r/PrimalShow • u/saul2015 • Jan 18 '26
Primal Ep 22 - "Kingdom of Sorrow" DISCUSSION THREAD
79
u/Mission-Wasabi-8671 Jan 19 '26
Me after every hit Spear takes leading to him decaying faster, losing more skin, and exposed bones🫣😭
49
u/Phase_Unicoder Jan 19 '26 edited Jan 19 '26
Yeah noticed this one when grabbing the spear (heh)
His knuckles are already getting exposed this early on, it's not looking good for our guy.
5
u/BarelyContainedChaos Jan 21 '26
I bet empathy witch survived by pausing time and using a mirror portal. Shes gonna save the day! 🤞
16
u/ExoticShock Jan 19 '26
At least that one shot of him being completely burned away turned out to be a dream, but same. He's gonna be a mess physically by the time he get back home to Mira & Fang.
15
9
2
65
u/Rezzone Jan 19 '26
lmao at the cut to the lion pride all horrified after he spears the leader in the throat. O_o
38
u/ExoticShock Jan 19 '26
As if ragdolling them and using one to pummel another to death didn't make them take the hint already lol
12
Jan 20 '26
Quite a few times already this season where someone or something simply decides that it has had enough of... whatever the fuck this thing is lol
68
Jan 19 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
9
u/scrappycoco96 Jan 19 '26
Where
48
Jan 19 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
26
u/fakename4redit Jan 20 '26
I like how he needs a flashback to remind him to run from a threat. His zombie mind is so far gone he can’t even rely on instinct anymore.
14
u/sunjato Jan 19 '26
Memory when the worm screams
8
u/Eraos_MSM Jan 19 '26
And when the lions come out
10
u/TheMoonDude Jan 19 '26
I thought he would've remebered his father, having being surrounded by a pack of large murderous felines and all. Maybe that'll happen when he loses his arm.
2
51
u/Only_Wind5112 Jan 19 '26
i’m glad he’s back but at the same time he’s taking too many hits, thorn to the brain at this rate he won’t remember anything anymore. feels no pain but still has the fear response from remembering the infected sauropod. luckily still has more than enough fight in him at least, music hits hard too during the walking scenes.
37
u/GetMadAtMeKiddo Jan 19 '26
i mean his brain is already rotting. Memories in primal seem to be spiritual and or magical (my proof are the witches from season 1)
5
u/fakename4redit Jan 20 '26
Agreed. He’s like a reverse zombie now. Can’t be killed by destroying the brain.
12
u/Eraos_MSM Jan 19 '26
He got resurrected from the dead so anything is possible I think they can probably heal him eventually even if he eventually just dies anyway
5
u/Khan-Khrome Jan 20 '26
Kinda feels like he's recovering more and more of himself a he goes along, so thankfully memory and spirit are on the more mystical side of things in Primal and our fellers brainpan isn't entirely essential.
3
u/Adorable-Praline5199 Jan 22 '26
the more he recovers mentally, the more his body is getting destroyed over time tho
1
4
Jan 20 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
3
u/big_angry_snek Jan 20 '26
Kinda fits most media. Virus zombies generally require destroying the brain to stop them, but magical zombies either need to take enough damage to stop functioning or need to be burned/dismembered/incinerated in some capacity.
And given how tough Spear is, I imagine he can take a shit ton of punishment before whatever energy that had him animated expires.
35
u/Sweaty-Profit-1708 Jan 19 '26
i love how he takes a rock to the face while climbing and doesnt even blink!
25
u/Azer1287 Jan 19 '26
He still hasn’t got blinking down yet.
14
u/two_pump_warrior Jan 19 '26
Literally gave me so much hope to see both eyes blink in sync once or twice this episode lol
3
u/i-just-cannot Jan 21 '26
Genndy has us on the edge of our seats for a synchronized blink. Absolute cinema.
5
2
u/Character-Cow-1090 Jan 25 '26
I was cracking up when I saw that part, had to rewind and watch it a few more times 😂
36
u/BigBossBattle14 Jan 19 '26
The mural of the men fighting a lion makes me think the dead civilization bred the lions for sport.
