[7.4/10] “Slave of the Scorpion” is definitely a little more low-key than some other episodes of Primal this season, but I still enjoyed it. Adding Mira to the Spear and Fang duo creates a new dimension to their dynamic. There’s some subtext at Spear being pleased to find another human being again, even if they’re not always on the same page. The way our heroes help her, and eventually make her a part of their party, is slow-spun and endearing, given the rocky path for the two sides to understand one another.
But I also like how the episode expands the world of the show somewhat. We learn that Spear isn’t the only caveman in the world. We learn that there are not only other humans, but that they’re ones with ships and shackles and shoes, blowing up the “prehistoric setting” we thought we knew.
We also learn through Mira that there are cultural advancements, not just technological ones. Mira has language. She has religion, or at least some kind of ritual. She has storytelling, the ability to convey the misfortune that befell her -- her capture and enslavement -- in a way we haven’t seen from anyone else thus far. Again, this expands the world of Primal in substantial ways, making it more than a wild and rudimentary place.
That means that Mira and Spear (and also Fang) have to bridge a bigger divide than necessary -- not just two people from different parts of the world, but at different levels of advancement and understanding. That makes the bond forged in their common humanity, of altruism and kindness, all the more heartening. And it makes it all the more sad when the season leaves us on a cliffhanger, as the newest member of the team is dragged away on a ship, as Spear says her name for the first time. The moment has power, and it’s not just because of yet another badass fight that happens beforehand.
Otherwise, this episode moves at a pretty relaxed pace, letting us see how Mira joins the group slowly but steadily, proving her ability to construct meals beyond just “kill thing, put thing over fire” while also proving pretty handy with a bow and arrow -- more advancements she has over her more cro-magnon counterpart. (It’s a nice touch that Spear wrinkles his nose at Mira’s meals, while Fang seems to like them.)
Overall, it’s not the boffo end of the season I might have hoped for, but it again had beautiful art in the wild bird and monkey fights, and opens things up for the show in terms of possibilities. All good stuff from a great first season.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2020-11-04T19:26:34Z
[7.4/10] “Slave of the Scorpion” is definitely a little more low-key than some other episodes of Primal this season, but I still enjoyed it. Adding Mira to the Spear and Fang duo creates a new dimension to their dynamic. There’s some subtext at Spear being pleased to find another human being again, even if they’re not always on the same page. The way our heroes help her, and eventually make her a part of their party, is slow-spun and endearing, given the rocky path for the two sides to understand one another.
But I also like how the episode expands the world of the show somewhat. We learn that Spear isn’t the only caveman in the world. We learn that there are not only other humans, but that they’re ones with ships and shackles and shoes, blowing up the “prehistoric setting” we thought we knew.
We also learn through Mira that there are cultural advancements, not just technological ones. Mira has language. She has religion, or at least some kind of ritual. She has storytelling, the ability to convey the misfortune that befell her -- her capture and enslavement -- in a way we haven’t seen from anyone else thus far. Again, this expands the world of Primal in substantial ways, making it more than a wild and rudimentary place.
That means that Mira and Spear (and also Fang) have to bridge a bigger divide than necessary -- not just two people from different parts of the world, but at different levels of advancement and understanding. That makes the bond forged in their common humanity, of altruism and kindness, all the more heartening. And it makes it all the more sad when the season leaves us on a cliffhanger, as the newest member of the team is dragged away on a ship, as Spear says her name for the first time. The moment has power, and it’s not just because of yet another badass fight that happens beforehand.
Otherwise, this episode moves at a pretty relaxed pace, letting us see how Mira joins the group slowly but steadily, proving her ability to construct meals beyond just “kill thing, put thing over fire” while also proving pretty handy with a bow and arrow -- more advancements she has over her more cro-magnon counterpart. (It’s a nice touch that Spear wrinkles his nose at Mira’s meals, while Fang seems to like them.)
Overall, it’s not the boffo end of the season I might have hoped for, but it again had beautiful art in the wild bird and monkey fights, and opens things up for the show in terms of possibilities. All good stuff from a great first season.