Cobweb-852-555701 Reviews

Sanctuary (2008–2011)

Impressive Season 2 of Sanctuary!

[10/10 · 23 September 2010]

I didn't think that this series could get any better than Season 1 but I was wrong! Difficult as it must have been to top Season 1 of Sanctuary, the creators some how managed to do it. The story lines of the individual episodes are more bold and daring (as seen in Eulogy and Pavor Nocturnus). The CGI and FX from Season 2 are even better. The directing and cinematography is more creative and the actors' performances are excellent. Additionally, the musical score (by Andrew Lockington) improved the overall quality of the series. Additionally, I like that the creators are not wasteful. The physical (as in non-CGI) sets are often recycled for used in subsequent episodes and they generally try to avoid destroying props.

The most interesting thing about the Sanctuary series the writers have managed to balance the sci-fi nature of the show with episodes that deal with the relationships of the characters to each other and to their world. In season two these relationships are expanded. The writers/producers/network have taken a lot of flack for killing off Ashley (Emilie Ullerup). Although at first I didn't like the character of Ashley, by the end of Season 1 she had grown on me. I liked the mother/daughter dynamic and I was very sorry to see Ashley go. However, her departure created a new dimension to the character of Magnus and the writers dealt with Ashley's death in a very realistic way. The addition of streetwise and morally ambiguous Kate Freelander (Agam Darshi) has brought yet another interesting facet to the series. So, although I would love to see them bring Ashley back, I hope that if they choose to do so they keep Kate as well.

The most enjoyable thing about this series is that it seems to be different from everything else on TV (even within the sci-fi genre). I'm looking forward to Season 3!

Sanctuary (2007)

An excellent series that is as interesting as it is innovative

[10/10 · 23 September 2010]

I have watched television series on Syfy in the past. Some were okay and others were terrible but this is the first series that I have seen on Syfy that I would rate as truly excellent. The pilot was a little slow at first (as is often the case with pilots) but by the middle of the second episode my interest was peaked. And by the third episode I was completely hooked! The storyline is engaging with enough of an arc that I want to continue watching. I have not found a television series that I have enjoyed this much since The X-Files series ended. The cinematography is creative and visually pleasing without calling attention away from the plot. The performances delivered by the cast are superb. There are too many TV series and movies that cast actors who seem to be "emotionally flat-lined". It is extremely refreshing to see actors like Amanda Tapping and Robin Dunne who actually REACT to emotional situations (in much the same way that people do in real life) rather than just looking like a wooden doll. I am looking forward to the next season of Sanctuary and I can't wait to see what they come up with next.

The Gates (2010)

Unimaginative and Uncreative

[1/10 · 23 September 2010]

The storyline of this television series seems to be a composite rip off of several other movies and TV series that are doing well. It seems to be a rather poor approximation of the movie Twilight combined with an overly melodramatic version of the SyFy network's Sanctuary series. The creators of The Gates appear to be trying to cash in on the popularity of two very different genres: dramas (ie: Desperate Housewives) and scifi/fantasy/thrillers (ie: Sanctuary and Supernatural). The editing and cinematography are even less creative than the storyline. Additionally, the poor quality of acting, the somber lighting, and the director's over use of soft focus lenses make this series difficult to watch.