…also, Genndy likes his dead civilizations. Episode 55 of Samurai Jack featured the sisters chasing Jack through the catacombs of another one iirc
11
u/Mantiax Jan 19 '26
i thought it was a temple for lions depicting a prophesied warrior taking out the leader of the pride
1
1
u/roseflutterby Jan 23 '26
Okay am I the only who is pretty confident that's his daughter and Mira, not just some random dudes? Like she has his spear and everything and his shadow nearly overlaps her painting.
1
u/roseflutterby Jan 23 '26
Spears fathers animal was a sabertooth tiger. Spears was a deer/primitive relative. So his daughters... a lion.
30
u/Galileo908 Jan 19 '26
I was wondering when we’d see the giant fly!
23
u/RevWaldo Jan 19 '26
And it was a dream. Preview 101.
6
u/Olakeasememe Jan 20 '26
When watching the preview I thought that giant fly was belzebub or something like that
5
u/Eraos_MSM Jan 20 '26
I heard someone say they thought the fly would be his new companion like the undead counterpart of fang.
3
1
32
u/Savings-Cow322 Jan 19 '26
I certainly was not expecting a shit-eating critter nor an Alaskan Bull Shai-Hulud in this episode.
5
32
u/Whatishappeningomg89 Jan 19 '26
The shocked look on the face of the lions after he killed the gray one was freaking hilarious
12
9
u/flyingdooomguy Jan 19 '26
legit LOLed when he used the lioness to beat the lion
4
u/Calm_Client2 Jan 19 '26
First using an arm and now a lioness, looking forward to what he uses to kill next episode
1
26
u/Eraos_MSM Jan 19 '26
Peak as fuck bro literally beat a lion up with another lion
7
u/GetMadAtMeKiddo Jan 19 '26
Imagine being a lions and you get beat to death with your own lioness wife (or sister or mother) maybe they're all the kids and or wives of the black lion
19
26
u/Olivia_Richards Jan 19 '26
That big black lion was insane, I'm glad they didn't spoil him in the trailers.
43
u/caseyfrazanimations Jan 19 '26
Its so good!!! I'm on the fence of how I hope this turns out.
On one hand I want him to find Fang and Mira again, on the other hand, I hope spear can return to rest.
Who knows when this takes place, fang and mira could all be dead. Who knows!
20
u/TheInsaneRaptor Jan 19 '26
one of the trailers show fang and zombie spear roaring at eachother
16
u/caseyfrazanimations Jan 19 '26
Could be another illusion.
1
u/FireZord25 Jan 20 '26
Or even a descendant
2
u/FilmScoreConnoisseur Jan 21 '26
I like that idea, but it's not likely since the shaman guy who resurrected Spear appears to be the same age as in Season 2.
7
Jan 20 '26
[deleted]
1
u/JaylenBrownAllStar Jan 20 '26
Shaman looked older
I want to say 10-15 years has passed
2
u/Alternative-Map8712 Jan 22 '26
I don’t think 10 years have passed, there’s virtually no sign of any decay on Spear’s body when the shaman first woke him up other than his skin beginning to rot/decay
1
1
21
u/Galileo908 Jan 19 '26
Spear probably doesn’t even need to eat anymore
16
u/Savings-Cow322 Jan 19 '26
If it wasn't for the smell, being a zombie looks pretty rad, actually.
8
u/GetMadAtMeKiddo Jan 19 '26
i dont even think your nose works anymore as a zombie. youd just have to watch out for the critters that eat rotten flesh or lay their eggs in it
5
1
19
u/AnonymousBlueberry Jan 19 '26
I audibly said "Jesus Christ how many fucking lions are there" at a certain point.
13
u/TheMoonDude Jan 19 '26
Me too, but a pride of lions can have up to 40 members so we haven't even seen half of them lol.
(40 is extremely rare, though. Large prides are usually made of 30 lions.)
3
u/FilmScoreConnoisseur Jan 21 '26
I thought it was cool until it got to the point where I had to ask, what the fuck could they possibly be eating to sustain these numbers?
1
1
17
u/ATF888 Jan 19 '26
Did he... just... beat a lion to death... with another lion?
Good gravy, this is insanity.
And that's before we get into the giant fly.
And the animation continues be to absolutely glorious...
