PRIMEVAL: 5 Series, 5 Forgotten Characters

With the finale of Primeval having been over a week ago and no prospect of a sixth series in sight, we take a look back through the last five series at five characters who you may have forgotten, but were key players in the story of Primeval and the ARC.

Series 1: Claudia Brown/Jenny Lewis  (Lucy Brown)

Claudia Brown arrived on our screens in Series 1, Episode 1 as a Civil Servant working for the Home Office. After joining the ARC team she became a liaison between the Home Office, Lester and Cutter, but still got involved in many of the missions to prevent the creatures coming through the anomaly causing too much trouble. By mid way through series 1 Claudia had begun to fall for Cutter, making her suspicious of Helen Cutter and her motives when the wanderer returned through the anomaly.

After she and Cutter had admitted their feelings for each other, sealed by a kiss, he followed Helen through an anomaly to the Permian era, returning to find that Claudia Brown had disappeared without trace and the rest of the team had no memory of her – a consequence of his meddling in prehistoric times.

In episode 1 of series 2, Jenny Lewis appears as a new PR assistant for the ARC team. She looks identical to Claudia Brown although has a contrasting personality to her and seemingly has no recollection of her doppelgänger. After discovering the real nature of the ARC team’s work, Jenny became a key part of the team, keeping the press away from the areas of the anomalies and providing cover stories for the havoc caused by the creatures.

Jenny supported Cutter through the death of Stephen, admitting she was attracted to him mid way through series3. His subsequent death devastated her and she left the ARC team soon after. Our final episode with Jenny was at her wedding in series 4, when Hyaenodons and the team interrupted her wedding. However, she finally got her happy ever after when Lester married her and her fiancé via video link.

Series 2: Stephen Hart (James Murray)

The former sportsman acted as a lab assistant to Cutter having had long friendship with him and Helen for many years. The seemingly cold character proved his bravery and loyalty, saving countless lives over the 2 series he played a part in.

In the 2^nd episode of series 1, Stephen was left for dead by a venomous Arthropleura and was visited by Helen Cutter asking him to pass a message on to Cutter, but she also left him for dead, leaving Cutter with a race against time to get Stephen the antidote he needed.

At the end of series 1, it was revealed that Stephen had had an affair with Helen many years previously, a fact she used to try and persuade Stephen to leave the ARC to travel with her. However, Stephen resisted, realising Helen’s true colours. Stephen was also known to be the object of Abby’s affections although no 

relationship developed from this, aside from the offer of a couple of dinner dates.

In series 2 episode 7, Stephen showed his true dedication to the ARC by sacrificing himself for the good of the team by shutting himself in a room, full of dangerous prehistoric creatures, with a door which only locked from the inside to prevent the creatures escaping. His death devastated the ARC team.

Series 3: Sarah Page (Laila Rouass)

Sarah Page joined the team at the start of series 3 after an anomaly appeared at The British Museum, her workplace at the time. She was assigned to find out if there was any link between the anomalies and mythology but later joined the team on their missions. Sarah seems to become the confidante of Jenny Lewis as she tells her all about her apparent dual persona and Claudia Brown.

When most of the team are stranded in different eras at the end of series 3, Sarah helps Becker lead rescue missions to find them. She is not seen again and it is implied that she died on one of these rescue missions.

Series 4: Patrick Quinn (Jonathan Byrne)

Patrick Quinn disappeared through an anomaly as a teenager. He spent time travelling through eras alone, including appearing in 1902 Russia and murdering many people before joining the Time Tribe. His appetite for killing sprang from having to fend for himself by killing beasts to survive.

As part of the Time Tribe he met Emily and Charlotte, who he fell in love with. When Charlotte falls sick with smallpox, Patrick (known as Ethan) and Emily return through an anomaly to the present time to get her medical care. Unfortunately Charlotte died, leaving Ethan heartbroken and he blames Emily. Emily allies with Matt, the new leader of the ARC as Ethan is trying to kill her. He also wants to get revenge on his family for leaving him through the anomaly – including ARC member Danny Quinn. After being captured by the team, Patrick is reunited with his brother and the two hug. Patrick escapes the ARC after a fight and escapes through an anomaly. Danny follows him to make sure Patrick doesn’t kill anyone else.

Series 5: April Leonard (Janice Byrne)

The research assistant, hired by Philip Burton, turned into a weapon wielding fighter by the end of series 5. She was hired to help Connor with the New Dawn project. She seems cold and calculating by not getting on with the rest of the team, mainly as she refuses to tell them exactly what she and Connor are up to.

April helped Connor create the first lab born anomaly but, unknown to Connor, she is also working on a secret project with Burton. When Philip’s project comes to fruition in series 5 episode 5, April comes head to head with Abby. Their fight ends when April is killed by a flock of Anurognathus.