Primrose is a doe who joins the Watership Down Warren in the Watership Down television series. She was born in Redstone Warren and lived there prior to being enslaved in Efrafa. During the course of the series, she becomes Hazel's mate. She is also the mother of her and Hazel's kittens, Snowdrop, Mallow, Periwinkle, and Gilia. She replaces Hyzenthlay from the original novel.

Personality

Primrose is a kind, brave, and smart rabbit. While held captive in Efrafa, she is rebellious, stubborn, and rude, especially toward Vervain, who bullies and torments her at every given opportunity. She constantly disobeys him and ignores his snide bullying; Vervain dislikes this and tells Campion how he wants to make her fear him. Primrose is very determined to escape Efrafa and constantly making plans to do so.

On Watership Down, Primrose is very supportive of Hazel. When they have kits, she also reveals a motherly side, being very protective of and dedicated to her kits. She also looks for the truth as when she and Blackberry go find Woundwort. Primrose has some knowledge of healing herbs, which Blackberry taught her, but has less experience than Blackberry.

Primrose is also prone to holding grudges, as seen in "The Wanderer" where she initially wants to leave Vervain to die while he is drowning because of how he made her life miserable. Despite her protests, she eventually helps Fiver and Broom save him. Later she regrets saving Vervain and is angry with herself for it after she finds out he is now following General Woundwort again, and she sets out to stop their plans.

TV series

Primrose lived at Redstone until she was captured by Vervain's Wide Patrol and taken to Efrafa as a prisoner. There, she presumably became friends with Blackavar, who she is often seen with in season 1. They were both held captive in Efrafa until their rescue by the Watership Down rabbits. She and Campion also have a strong bond because of how he saved her multiple times in Efrafa.

Season 1

In "The Shadow of Efrafa," Primrose is present at Blackavar's trial for attempting to escape Efrafa and objects to his execution. On Campion's advice, Woundwort allows her to defend him—with the caveat that if he doesn't like what he hears, she will die with Blackavar. Kehaar, who was watching nearby, swoops in and attacks the Efrafans out of anger at the unfair trial, and Primrose makes an excuse that Blackavar had run from the bird. Woundwort dismisses the case, and Campion tells Primrose to be careful.

At silflay the next day, Primrose and Blackavar try to run again (during which time they meet Hazel, who offers to help them escape, and who instantly falls in love with Primrose) but are quickly recaptured by Vervain and Campion and taken to a prison burrow. Hazel and Fiver are captured soon after and put in the same prison. Hazel and Primrose flirt, and Hazel begins to describe the freedom of Watership Down, but Primrose becomes depressed at the thought of a freedom she sees as impossible. Soon, Hazel and Fiver are brought to be questioned by Woundwort, and Primrose is let out to witness the interrogation. Fiver has a vision of Woundwort's past, startling the general and allowing Fiver and Hazel to escape, though Primrose is left behind. Hazel vows to return for her.

In "Challenge to Efrafa," Primrose is seen working with the other Efrafan slaves to gather food. She overhears Woundwort's scouting plans and begins to plot with Blackavar to escape. Vervain suspects her of being up to something, as well as noticing that there was "something between her and that Hazel," and puts her under close watch. Secretly, Primrose begins digging an escape tunnel while Blackavar stands watch to keep her from being discovered. When Vervain catches her suspiciously covered in dirt, he taunts that he knows what she's up to and gleefully threatens to torture her until Campion steps in to stop him.

Though Blackavar is afraid to try again to escape after these threats, Primrose says that she would rather die than remain in Efrafa. At silflay, Vervain again tries to bully Primrose simply to make her afraid of him, but he is called away to go on patrol before he can hurt her. Primrose realizes that Woundwort is obsessed with finding Hazel and Fiver. Later, Primrose digs her escape tunnel up to the surface, but realizes she's still in the Efrafan silflay field near a guard post. Knowing that it's only a matter of time before the tunnel is discovered, she decides to go as far as the tunnel and then make a run for it that evening. Then she overhears Woundwort berating Vervain, and goes to eavesdrop on the officers, in time to hear Bigwig introduce himself.

In "Escape From Efrafa," she continues eavesdropping while Bigwig infiltrates Efrafa and gets a probationary officer position. Primroses suspects that there's something different about Bigwig and that he isn't like the other officers. At silflay, while Campion is explaining the Efrafan system to Bigwig, Bigwig secretly gets a message to Primrose that Hazel sent him. Underground, Primrose shows Bigwig her escape tunnel, and they decide to escape just before sunset. However, right when they try to run, Vervain discovers the escape tunnel and sounds the alarm. Bigwig leads Primrose and Blackavar to where Hazel, Fiver, and Hawkbit are waiting in the woods, and they run together to meet Blackberry at the boat. Kehaar attacks the Efrafans while the Watership rabbits make their escape on the boat. Hazel assures Primrose that she's free at last, and they cuddle.