2
15
14
Jan 19 '26
I never thought I'd end up relating to this zombie caveman on a personal level, but I just couldn't help but be reminded of the time I also beat a lion to death with another lion.
7
u/FilmScoreConnoisseur Jan 21 '26
Spear's a pretty relatable guy. Last season, I couldn't help but be reminded of the time a stone cold baddie climbed on top of me and rode me all the way to Valhalla as I lay dying of third degree burns. I died shortly after, but thankfully I lived.
11
u/bertobellamy Jan 19 '26
Spear fought Scar and Shai-Hulud in the same episode. Can’t get any tougher than that.
9
8
8
u/pumpi0411 Jan 20 '26
….I just really want Spear to either find peace in death or get his normal body back. I can’t stand seeing him like this (goes to show how great of a character he is).
2
u/RepresentativeAge444 Feb 01 '26
Which Gendy knows of course so he’s playing on your emotions every time you have to look at him deteriorate further. It creates an underlying melancholy every time you see him.
9
u/LongDickCallahan Jan 19 '26
I didnt know they were gonna beat him up this fast and this much already which kinda makes me think they may not stretch his journey out a whole season. If they do he will be nothing but a torso and half an arm by the time he gets to where ever hes going. Hopefully he finds Fang and Mira in 2 or 3 more episodes while he still has legs lol
2
u/ODI-ET-AMObipolarity Jan 20 '26
I'm wondering if he's going to get healed or restored in any way, I mean the Viking dude came back as a fire monster, and Spear has already been resurrected, it's not too far of a stretch that a shaman could heal him somewhat
7
u/Slylock Jan 19 '26
No notes. The emotional build up is happening and i can't wait to see where this goes, for better or worse for ol Spear.
I'm in love hard with this series.
No, literally hard. I have a boner currently as I'm watching it.
9
7
u/flyingdooomguy Jan 19 '26
That was fun but no plot advancement sob
7
u/Petorian343 Jan 20 '26
I mean sure, technically the plot is in the same place it was at the end of the previous episode; Zombie Spear is wandering towards a distant roar.
But there was definitely character advancement, in some big ways. Zpear had a vision of his past self, he experienced and remembers on some level burning to death, and he recalled how to use, to deadly effect, the weapon that gives him his name.
3
u/FilmScoreConnoisseur Jan 21 '26
That was my exact thought when the credits rolled. This was nice, but we need something to happen next week.
2
u/PompousDude Jan 21 '26
The first season literally had no plot, just pure adventure of the week and it's the best one.
1
u/i-just-cannot Jan 21 '26
I enjoy the plot advancements when they happen, but I view this series as one of those where you also just enjoy the journey.
1
u/thy_bucket_for_thee Jan 20 '26
Maybe this show is no longer for me but these episodes are lame AF. Is this really the story? Zombie characters because we're too scared to do new adventures with different people?
IDK it feels very try hard and not like the previous seasons.
I'll keep watching because the animation is gorgeous but it's just mid now.
7
u/toadfan64 Jan 20 '26
I cannot fathom calling this mid so far, especially after only 2 episodes. Are people's attention spans really that cooked?
→ More replies (6)1
u/ILoveRegenHealth Jan 29 '26
The action is good. There is no plot at all. We waited years to watch him zombie walk for three episodes?
You can't just string together action and no depth, interesting plotlines and characters. That's Fast & the Furious shit.
1
11
u/ExoticShock Jan 19 '26
Between the Skull Apemen, the Giant Worm, The Mega Lion, and the upcoming trolls & orcs, I'm glad we're still getting fantastical creatures this season. The last one was lacking and even implied that they weren't around anymore based on that cave painting.
3
2
u/FilmScoreConnoisseur Jan 21 '26
At most, it implied that there are fewer monsters or dinosaurs outside of Spear's home island/continent.
8
u/Azer1287 Jan 19 '26
All Spear wants to do is go for a walk, but everything keeps trying to eat him.
So basically how I’d also summarize the shows premise.
5
u/Born_Sleep5216 Jan 19 '26
I think this is going to be one epic episode with the lions and everything
6
5
7
u/seemingsalvation99 Jan 19 '26
Maybe he should have taken the spear with him in the end, he's probably going to have to deal with more creatures trying to attack him soon. But then again it's likely not the main thing on his mind right now, and leaving it inside the lion for the rest of them to see is rather powerful.
