TV Review: 'Sanctuary'

October 01, 09:52 PM

Like the beings offered a safe haven in Sanctuary, Sci Fi Channel's latest original series has yet to establish what it is before it can truly be comfortable in its skin and accepted on its own terms. In trying to be too many things at once, the show relies on cliches and loses the ability to actually entertain.

On one hand, Sanctuary wants to be an action-packed spectacle, full of fight scenes and splashy special effects. On the other hand, it plays up an intellectual moodiness that delves into questions of what makes an entity worthwhile through our skewed lens of humanity. Yes, the show can be both, but it hasn't figured out how to balance the two sides cohesively. Toss in lines that are ambiguously humorous, confusing caricatures instead of characters and an ever-growing menagerie of creatures, and it all becomes a dull muddle of too many ideas.

In the two-hour premiere, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Will Zimmerman (Robin Dunne) is called to a crime scene where he deduces not everything is what it seems. Quickly we realize that the little boy who lived in that room is what Dr. Helen Magnus (Amanda Tapping) terms an "abnormal," one of the many beings who lives on the fringes of society.

Helen and her team -- including her badass daughter Ashley (Emilie Ullerup) and sarcastic techie Henry (Ryan Robbins) -- track down these entities and provide a safe place for the benevolent/misunderstood ones and protection from the dangerous ones. Will is recruited because he has an uncanny ability to see beyond what's accepted as reality and to what's actually there.

Here Will is supposed to be the everyman, the character with whom we should sympathize, which is quite a bit to rest on his slim, bookish shoulders. He's a pleasant-looking, non-threatening sort who, like us, is being introduced to this strange world of hitherto fictional creatures and is filled with a healthy amount of resistance, doubt and awe. Unfortunately, he's not entirely likable ... yet. Will has his quirks -- an almost anal-retentive attention to detail that lacks the delightful charm exhibited in Monk -- and appears to be there merely to react. No doubt he'll exhibit more chutzpah and personality in later episodes.

Similarly, Helen is too detached, with her Mona Lisa smile promising, but never fulfilling, the need for warmth. She's also rightfully mysterious. After all, she is revealed to be 157-years-old, so apparently there's something about her that makes her one of those "abnormals" that she protects, but she is on occasion exasperating when she speaks in riddles or withholds vital information from Will. In addition, Tapping is at times a bit too reserved, perhaps which is why when Helen is upset or angry, she seems almost laughably melodramatic. (For more, check out Zap2it's Amanda Tapping interview discussing Helen Magnus)

It ought to be noted, however, that of all the visual effects on the show, Tapping's transformation with just a hairstyle and color change is the most impactful. Sci Fi fans may know her -- but have difficulty recognizing her -- as the blonde and brilliant Col. Samantha Carter on Stargate: SG-1 and Stargate: Atlantis. Somehow with a little chestnut dye and time to grow out her locks makes her into a completely different person and yes, even takes years off.

The look of the show, with computer-generated sets and backdrops a la 300 or Sin City, creates a suitably otherworldly feel. It's a shadowy landscape that works for the most part, considering the massive amounts of post-production needed and the imagination of the actors when interacting with the sets. Strangely enough, the darkness creates an intimate, almost claustrophobic atmosphere that belies the scope of the story. Perhaps this is the result of originating from webisodes, where the intimate nature would play more intensely.

Sanctuary also has difficulty with tone. It is serious, yet is difficult to take seriously with lines and attitudes that stretch suspension of disbelief. Some lines, such as when Will tells Helen, "Thanks, but if you're looking for resumes, try Monster.com. I already have a job," fall flat. The sarcasm and wink at the "monster" element to the show are apparent, Dunne's delivery is fine, but something about how the line just hangs in the air cancels any humorous effect.

Overall, Sanctuary should fill the viewer with a sense of wonder, but it's all too familiar, from the ragtag group of people with an unusual mission to the cliched mansion/lab/zoo where all are housed. The secrets the characters harbor fail to intrigue, the fight scenes are cheesy instead of stimulating and the odd creatures neither frighten nor fascinate. Worst of all, the show lacks the oomph and sense of fun of shows like Doctor Who or even its spin-off Torchwood.

Sanctuary is by no means a bad show, but it does feel like it's trying so hard that it never settles on a single voice or vision. But as Helen says, "Sanctuary for all is not just an empty motto," and the show certainly deserves a chance to prove its potential.

