Primal: The Complete Second Season (2022) [Blu-ray review]

Among adult animation renaissance series on the darker, weirder fringes, Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal has carved out one of the most unique niches. Centered on an unlikely bonding between a caveman and T-Rex in a brutal prehistoric world, this wordless action-drama visualizes raw animal nature through impressionistic visual poetry.

Now with Primal: The Complete Second Season on Blu-ray, fans can reimmerse in the show’s enthralling primordial landscapes, kinetic action setpieces, and emotionally resonant core relationship that deepens in surprising new directions across these 10 episodes.

Blending Mesmerizing Visuals with Emotive Storytelling

Having led modern cartoon classics like Samurai Jack and Dexter’s Laboratory, Tartakovsky brings that same flair for dynamic, stylized animation to Primal’s inhospitable ancient world. The story follows caveman Spear and his Tyrannosaurus companion Fang, who bond after their families are slaughtered by savage adversaries.

In Season 2, Spear and Fang’s friendship continues being tested by prehistoric perils, from hostile tribes to ravenous beasts. Though wordless, the vivid character expression and fluid action choreography reveal greater nuance in their relationship as outcasts united against all.

Tartakovsky and his team conjure breathtaking nature tableaus, from lush forests to harsh deserts. Dino fights and battles erupt with visceral, larger-than-life urgency. And quieter character moments pack emotional insight into the graceful animation. Scored to a primal percussive soundtrack, it’s a true motion painting come alive.

Expanding the Savage Beauty and Poetic Storytelling

Continuing Primal’s adventurous season-long arc structure, Season 2 journeys through sweeping new settings, introducing fresh threats that raise the stakes. A notable early segment strands Spear and Fang in a frigid Nordic environment unlike their usual climate.

Another standout episode takes place on the open ocean, as Spear and Fang build a raft and contend with storms, sharks, and colossal sea creatures. Tartakovsky and crew relish fleshing out their prehistory with eye-popping scale and worldbuilding.

Throughout each leg in their odyssey, the bond between Spear and Fang grows richer. Their compassion and teamwork amid ongoing trauma make for a touching portrayal of unconditional friendship against the odds.

Grounded Emotion in a Savage Prehistoric Realm

For all its fantastical nature, Primal ultimately succeeds through its heart – the tangible relationship between its leads. Spear and Fang experience mutual grief, protection, understanding and trust in a way that transcends dialogue.

The animation conveys their emotional intimacy through subtle gestures and exchanged glances. Even when divided, their devotion resounds. These quiet moments balance the bombastic dinosaur fights to create a surprisingly thoughtful meditation on companionship and loyalty.

Top-Tier Voice Acting Brings the Heroes to Life

Silent though they may be, Primal’s characters benefit enormously from the voice work of Spear’s actor Aaron LaPlante and Fang’s Cree Summer. Their emotive grunts, roars, wails and breaths infuse key scenes with feeling.

LaPlante captures Spear’s humanity through impassioned, guttural sounds. And Summer gives Fang maternal sensitivity and ferocious power in her vocals. The interplay between them contributes immense heart.

Blurring Lines Between Ancient Past and Modern Relevance

On one level, Primal taps into timeless wish fulfillment of vicariously living through a primeval warrior fighting alongside dinosaurs. But the show also resonates for modern audiences by reflecting on bonds we forge amid life’s harshest challenges.

Though set long ago, Spear and Fang’s relationship offers a touching metaphor for the loyalty formed through shared trauma. Their perseverance stands as an inspirational message on the origins of human compassion.

Stunning Audio/Visual Presentation on Blu-ray

Enhancing Primal’s visual dynamism, Warner Bros. Animation delivers pristine picture bringing out the artistic intricacies in settings, effects and character designs. The Blu-ray perfectly captures the hand-drawn vitality.

Matching the visuals, the 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack immerses you in the environment through robust directional effects and the acoustic prehistoric score. For optimal home viewing, this release showcases Primal’s technical mastery.

A Modern Animated Treasure Ready to Be Unearthed

With superlative creative vision, emotional storytelling, and boundary-pushing animation, Primal stands tall among the most compelling mature cartoon sagas of our era. Genndy Tartakovsky has forged an intoxicating action epic that expands notions of what animation can achieve.

This Complete Second Season set provides the ideal way to re-experience the entrancing power of the world and characters. Whether you missed Primal originally or crave revisiting its majesty, this Blu-ray collection makes it a thrilling journey worth taking once again.

What’s on the Primal: The Complete Second Season Blu-ray?

Primal has it second season come to Blu-ray with a look at the second season as its only special feature. But, it’s pretty substantial. One thing that carries the release above similar releases is that stunning A/V Quality as seen in the screenshots.

The 1080p transfer stands among the best for recent broadcast animated series. Judging that it is usually after airing before we see the series hit home video, one can forget how great Primal looks on disc. Go stream it on MAX right now and take a look at these shots. Tell me which one looks better. As always, go disc.

Primal: The Complete Second Season debuts on Blu-ray on April 25th, 2023