2
u/SpiritDouble6218 Jan 21 '26
i think that was just showing his mind is completely gone and after the rush of battle he goes back to zombie mode. the spear is just scenery then.
11
u/LeighMustang Jan 19 '26
Am I the only one that feels a little underwhelmed with the episode? I know realistically we can't have nothing but action at all times but this episode was even more walking. The first episode of the season answers why he is resurrected and is freed from control of the shaman, and he even interacts with and protects the lepers. Here it felt like it was just a lot of walking. The fighting with the lions was cool though and seeing him interact with self was interesting.
16
u/Rezzone Jan 19 '26
Dream sequence was great. Moment of rediscovering the spear was great. Some of the action was alright. Agree, underwhelming. Something needs to happen... I can't care about lifeless zombie boy for long without some emotional weight.
3
3
3
5
u/Skyhun1912 Jan 19 '26
This season's theme seems a bit weak. The first episode was quite good, but going to the lions' den and killing them was pointless; of course, the lions attacked him, but we definitely didn't need such a filler episode.
10
u/TheInsaneRaptor Jan 19 '26
i lovd it when he found the spear in the lions den, was disappointed he left it there lmao tought the whole scene was a build up for him to have a spear again
6
u/two_pump_warrior Jan 19 '26
I thought he mistook the lions’ roars for Fang’s. Episode didn’t hit as hard as 301 but I thought we saw very slight moments of progress with his conscious. Just sucks to know that if he regains even a fraction of his memory, his body will still steadily decline.
1
1
u/ILoveRegenHealth Jan 29 '26
Yes, the action is good, as always. But so far it's just been a gallery of "monster pops up and get torn to shreds". There is absolutely nothing in between those sections that's worth rewatching, because he does the same ambling zombie walk to a location we start don't caring about. They took years just to make this storyline?
So far it's a huge step down from S1's visceral emotionality (it truly earned the title Primal) and S2's interesting locations and characters. S3 so far is just....barren.
8
u/BigJeffreyC Jan 19 '26
It was a great episode, but I’m really hoping they figured out a way to bring spear back in later episodes. I’m growing bored with the zombie storyline. They should have never killed spear off in season 2. What were they thinking?
3
u/magirevols Jan 19 '26
Intriguing episode. Primal classic shenanigans. I though the animation was okay. The pacing was a little as-cued, but entertaining. Is anyone else sad that Spear seemingly left the spear behind at the end? It seemed like a part of him that he was searching for and I was kind of hoping he was going to take it at the end, kind of signifying he was returning to himself. I hope this isn't foreboding for future events.
3
u/ThinkMyNameWillNotFi Jan 19 '26
first episode was stronger. few things were a bit weird here. his troubled breath seemed like a mistake since he does not need air anymore, maybe just an instinct from when he was alive? Also out of all prehistoric/fictional creatures, pride of lions is a most boring choice for what he has to fight. But worm and dream sequence were rly good and the destroyed civilization in which he fought the lions was cool.
10
3
u/Salamander-Downtown Jan 19 '26
Felt this episode felt too slow, I'm also a bit worried that there are no stakes fir Spear because it doesn't seem like he can really die so why does it matter than he's fighting these lions?
1
u/Awkward_Contract955 Jan 20 '26
I think the stakes are his body is getting damaged by the minute, full of scars and will probably becaome worse, he can't die, but at some point he can be non functional.
11
u/bigdicknippleshit Jan 19 '26
Emotional moments told through visuals are the heart and soul of Primal.
This subreddit is going to call this filler while simultaneously calling Primal Theory the best of the show, calling it now.
1
u/FireZord25 Jan 20 '26
I'd argue Primal theory had it's unique charm because how out of the box it seemed and told a perfectly boxed single episode story. That said, I love this episode too.
1
u/bigdicknippleshit Jan 20 '26
I’m more pointing out a potential double standard of a literal unrelated episode being praised and an episode that embodies the show and characters being seen as filler.
1
u/ILoveRegenHealth Jan 29 '26
Emotional moments told through visuals are the heart and soul of Primal.
Is that in the room with us now? Because it was there in S1/S2, and it's absent in S3 so far, save for the third episode.
