So. Primeval.
I managed to marathon my way through series two (and the last episode of series one) over the weekend. and... I have thoughts.
1. This show is like a low-rent Torchwood, without, well, without Torchwood's glee in having women do things. I think this is going to be like how I can't explain why St. Trinian's doesn't apologize for having girls in it, but I can count on one hand the number of times women in Primeval did more than be sexy hookers, jealous girlfriends, and victims. And sometimes, they did all of that at once. They're... less there as people and more there as appendages to the men. The men, of course, are the heroes.
2. I tried really really hard to like Helen, as she is in the show. But it's really hard when her entire motivation boils down to "My husband doesn't pay attention to me, and my loverboy wouldn't be my bff." Her motivation isn't "Science is cool", though there the show probably thinks it totally made that her motivation. She constantly needs a man, constantly needs to be appreciated, and, like, the one time she's out in The Wild, she gets injured and needs help (from a man, duh).
Though, I have to admit, Helen has a nice rack.
3. Similarly, there's Caroline, who was the fakiest of fake girlfriends ever. And whose entire existence was very obviously the show's attempt to prove NO REALLY, IT LIKES THOSE BLACK PEOPLE. REALLY. So much so that her character was introduced as a Love Interest who was hired by the Bad Guy Mastermind, who had no need for her. What the fuck did he need Caroline for? To spy on Abby and Connor? Uhhh... To delay them? Never worked. She did fuck-all. Oh, she kidnapped Rex. And she caused Abby to behave like a Jealous Girlfriend. I guess that's what Oliver Leak needed, then.
You know what would have been awesome? If Caroline had been a reporter, digging deep into this Government Conspiracy shit. Sure, it would have been cliche, but it wouldn't have been utterly, ridiculously, pointless. Next time they want to shoe-horn something in...
4. Abby spent series one with a crush on Steven (who forgot to mention his girlfriend--not that she ever appeared, and I'm now certain said gf was Helen) and being sexually harassed by Connor. Then she spent series two JEALOUS of Connor's girlfriend and playing victim. Not to mention, helping reinforce that old chestnut about how girls don't like comics when, really, we just don't see the point in the dick-measuring contest between Wolverine and Superman. Oh, and she spent a lot of time in her panties.
5. Claudia. The show fridged her, so they could have the actress wear three-inch stilettos and mini-skirts. Good job, show. Especially since I actually liked her, and was looking forward to her vs. Helen in some Epic Showdowns... But that would require the show to actually have the women converse about something other than the men in their lives. I was also looking forward to her boss getting killed so she'd be In Charge. I should have known better than to hope for something like that to happen in a show obsessed with penises.
6. Sorry, Jenny, I didn't mean to start your point with that still in everyone's mind. Even though that's the reason you were dressed in three-inch stilettos and tiny skirts. I don't dislike her, but she's not as fun as Claudia. I think I like her, even if she's sort of Claudia, but more shallow?
7. the men, whom the show is mostly about. Steven: I knew he'd die, so was unsurprised at that. After all, he'd allowed that evil vagina to bend him to her wiles. Lester: the only time I vaguely enjoyed him was ATTACK MAMMOTH and then I was disappointed he didn't get trampled. Connor: Generic Geek Boy with Crush on Hot Chick. Nick Cutter: ... actually, I like Nick, despite the fact that he's only survived because animals randomly fight each other instead of killing him. Oliver Leak: boring.
8. I did sort of like the idea that they changed the past, but then again, that makes no sense if they'd already created their past in the future by going back to the past from the future. Because their present would have already been changed, so Jenny wouldn't.... yeah, I know, these are the same writers who brought Caroline in and didn't really make her plotline have logic, sense or reason. I shouldn't expect them to think through their paradoxical implications.
9. Please don't get me wrong. The show is sort of popcorny, and not the worst thing I've seen, and I was generally entertained. I just think they could have done a hell of a lot better. Also, their team is like ten billion times more crap than Torchwood. How do they manage to keep people from finding out what's going on? Seriously.
