Overview:
Adult Swim recently released the latest episode of Primal, “Prey for the Wicked.” Our zombie hero takes a break this season, with the story shifting to Fang and Mira.
Our Take:
Throughout the season so far, Spear has been haunted by visions of Fang. When a literal ghoul is haunted by something, viewers can expect that it will become important later on. The pay-off finally comes with this episode, in which Fang once again becomes the focus of the story.
Things start up at Mira’s tribe as a funeral is carried out. Fang tearfully watches by in an emotional moment. Later, she visits the tomb to offer a mournful roar. She is given some comfort during the moment from her children, making for a sweet scene.
As time passes, the little dinos continue to offer some levity as they play with chickens. Soon, Fang learns that her children won’t be the only little ones around, either. Of course, fans of the series likely already know who the new arrival is.
Things take a dark turn when twisted creatures, resembling a cross between a wolf and a boar, attack Mira’s tribe. Fang and her brood arrive to help. Unfortunately, a child is carried off by the beasts. Making the scene crueler, the child, who was previously shown playing with the dinos, seemed to have been rescued right before the creatures get their second wind.
After a quick break, however, it’s shown that the child is still alive, but is in danger of ending up as the monsters’ next meal. The tribe, led by their reptilian allies, forms a search party, but a few horrors soon await them.
Previous episodes this season often used nature to highlight the beauty in the world, contrasting Spear’s unnatural state. Here, the story focuses on the human perspective, giving an interesting change of pace. Even the reveal that the monsters are feeding their children is played for gruesome imagery.
In this story, even the nightmares come off as more hopeful than the real world, as they can at least offer a familiar face. Of course, even this sets up the big surprise that ends the story. Let’s just say it’s an old friend, and he doesn’t quite look the same as he does in Mira’s dreams. Ultimately, this is a perfect episode to see some old faces, complete with a little reunion at the end.