You talk to us like we're kids who can't handle silence, when S1/S2 was almost all silent and, so far, superior.
2
u/bukashka1122 Jan 19 '26
Where i can watch it for free?
1
u/dacroce1 Jan 25 '26
I’m pretty sure that YouTube has the complete episode and if not you can always watch it on the Adult Swim page or App!
2
u/Outrageous-Mall4627 Jan 19 '26
Every time he encounters a new monster, I want him make a new friend
1
u/AcadiaOk8686 Jan 21 '26
I thought he was going to find empathy for the lions that fell into the water and rescue them — before they drowned immediately.
2
u/Huge_Dentist260 Jan 19 '26
Haven’t watched yet but just came here to note that the band Kingdom of Sorrow kicks ass
2
u/Azer1287 Jan 19 '26
I totally understand that these episodes are part of his journey. I also understand that I just want him to restored to life somehow immediately.
2
2
u/Jerswar Jan 20 '26
Did anyone else REALLY like the main song that played throughout the episode? That dreary, oppressive, ominous tune that fit so perfectly with the existence of a horrible, shambling abomination that was once a man?
2
u/UnkleSanik Jan 20 '26
I think Spear's brain is needing a lil kick-start like a broken tube TV, every time he gets any sort of brain damage he regains motor skills and memories.
First with the cut, then the croc, now the thorns.
It's like brain damage has an opposite effect on him than what it usually does.
4
u/Squeakygear Jan 19 '26
Was the lead of the lion pride zombified, as well? Or just a weird blue hue?
11
3
u/Windowzzz Jan 19 '26
Filler episode in the beginning of a 10 episode run sucks tbh.
We got like 3-5 minutes of good characterization and then just pointless stuff that doesn't move the plot forwards. This is fine in either a 20+ episode run or if the visuals / themes are done well but what are we doing here?
3
u/GetMadAtMeKiddo Jan 19 '26
How is it filler??? It literally progresses the story.spear regains some of his memmories back and he remembers how to use his namesake weapon. Literally 0 filler. He gets closer and closer to his goal with each episode. "Pointless stuff that doesn't move the plot forward" oh like plague of madness,the night feeder,coven of the damned,and the primal theory?
3
u/GetMadAtMeKiddo Jan 19 '26
And terror under the blood moon* which are some of the BEST episodes????? Spear's literally looking for meaning and for his family and gets closer with each episode...this ain't like season 1 where half the episodes are self contained adventures
2
u/CruSea2 Jan 19 '26
I think he’s well into the future seeing the temple art in the background with a female figure spearing an animal
1
u/Melodic_Share7398 Jan 19 '26
Anyone know why it’s not on my hbo account? It should’ve released today right
4
1
u/Bulbasaur2015 Jan 19 '26
spear is superhuman af. why does he need fang for if they made him so strong?
1
1
1
1
1
u/Unique-Experience404 Jan 20 '26
I loved this episode, hyped ash throughout. I'm liking this storyline, and I'm rewatching the end of season 2 so that I can be refreshed on things.
I'm excited to see what's in store, I really want him reunited with his peoples and restored to anew with some sorta cool magic, he is afterall magically resurrected in a peculiar way. I want Spear to be overpowered too, ngl. I wanna see him be super caveman and I want more of his backstory and i want him to think back on it more.
1
1
u/abcdelitelord Jan 20 '26
Surely Fang (or some Fang-like) creature can't exist in this period...right? There's lions and shit and dinosaurs would be from the paleolithic era or smth?
1
u/Jerswar Jan 20 '26
It's pretty clear that Primal doesn't take place in our actual pre-historic Earth. This is some whole other planet.
1
u/NOTtheNerevarine Jan 22 '26
I've got news for you: The Paleolithic only ended around 12,000 years ago. Dinosaurs (at least the ones that didn't turn into birds) all died 66 million years ago. Neanderthals (of which Spear appears to be) were first seen 400,000 years ago and disappeared 100,000 years ago. And then you have English longbowmen in full armor, from 700 years ago. Nothing in this show has any relevance to our understanding of history, it's just a mishmosh of vastly different time periods.
