Primeval: New World
By Joyce Slaton,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Limp dino-chasing drama has excessive gore, lacks thrills.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
Where to Watch
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
PRIMEVAL: NEW WORLD is spin-off of popular British sci fi series Primeval, and features roughly the same setup: space-time anomalies are allowing dinosaurs to slip into our time, where they're menacing and killing hapless victims. The difference here: The action's taking place in Vancouver, British Columbia. Inventor/software genius Evan Cross (Niall Matter) first discovered the Canadian anomalies in an abandoned warehouse; unfortunately, his discovery resulted in his girlfriend's death by dino. Now, several years later, the anomalies are getting both more frequent and more predictable. As Cross and his team of investigators work to discover why the anomalies are happening and how to stop the dinosaurs from getting through, law enforcement officer Dylan Weir (Sara Canning) is tasked with protecting the people of Vancouver from a menace she can hardly dare believe is real.
Is It Any Good?
Who doesn't love watching dinosaurs fight? Many fine film and television action scenes have hinged on just such a simple thrill, from the original King Kong to Land of the Lost. It's a durable sci-fi staple because it works: People are scared of dinosaurs and fascinated by them in equal measure. So why is the action in Primeval: New World so inert? Probably because minutes and minutes go by without any dinos onscreen, while the viewer watches a bunch of unrealistically good-looking yet terribly bland cops and scientists talk about what will happen when the dinosaurs show up next.
Not only are most of the goings-on kind of slow and tedious, the dialogue is absolutely ridiculous. Viewers are used to weathering the nonsense tech-babble on Syfy's typical fare, but on better shows these throwaway lines are anchored by those that provide, oh, character development or drama. Something to make you care about the woman or man about to get his or her head ripped off by a T-Rex. Alas, Primeval: New World is all dull police chasing, enlivened by the occasional reptile murder. Yawn.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why threatening dinosaurs are such an often-used staple in movies and television shows. Why are we so fascinated with these extinct creatures? Why do we make so many dinosaur movies and TV shows when there are far more menacing horrors in the real world?
Is the cast of Primeval: New World realistic looking? Do you often see police officers, scientists, or park rangers who look like the ones on Primeval: New World? Does the glossy appearance of these characters detract from the show's realism?
Compare the dinosaurs on Primeval: New World with the monsters to be found on shows like Doctor Who or Torchwood. Are Primeval: New World's monsters more or less believable? Does the fact that they're supposed to be realistic rather than fantastic or mystical make them more believable? Or less?
TV Details
- Premiere date: June 8, 2013
- Cast: Niall Matter, Sara Canning
- Network: Syfy
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Dinosaurs
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: May 5, 2022
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate