I want to like Sanctuary. I want to like it for a couple reasons.
1) It’s the baby of Amanda Tapping, the lovely and gracious Stargate actress who somehow played a perfect woman (Lt. Col. Samantha Carter) without being annoying. I want to love Amanda’s baby. I mean, you don’t say to a friend, “I think your kid is ugly. And a little bit stupid.” You pinch that baby’s bulldog cheeks and say, “Ohhh, what a CUTIE you are!” Then you wipe off the drool.
2) This show has so much potential. In Sanctuary‘s first season, I pegged it as a fun, consistent little hour of sci-fi action that was only going to get better as the team figured out what they were doing. I loved the show’s original steampunk aesthetic, the dark atmosphere, the gritty underworld feel. I loved the fact that Sanctuary boldly borrowed from classic sci-fi franchises and concepts, but also added its own distinct twists to freshen up those borrowed ideas. I loved the idea of a show that was X-Men-meets-League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. I loved the producers’ independent spirit – going off and making a TV show almost entirely with green screens. Really, that is so cool!
I expected Sanctuary to be even better in season 2, and honestly it started out with a fantastic two-parter and had some great moments. But it let me down in the end. I mean, the way the Cabal/Ashley story arc fizzled out was just bogus. Everything felt contrived and convenient, and the things that made the show distinct in season 1 were lost in season 2. Bespectacled detective Will was replaced with action-hero Will. The dark, secretive quality of the Sanctuary was discarded so the show could go for a more global feel. The death of Ashley resulted in the loss of an interesting facet of the Magnus character — Helen as a single mother who puts her daughter in danger every day. Relationships were cut off before they had a chance to develop (Will’s short-lived romance with Invisible Girl, for example). Thankfully, Sanctuary carried over at least one distinctive from season 1 — the ability to put fresh twists on classic sci-fi tropes. This gave me hope that Sanctuary might be able to right its ship simply by bringing back some of the other qualities from season 1.
“Kali Part 3″ didn’t do that.
I know. They had to wrap up the cliffhanger, find a way to end Big Bertha’s tidal-wave-inducing tantrum. But this episode was BORING (yes, I’m calling the baby ugly). It reminded me of all the things I miss about season 1, and all the things that made season 2 lackluster (down to the “We only have 60 seconds left to end the episode!” resolution). It makes me hope the next nineteen episodes will do better. I keep hoping, because I do want to like this show.
Are you watching Sanctuary this season? Take the poll, leave a comment, and be heard.
Clacked by Ruby T.
on Oct 16, 2010 @ 20:54 EST5EDT
You’ve really hit this one out of the park and all I’m going to say is something that’s been oft-repeated about the events of last season: I miss Ashley, I hate Kate.
i just cannot wait for Primeval to come back. THAT’s my show. :-)
I really like that show, too. I just wish they could settle in with a cast that doesn’t change with every season.
One show I’m mourning the loss of is the excellent “Survivors” which sadly only got one series. Apparently the ratings were low, but I had hoped it would survive considering it probably didn’t cost all that much to produce.
Survivors had two series before being cancelled. I liked the show but it did have bad ratings in the second season for a prime-time show on BBC One.
You’re right, Matt. It was 2 series and I don’t understand the drop-off of viewers between series, but I don’t understand a lot about how people view television. Move a show to another night and lose 1/4 of the audience? People must be dim if they can’t find their show just because it moved nights.
Anyway, the least the Beeb could do is “drop” Survivors to BBC3 or something. I still say it can’t be that expensive to make. Not many people or effects and ending on a damned cliffhanger just twists the knife!
I love this show, I’ve been a big fan of it since episode 1, and I’m an even bigger fan of is now. I’m more of an AT fan, yes, but still a big fan of the show.
I support this show, and I will always support this show. Overall it was another fine episode, and I feel they’ve once again set the bar, I feel everything went the way I wanted, and it was full of action, fun and it did not disappoint me at all. :)
I love the show, and I love Amanda. I don’t like Kate much, and I miss Ashley. But I still thought Kali part 3 was pretty darn good. It kept my attention, and it made me laugh (This is the HMS I-Don’t-Give-A-Crap and the rest of the ‘message’ was awesome!), and Magnus shot a bazooka! How much more could you want? (I also do not like the new theme – not that I don’t like it – I just don’t think it fits the show at all.)
There were some fun moments, for sure – I enjoy Henry’s scenes, especially the one when he tried to transform into a werewolf and Terrence flared his lizardy neck flaps and started hissing and spitting. That was cool.
I agree about the new theme song. It did just seem out of place, especially at the beginning for some reason. Well, that’s not much of a problem if you record it, just jump forward past it!
Of course I still watch Sanctuary, what a silly question and I don’t agree with your comments at all. I find reality shows completely boring, if I want to watch and intrude on someone’s life that used to be called ‘EAVESDROPPING’ and I try not to do that.
Sanctuary is in three seasons now and it’s got a bigger episode order, that means that it gets to expand in areas other than the standard ‘dark/dingy/unexplored’ world that most new shows go for in science fiction.
