Sanctuary

[rein]

http://www.suckshardcore.com/images/tv/sanctuary.jpg
Sanctuary (http://www.scifi.com/sanctuary/home.html)

Where: Sci Fi Channel
When: Friday, 10/9c

About (from Sci Fi.com (http://www.scifi.com/sanctuary/about/))
Sanctuary blazes a trail across the TV landscape with never-before-seen production technology. Starring Amanda Tapping, best known to fans as the brilliant Col. Samantha Carter on Stargate SG-1, Sanctuary is the first series to shoot extensively on green screen, using virtual sets and extraordinary visual effects.

Sanctuary follows the adventures of the beautiful, enigmatic and always surprising Dr. Helen Magnus (Tapping), a brilliant scientist who holds the secrets of a clandestine population — a group of strange and sometimes terrifying beings that hide among humans.

Along with her new recruit, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Will Zimmerman (Robin Dunne), her quirky tech wiz Henry (Ryan Robbins) and her fearless daughter Ashley (Emilie Ullerup), Magnus seeks to protect this threatened phenomena as well as unlock the mysteries behind their existence. The series also stars Christopher Heyerdahl as the sinister John Druitt.

Created by Damian Kindler (Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis), Sanctuary is produced in association with SCI FI Channel and is distributed by Tricon Films and Television. The show is executive produced by Damian Kindler, Sam Egan, Amanda Tapping, Martin Wood, Keith Beedie and N. John Smith.

SE01 EP01&02: Sanctuary For All
While tracking a young boy with dangerous powers, Dr. Helen Magnus encounters Will Zimmerman, a psychiatric resident who may have what it takes to become her new protege.
Will the series have the longevity of Battlestar Galacitica? Or something closer to Painkiller Jane?

I did not watch any of the original webisodes, nor have I gone back to view them after the Sci Fi Channel picked it up for a series so I do not know what to expect. The reviews I have read seem to indicate a mediocre series. I'm curious to see how good the series is going to look since it is filmed almost entirely using green screen so I will at least tune in or DVR for that tonight.

[Zrikz]

I watched the first 3 webisodes and they were pretty entertaining. Nothing amazing, but then again they were like 15 minutes long, so ya can't do much in that time.

I shall give it a look.

[Ranger43]

I am going to check this out for sure.

[Stoke]

Thanks for the post, I had forgotten this was coming on tonight. I'm hopping it will be good as I need a new scifi show to watch, but I've not seen much to give me hope. I haven't watched the webisodes but from the commercials I get an odd vibe. I don't really know how to explain it, almost like it's cheap or hollow.

[Sandman]

Is this the same as the web series, or is it something new for TV?

[Heretic Machine]

Amanda Tapping + British accent = Massive fail.

[BLeeP]

My mother told me to check out the web series (I think it was this), but I never got around to it. The commercials I saw made it look like they were aiming for the Buffy crowd. It could go either way, but I find most things that Sci-Fi makes themselves to be ass.

[Grifter]

I saw a couple of the episodes and found them interesting enough to give the first episode or two a go. I can't see this being any more cheesy than a lot of the Stargate or Atlantis episodes but the film style may throw a lot of people off.

[Heretic Machine]

You know, I can handle cliche or cheesy (I enjoy Doctor Who and loved Tremors: The Series) but I have no tolerance for the generic. This was painfully generic, and tired. It was a chore to sit through.

[IIntrude]

The wife DVRed it, gonna give it a watch tomorrow. Going into it not knowing much, and not expecting much.

[Grifter]

You know, I can handle cliche or cheesy (I enjoy Doctor Who and loved Tremors: The Series) but I have no tolerance for the generic. This was painfully generic, and tired. It was a chore to sit through.

Same here, Doctor Who and Torchwood are two of my favorite TV series I never did see Tremors though. Did you already watch tonights broadcast or are you still talking about the webisodes? I think the webisodes were all funded by Amanda personally and shot by friends of hers so there is a good chance the broadcast version of the show will be much better... I hope.

[Heretic Machine]

Same here, Doctor Who and Torchwood are two of my favorite TV series I never did see Tremors though. Did you already watch tonights broadcast or are you still talking about the webisodes? I think the webisodes were all funded by Amanda personally and shot by friends of hers so there is a good chance the broadcast version of the show will be much better... I hope.

I was talking about the first hour of the actual broadcast; when I realized that there was a second hour, I changed the channel. I respect independent projects, but this was awful.

[Grifter]

I was talking about the first hour of the actual broadcast; when I realized that there was a second hour, I changed the channel. I respect independent projects, but this was awful.

