Primal Season 3 Episodes 4-5 Recap: Has Fang Recognized Spear?

The much-awaited reunion between Spear and Fang finally happens in the fourth episode of the ongoing season of “Primal,” and as expected, things don’t go quite smoothly, due to Spear’s present zombified condition. The fourth and fifth episodes shift the narrative to focus on Mira’s journey and connect it with that of Spear’s following an unexpected confrontation. As old friends adjust to their new reality, the question emerges whether Spear can ever return to his old self and rebuild the lost bond with the ones he loves.

Spoilers Ahead

The fourth episode opens in Mira’s tribe in the past, right during Spear’s funeral. As Mira and the villagers mourn the savior’s death with rituals, tears well up in Fang’s eyes, as she is sensitive enough to realize that her best friend won’t return. Initially refusing to go to the cave where Spear’s remains are kept, Fang ultimately decides to say a final farewell to Spear when Mira is bidding adieu to her lover. Months later, Mira is further along in her pregnancy, and Fang, who is living in her village with her own two hatchlings, is able to sense that Mira is about to become a mother. The tyrannosaur’s emotional intelligence is shown in the way she tries to make a nest for Mira and her unborn child. Mira has been able to form a deep bond with Fang, as both of them dearly miss Spear. 

On one occasion, Hell Pigs, aka Entelodonts, attack the village, drawing the attention of Fang and her hatchlings, who manage to kill the majority of them. However, as the rest of the Hell Pigs flee, they take a number of the villagers captive, including a local boy named Jabu, who used to play with Fang’s hatchlings. Along with the rest of the abducted villagers, Jabu is taken to a distant cave, where the Hell Pigs throw their prey into a pit and their giant matriarch feeds on a bunch of them. Jabu witnesses that, in turn, the matriarch feeds her subjects with her milk. Determined to rescue the abducted villagers, Mira, Fang and her hatchlings, and a few of the tribe’s elite warriors set out on a journey. 

Deep in the woods, the rescue team comes across a grisly sight, as they find their tribesfolk massacred, and the accompanying warriors recognize the shaman who used occult magic to bring Spear to life. Fear grips Mira’s mind, and as they set up camp during the night, she sees terrifying visions of the past, which elevate her concerns about the safety of her child.  Things take a turn for the worse when a large horde of Hell Pigs attacks the team and quickly outnumbers them, killing a couple of warriors. With even Fang and her hatchlings cornered, it seems all hope is lost, until someone’s presence spooks the Hell Pigs so much that they decide to flee. Fang appears triggered by the presence as well, and to the utter shock of everyone, a zombified Spear steps out from the dark depths of the forest.

In his present condition, Spear is unrecognizable to Fang, whose protective instinct kicks in as she tries to protect Mira from him. The warriors, seeing the grotesque figure standing in front of them, resort to religious rituals to ward off the supposed evil spirit. Mira is shocked to see Spear, and it remains unclear whether she has been able to recognize him. Anyway, she tries to establish communication with him, to no avail—as even though Spear can faintly recognize her from his past memories, he can’t form a single intelligible thought or gesture to express what he feels. The worst part is, Spear is able to recognize Fang and tries his desperate best to convey to his best friend who he is but fails to do so. Fang continues to act aggressive and hostile towards Spear and keeps her hatchlings away from him. Mira tries to bring Spear back to his senses by allowing him to sense the life that has been growing inside her, but Spear’s inability to express his feelings continues to hinder their connection. 

As the group resumes their search the next morning, Spear decides to follow them. As Fang and her hatchlings continue to track the Hell Pigs, the team reaches a rainforest. Spear and Fang get fiercely competitive while trying to catch a warthog they spot nearby, as Spear’s instincts as a hunter kick back in. The old friends go at each other’s throats when they realize a group of carnivorous mandrills have ambushed the team. The warriors accompanying Mira die a brutal death, and the mandrills bring Mira to their nest to let their offspring feed on her. 

Spear’s protective instincts prompt him to go after the mandrills, joining Fang and her little ones in the chase, and showing immense strength, determination, and courage, he is able to eliminate most of the mandrills in the vicinity while trying to rescue Mira. Trying to escape from the high canopies, Mira nearly falls to her death, but Spear manages to hold her close to absorb the severe impact of her fall. Fang appears concerned, as the fall would have killed any regular human, but aside from a massive tear on his shoulder, Spear appears unscathed. 

Mira stitches the wound on Spear’s shoulder as a gesture of gratitude, and Fang’s hatchlings accept Spear as their own, which seems to evoke some happiness in his zombified profile. However, Fang is still skeptical about Spear, as she still has not been able to recognize him. As the episode comes to an end, Mira tries to make another attempt to communicate with Spear by mentioning her name, but his undead mind isn’t able to express his emotions yet again. It remains in question whether Fang will accept this version of Spear in the near future or whether there is any chance for Spear to regain his mortal, human self. Given occult magic was used to bring Spear back to life, there might be a way to use the same principles to restore his humanity. Or perhaps Spear will have to say farewell to his loved ones once again and can only hope for a reconciliation with Fang.