Series 5

Series 5 of Primeval, also known as Primeval V, is the fifth series of the original British Primeval television programme. Series 5 focuses primarily on Philip Burton's plans for the Anomalies and New Dawn, and on Matt Anderson's mission to stop New Dawn from destroying the future and how Connor and Abby's opposing allegiances affect their relationship.

Plot[]

Matt's secret mission to find the ARC member that will destroy the future continues, as does Philip's New Dawn project for the Anomalies. After Abby learns of Matt's mission, the latter recruits her into it, while Connor instead joins Philip in the New Dawn project. Connor and Abby's opposing allegiances in turn strains their relationship more and more.

Matt and Abby's fears that New Dawn is what will destroy the future are soon confirmed, and after Connor realises his error, he and the rest of the ARC team join Matt and Abby against Philip as the latter activates New Dawn. Although Philip successfully activates New Dawn, the team manage to stop New Dawn and save the future. However, Matt then sees a double of him at the ARC which gives him a warning.

Episodes[]

Serial Number	Writer/s	Director	Air date	Overall Episode
5.1	Chris Lang	Mark Everest	24 June 2011	31
5.1	An underground creature brings chaos to the city. Meanwhile, back at the ARC, Philip has provided Connor with a new lab assistant.

5.2	Steve Bailie	Robert Quinn	31 May 2011	32
5.2	While aboard a nuclear submarine, the team get sucked through an Anomaly in the North Sea. Meanwhile at the ARC, Lester has to cope with a Navy Admiral threatening to nuke the Anomaly.

5.3	Paul Mousley Gabbie Asher	Robert Quinn	7 June 2011	33
5.3	Following a displaced raptor through an Anomaly, Matt ends up in Victorian London.

5.4	Helen Raynor	Robert Quinn	14 June 2011	34
5.4	The team tackles killer beetles from the future, which swarm into Connor's lab through an Anomaly and begin devouring everything in sight.

5.5	Michael A. Walker	Cilla Ware	21 June 2011	35
5.5	As the whole team lets Lester in on the secrets of Matt's mission, they're interrupted by worrying news - Anomalies are opening everywhere and there are reports of a huge creature loose on the streets.

5.6	Steve Bailie Adrian Hodges	Cilla Ware	28 June 2011	36
5.6	Connor has disappeared through Philip’s anomaly, and Matt thinks that his mission is over – Philip has won, and seemingly, nothing has gone wrong...

Cast and characters[]

Main cast and characters[]

Ciarán McMenamin as Matt Anderson and the Second Matt Anderson
Andrew-Lee Potts as Connor Temple
Hannah Spearritt as Abby Maitland
Ben Mansfield as Hilary Becker
Ruth Kearney as Jess Parker
Ben Miller as James Lester
Alexander Siddig as Philip Burton
Janice Byrne as April Leonard
Ruth Bradley as Emily Merchant

Guest cast and characters[]

Reception[]

Series 5 of Primeval received generally mixed - positive reviews and reception, with some critics praising the solid character development, plot and story arc and the action and creatures featured.

Trivia[]

This series shares the exact same title sequence as Series 4 due to them being made at the same time.
Hannah Spearritt stated that a Thrinaxodon would appear in Series 5, but this apparently did not happen.
The Pliosaurs from Episode 5.2 were originally seen in a Series 4 script shown by Adrian Hodges in an interview, before the cancellation and revival of Primeval.
Tim Haines stated that the Balaur would appear in Episode 5.3, but it is now believed that he was actually referring to the Swimming Theropod in Episode 5.2.

Rumours[]

Before Series 4 even aired, a Primeval fan posted fan-made episode plots on the web which were falsely claimed to be leaked canon plots.
After Series 4 finished on ITV1, many fans began to speculate that Philip Burton would create the Future Predators, and some that he would mutate Connor Temple into one. This was proven completely false.
There were numerous other rumours involving Connor, including rumours that he would die in Series 5 (some of these rumours that Philip would shoot him), and rumours that he would leave Abby Maitland for a relationship with April. These were confirmed to be false.
After the rumours surrounding Episode 4.7 of a creature incursion within the ARC and the creatures in the Menagerie becoming involved in a huge battle were proved false, rumours began that this would happen in Series 5 and that this would mark the return of Sid and Nancy.