BBC’s new show, “Primeval”,  can be a bit cheesy from time to time (especially with some of the special f/x). But after about episode 4, I really started to like the whole gang, even the flying lizard, Rex.

And the whole entering the anomaly can seriously f&*K with reality theme made me give the tv show a full season pass on my DVR. I think I like Jenny Lewis better than her Claudia Brown counterpart (both characters played by Lucy Brown). Claudia was too much of a pushover while Jenny is manipulative PR woman who gets the job done. Plus, Nick Cutter’s character has better motivation now that his relationship with Claudia cannot move forward (i.e. because she no longer exists). The show needs him to be a tortured soul, sort of man on a quest who has nothing to live for but to discover the truth behind the anomalies.

Missed out on Primeval series 1 and 2? No worries. BBC releases their television dvd sets of their tv shows in a more timely fashion than most networks. Both series are available in one box set for around $34.99 on November 4th (i.e. tomorrow!).

Source: TV on DVD releases list on TVsquad

BBC America is finally premiering their sci-fi/action-adventure television series, “Primeval”, this Saturday at 9pm.

I watched an episode when I visited London and first thought I’d stumbled upon a strange episode of “Land of the Lost”. The place I stayed at had one of those Sky One tuners and a weird HDTV rear projection set ups (so many cords, I tell you!), so navigating the channels was a bit challenging. As such, I just left the channel as is and went along for the ride. Little did I know, I was watching the next sci-fi show that BBC America would be promoting here in the states!

“Primeval” tells the story of scientist, Nick Cutter (Douglass Henshall) who discovers a few dinosaurs walking around alive and well in present day. Apparently some crazy space-time rift is wreaking havoc (enter the sci-fi angle) and creatures from various periods and places start popping up.

From BBC America:
“Cutter, his research assistant Stephen Hart, zoologist Abby Maitland, and student paleontologist Connor Temple race to understand what’s happening, while government bureaucrats James Lester and Claudia Brown insist they have to keep the danger secret from the public. As the past threatens to invade the present and destroy the future, Cutter’s crew faces a life-and-death race against time.”

Sounds fun, right? I’m giving it a shot since it’s still summer and the lastest season “Doctor Who” just ended. Gotta fill the void somehow.

After that horrid Grey’s finale, I decided to watch a mindless sci-fi finale to wash the palette. Enter “Torchwood” (a Doctor Who spin-off) series 2 finale.

For the record, the finale aired in the beginning of April, though I just got around to watching it. It was definitely worth the wait. Two characters died (for reals this time) and someone from Captain Jack’s past wreaked havoc upon the city of Cardiff. Plus, James Marsters returned in this episode, which was a good bookend to series 2 seeing how he appeared in the first episode of the season.

The series went to a very dark place this time with the near destruction of Cardiff. I’m not sure they could blow up a major city on any sci-fi series in the US. I feel like American tv is sometime too cautious with viewers. They don’t want people freaking out and saying the drama was too real or close to home.

I hope Series 3 will be able to define the characters again as they come together in this new climate of death. The last scene hinted on the idea of healing with Jack embracing the team, but I’m not sure if Jack will be enough to hold everyone together.

With all the shake-ups on “Doctor Who” and “Torchwood”, it’s hard for a girl to keep up sometimes. Here’s hoping everyone still breathing at the end of the finale returns in Series 3.

My first episode of “Wire in the Blood” left me a bit confused since it started off in Luther, Texas. Definitely an unexpected locale, since it’s a UK crime drama. Most episodes follow psychologist Tony Hill and his work with the UK Bradfield CID.

From BBCAmerica.com:
“This season [season 5], the first time Wire in the Blood has ever been shot in America, a case takes Tony all the way to Austin, Texas. Robson Green says of the special season premiere, “Wire in the Blood has a loyal and growing audience in the States and we were delighted to have the opportunity to film this special episode in Texas. I was personally thrilled to be working in America for the first time - it was an opportunity for me to develop the character of Tony Hill in unfamiliar territory as he gets caught up with a prisoner on death row.”

Despite the experimental locale, I was immediately drawn into the show. The episode blended comedy with mystery-suspense quite easily. They had Tony complaining about the Texas heat one second and the next a rattlesnake mysteriously attacks him in his car! I didn’t know much about the show, so I literally just went with the flow. And by the end, I was captivated by the stylish cinematography and deft acting by all the players.

The rest of the season takes place in Bradfield, England where Tony helps DI Alex Fielding solve murders involving voodoo witchcraft, child abduction, and serial killers.

“Wire in the Blood” airs Sundays at 8pm EST on BBC America.