Sanctuary comes home on Sci Fi beginning Friday, Oct. 3. Also, check out Zap2it's Sanctuary photos.

What's your take on the show? Was I too harsh? Could it replace any of your favorite sci fi shows?

in Sanctuary , TV Reviews

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Comments (33)

Comments

Yes, I think you were too harsh, especially with your comment, 'never settles on a single voice or vision.'

The X-Files in season one was all over the map with it's range of themes: missing and dying teenagers in Orgeon; missing pilot who turns out was being experimented on; some freak who eats five human livers every 30 years and then hibernates...

I've seen the webisodes and the 30 minute sneak peek at SciFi.com. I'm looking forward to these 13 episodes, to see WHERE Sanctuary goes...it's not the destination, but the journey, that makes the viewing enjoyable.

Best wishes, Morjana

Morjana | Oct 2, 2008 3:06:36 AM | #

This will be the one show I am watching this season on SciFi channel.
I have also seen all the webisodes and the half-hour preview and look forward to the expanded episodes promised by the transition from web to tv.
The chemistry between Tapping's character and Chris Heyerdahl's Druitt is extraordinary. Her relationship with her daughter is reminescent of my own when they were going through their 'wild' stage.
I am looking forward to further adventures and exploration of how Dr Helen Magnus became one of the 'abnormals' and her search for a 'cure' while she grooms Dr Will Zimmerman to expand her practice at the Sanctuary.
MaggieS

MaggieS | Oct 2, 2008 7:31:04 AM | #

Tapping should ditch the fake English accent. It's one of the worst I've heard on any TV show in recent years, and it's very distracting.

tacitus | Oct 2, 2008 8:36:10 AM | #

Having not seen the webisodes and preview, everything I've seen or read makes me think that SCIFI, not happy with losing Torchwood to BBCAmerica decided to make their own version of it, replacing aliens with more supernatural creatures. Immoratl leader, secret headquaters, 'everyperson' crime fighter brought in when s/he stumbles upon their secret.....don't get me wrong, I've already set up up a DVR series recording for it and am looking forward to it, just wish it didn't sound so familer!

binda | Oct 2, 2008 10:03:49 AM | #

Yes, it DOES sound like TORCHWOOD - and is intriguing to see Amanda Tapping with long black hair and imagine her to be 157yrs old. Am looking forward to see what the fuzz is all about....

Shanae | Oct 2, 2008 11:18:36 AM | #

I'm looking forward to Sanctuary. And I think one has to judge it after a number of episodes have aired, maybe not even untill a potential 2nd season arrives. A lot of shows takes a season before it finds it's feat really.

I does sound a lot like Torchwood, but from the webisodes I didn't really get the feeling of Torchwood. But we'll see what the season will develope into. I hope it will be good. And I think people who are interested enough to check it out, should give it a few episodes before really judging it. I didn't really like the Eureka pilot, but ended up loving the series...so a lot can happen over the course of a show's run. :)

Daniel | Oct 3, 2008 7:16:44 AM | #

It's not too hard to imagine Amanda Tapping as a 157 year old woman, as she herself is an older actress.

Why didn't they cast some hot chick as the daughter? Instead they gave us this goofy looking girl. Or is she one of those 'abnormals' and it's just makeup? Or is it that Tapping couldn't handle having some hot chick on the show?

Anyway, I'm thinking this is getting about as much hype as Flash Gordon and we all know how great THAT show was. *yawn*

Give it up skiffy. Give us some fresh Dr. Who and find a way to bring us Torchwood. Now THAT's entertainment.

J | Oct 3, 2008 2:19:29 PM | #

Bring it on! Let's see where the mysterious Helen Magnus takes us. I'm betting on Tapping and her cast. She's a real professional.

Elaine | Oct 3, 2008 6:59:09 PM | #

the accent is great and I'm from london so bollocks to maggieS

I think we should give the show a chance despite the fact it was a slow start.

major kong | Oct 3, 2008 8:29:20 PM | #

well - that was a painful 2 hours of my life i just wasted watching the pilot.... wasn't keen... what's with the stiff upper lip british accent off Amanda Tapping? ... i'm so used to hearing her amercian accent that i found the fake british accent distracting... then again it took me 2 seasons of House to finally get used to Hugh Laurie's american accent... so maybe this will be the same deal?!.
The special effects were un-believable (not is a good way) the acting was terrible, the into of that guy as the father... saw that coming the moment father and daughter appeared on screen together, and the main male lead was uninspired....

loved AT in stargate and atlantis, but may have to pass on this mediocre offering..