In "The Vision," Primrose wishes to visit her home warren of Redstone. Fiver senses that the warren is gone, but Primrose is distraught by the possibility and doesn't believe him. She goes to see for herself, accompanied by Hazel. Hazel is worried that she's living in the past and tries to dissuade her from returning home, and she accuses him of trying to take her past away from her even after she lost so much of her future to Efrafa. On the way, they encounter a canal that they must cross in order to reach Redstone, and Primrose recklessly tries to jump across by using a moving boat as a stepping stone but falls into the canal. For a while she manages to swim, but when she goes under, Hazel jumps in after her and brings her head above water. Thankfully, the canal lets out into a river, and they wash up on the bank. Hazel confesses his love for Primrose.

Eventually, they reach Redstone Warren, which they find abandoned. Primrose is heartbroken. Then they meet Captain Broom, who is the only survivor of a devastating sickness that struck the warren a few seasons ago. It quickly becomes apparent that Broom is senile and hallucinating that the other Redstone rabbits are still there. Primrose expresses pity for him. She confides in Hazel her deep grief for her warren, telling him that the hope of returning home to them was what kept her alive in Efrafa. Hazel tells her that their spirits remained because she needed them, and that now she can let them go. She accepts that they are gone and she has a new future now, and Broom stops hallucinating their spirits. Hazel, Primrose, and Broom all head home to Watership Down. At the end of the episode, it is revealed that Primrose is pregnant with Hazel's kits.

By "A Tale of a Mouse," she has settled completely into life on Watership Down and is the mother of two unnamed kittens.

In "Lost," she is briefly seen training with Bigwig's Owsla. She is the one to notice that Fiver and Hawkbit are missing, and she helps the rest of the warren look for them and Hazel.

In "Friend and Enemy," she is seen at a strategy meeting when the Watership rabbits are discussing what to do about the dangerous Efrafan Wide Patrols and decide to lay false trails to confuse them. Later, when Bigwig and his patrol return without Hazel, Primrose worriedly asks where he is; Bigwig tells her that he stayed to look after Campion, who was attacked by a hawk. Primrose immediately begins to worry for Campion's life as well, revealing that even though they are enemies, she still has a soft spot for him because of how he saved her life in Efrafa, and Primrose sees him as the only decent Efrafan. Bigwig tells her that Hazel saving Campion's life will make it even, and Primrose agrees but looks off thoughtfully into the distance, implying that her feelings on the matter are more complicated than that. Meanwhile, Campion asks Hazel if Primrose is well, and is glad to hear that she is.

In "Kidnapped," Primrose joins Hazel, Bigwig, Fiver, and Pipkin in an attempt to recruit Campion to their side. On the way, Primrose admits that she still has nightmares about being recaptured and taken back to Efrafa. Despite her fear, she assures Hazel that she'll be fine and that she'll do her part in the mission. They travel through the caverns to the river near Efrafa, where they wait for Campion's patrol by the bridge. When Campion arrives, Kehaar chases off the rest of the patrol and Primrose steps out into the open, greeting Campion.

At first, Campion thinks Primrose has returned to Efrafa, and is delighted to see her again. He lets his guard down as he tries to talk to her, and Bigwig tackles him. Campion agrees to hear Hazel out, while Primrose gazes off sadly into the distance, possibly feeling guilty for using Campion's feelings for her against him. Primrose exhorts Campion to abandon Woundwort's violent and hateful ways, appealing to his sense of morality. She reminds him that he once spoke up against Woundwort to save her life.

Campion is briefly bitter that Primrose left with Hazel, but she explains that a life in Efrafa, without freedom or hope, wasn't worth living. She begs Campion to help them, and Hazel says that he'll wait until sunset for Campion's answer. Before they leave, Campion asks Primrose if she is happy where she is, and she replies that she is. Privately, Primrose expresses worry that Campion looks "so thin and sad." In a conversation with Hazel, she reflects on Campion's character: She says that on the outside, he's hard and cold, but on the inside is a bit like Hazel. But as Hazel, Fiver, and Bigwig depart to meet up with Campion again, Primrose becomes fearful again and wonders if she might be wrong about Campion and he and Woundwort are setting a trap.

Primrose and Pipkin wait in the caverns, but when the rendezvous with Campion takes more time then expected, Pipkin goes to check on them and is swept away by the flooded river. Primrose tries to save him but is too late; she then searches for his tracks but cannot find any sign of him. She finds Hazel, Campion, and the others and tearfully tells them what happened. Campion tries to reassure her, but she shouts at him that it is all the fault of Woundwort and Efrafa that Pipkin is missing. She continues searching for Pipkin with Hazel and Fiver, but instead they receive a message from Vervain that Pipkin has been captured by Efrafa and is being held hostage.

