So, Primeval?

[muninnhuginn]

Yup, I watched. If I were Veruca Salt, I'd've sent my appropriately accommodating Daddy out to acquire me a little green flying lizard so I too could wreak havoc through the government department of my choosing.

And otherwise:

• Pretty green flying lizard flying around office spaces is a little reminiscent of Torchwood's pterodactyl.
• Folk standing on tall buildings looking out across city landscapes, all too reminiscent of Torchwood.
• Band of intrepid investigators, in cool clothes, preferably including long black coats,  marching through the trailers and episodes, rather reminiscent of Torchwood reminding me of Buffy/Angel.
• Neat tunnel through time/space rather like a stargate.
• Even its website looks like the one the Beeb put up before Torchwood came out. You can even check out who has the untidier desk.

So, yes, just a tad, dare we say it, derivative.

But the effects, the saurian-infested prehistoric landscapes (OK rather reminiscent of Walking with Dinosaurs except there's more plot in WwD), the cute, green flying lizard, the monstrous head bursting through the boy's bedroom window (OK, that was a bit Jurassic Park)--they were good.

There was, for all my feeling that plot, character and script came way behind effects and style, the odd good line.

"Miss, there's a dinosaur in the playground."

(I once reported that my homework had been eaten by the cat to a similar reaction of disapproving disbelief. [It was true, too. The homework was somewhat mauled and my ink had not proved waterproof.])

It'll fill in the gap until Dr Who returns, I suppose, for Looby Loo, at least.

I just wish they'd had the sense to call it Primæval. It looks way cooler. Or maybe that's the point: Primeval, the show that just can't hack its ligatures.

Did I mention the rather lovely green flying lizard, by the way?