Introducing ‘Sanctuary’ for All
If the two-hour premiere episode “Sanctuary for All” is a reliable indication, it seems Sci Fi Channel has scored again with its new Amanda Tapping offering Sanctuary. The television series, as existing fans know, is based on the Web version of the same name.
A blend of science fiction, fantasy, suspense, and, best of all, the paranormal, Sanctuary spins a compelling web of intrigue revolving around 157-year-old scientist Dr. Helen Magnus (executive producer and star Tapping), her initially skeptical yet competent new recruit Dr. Will Zimmerman (Robin Dunne), and a secret world populated by so-called abnormals, mostly non-threatening creatures outside the range of normalcy due to evolutionary idiosyncrasies.
Dr. Magnus houses the abnormals in the Sanctuary, where she studies them to unravel the unexplored aspects of nature’s laws. Forensic psychiatrist Zimmerman stumbles upon this mysterious realm of remarkable entities when he reports to a crime scene associated with the murders of two police offices from his precinct.
The case appears closed after a suspect is taken into custody, but Zimmerman instinctively — and correctly — believes there’s more to the situation. It’s this keen sense of something happening beneath the surface that leads to a not-so-chance encounter with enigmatic Dr. Magnus and, eventually, her daring daughter Ashley (Emilie Ullerup) and their enchanting residence filled with shadows and mystical beings.
Ultimately, Dr. Magnus also comes with a formidable, malevolent rival, a powerful stranger named John Druitt (Christopher Heyerdahl), who becomes the primary antagonist during the premiere when he endangers Ashley. The story then takes a turn from Zimmerman’s first encounter with the unknown to focus on what Dr. Magnus and Zimmerman are willing to do to restore some sense of balance in the face of the threat Druitt poses.
Television shows like Sanctuary are right up my alley in terms of look alone. The dark backdrops and imaginative creatures, largely the result of contemporary green screen and computer technology, work for me to evoke a futuristic world filled with mystique and sinister possibilities. If it wasn’t for the fact that I previewed an incomplete “rough draft” of the premiere, I would have difficultly recognizing those scenes with computer-generated details.
Another asset is the cast, both regular players and not — for instance, Stargate Atlantis’ Kavan Smith and Battlestar Galactica’s Kandyse McClure are two familiar Sci Fi Channel faces present in significant roles — who have a considerable job just to make the plotlines believable in the absence of traditional settings and props.
That can’t be an easy feat; but with the help of good writing and their talent, all deliver, making Sanctuary one of those Friday-night staples I’ll be looking forward to each week, just like Stargate Atlantis and Battlestar Galactica before it.
Stop by again after/if you check out Sanctuary’s premiere and share what you think about it in the comments. Do you agree or disagree with my assessment? Do you plan to continue watching the series for the entire season? Do the settings and special effects look “real” to you? Can this show attract a large female following? Why or why not?
After the two-hour premiere at 9pm EST on October 3, Sanctuary airs Fridays on the Sci Fi Channel at 10pm EST.
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POSTED IN: Reviews, Sanctuary, Series Premieres
2 opinions for Introducing ‘Sanctuary’ for All
Morjana
Oct 3, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Thank you, Chandra. I’m still waiting for the premiere out here on the West Coast, but I’ve seen the webisodes and the 30 min sneak peek at SciFi.com, so I’m looking forward to the premiere!
Chandra
Oct 5, 2008 at 7:02 am
Oh, you’re lucky, Morjana. I haven’t had a chance to watch the webisodes (can barely keep up with what’s on TV!), but I hope the televised version lived up to their promise. Personally, I think Sanctuary is a keeper, or at least a Friday-night must see.
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