Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal Season 3 Episode 6 Review: Cavern of Horrors

Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal Season 3 Episode 6, “Cavern of Horrors,” brings Mira’s rescue mission to a bloody conclusion.

These past few episodes have centered on a rescue party attempting to track down villagers abducted by a horde of carnivorous pig-like creatures.

The rescue party’s numbers have dwindled, leaving only Mira, Fang, Fang’s children, and zombie Spear to complete the mission.

The world of Primal is a cruel, unforgiving one where characters must make sacrifices in order to survive. The aptly named “Cavern of Horrors” is a prime example of this idea, contrasted against the now undead Spear.

Compared to previous episodes, this one feels much more barren visually. The interior of the pig’s cave is fittingly cold and desolate.

While you might find yourself missing the gorgeous, lush jungles, it does a great job of adding to the sense of desperation among the trapped villagers and of making the rescue party’s mission seem all the more impossible.

This episode contains quite a bit of reused animation, particularly during the pigs’ feeding. While these moments are wonderfully grotesque, they are a touch repetitive.

In a show that’s almost completely devoid of dialogue, everything must be established visually. Showing the pigs feeding again is meant to help clarify Mira’s rescue strategy, even if it feels a little dragged out.

Having Spear on board for this rescue has proven to be essential, even if he’s not entirely himself. However, despite more than a few moments of confusion on his end, Spear acts more human this episode, but in a different way from when he was alive.

For starters, we see some of his sorrow and frustration over not being able to jump in right away to save the villagers. In the world of Primal, there are no perfect victories. Characters must make difficult decisions in the hopes they’ll save more in the long run.

Spear understood this while he was alive, but struggles with it in his current state.

As a zombie, he forgot how to survive. Why would something that is not alive know how to survive?

Even if he doesn’t remember how to survive, he does remember Fang. There are points in this season where Fang feels more like a person than Spear does.

From the moment she saw zombie Spear, Fang didn’t trust him, and this episode gives way to a truly heartbreaking appeal from Spear. While we can’t know precisely why Fang can’t accept him, we do know she’s already grieved him once and probably doesn’t want to do it again.

Spear attempts to reach out to Fang by giving her food and water. For a brief moment, Fang softens before putting her guard back up and rejecting Spear again. Again, we are not given the heartwarming reunion we’re hoping for.

It’s gut-wrenching to watch, but it’s understandable and absolutely for the best. Whether or not Fang will ever accept him is hard to say, but if she does, it will feel earned.

The episode concludes with a final fight that exposes Spear to the already terrified villagers. Despite saving them, it appears that Fang might not be the only one who struggles to accept Spear.

Then, we’re left on a cliffhanger. A pig injures and incapacitates Mira.

Fang is understandably upset by this, but strangely, is taking it out on Spear. It isn’t his fault, but given his complete and utter lack of survival instinct, Fang must blame him to an extent.

Hopefully, the next one gives us more insight into Fang’s disdain. Either way, Spear’s only ally is now out of commission, and if Fang doesn’t come around to him soon, he might be completely alone again.

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Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal airs Sundays at 11:30 P.M. ET on Adult Swim.

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