Well that sucks, I'll still give the first hour a shot (I'm stubborn like that) but seeing as we have similar tastes when it comes to TV I'm sure I'll end up doing the same thing.

[Stoke]

I have to give this a resounding "meh." There were a couple times where i almost turned it off to do something else but I pushed through to the end. I'll probably turn it on as background noise next week in the hope that it will get better, but I'm not going to give it more than that. Like Heretic said, it's not that it's overly bad, it's just not good. Also I didn't find the characters to be very likeable, Tapping's accent sounded forced, and I can see the Geico salesman getting really old, really fast.

[rein]

It was pretty much what the reviews said, mediocre. I found some entertainment value in it but I am easily entertained and forgiving of shows I expect to be somewhat hokey. Honestly, I don't think the show is any worse than shows like Torchwood. I didn't mind Amanda Tapping either. I found the daughter character to be much more annoying. She is over 18 but grounded? I found her teenie-bopper attitude a bit unnerving. Either cast the character as a teen or give her a bit more maturity.

I will probably still watch next week if I am at home. I'm not sure I care enough to DVR it if I am out. I felt the same way about Torchwood and I still have the entire series on my DVR and haven't finished watching them all. I don't want to spare the space for two series I may never finish watching.

[Drayven]

Just sat down to watch this yesterday and got about an hour in before the GF and I both decided to turn it off and just let it go. My big problem was that every single character was just a caricature.

[AgtFox]

This is what Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis got punted for? I know Tapping is an Executive Producer for this show, but c'mon!

[Sandman]

This is what Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis got punted for? I know Tapping is an Executive Producer for this show, but c'mon!

SG-1 was done and Atlantis was nearing the point of repetition. They are at least bringing in a third Stargate series next year.

[Spectre-7]

There just wasn't enough going on in Sanctuary to keep my attention, and I think that's about the most damning judgment of all. I can't say I ever had a positive opinion about Cancelgate: Atlastis... err, I mean Stargate: Atlantis, but no matter how crappy and groan inducing it was, at least it wasn't boring.

I'm really starting to wonder what the hell's rattling around inside the heads at the Sci Fi Channel. They cancel anything that has promise and heavily promote shows that are clearly crap. They continue to run ECW for some reason I simply can't fathom, and fill rest of their schedule with Crocodactyl and Attack of the Magnetic Tornado.

...and I'm such a damned sci-fi addict that I still watch. *sigh*

[Sandman]

ECW is a good wrestling program....it may not be sci-fi but it brings the viewers. The 9/30 edition of ECW on Sci Fi did a 1.2 which is probably more than any re-run or movie they would put on in that slot.

[Spectre-7]

ECW is a good wrestling program....it may not be sci-fi but it brings the viewers. The 9/30 edition of ECW on Sci Fi did a 1.2 which is probably more than any re-run or movie they would put on in that slot.

That's precisely my issue with it, though; it's not sci-fi. I don't care how good it is. If the Food Network started running Law & Order to boost ratings, or Comedy Central picked up reruns of Breaking Bad, I'd be just as confounded.

At least to me, that decision shows a profound lack of faith in their chosen subject matter, and a complete failure to understand their audience. This might be a bad assumption on my part, but I really doubt that most viewers tuning in for ECW will have any interest in the rest of Sci Fi's programming. It might have decent ratings, but it's not going to make a substantial impact on their total viewership.

Meanwhile, Spike is running every flavor of Star Trek on a daily basis, and plays a Star Wars movie ~6 times a month. Where was Sci Fi when that bidding war happened?

[Sandman]

Wrestling fans are sci-fi fans and vice-versa. How else do you explain The Undertaker being so popular?

[Spectre-7]

Wrestling fans are sci-fi fans and vice-versa. How else do you explain The Undertaker being so popular?

Was he any less popular when he was the American Bad Ass?

[Sandman]

Was he any less popular when he was the American Bad Ass?

Somewhat...that's not the Undertaker most people will remember.

[Spectre-7]

Somewhat...that's not the Undertaker most people will remember.

I know, but I had to say something. ;)

Don't get me wrong; I know there's a crossover audience there, but if I was looking to strengthen the portfolio of a channel freaking called Sci Fi, wrestling would not be one of my top picks.

Of course, I could say the same about a lot of their programming.

Maybe they should consider renaming the channel. That would certainly solve most of my complaints. It could be the Wrestling, 2nd Rate Anime and Disaster Movie Channel. Problem solved. :D

[Sandman]

I know, but I had to say something. ;)

Don't get me wrong; I know there's a crossover audience there, but if I was looking to strengthen the portfolio of a channel freaking called Sci Fi, wrestling would not be one of my top picks.

