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Television

Sanctuary

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Fantasy Science Fiction Television

Sanctuary Woes

I just watched the Sanctuary season finale today, Into the Black. I admit I got behind on the series, but I didn’t feel a lot of motivation to watch quickly. The whole Hollow Earth story line makes me feel tired and bored. I’m losing interest and I’m left wondering where all the excitement went?

Latest episode: Sanctuary – Into the Black

I have found myself less interested in the series by the episode, which is too bad because I really liked Sanctuary in the first two seasons, even after the death of Magnus’s daughter Ashley (Emilie Ullerup).

But lately, instead of filling the show with compelling drama between the established characters, the little bit of character drama we see happens between our guys and outside people, such as Henry’s girlfriend or Will’s girlfriend. I have nothing against giving these people richer lives, but diluting an already struggling group dynamic hasn’t helped the show in any way that I can see.

Sanctuary is tired. I won’t call for the end of the show, because I know there’s probably someone out there that still enjoys watching, but seriously, if things don’t improve, I’m not going to be one of them…

Categories
Fantasy Science Fiction Television

Sanctuary Returns

Tonight, Sanctuary returned after a long mid-season break with a resolution to the mid-season cliffhanger ending in which it appeared Magnus, Will, Kate, and Henry had been executed. [Oops, I orignally said Tesla, but when I watched to episode I realized I was getting confused…]

Sanctuary TV Series on Syfy

(Easiest way to watch missed episodes is at Amazon – Click here.)

I haven’t actually watched yet though, because I’ll be getting to that tomorrow. Gotta love that DVR. Tonight I watched DVR’d episodes of Merlin from the latest season that I hadn’t had a chance to catch up on yet.

Should I be in a hurry to catch up with the Sanctuary team? I hope so! As I’ve said before, the hollow Earth story hasn’t been that thrilling for me. I’m hoping the season gets a lot better in the back half.

Not to say I didn’t enjoy specific episodes or the show in general this season (season 3), just that I’m not sure the hollow Earth story is something that I find appealing. I’d rather it went away in favor of something better…

Support the shows you love. You can buy Sanctuary episodes cheap at Amazon. They cost around $2 each. You can watch 4 episodes for the price of a paperback these days. And you don’t have to sit through any commercials.

Categories
Fantasy Television

Sanctuary to Return in April

On April 15, we’ll finally get an ending to the cliffhanger we were given at the end of the first half of the 3rd season.

Sanctuary TV Series on Syfy

(FYI: Easiest way to watch missed episodes is at Amazon.) Who knows what kind of ending that will turn out to be, but at least we’ll find out if anyone died. My bet is on “No.” I don’t have any inside information about that, though, so maybe I’m wrong.

What would I think of Sanctuary if another character died? What do I already think of it?

I’m not sure I would continue to watch, even though I do enjoy the show overall. The fact is, I haven’t felt quite the same about the series since Ashley was killed off, and Druitt went missing for all those episodes, nearly the entirety of the first half of season 3. I did love having Tesla in so many episodes but I have to say in all honesty, I haven’t found the whole “hollow earth” story line to be inspiring or exciting. Kind of dull, in fact. Which is really too bad, because there are some great characters in this show and the actors are wonderful. I guess this is entirely a problem with the writing, since the writers are in charge of plot.

Early in season three of Sanctuary, there was a great set up for a future story that had to do with the death of Big Guy’s priest friend, and then the story was brought to an abrupt and unfulfilling end. Why? Am I the only one who found that disconcerting? I have to think something happened to interfere with Sanctuary’s writers’ ability to pursue that story line to a better conclusion… but I might be stretching it to think there’s something behind it other than bad writing.

I still like the series though and imagine I’ll stick with it as long as Henry, Will, Kate, Helen, Big Guy, Druitt, and Tesla make it out of the season alive. After Ashley, though, I find I have a very low tolerance for character death on this show.

So be warned writers. I’m instigating a zero tolerance policy for crap writing this season. Too many good shows, too little time.

Anyone with me? (Or not?)

Categories
Science Fiction Television

Tesla returns on tonight’s Sanctuary!

Okay, he’s one of my favorite recurring characters. Who am I talking about? Nikola Tesla, that’s who.

Nikola Tesla is just villainous enough to seriously intrigue me, and yet he still has enough redeeming qualities to keep me rooting for him. These types of characters always, always, keep me interested. (For example, I still adore Todd the Wraith, even though he’s one of the big baddies from the sorely missed Stargate Atlantis.)

In fact, now that I think about it, the actor portraying Nikola Tesla had a small role in a few episodes of Stargate Atlantis. Although somewhat forgettable in that show, he’s really proven himself with the role of Tesla. I should probably do a little research and find out what his name is… :-) If you know, why don’t you leave a comment for me so I don’t have to go looking? I’d sure appreciate it!

I’m just about to start watching tonight’s episode, but I thought I’d make this quick post first, but now it seems as if I’ve run out of time. See ya!

Categories
Science Fiction Television

What’s Coming to Sanctuary this Fall?

Sanctuary returns in a few months, so I thought I would catch up with the only two episodes of season two I hadn’t yet seen. Kali Part 1 and Kali Part 2 were a pair of episodes well worth watching back to back. I wish I had waited just a little longer though because the cliffhanger means I have to wait until the show returns before I find out what happens!

Syfy's Header for Sanctuary - Does it mean Ashley is returning? I have several questions about the new season.

