• Network: Syfy
  • Series Premiere Date: May 14, 2007
  • Season #: 0 , 1 , 2 , 3 , 4
Sanctuary Image
  • Starring: Amanda Tapping, Robin Dunne, Emilie Ullerup
  • Summary: Dr. Helen Magnus is in charge of a sanctuary for some of nature's unusual creatures in this new series for Sci Fi that utilizes virtual sets.
  • Genre(s): Science-Fiction, Drama
  • Creator: Damian Kindler
  • Show Type: Ended
  • Season 1 premiere date: May 14, 2007
  • Episode Length: 60
  • Air Time: 10:00 PM
  • More Details and Credits »
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 7
  2. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. 63
    Given that, let me also say that virtual sets don't make up for virtual plots. Not that Sanctuary doesn't have its moments, and those moments might prove to be fast and furious after tonight's two-hour premiere when the show goes to a more manageable one-hour format.
  2. Much of it feels dreadfully slow, not so much moody as stretched for time....Things do pick up significantly with the arrival of Christopher Heyerdahl as John Druitt.
  3. 60
    Sanctuary's pace is a little on the stately side, and the show is competent if not particularly innovative sci-fi.

See all 7 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 20
  2. Negative: 8 out of 20
  1. 10
    Sanctuary is an incredible series. Thrilling, well-crafted and carried out by talented actors, I greatly enjoy the Sanctuary series. Amanda Tapping plays a convincing Helen Magnus, and manages break out of her Sam Carter SG-1 role successfully. Sanctuary is less geared towards heavy gunfights and explosions that drew in characters for Stargate, I personally think thats why it has less appeal for those hoping for another SG military-based story. While the writing could use some expansion and the storyline could do with a bit of work, Sanctuary is an addictive series if you can get into it. It does seem to be a case of, 'you'll either love it or hate it.' Frankly, I find Sanctuary to be highly enjoyable and the acting is grossly undervalued. To those who accuse Amanda Tappings accent of being poor or inaccurate, I'd like to point out that there is no universal British accent. There is a miasma of different dialects across the UK, and, having lived in Central London all my life, I can say with full confidence that Amanda Tappings' accent wouldn't be even slightly out of place here. However, to address those who believe otherwise, it makes sense that Helen Magnus' accent would be slightly off, the character having been based in America. Regardless, I still maintain that her accent is perfectly fine. To me, Sanctuary is one of the most underrated shows on television. Its innovative special effects and the amazing cast makes up for the lacklustre story which I admit could use some work. However, I'd even go so far as to say that the inspiring components surrounding the storyline makes its rather glaring pitfalls less noticable. I strongly recommend Sanctuary to anyone, very impressed by Ryan Robbins, Amanda Tapping and Agam Darshi especially. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. JonB.
    5
    The show tries to be a new generation X-Files with a quarter of the budget and even less direction. The writing is sub par at best, and Amanda Tapping's fake English accent is terrible! Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. PatrickM
    3
    Poor quality story telling, yet again, from the Sci Fi channel. With wins like Eureka, SG-1, and BSG under their belt, you'd think that they'd have the formula for compelling sci-fi story telling down. While sci-fi fans await the next great science fiction drama, they're left with these scraps from many, many, many other stories losely tied together as some sort of TV show to deal with. Poor green screen work, lighting that implies that the sun never shines on TV (for some reason...) - here's a clue - darkness in a story is a tone - not actual darkness during every single episode.... Characters so badly drawn that I actually root for the "bad guys" (if there are such a thing in this show - since it's trying very weakly to portray a neutral judgemental position on nearly everything...) to eat one of them...please! The show needs a real villian - a yin to the yang of the crew. And not some cheesy typical American bad "company" - blah, blah, blah... Give us next generation Farscape - not this. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 20 User Reviews