Season 2

In "Prisoner of Efrafa," Primrose is part of the strategy meeting to rescue Pipkin.

In "The Roundabout," Primrose suggests that Hickory and Marigold settle their new warren at Redstone.

In "The Stand," Primrose accompanies Hickory and Marigold to help show them around Redstone. Broom suggests that she bring her kits to Redstone so that they can see it, and Primrose responds that she will when they're old enough. Suddenly, Fiver has a vision that the Black Rabbit is coming for one of them, and Primrose becomes worried. When Campion finds out that Woundwort is going to attack Redstone, he is terrified for Primrose and runs all the way from Efrafa to Redstone to warn her. She remarks that he's risking his life for the Watership rabbits again, and Campion responds, "For you, Primrose." When Campion is arrested by Vervain at the end of the episode, Primrose becomes terrified that Fiver's prophecy of the Black Rabbit portends Campion's death.

In "The Orchard," she admonishes Pipkin for telling her kits scary stories and sends her kits to take a nap. Two of her kits are revealed to be named Snowdrop and Gilia. Later, when Pipkin blames himself for Fiver's disappearance and starts acting strangely, Primrose asks Pipkin if anything is wrong, but soon gets distracted when she has to stop her kits from fighting. Pipkin continues to avoid the others, and Primrose again asks him what's wrong. Just as Primrose leaves, he breaks down and confesses, but then realizes she is gone. Later, Primrose joins the search party for Fiver. She comforts Pipkin when he explains what happened, saying that he was right to run away so that the badger didn't get him too. In the orchard, she and Pipkin go to rescue Fiver while the others confront Bark.

In "The Great Game," Primrose remains extremely concerned for Campion as he has not been released. She is heavily preoccupied by Fiver's death prophecy, though Hazel tries to reassure her. When Hannah returns from a scouting mission with news that Campion is being starved and interrogated, Primrose is adamant that they must save him. When they do save him, she and Hazel meet up with him and invite him back to Watership Down, but he refuses. Primrose insists that they do something to repay Campion, and he tells her that it will be enough for her to stay free and happy. To Hazel, Primrose expresses disbelief in how Campion refuses to leave Efrafa and Woundwort.

In "Winter on Watership Down, Part 1," Primrose comments that it looks like the weather is getting worse. Hazel nuzzles her and promises to be back soon when he goes out to gather food for winter. Later, she helps Blackberry decorate for Frith's Eve. She welcomes Yona to Watership Down for the feast, then remarks to Blackberry that Yona seems like the type to be the first to arrive to parties and last to leave. When several more creatures from across the countryside arrive, Primrose remarks that Hazel should have been back by now. Blackberry assures her that they will come home safe.

In "Winter on Watership Down, Part 2," Primrose discusses the feast with Blackberry and Pipkin. Kehaar brings back news that the raiding party has been attacked by a fox, and Primrose is horrified. Later, she encourages Pipkin to tell an El-ahrairah story, "El-ahrairah and the Great Freeze," to celebrate Frith's Eve. She tells him that Dandelion would be proud of him, and that she will help him out if he forgets anything. At the end of the night, she sends the other animals home, apologizing for not having any food. She says that she wishes Hazel were there, and Kehaar appears with news that the raiding party is on their way back. Primrose is delighted when they return and Hazel is revealed to be alive. She admits to Pipkin that he was right for believing that they'd survive.

In "The Mysterious Visitors," Primrose and Blackberry teach Primrose's kits about different kinds of plants.

In "Bigwig's Way," Primrose congratulates Hickory on having kits. She travels to Redstone to visit Marigold and the kits, and notices the worsening weather on the way. She remarks that Marigold's kits are very sweet.

In "The Homecoming," Primrose helps Hazel and Bigwig look after Fiver when he collapses during a vision. She recognizes his prophecy as the same one that he had when Campion was arrested. When Campion comes to warn the Watership rabbits of an imminent attack on their warren, Primrose is delighted to see him. Because Campion has never before seen Watership Down, Primrose gives him a tour. Campion is amazed by how full of life and joy it is, and Primrose begs him not to go back to Efrafa. They run laughing through a meadow and Primrose introduces Campion to her kits. One of her kits is revealed to be named Periwinkle. Primrose helps Blackberry and the others cave in the tunnel. When Campion is crushed in a rockslide, Primrose mourns him, saying he would have been happy at Watership Down.

Season 3

In "The Last Battle," Primrose explains to Broom how Hazel likes new ways of doing things. She also reminds Broom how important it is to keep the young ones safe. She participates in the Battle of Efrafa, fighting alongside Blackberry and helping lead the refugees to safety.