Of course, I could say the same about a lot of their programming.

Maybe they should consider renaming the channel. That would certainly solve most of my complaints. It could be the Wrestling, 2nd Rate Anime and Disaster Movie Channel. Problem solved. :D

They actually are considering renaming the channel...at least according to a recent survey. I think they were considering "Beyond".

[Hemalin]

They actually are considering renaming the channel...at least according to a recent survey. I think they were considering "Beyond".
Isn't there already a channel named Beyond?

[Sandman]

So I finally got around to watching the episode and while it was slow to start once it got started I enjoyed it. Amanda Tapping's British accent takes some getting used to other than that I expect it to be fun. If you enjoy Dr. Who or Torchwood this should be your kind of show.

[rein]

http://www.suckshardcore.com/images/tv/sactuary.png

SE01 EP03: Fata Morgana
Dr. Helen Magnus, her daughter Ashley, and Dr. Zimmerman travel to Northern Scotland to discover three women in an ancient crypt and bring them back to the Sanctuary for refuge and study

It looks like I am home tonight so I am giving Sanctuary another shot. It was this or a high school football game and I just don't feel like going to the game. Besides, I want to be able to flip to the BoSox vs Rays game.

[Sandman]

I really liked the third episode....I want to see where this show goes now.

[Heretic Machine]

SG-1 was done and Atlantis was nearing the point of repetition. They are at least bringing in a third Stargate series next year.

Atlantis has only gotten better over the past two seasons. They're basically cutting it's head off in it's prime. The new show they're pitching sounds like shit, and Sanctuary is shit.

Looks like Scifi is going down the tubes... again.

[rein]

Atlantis has only gotten better over the past two seasons. They're basically cutting it's head off in it's prime. The new show they're pitching sounds like shit, and Sanctuary is shit.

Looks like Scifi is going down the tubes... again.

I'm sure that NBC would disagree with your statement that Sanctuary is shit considering...

From an NBCU press release:

2.7 Million Tune In For Series Premiere

New York, NY – October 6, 2008 –SCI FI’s groundbreaking new original series Sanctuary, which premiered on Friday, October 3 (9-11 pm), was the #1 primetime cable entertainment program among Adults 25-54 and the #4 among Adults 18-49. Sanctuary delivered more than 2.7 million total viewers (P2+), 1.08 million Adults 18-49, and 1.4 million Adults 25-54. With its 2.2 HH rating, Sanctuary is the highest rated original series premiere since Eureka made Channel history in July 2006.

Source and full article (http://tvbythenumbers.com/2008/10/06/viewers-seek-sanctuary-on-sci-fi-1-program-among-adults-25-54/5779)


I'm not saying the show is great and I expect the ratings to drop but it isn't horrible.

[Sandman]

If you gave up on Sanctuary in the first hour of it's premier I think you should give it another go....it really picks up in the second half and this new episode adds another possible long term plot element.

[UWCrash]

I watched the premier and wasn't terribly impressed, but there was enough there that I'll keep watching. I forgot to record Ep3 on Friday, but I'll grab it sometime this week to see if there's any more meat there. It's a solid enough premise, as long as they can execute on it.

I agree that Tapping's accent is a little...off. Oddly enough she was born in England, but moved to Canada when she was 3 (IMDB (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0850102/)). I wonder how much of a natural accent she had between that and her parents. Maybe it's harder to get back into the habit having lost it once.

And the biggest disappointment Sci-Fi has ever handed me was not picking up Dresden Files for a second season. The first 3-4 episodes were pretty slow, but things picked up mid-season and it was pretty good by the end. At least it got me reading the books, although I've finished all ten of them now.

[Soulless Toast]

I didn't have high expectations for this, and I wasn't let down.

The green screening is at times very distracting.

Also, in the last episode a character said something to the effect that the last major outbreak of the plague was in Scotland in 800 AD. Maybe they're in some sort of alternate reality where Jack the Ripper took the plague back to the 800s instead of the 1300's. Also, while they are in New York, a scene with a GPS device showed their location to be in the Pacific Northwest.

I really miss having full SciFi Fridays to look forward to...

[Spectre-7]

And the biggest disappointment Sci-Fi has ever handed me was not picking up Dresden Files for a second season. The first 3-4 episodes were pretty slow, but things picked up mid-season and it was pretty good by the end. At least it got me reading the books, although I've finished all ten of them now.

I'll second that. When I found out Dresden was canceled, I spent weeks cursing the Sci Fi Channel and the bloodlines of everyone who works there. I also read the series because of it, and now... well, now I'm out of books. :mad:

Write faster, Jim Butcher, or your bloodline too shall face my wrath.

