Future predator
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| Primeval creature | |
|---|---|
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| Future Predator | |
| First appearance | Episode 6 |
| Number of fatalities caused | 17+ |
| Returned to era | No. Episode 6: 5 killed, 2 stranded in Permian era. 12: 1 gored by a Mammoth. 13: 1 killed by Nick Cutter, at least 16 more killed in battle with other creatures. |
Future predators, sometimes shortened to just predators are fictional future creatures that appear in Episode 6, 12 and 13 of the ITV sci-fi series Primeval. Predators stand at two meters tall and weigh half a ton. They originate from some point in the far future, but have also been temporarily living in both the Permian era and the present day (2007).
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[edit] Characteristics
DNA analysis shows that the future predator seems to be descended from a type of bat, which became big and flightless, similar to the Nightstalker in Dougal Dixon's After Man: A Zoology of the Future.[1]
Its elongated head houses a highly intelligent brain and a melon organ. The ears have moved to the centre of the face, giving the sonar a more directed and precise interpretation of the surrounding environment - an improvement on that used by the bats of today. Its eyes are weak and vestigial; with an incredibly advanced sonar system, echolocation has become its preferred sense and others, like sight, have diminshed as a result. The two nostrils have merged into one large hole in the middle of the face. Future predators also live together in life partnerships (a female and a male). When the pair have offspring, the male guards the nest and the female does the hunting. They do possess human-like intelligence, but this is hidden under an extremely violent nature - they won't learn anything from a victim because they will be too bent on tearing it apart, something that can lead to their demise.[2]
The predators are not very strong, and rely more on acrobatics, agility and speed to take down prey. This allowed a Gorgonopsid to kill one at the season one finale. The species' advanced sonar can also be its weakness as Cutter manages to kill one by luring it into a greenhouse, then smashing out the glass roof with a gun, scrambling its sonar system with a jumble of sonar echoes from the falling pieces of glass. However, the predators always show extraordinary resilience to bullets. This was displayed in Ep.6 of series 2, when a neural-clamped future predator chased James Lester through the A.R.C. To defend himself, Lester shot it for about three straight seconds with a machinegun. Its behaviour afterwards was not affected, it was just as fast and agile as before.[2] In the second season, while one was chasing Lester through the ARC he switches on a CD player. The sound from the loud music also disorientated it.
Future predators also show an ability to work well together in large groups. If a pack spots potential prey, they will work together as a team to literally tear it limb from limb[3]. They also have strong family unions, parents will risk their own lives for their young.[2]
The predator was designed by Digital Textures Lead Daren Horley of Framestore CFC[4] .
[edit] History within the show
Cutter and the other members of the crew believe that they entered the present day not from the past (unlike all the other animals in the series, excepting a creature that was from a different future period. This creature was a seal-like marine mammal known as a Mer.) but from the future, presumably after the demise of man. They first entered the Permian era through an anomaly leading to the future, and then into the present through the anomaly in the Forest of Dean in pursuit of Helen Cutter.
Future predators returned in the second season, along with other creatures from the future. When they arrived is unknown, as one was first seen inside the Anomaly Research Centre after being smuggled in by Leek. This predator had a small red device on its head, which turns out to be a "neural clamp" - some form of external control that Helen Cutter found in her travels into the future. The neural clamp was radio controlled so Connor used the Anomaly Detector to pick up the incoming transmitions to link them back to Leek. The predator kills all the ARC personal except Lester, and is then killed by a captured mammoth. In the following episode, a predator battles Cutter, but is killed in the attempt. To Cutter's dismay, an entire army of predators are also under control by Leek, but he manages to short out the neural clamps, releasing them from control, where they realise who has been controlling them and bear down on Leek. Leek also had a variety of other creatures from the past and future with him, but the predators and them eventually killed each other. However, it is likely there is a survivor as any creature left alive would have a huge food supply, as well as another way to escape - they could go back the way they came.
Tim Haines and Adrian Hodges, series creators, have confirmed the predator will appear "more than once" in the third series[5].
They will also appear in the book, The Lost Predator.[6]
[edit] Fatalities caused
- 3 or more ordinary people
- Male lion at Wellington Zoo
- Tim Parker, head of Wellington Zoo (Abby Maitland's boss)
- 10 of Lester's men
- Tom Ryan, special forces leader for the team
- ARC doctor
- Oliver Leek, villain
- Stephen Hart, recurring team member
- 1 Lion
[edit] References
- ^ Milne, Mike. Primeval sees Framestore CFC's Creatures Leap into the 21st Century.
- ^ a b c "Episode Six". Primeval. ITV. ITV1. 2007-03-17. No. 6, season 1.
- ^ "Episode 13". Primeval. ITV. ITV1. 2008-03-30. No. 7, season 2.
- ^ Milne, Mike. Primeval sees Framestore CFC's Creatures Leap into the 21st Century.
- ^ Series three Q&A with the creators of Primeval
- ^ Primeval and Primeval 2 ITV series: News page and development
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