Primal Season 3 Episode 6 Review: A Haunting Adventure
Spoiler Alert: This review contains spoilers for Primal Season 3, Episode 6, "Cavern of Horrors."
The Core Issue: In the latest installment of Primal, the fate of Mira's villagers hangs in the balance as they are dragged into the titular cavern of horrors. Will our heroes be able to save them, or will they succumb to the grotesque albino hog-things and their brood of killers?
The Emotional Hook: As the camera cuts to an unnatural blood-red moon, we are reminded of the creator's mission statement: no blue skies, no green grass, "nothing normal." This sets the stage for a haunting adventure filled with suspense and intrigue.
The Controversial Interpretation: Some viewers may question the reintegration of Spear into the group, as Fang continues to be mean to her old buddy. Others may wonder if the two will finally have it out next week and come to some sort of peace.
The Review:
After last week's "getting to know you (again)" episode, this week's segment dives back into the hunt for Mira's fellow villagers. The opening scene shows us the villagers being dragged to their doom, one by one, and the camera captures the horror in their eyes. The creator's mission statement is evident as the camera cuts to an unnatural blood-red moon, setting the stage for a haunting adventure.
The group is now comprised of the wise warrior woman, a smart-as-hell T. rex, her adorable cubs, and a zombie with a heart of gold. Together, they must take on the grotesque albino hog-things and their brood of killers. Mira is definitely in charge, with even Fang defaulting to her wordless orders. Despite being apart for months and Spear being dead, the two still make a good team, with Mira having the upper hand over Spear and Fang due to her more chill demeanor.
This episode feels more violent than usual, which is saying something by Primal's standards. The presence of the little kid from the village, who escapes the pit of hell only to find the corpse of the villager who had just gotten out, adds to the horror. As for the reintegration of Spear into the group, Fang is still being mean to her old buddy, leading to a fun sequence where Spear tries to bond with her by bringing her water and treats. However, the real concern lies in the tension between Fang and Spear, as the former got rough with the latter after Mira was injured.
By episode's end, we are left with another cliffhanger, with Mira badly injured in the aftermath of defeating the hogs. We know she survives because she has to go off and have her and Spear's child, which sets up the last scene of Season 2. The questions remain: will Fang and Spear finally have it out next week and come to some sort of peace? And how will the zombie situation be resolved, if at all?
Verdict: Primal Season 3 has settled into a different rhythm since Spear was reunited with his old friends. The more poetic and lyrical aspects of the early season are mostly behind us now, but what we are getting instead is a story that delves into the bigger question of how this zombie situation will be resolved, if at all, and how we'll get to the promise of Season 2's happy ending.