Shaz | Oct 4, 2008 7:55:10 AM | #

Shaz, I'm feeling your pain. I'd like that 2 hours back too. Boy do I feel dumb being sucked in by the Torchwood-wannabe premise and cast pictures. Sanctuary's first episode made even Torchwood's worst series 1 missteps look like Emmy material. Is there no one left in Vancouver who can act?

ben | Oct 4, 2008 10:38:22 AM | #

Perhaps the reviewer is unaware that "monster.com" is a very real job-search and recriutment site.

Blonde or brunette, Amanda Tapping is indisputably one of the most beautiful women in North America.

stephen | Oct 4, 2008 6:40:39 PM | #

I feel your review of Sanctuary was far to harsh. I enjoyed it immensely. I found the acting superb, the story interesting and the production quality amazing. This show's premise is extremely different from anything else out there. I hope it is given its chance to grow and find its audience. This show is extremely different and because of that, I want to see where it goes!

Melissa | Oct 4, 2008 8:35:43 PM | #

You're right on. I'm a forensic psychiatrist, and Will's character is just too laughable for words (and, no, we don't get invited to crime scenes, no matter how good we are). I also think Tapping's accent is awful and although I watched all the webisodes before this launch, I was so bored by the cliches and all-too-familiar ensemble of misunderstood characters that I turned the thing off after only a half hour. Maybe I'll turn it back on if it improves, but we'll see. For the record, the X-Files succeeded because there was chemistry between its characters. There is no chemistry here at all and the attempt to recreate a Daniel Jackson in Zimmerman's character (even down to the glasses, guys) is laughable.

ij | Oct 5, 2008 7:07:21 AM | #

I've watched it and I'll give it a few more episodes to grow on me. It took about 4 episodes of Torchwood for me to like it...and this is most definitely a version of that.

I seems to me also that Robin Dunne (Dr. Zimmerman) may have been picked simply because he looks like Michael Shanks (Dr. Jackson).

Harold Saxon | Oct 5, 2008 9:18:44 AM | #

The problem with comments, including the authors review, is that they are subjective.

Just as in a novel, the first chapter/show is used to introduce the characters. Based on the comments, positive and negative, everyone seems to have gotten to know the characters well.

I am offended that anyone would make critical personal comments about Ms. Tapping's age. If such comments were made in a corporate environment they would be considered age discrimination.

Ms. Tapping is a good actress and has entertained us as a character for over 10 years. She had a very big challenge as an actor to create a new character that didn't remind us of Col. Carter in just one episode.

Comments about "knockoffs" are naive. Hollywood (for lack of a better term) has been doing it for years and will continue it long after we are all dead. If anyone out there has an original idea for a show you need to get it to a producer.

The same goes for characters. Atlantis characters were carbon copies of SG-1 and the show was entertaining. The character crossover episodes were handled exceptionally and that is difficult to accomplish.

The ultimate standard for a show is how well it entertains you. If you are not entertained you simply change the channel and remove the show from your season pass.

I was sufficiently entertained and will watch until that no longer happens because I am a science fiction fan.

Larry Tunison | Oct 5, 2008 1:37:01 PM | #

You took the words out of my mouth, Larry. It's way too early for people to be passing such harsh judgment on the characters; they're only just getting established. Pilot episodes are meant to introduce the characters, leaving the following episodes to flesh them out and reveal the plot twists (in retrospect they definitely could have waited to explain the Tapping/bad guy relationship). Moderate action is also used, again leaving the best battles for later on when said characters are "fleshed out" and we can guess the scope of what is at stake for them.
That being said, this was as good a sci-fi show pilot as I've ever seen. Nothing spectacular, but at least not Fringe (all that hype for an X-files rip-off with truly nauseating characters). I enjoy the "Terminator" series, and its pilot had a little too flimsy a storyline and too much drama for my taste. Also, a so-so Bionic Woman pilot gave way to cliches and in-your-face feminism. Let's just give this one a chance.

stuart | Oct 5, 2008 4:24:22 PM | #

I had high hopes for it but I didn't like it at all. It just wasn't very interesting to me. And after so many years hearing Amanda Tapping with her normal voice on Stargate, the different accent was really annoying/distracting b/c same person different access.