[Grifter]

The first 3 episodes are almost exactly the same as what was shown online a few months ago and after sitting through all 3 twice I have come to the conclusion that Sanctuary is shit and this is normally the type of show I love. If I have nothing better to do next weekend I may give the fourth episode a shot just because it will be the first broadcast episode that I haven't seen previously in webisode form, I doubt it will change my opinion though.

I also want to say that canceling Atlantis when it's just now hitting it's stride is fucking retarded. I think SG-1 had a great run and they ended it at the right time but Atlantis has at least two more good years left in her.

[Karak]

This versus Fringe for who can take the shit award.
Gawd. One has no acting at all and the other has shit bad acting. Sucks because they both look like they held promise.

[PathMaster]

I enjoyed it. Pure camp to me. Turn off the brain and enjoy the ride.

[Heretic Machine]

This show gets stupider every time I see it. I just happened to leave the TV on (but muted) while listening to music, and looked over to see a scorpion fighting an octopus on top of a helicopter.

[ShivaX]

a scorpion fighting an octopus on top of a helicopter.

When you say things like that, you make it sound awesome.

[NotJeff]

This show gets stupider every time I see it.
...
looked over to see a scorpion fighting an octopus on top of a helicopter.

I just can't figure out how to get from A to B, here.

[PathMaster]

Show is not too bad..that episode was lacking though. The back story is what keeps me coming back honestly. Can't go wrong watching a Vampire Tesla and a teleporting Jack the Ripper.

[bstiff]

Show is not too bad..that episode was lacking though. The back story is what keeps me coming back honestly. Can't go wrong watching a Vampire Tesla and a teleporting Jack the Ripper.

of the five I think Magnus got the short end of the stick. Electrical vampire genius, teleporting serial killer and magnus just lives a long time. Didn't they all?

[torrefaction]

Really love this show overall.

[PathMaster]

She's smart!! She kind of did get the short end of the stick: although what did Watson have?

Invisibile Man
Watson-????
Telsa--Electric Vampire
Druitt-Jack the Ripper..teleporting killer
Magnus--smart

[Grifter]

Really love this show overall.

Really? I have a pretty strong stomach for cheese but this show is just bad.

The acting is atrocious which is made that much worse by the writing, it's like they took all the worst writers from SG-1 and Atlantis and made them leads. Don't even get me started on the special effects, I don't think I've ever seen CG this bad outside a first semester animation class. But the worst? The worst fucking thing about this show is that retarded British accent Amanda decided to go with. Every episode is like watching the acting equivalent of the first couple episodes of American Idol.

[Rune_74]

I'll second that. When I found out Dresden was canceled, I spent weeks cursing the Sci Fi Channel and the bloodlines of everyone who works there. I also read the series because of it, and now... well, now I'm out of books. :mad:

Write faster, Jim Butcher, or your bloodline too shall face my wrath.

How could you possibly be mad they cancelled that crap? It was no where near the book and was completely cheesey....if they were faithfull to the book it would have been better.

Haven't watched sanctuary yet.

[Spectre-7]

How could you possibly be mad they cancelled that crap? It was no where near the book and was completely cheesey....if they were faithfull to the book it would have been better.

Haven't watched sanctuary yet.

It was a good show. Sorry you didn't like it. Now, I won't deny that the show was cheesy, but if you think the books aren't, we clearly live in different universes.

[Rune_74]

It was a good show. Sorry you didn't like it. Now, I won't deny that the show was cheesy, but if you think the books aren't, we clearly live in different universes.

Oh come on they changed the main character completely from the one in the books...he was pretty much a geek in the books, and in the pilot episode of the tv series he wakes up a stud? Wasn't happy with the conversion from book to tv.

[Narradisall]

Dear America,

We do not speak like you think we do.

Signed,
The English.

[Grifter]

Dear America,

We do not speak like you think we do.

Signed,
The English.

This street goes both ways my friend. Just watch an episode of Spooks, holy fuck do they have some bad American accents, this last season being the worst.

[Narradisall]

This street goes both ways my friend. Just watch an episode of Spooks, holy fuck do they have some bad American accents, this last season being the worst.

Very true. I've never seen Spooks though. I always laugh at hacky cheesy stereotype voices.

I only have one friend whom speaks english that posh, and her father is a Lord so it's expected. :p

[PathMaster]

I always thought that they would try to make Will similar to the originals..this might be the way.

Edit: Terrific season finale. Please renew, don't leave me with that cliffhanger!