Both shows, Primeval (2007) and Primeval: New World (2012), primarily revolve around the premise of detecting holes in the universe followed by finding prehistoric dinosaurs that pop out of those holes, capturing them, and sending them back through to the other side. The 2007 series eventually introduced creatures from the future. It is logical to assume that the 2012 series will do the same. However, the penultimate discovery in the original series was the ability to maintain some degree of control over the anomalies, such as predicting and locking them. That showed promise, from which could have arisen a unique blend of elements from the past and future while mostly taking place in the present. Yet, they failed to find that balance and instead chose to reveal that, ultimately, the workings of a psychotic lady managed to influence a billionaire into creating a failed energy producing experiment that would ruin the Earth's atmosphere and ozone layers, thus resulting in an End of Days scenario. In other words, that show was doomed from the moment they introduced Doom's Day. The 2012 series will follow in the same footsteps if they take a similar route.
The 2007 series failed to realize the full potential of what made up half of the premise of the show: science fiction. The title in itself, Primeval, emphasizes the significance of the other half of the show: monster thriller. The moment the show creators decided to introduce the subject of time travel into the mix, and with an extreme science fiction flavor, while relying too much on the dinosaur component with mostly asinine uses of characters, is the moment that we found a very large elephant in the room. We only received half of a story. Dinosaurs running a muck in present day? Sure, that works. Ignoring the catalyst with which that is even possible? No. While they obviously didn't entirely ignore the catalyst - the anomalies - they never fully explored that component of the show and, thus, led themselves into a dead end.
The 2012 series has the monster thriller component with the potential of a fully realized science fiction component. However, it is mimicking one of the weaker points of the original series: the asinine uses of characters. While both shows incorporate the characters' usefulness to somewhat of an effective degree, only the new series has potential of steering clear of the abysmal mistakes of the original. Both shows manage to make do with the characters that they have, yet the original also failed to introduce new characters with different back-stories that could've provided great momentum for the series. It's not too late for the new series to do that. Likewise, it's not too late for the new series to fully realize the science fiction component. However, if they continue to rely too heavily on asinine uses of characters, then they will only end up with a disappointment on par with the original series.
If the writers and producers of the new series put any effort into avoiding the mistakes made in the original series, then they will remind themselves of the very title of the new show. Primeval: New World. The monster thriller is in the Primeval. The science fiction is in the New World. If they incorporate a balance of both components, then the show could be a success.
The 2007 series failed to realize the full potential of what made up half of the premise of the show: science fiction. The title in itself, Primeval, emphasizes the significance of the other half of the show: monster thriller. The moment the show creators decided to introduce the subject of time travel into the mix, and with an extreme science fiction flavor, while relying too much on the dinosaur component with mostly asinine uses of characters, is the moment that we found a very large elephant in the room. We only received half of a story. Dinosaurs running a muck in present day? Sure, that works. Ignoring the catalyst with which that is even possible? No. While they obviously didn't entirely ignore the catalyst - the anomalies - they never fully explored that component of the show and, thus, led themselves into a dead end.
The 2012 series has the monster thriller component with the potential of a fully realized science fiction component. However, it is mimicking one of the weaker points of the original series: the asinine uses of characters. While both shows incorporate the characters' usefulness to somewhat of an effective degree, only the new series has potential of steering clear of the abysmal mistakes of the original. Both shows manage to make do with the characters that they have, yet the original also failed to introduce new characters with different back-stories that could've provided great momentum for the series. It's not too late for the new series to do that. Likewise, it's not too late for the new series to fully realize the science fiction component. However, if they continue to rely too heavily on asinine uses of characters, then they will only end up with a disappointment on par with the original series.
If the writers and producers of the new series put any effort into avoiding the mistakes made in the original series, then they will remind themselves of the very title of the new show. Primeval: New World. The monster thriller is in the Primeval. The science fiction is in the New World. If they incorporate a balance of both components, then the show could be a success.