Underneath it all is a fascinating idea, but it's not realized very well. Sigh.
1. This show is like a low-rent Torchwood, without, well, without Torchwood's glee in having women do things. I think this is going to be like how I can't explain why St. Trinian's doesn't apologize for having girls in it, but I can count on one hand the number of times women in Primeval did more than be sexy hookers, jealous girlfriends, and victims. And sometimes, they did all of that at once. They're... less there as people and more there as appendages to the men. The men, of course, are the heroes.
2. I tried really really hard to like Helen, as she is in the show. But it's really hard when her entire motivation boils down to "My husband doesn't pay attention to me, and my loverboy wouldn't be my bff." Her motivation isn't "Science is cool", though there the show probably thinks it totally made that her motivation. She constantly needs a man, constantly needs to be appreciated, and, like, the one time she's out in The Wild, she gets injured and needs help (from a man, duh).
Though, I have to admit, Helen has a nice rack.
3. Similarly, there's Caroline, who was the fakiest of fake girlfriends ever. And whose entire existence was very obviously the show's attempt to prove NO REALLY, IT LIKES THOSE BLACK PEOPLE. REALLY. So much so that her character was introduced as a Love Interest who was hired by the Bad Guy Mastermind, who had no need for her. What the fuck did he need Caroline for? To spy on Abby and Connor? Uhhh... To delay them? Never worked. She did fuck-all. Oh, she kidnapped Rex. And she caused Abby to behave like a Jealous Girlfriend. I guess that's what Oliver Leak needed, then.
You know what would have been awesome? If Caroline had been a reporter, digging deep into this Government Conspiracy shit. Sure, it would have been cliche, but it wouldn't have been utterly, ridiculously, pointless. Next time they want to shoe-horn something in...
4. Abby spent series one with a crush on Steven (who forgot to mention his girlfriend--not that she ever appeared, and I'm now certain said gf was Helen) and being sexually harassed by Connor. Then she spent series two JEALOUS of Connor's girlfriend and playing victim. Not to mention, helping reinforce that old chestnut about how girls don't like comics when, really, we just don't see the point in the dick-measuring contest between Wolverine and Superman. Oh, and she spent a lot of time in her panties.
5. Claudia. The show fridged her, so they could have the actress wear three-inch stilettos and mini-skirts. Good job, show. Especially since I actually liked her, and was looking forward to her vs. Helen in some Epic Showdowns... But that would require the show to actually have the women converse about something other than the men in their lives. I was also looking forward to her boss getting killed so she'd be In Charge. I should have known better than to hope for something like that to happen in a show obsessed with penises.
6. Sorry, Jenny, I didn't mean to start your point with that still in everyone's mind. Even though that's the reason you were dressed in three-inch stilettos and tiny skirts. I don't dislike her, but she's not as fun as Claudia. I think I like her, even if she's sort of Claudia, but more shallow?
7. the men, whom the show is mostly about. Steven: I knew he'd die, so was unsurprised at that. After all, he'd allowed that evil vagina to bend him to her wiles. Lester: the only time I vaguely enjoyed him was ATTACK MAMMOTH and then I was disappointed he didn't get trampled. Connor: Generic Geek Boy with Crush on Hot Chick. Nick Cutter: ... actually, I like Nick, despite the fact that he's only survived because animals randomly fight each other instead of killing him. Oliver Leak: boring.
8. I did sort of like the idea that they changed the past, but then again, that makes no sense if they'd already created their past in the future by going back to the past from the future. Because their present would have already been changed, so Jenny wouldn't.... yeah, I know, these are the same writers who brought Caroline in and didn't really make her plotline have logic, sense or reason. I shouldn't expect them to think through their paradoxical implications.
9. Please don't get me wrong. The show is sort of popcorny, and not the worst thing I've seen, and I was generally entertained. I just think they could have done a hell of a lot better. Also, their team is like ten billion times more crap than Torchwood. How do they manage to keep people from finding out what's going on? Seriously.
Underneath it all is a fascinating idea, but it's not realized very well. Sigh.