the demographic they could have aimed at - with parents tagging along. Like Dr Who. Like Merlin. Like Robin Hood.

It was never brilliant - but was never bad.

[rasbo]

Its got poor ratings because a lot of people will be watching on demand, Sky + etc as its Saturday night and also, most people have access to Watch nowadays with basic Sky and Cable packages. Also, once it will have been broadcast on Watch people will have leakked it online as well. its available as a torrent.

[Tobias.]

Originally Posted by rasbo

Its got poor ratings because a lot of people will be watching on demand, Sky + etc as its Saturday night and also, most people have access to Watch nowadays with basic Sky and Cable packages. Also, once it will have been broadcast on Watch people will have leakked it online as well. its available as a torrent.

Lets not forget it was already released on DVD too!

[bobcar]

Originally Posted by Ricky_Leeds

If it had not been confirmed that there would be no new series it would probably be axed anyway as the first ep of series 5 only got 2.93 Million viewers! it was beaten by Pointless celebrities!

There was very little advertising for it, I caught it almost by accident.

I never saw it on Watch because originally it wasn't shown in HD and though I guess it was repeated in HD the ITV DOG is much less intrusive.

[claire2281]

Originally Posted by rasbo

Its got poor ratings because a lot of people will be watching on demand, Sky + etc as its Saturday night and also, most people have access to Watch nowadays with basic Sky and Cable packages. Also, once it will have been broadcast on Watch people will have leakked it online as well. its available as a torrent.

Blaming it on having already been on isn't entirely accurate - it only got just over 1/2million viewers on Watch. This was a show getting 6million viewers in its first series.

Basically too long a wait and too many cast changes have killed this show imo.

[koantemplation]

Originally Posted by claire2281

Basically too long a wait and too many cast changes have killed this show imo.

Plus too many 'Monster of the week' episodes.

They needed to move the main story along much more than they did.

[MartinImber]

I didn't notice until it had finished and no HD repeats.

What is a Watch and why did they block ITV from showing it?

Might torrent the Canadian one and see if it is any good.

Pity BBC didn't pick it up originally like Walking With Dinosaurs (same team)

[StressMonkey]

Originally Posted by MartinImber

I didn't notice until it had finished and no HD repeats.

What is a Watch and why did they block ITV from showing it?

Might torrent the Canadian one and see if it is any good.

Pity BBC didn't pick it up originally like Walking With Dinosaurs (same team)

Watch is a channel - I think you can only get it via Sky - they picked up some of the costs for season 4 and 5 in a deal which meant they got to show season 5 first. ITV could have shown season 5 back in January (I think!!!) but chose to wait until now to show it.

[Stone Free]

Originally Posted by claire2281

Blaming it on having already been on isn't entirely accurate - it only got just over 1/2million viewers on Watch. This was a show getting 6million viewers in its first series.

Yes, but on the whole no niche Satellite channel will exceed the ratings of the original terrestrial five channels, so half a million viewers is not surprising!