jen | Oct 5, 2008 6:09:32 PM | #

That was horrible. Where does one even begin to list the problems with this. Well, "problems" is not really the correct term. "Problem" impies solution. I too want my two hours returned to my life and I want all recorded images of this movies burned and the ashed used stool stiffener for any one of the creatures the show had in it. Unfortunately, that includes Amanda with that HORRIBLE accent. I assume that she is going for British, but some sort of Hungarian/Kenyian hybrid, with an oral condition is possible. What descriptive words can I use Let's see... Predictable, over-done, "tries too hard", refried story line, I could go on forever. Please let this thing die a quick and merciful death. And I mean merciful to the show, the audience has already suffered far too much. GOD THIS WAS HORRIBLE, and I can watch BAD, 1950's sci-fi movies.

Charles | Oct 5, 2008 8:05:26 PM | #

I am English and barely heard any dropped vowels or consonants from Amanda's performance - so anybody mouthing off about it was a terrible accent are talking shite.

As for the show itself - I was mightily impressed - they've obviously had time to clean and polish the earlier webisodes - was much better. Dark, atmospheric, taking it's time to build up with some superb performances. CGI vastly improved.

This won't die a quick death, but will just get better and better, the audience will just love it. GOD THIS KICKS ASS. (Over the top eh? - like Charles above - how can you be that critical after one episode. Idiot.)

Dave | Oct 6, 2008 6:11:49 AM | #

ms Tapping's accent on the show makes sence in my opinion she comes from a british background but at the same times shes said in a interview that she didnt want to make her accent sound completely british because her character is over 157 years old so it makes sence that it sounds british but it doesnt either because at the same time her character was born in the victorian ages and no one has that accent anymore and im british and im also a sg1 fan so its distracting but so was "house" but at the same time i have friends that moved to america and now have completely diffrent accents because of their surroundings

matt | Oct 6, 2008 7:03:30 AM | #

I like Amanda Tapping. I don't like this story.

I watched for one hour and had to turn it off. I later watched the repeat for the last hour; I was disappointed.

I don't mind the 157 year old thing. I do object to this character producing young from a serial killer, and then keeping same alive by some transfusion of blood.

Sad to say, I won't be watching this in the future.

uralguy | Oct 6, 2008 5:58:13 PM | #

I would like to add an additional comment. There are many good shows, not just science fiction, that are presented to us every season. Because of rush to judgment comments like those contained herein, we kill them before they have a chance to get passed the learning curve. Very few producers will invest much money in a pilot. The scenery is cheap. The characters aren't well developed and the actors have never acted together or developed their character. They gamble and then read posts like ours to determine the fate of the show. May I remind that Friends, Cheers and Frasier were all panned in their first year and were considered for cancellation. When the pilots for these shows rerun, watch them and see how different they are from those in the second season.

By trashing pilots the viewing public empower programming directors (add numerous bad comments and jokes here) to cancel shows that may very well evolve into good series.

Please look up the word thoughtless in the dictionary before writing emotional comments that effect others that may want to continue watching a particular show. There is a major difference between voicing an educated opinion and/or constructive criticism and bitching.

For example, "I thought they show could be improved if Ms. Tapping didn't utilize a British accent (for those of you who don't realize the difference, an English accent can come from anyone speaking English while a British accent can be attributed to those who come from Great Britain. There are numerous dialects from Great Britain.)

I would assume that everyone writing here would have some form of an English accent.

Larry Tunison | Oct 7, 2008 8:26:43 AM | #

I will be watching for a massive improvement next week, if I can make it through another show! When a long-time Sci Fi fan such as myself finds a show to be too cheesy, the director should be careful!

I WANT to like it . . .

A Non-a Muss | Oct 7, 2008 2:16:05 PM | #

I am a fan of all that is Stargate, starting with the movie and SG-1 from the beginning, through Atlantis and beyond. I (irrationally) care deeply about all those characters, and the actors, who obviously don't know me, but feel like friends. Despite all this, I cannot stand to listen to Tapping's "British" accent; it is so uneven, unrecognizable and erratic, it is almost physically painful. The 2 hour premiere was slow to get moving, but I will probably watch more, if my ears can take it...

twosleepy | Oct 7, 2008 5:06:56 PM | #