This is a great show, whether Amanda Tapping’s baby or not and yes I’m calling her baby adorable and pinching it’s bulldog cheeks playfully. The writing and acting is brilliant and why I admit I did orinally start watching it because of Amanda Tapping who is a great actress I’ve gotten into the show and I intend to watch it start to finish.
Hi Melissa! I hate reality shows too (except I have a weakness for cooking competitions).
I’m encouraged by the fact that season 3 has 20 episodes, and Amanda promised big story arcs, which should be pretty cool.
I wouldn’t call the writing “brilliant.” One of my favorite episodes, “Sleepers,” had pretty corny writing, but I loved it because the story was fun and Jonathon Young is fantastic as Tesla.
Well said, Melissa Adams. IMHO, Sanctuary is just as great– no, it’s even better than when it started, they’ve worked hard to bring us good quality entertainment, and it’s worked for 3 seasons. The stories, ideas and characters are all great, and like I said before, I am, and always will be a fan now and always. :)
Sanctuary rocks. ;)
I still like the show but I am one that thinks the death of Ashley and the addition of Kate was a mistake. I don’t like Kate at all.
I do like the show, but I admit that Amanda Tapping is the only reason I watch it.
I’m with the group that thinks they made a serious mistake with getting rid of Ashley. She had so much story potential, and she was funny, charming and deadly. I don’t hate or dislike Kate (and I’m sure the actress is a very nice person), but they have not given her anything to allow her character to shine or make anywhere near the impression Ashley did. She’s very ordinary in comparison.
They do seem to be finding some great guest stars, specifically Jonathan Young and Callum Blue (love both of their characters).
I agree with everything said.
I really enjoyed the episode. Was it as good as some of Sanctuary’s best eps? No. (I also like the more intimate/non-global stories.) But id did what it needed to do to resolve the cliffhanger. And introduced some of the S3 direction.
While I can understand the frustration of the people who are unhappy with her being gone – I categorically despise Mitchell and S9 Vala – I ask you to please set aside that frustration and look to the story. Not the “if Ashley had been here it would have been better” thoughts – because, honestly, Ashley wasn’t used all that well (though the potential was at least there)- but look to what they are doing right. Henry, Helen, Big Guy, Tesla, Will (mostly) and even Kate is less annoying. (I understand, I miss Ashley too, but I have moved on. She was only one facet of the show – and though she added, she wasn’t the *reason* I watched. Truly, was she yours? I never saw people raving about the character when she was alive. At least she died well, and it made sense for her to die.)
Anyway, I loved Callum Blue, despised Wexford (as we were supposed to) but lived the frills when he was angry, and overall enjoyed the story. I really look forward to the upcoming 19!
Good points, suse. I found this episode dull, but it did what it needed to do and had some fun parts (we learned that Kali is on the Jedi council).
I never watched Sanctuary for Ashley – as you said, she wasn’t the show’s strongest character. I’m disappointed that they killed the Cabal story line (which she was part of) so abruptly. It felt incredibly anticlimactic. I don’t mind when a character is killed, as long as the story feels satisfying. In this case, they wasted the story arc. Also, although Ashley was definitely not one of my favorite characters, I thought Helen was most interesting when playing a scene with her daughter, and that side of Helen’s character is gone now.
I loved what they’ve done with Henry and Tesla, and they continue to bring on fun guest stars (Michael Shanks FTW!). Those were some of the “great moments” of season 2 that I was referring to. For me, Sanctuary is still a decent show with the potential to be great. I’m waiting and hoping for it to have a breakthrough year. Maybe this will be it.
I started watching the show because of Amanda, but continued to watch the show because I enjoyed the show. It gets better every year. I didn’t like Ashely being killed off, but have moved passed that; like Suse said, Ashely wasn’t used very well in the first place. I am finding Kate less annoying, and even if she will never be my favourite character, there are others that are. I look forward to see what else happens this season and can’t wait for Fridays. :)
I watch it for Helen’s dazzling wardrobe.
I watch this show because was the coolest, original,awesome show ever produced. Really , i admit in the begin i watch the show because of Amanda , but then the show got my atencion. A big mistake kill Ashley , yes, I loved the scenes between Helen and her daughter, but she is gone and i acept that…
I looking forward for another fantastic season .. and Sanctuary was the best serie ever produced on fiction series… just is amazing.. who ever remember to make a character where it has more then 159 years old? or that he frozen the embryo, or that she have a lover that was Jack the ripper and that he could teleport in time and space. God , i mean is amazing how they really get in on this show and bet everyting they have on it… and for the show, I watch and enjoy every moment.. Thank you to Amanda,Damian and Martin, and the ret of crew and cat of course… I look forward for a 4 season already.
I’ll continue to watch this show because of AT. For men of a certain age, She’s hotter than the boiler of the flying Scotsman.
I’ll watch any old shit sci-fi she comes up with.
I started watching “Sanctuary” because of Amanda Tapping, of course (You’ve got to love her after SG-1). And the show’s been quite changing in quality from episode to episode, though I mostly like them! I’m not too happy about the Kate character, but still, the latest episodes released (season 3) are the best so far! I absolutely loved “Breach/For king and country” and I’m really hoping the show will continiue with episodes like that!