Although main character Spear was killed off at the end of the second season and there was talk about the series becoming an anthology show, Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal instead returned for its third season continuing the story of dinosaur Fang and caveman Spear, who is magically brought back to life as a zombie. Considering zombified dinosaurs had previously appeared in “Plague of Madness” and magic-using witches in “Coven of the Damned,” this result isn’t outside of the realm of possibility in this world, although it does lessen the impact of Spear’s sacrifice.
Buy Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal: The Complete Third SeasonThe season begins with “Vengeance of Death,” in which the surviving shaman of Mira’s village seeks revenge by magically controlling Spear’s body. When the shaman is killed, zombie Spear, who has lost part of his scalp begins to wander, driven by faint echoes of memories he doesn’t comprehend. In “”Feast of Flesh,” he encounters a cricket with coloring similar to Fang and bonds with it, so much he saves it from being eaten by a chameleon. Later, he finds himself overwhelmed by a group of molemen and eventually loses his right hand to them. But the cricket creates a distraction that allows Spear to escape, and exacts vengeance upon them all.
“Prey for the Wicked” goes back in time to when Mira’s village buried Spear. Months later, a pack of Andrewsarchus, wolf-like creatures, capture villagers to take back to feed their nursing mother. A rescue party is organized and they are later joined by Spear, who Mira welcomes but Fang doesn’t recognize. In “The Dead Cast No Shadow,” the Andrewsarchus aren’t their only worry as baboons capture Mira, forcing Fang and Spear to work together. The final bloody battle versus the Andrewsarchus occurs in “Cavern of Horrors”
To Mira’s disappointment, Fang and the villagers, fearful of Spear, drive him away in “Heart of the Undead.” Spear finds purpose and acceptance fighting in the Black River people’s gladiatorial death matches. With each win, the leader rewards him with a healing, black liquid reminiscent of what was drank by a fighter who nearly defeated him in “Rage of the Ape-Men.” Meanwhile, Mira gives birth to Spear’s daughter.
As the black liquid revives Spear from his zombie state, his desire to be with his family and friends increases and they search the jungle for him. The reunion is brief as one does not walk away from the death matches. The Black River people capture them and force the black liquid into Mira, Fang, and her offspring, turning them into monsters to fight one another, Spear tries to save them, which is complicated as a volcano erupts around them.
Like the previous two seasons, the video has been given a 1080p/MPEG-4 AVC displayed in the original aspect ratio of 2.39:1. Strong hues from across the rainbow, particularly bold primaries. Blacks are rich. The image detail and sharpness are as the animators intended. Also like the previous two seasons, the audio is available in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Composers Tyler Bates and Joanne Higginbottom’s score augment the action, and fill the surrounds, as do the ambient effects. The subwoofer presents a solid bass. Dialogue remains minimal.
The Bonus Features on Disc 2 are:
- Genndy Storyboard Walkthrough (11 min) – Tartakovsky presents side-by-side storyboard comparisons for season premiere “Vengeance of Death.”
- Spear and the Cricket Explained (3 min) – Tartakovsky briefly speaks about “Feast of Flesh.”
The third season of Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal continues to showcase the prehistoric monsters and bloody mayhem that has becomes the series signature. It also delivers a little more horror as its main character becomes a zombie, yet even death couldn’t keep Spear from seeking out his loved ones, showing the sweet man under the dead exterior. The animation matches the high bar previous seasons set and the Blu-ray presents a quality high-definition presentation.