In "The Wanderer," Primrose, Blackberry, and Hazel watch the kits play, make fun of Hawkbit and Dandelion, and discuss Bigwig’s temper. Later, Primrose joins Captain Holly, Broom, Kehaar, Hannah, and Fiver on patrol to search for Efrafan refugees. Primrose finds Vervain's scent at the mossy glade. Soon, Primrose advises the patrol to move on to avoid the weasel. When Hannah becomes irritated about finding lost Efrafans, Primrose reminds her that they're their responsibility because the Watership rabbits destroyed Efrafa.

Later, the patrol finds Vervain drowning, trapped in a tangle of wire. Primrose initially wants to leave him to die because of how he kidnapped her, brought her to Efrafa as a prisoner, and made her life miserable. However, Fiver and Broom convince her to let them save Vervain. Reluctantly, she drags him out of the water. Primrose tells Vervain to leave and never come back. Vervain agrees and thanks Primrose, but she does not respond. That evening, she wonders if they made the right decision in letting Vervain go free. When Fiver has a vision and collapses, Primrose helps him get home and relates the prophecy to Hazel, revealing that Woundwort is alive.

In "The Nestling," she and Hazel let Bigwig set a challenge for their kits to prove themselves to go on patrol. Hazel and Primrose worry about their children while they are off with Bigwig. Hazel is especially stressed, and Primrose tiredly suggests that they go and look for them. When they find their kits, they see a hawk in the sky and shield them with their bodies. However, the hawk turns out to be the friendly Skree.

In "The Secret of Redstone," Primrose and several other Watership rabbits travel to Redstone and tell the story of how they defeated Efrafa. Primrose asks Marigold about the elil that are now stalking Redstone Warren. On the way back, Primrose is shocked to discover that Campion is alive, and that he kept his survival a secret. She remarks that he knows he's welcome at Watership Down.

In "Darkhaven," Primrose and Blackberry sneak off on a scouting mission to find Woundwort and discover his plans. Blackberry wants to tell Hazel, but Primrose reminds her that he wouldn't let them go. Blackberry realizes that Primrose still blames herself for letting Vervain go free. Primrose confirms this, pointing out that Vervain became Woundwort's first new follower in his quest to build an army. Primrose decides to start looking for Woundwort at Redstone, the last place he was seen.

Primrose is devastated to see the ruins of Redstone after it is destroyed by man. She talks about how she was born there and loved that place. Blackberry tries to comfort her, saying that some good comes from every evil. Primrose is skeptical, but Blackberry tells her that when Sandleford was destroyed, they found Watership Down. Primrose agrees, pointing out that the same chain of events led to her meeting Hazel and Blackberry meeting Campion. Blackberry and Primrose then find Woundwort's trail and follow it.

As they reach the border of Darkhaven, Blackberry recounts one of Fiver's prophecies to Primrose that foretells Blackberry and Campion in danger. Nonetheless, they both go ahead. Soon, they come across Campion on patrol with several Darkhaven warriors. Campion warns Blackberry and Primrose to run away from Darkhaven because Woundwort is there. Primrose listens to him and escapes, though Blackberry is captured.

In "The Eyes of Silverweed," Primrose expresses worry that Woundwort will force Campion to tell him where Watership Down is, but Hazel assures her Campion can take care of himself.

In "The Spy," Primrose heals Spartina, unaware she is a spy from Darkhaven. Primrose comments that Blackberry is better at herbs than she is before leaving. Primrose joins Hazel, Bigwig, and Holly in their meeting discussing Spartina. Later, Primrose shows Spartina the view from the down. She introduces her kits to Spartina. When Spartina is shocked by her and Bigwig's kind behavior, Primrose asks her if anything is wrong. Spartina responds that there isn't and everything is perfect.

In "The Betrayal," Primrose is present in the Honeycomb when Spartina confesses the truth.

In "The Magic," she helps treat Holly's wound. Hazel asks Primrose for advice on what to say to the others before the final battle. She tells him to talk about hope and facing uncertainty with courage. Comforted, he smiles at her and goes to give his speech. Later, she fights in the Battle of Watership Down. Spartina saves her from a Darkhaven warrior. Primrose emerges from the burrow with the others at the end of the episode.

Quotes

Trivia

• There is a possibility she is a re-named version of Hyzenthlay, potentially because it would have been harder for children to remember and pronounce "Hyzenthlay," as well as to make merchandising harder.
• In "The Shadow of Efrafa," she is described as being in the Hindquarter Mark, but she is never depicted with a Mark scar.
• In seasons one to two, Primrose is a cream rabbit with a lighter chest, tail and underbelly. She has light green eyes and darker spots around her eyes that resemble eyeliner. She also has a pink nose. However, in season three, the spots around her eyes disappear, as does the color on her nose. Her eyes also change from green to blue, and her muzzle changes color.

Gallery

Main page: Primrose/Image Gallery