Are we going to see Ashley again? That’s the main question on my mind after seeing this image on the Syfy’s Sanctuary website. Otherwise, what’s the purpose of this promo for the new Fall 2010 season having Ashley Magnus on it, but to tease and taunt us fans?

Will we see more of Ravi? I really enjoyed him and the flirty moments between him and Kate. They could have something much more interesting than Kate has had so far with any of the other guys on the show. I’m still waiting for Henry to find a girl I like, but if Ashley came back… that’s the girl I’d want for Will. Don’t know why I like them as a couple, but I certainly think each has something to teach the other. Of course, I have not heard a word about that happening, so it’s probably just wishful thinking on my part.

Back to Kali. Paul McGillion looked horrible in the episode. His makeup was not good, nor was his character. ;-) I liked his character though because his kind always make good villains. The makeup however, I never liked. I did like the way he moved his head. I thought those jerky little movements made him seem quite unhuman-like.

I liked the way the episodes went, and I thought it was interesting to watch Magnus squirm. Terrance was completely correct in that she would not have stood for any other Sanctuary leader to do as she did. I also think she might be realizing finally what she’s set in motion by not maintaining some kind of ultimate authority over the other Sanctuaries. One or two power hungry people and you end up with a mutiny on your hands!

All in all, I’m getting excited about the return of the series. Can hardly wait. :) What about you?

Categories
Science Fiction Television

Sanctuary’s Next Tuesday (with and without commentary) is online at Syfy Rewind

Right now, there are several of the Sanctuary season two episodes available to watch online at Syfy Rewind.

As of this post, you can catch last week’s Sanctuary episode Next Tuesday, along with an enhanced version of the episode which includes commentary. The show is a good one, in my opinion, and well worth watching more than once. There’s one particular touching moment that I appreciated, and it’s nice to see a series truly mourn a missing character.

The commentary-laden episode is worth the commercial interruptions. Besides, that’s the only way you’ll get to see it for now. Season two DVDs will come later, I’m sure. :)

Categories
Science Fiction Television

Veritas Tricky Sanctuary

Click here to watch Sanctuary episodes online.

My attempt at a joke might have backfired on me, but if you got it, thank you veritas much for getting it! ;)

When I started watching this episode tonight (I am always behind it seems—only one more reason to be forever grateful to the inventor of the DVR), I had high hopes something was up. Big Guy dead? So soon after Ashley’s apparent demise? My first reaction was that someone was interested in shaking things up on Sanctuary a little too much for my liking, but then of course, the episode started moving quite quickly and I couldn’t relax enough to worry about what the hell the writers of Sanctuary were thinking by killing off Big Guy.

Good thing the writer’s know better than I how to craft a crafty story. I enjoyed the mystery of this one, and for a while, I admit to being confused and most definitely off the trail. I figured things out just a hair before Will, and I enjoyed every tricky moment of it.

Click here to watch Sanctuary episodes online.

Categories
Science Fiction Television

Sanctuary – Season 2 Starts off Strong, Maybe Too Strong For Me

I’m not a wimp (most of the time) but I do prefer TV shows that don’t encourage me to be overly emotional or that work me up into a tizzy. However, it seems more and more of my favorites and turning to drama as a way to intensify their episodes.

Sanctuary has never been a drama free show, for sure, but the beginning of season two has added in all kinds of new drama to the first few episodes.

I got a late start watching, for several reasons, the most disruptive being a dead DVR and hours of unwatched TV episodes. That was a good day from drama, for sure, but it left me without a taste for more.

When I finally got to catch up with my faves, I find out Ashley just might be dead. Talk about a mood killer. Sanctuary seemed so promising and then… that.

Ugh.

I’m sure I’m not alone in my disappointment. I won’t say I’m abandoning the show, because I’m really hoping for a great payoff at a later date. I’m also hoping that by the time I realize it isn’t going to happen, I will have finally gotten over her death so that I can still enjoy the show. :) I know, I don’t always make a lot of sense. But there you go. What do you think?

Categories
Science Fiction Television

Sancutary – not entirely ignored by the Emmys!

I really wasn’t expecting to find Sanctuary in the list of Emmy nominees this year, so as you can imagine, I was quite excited to see that they weren’t ignored. Sanctuary received 1 nomination in the Outstanding Special Visual Effects For A Series category.

Outstanding Special Visual Effects For A Series

  • Mark Scott Spatny, Visual Effects Producer; Eric Grenaudier, Visual Effects Supervisor; Gary D’Amico, Special Effects Supervisor; Michael Cook, Lead CG Artist; Daniel Kumie » Heroes
  • Armen V. » Ghost Whisperer
  • Gary Hutzel, Visual Effects Supervisor; Michael Gibson, Visual Effects Producer; Jesse Toves, CGI Artist; Sean Jackson, CGI Artist; Kyle Toucher, CGI Artist; Pierre » Battlestar Galactica
  • Kevin Blank, Visual Effects Supervisor; Jay Worth, Visual Effect Coordinator; Andrew Orloff, Visual Effects Supervisor; Johnathan Banta, 2D Lead Artist; Steve Graves, 3D » Fringe
  • Lee Wilson, Visual Effects Supervisor; Lisa Wilson, Visual Effects Producer; Sebastien Bergeron, Digital Effects Supervisor; Les Quinn, CG Supervisor; Matt Belbin, Visua » Sanctuary (Episode: Sanctuary For All)
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