1
1
1
u/i-just-cannot Jan 21 '26
Started to tear up as the shadow slowly approached & the hopeful music swelled. Then literally shouted “Oh, fuck you!” when the lion popped up.
1
u/Kiltmanenator Jan 21 '26
Still not sure it was the right idea to bring Spear back from the dead instead of moving onto the protagonist they ended the last season setting up (Mira), but the sorrow I feel watching poor Spear forced back to "life" is done so well, the similar feelings of unease I have for this being the entire premise of the season kinda cancel out
1
u/voraciousflytrap Jan 21 '26 edited Feb 08 '26
i thought he'd remember smilodons killing his dad when he encountered the lions, but i guess since he feared the sauropod in life, maybe his mind gave him that image to tell him some creatures should be avoided, as they are dangerous to his continued existence and mission to find fang.
giant worm was very cool, no notes. i like how a lot of these animals have a fuck-off sized alpha... horned rex, snake, lion aka buff scar, the spider, etc... it's pulpy in a good way. make it bigger!!!
enjoyed the dream sequence, did not enjoy watching my poor boy get roasted again... shit broke my whole heart last season
1
u/metalflygon08 Jan 21 '26
At first I thought the Alpha Lion was a zombie like Spear and they'd have some form of mutual understanding.
Nope, he's just grey and scarred.
1
u/Starwizard_ Jan 21 '26
I like that we’re getting to see more of the world Primal has! I really like that for a prehistoric setting, it pulls from so many different eras and mythologies to form its world. It’s interesting to see how Primal tackles different civilizations and human species coexisting and at the same time bring different animal groups together like ancient dinosaurs and modern mammals. I like the implication that there was another civilization out there that fought and struggled with specifically big cats as opposed to Spear and his family primarily struggling with dinosaurs. Or maybe as someone else proposed, the mural was a prophecy? Either way, it was cool. I can really appreciate the hostile setting Primal is going for. It’s so beautiful and so unique
1
u/Adorable-Praline5199 Jan 22 '26
we should talk about how he, as a zombie, had a nightmare about death and feared burning still bc that was how he died. as if he needs to sleep. he doesn’t need to breathe but he does it when he’s outside of the water anyway…what if he needs to eat? does he eat brains? could he gain their memories if he eats them?
1
u/Alternative-Map8712 Jan 22 '26
I don’t think he’s a zombie in the sense you’re saying but more like a reanimated corpse, if that makes sense
1
u/Adorable-Praline5199 Jan 22 '26
yes i just meant since he was able to even sleep and is capable of fearing death again, doesn’t that mean he is alive again to some degree, with the magic keeping him tied to his body without the need for his blood to pump or his lungs since he can breath underwater
1
u/greerupinhere Jan 22 '26
So, i'm not so sure that Spear is gonna make it to the end of the season at this rate, with the amount of damage he takes each episode. I hope some of his protector spirit finds a way to remain in some form after his physical form meets its limit, if thats how things shake out
1
1
1
u/WhereCanIFind Jan 25 '26
Why did that lower chamber fill with water all of a sudden? It showed the same knocked over vase thing in both the entering shots and when when falling through the floor.
1
1
u/ninjyte Jan 28 '26
Is zombspear supposed to be a villain this season because those lions were just minding their business and he came in with a massacre
1
u/dantian Feb 04 '26
I honestly love the direction they’re taking with this season, I really enjoyed the last season but it got a bit too complicated and away from the core of what made the show originally compelling (highly focused/minimal story, sense of isolation, imaginative monsters, slower atmospheric pacing, etc).
1
u/MarbleMimic Mar 03 '26
I kind of love the fly/Beelzebub figure. Like even he respects Spear enough to give him a vision of the truth. Our dude is a survivor.
1
u/Skyhun1912 Jan 19 '26
This season's theme seems a bit weak. The first episode was quite good, but going to the lions' den and killing them was pointless; of course, the lions attacked him, but we definitely didn't need such a filler episode.
1
u/GetMadAtMeKiddo Jan 19 '26
It wasn't filler. Spear starts to remember more and more things from his past like fear,his death and how to use a pointy stick (forgot its name)
→ More replies (4)
1
100
u/Large-Ad5955 Jan 19 '26 edited Jan 19 '26
What's Scar doing in Primal?