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Editorial Reviews
Amanda Tapping returns as Dr. Helen Magnus in the amazing fourth season of the hit Syfy series, promising bigger myths and greater surprises than ever before.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
39 of 47 people found the following review helpful
By Femnista
Format:DVD
"Sanctuary" is one of the coolest concepts currently on television, but sadly its fourth season for me was a complete mess.
It has been a hundred and some years since Helen Magnus (Amanda Tapping) has set foot in the Victorian era, but her pursuit of the diabolical Adam Worth has sent her cascading through time into the streets of London in the 1890's. Drawing no end of attention due to her modern attire and strange weapons, Helen is held temporarily by the police and released into the custody of her best friend of the era, James Watson (Peter Wingfield). Known in later years as the inspiration for the literary figure of Sherlock Holmes, it does not take Watson long to deduce that this dark-haired incarnation of Helen is a "future" Helen... and that her presence in the past may disrupt the initial timeline. That is the intention of Adam, who has returned to the past in order to save his daughter from death. But any misstep will change future events... a fact Helen is very much aware of as she attempts to avoid crossing paths with her former self.
But her mere presence in the house disrupts the normal flow of activity, an ongoing investigation of Helen and James over a new series of murders in the East End. The mangled bodies lead them to suspect the return of John Druitt (Christopher Heyerdahl), Helen's former fiancée and the man responsible for the Ripper murders a decade earlier. The modern Helen must discern the best possible way to prevent Adam from fulfilling his plan and altering the future, while attempting not to give James too much information... and when she returns to the modern world, she is faced with an entirely new set of circumstances that include the threat of an abnormal war, losing her contacts within the government, and Nikola Tesla (Jonathan Young) appearing to work with her enemies against her. Or is he?
The best move this show ever made was to send Helen Magnus back in time. "Tempus" is one of the series' finest episodes, a blend of modern and Victorian, a contrast between the woman Helen has become and the woman she was when Queen Victoria was still on the throne. It is a chilling glimpse into the reality of John Druitt and his sadistic attraction to her, a heartwarming glimpse at her relationship with James, and at times even an amusing romp into a collision between modern and present-day inventions. Whether it is Helen restraining herself from going to her previous self's assistance during a chilling bullying session from Druitt or teaching him a lesson in a dark alley, it is an unforgettable romp into the past -- and it left me disappointed that the next week we had to return to life as we know it.
Unfortunately, episode two was merely a foreshadowing of a season full of disappointment for me. I have never liked some of the writers' choices, but this season it's like they went out of their way to antagonize me. In their hands was an incredible opportunity to rewrite history, reset the series, and explore the past with Helen, but instead they skip enormous amounts of time and throw her once more into the future, without much follow-up or exploration of her life after that point. Tesla is arguably the greatest character (other than Helen) on the show, but his guest appearances were too few and far between. Druitt was summarily dismissed and no one bothered to deal with the consequences or the grief. There's no closure. There's no particular plan behind many of the episodes. For some reason, the writers seem to be in love with Will, but he spends most of his time doing a job he is not qualified for (how is he worthy of running the Sanctuary? he's not particularly brilliant and has been there a lot less time than Henry)... when he's not on some sanctimonious, holier-than-thou rant against his boss.
There are a couple of excellent episodes, including several in which Tesla makes Helen's life complicated. But the refusal to deal with her emotions, to talk about what happened to Druitt, and to put the emphasis where it should be -- on Helen, and the Sanctuary -- left me feeling a bit cold. It's a shame, because this used to be my favorite series and this season I found myself waiting a couple of days to watch episodes. Maybe my hopes were too big, or maybe the same boredom that set into the last handful of episodes in the previous season carried over into much of season four. I'm just frustrated that for all its potential, "Sanctuary" isn't better. It is sometimes fair, sometimes truly horrible (musical episode, anyone?), and sometimes wonderful. But to reach those truly terrific moments, we have to wander through a lot of predictability. I will own it, for "Tempest." I'm just sorry it ended with so many lost chances to shine.
It has been a hundred and some years since Helen Magnus (Amanda Tapping) has set foot in the Victorian era, but her pursuit of the diabolical Adam Worth has sent her cascading through time into the streets of London in the 1890's. Drawing no end of attention due to her modern attire and strange weapons, Helen is held temporarily by the police and released into the custody of her best friend of the era, James Watson (Peter Wingfield). Known in later years as the inspiration for the literary figure of Sherlock Holmes, it does not take Watson long to deduce that this dark-haired incarnation of Helen is a "future" Helen... and that her presence in the past may disrupt the initial timeline. That is the intention of Adam, who has returned to the past in order to save his daughter from death. But any misstep will change future events... a fact Helen is very much aware of as she attempts to avoid crossing paths with her former self.
But her mere presence in the house disrupts the normal flow of activity, an ongoing investigation of Helen and James over a new series of murders in the East End. The mangled bodies lead them to suspect the return of John Druitt (Christopher Heyerdahl), Helen's former fiancée and the man responsible for the Ripper murders a decade earlier. The modern Helen must discern the best possible way to prevent Adam from fulfilling his plan and altering the future, while attempting not to give James too much information... and when she returns to the modern world, she is faced with an entirely new set of circumstances that include the threat of an abnormal war, losing her contacts within the government, and Nikola Tesla (Jonathan Young) appearing to work with her enemies against her. Or is he?
The best move this show ever made was to send Helen Magnus back in time. "Tempus" is one of the series' finest episodes, a blend of modern and Victorian, a contrast between the woman Helen has become and the woman she was when Queen Victoria was still on the throne. It is a chilling glimpse into the reality of John Druitt and his sadistic attraction to her, a heartwarming glimpse at her relationship with James, and at times even an amusing romp into a collision between modern and present-day inventions. Whether it is Helen restraining herself from going to her previous self's assistance during a chilling bullying session from Druitt or teaching him a lesson in a dark alley, it is an unforgettable romp into the past -- and it left me disappointed that the next week we had to return to life as we know it.
Unfortunately, episode two was merely a foreshadowing of a season full of disappointment for me. I have never liked some of the writers' choices, but this season it's like they went out of their way to antagonize me. In their hands was an incredible opportunity to rewrite history, reset the series, and explore the past with Helen, but instead they skip enormous amounts of time and throw her once more into the future, without much follow-up or exploration of her life after that point. Tesla is arguably the greatest character (other than Helen) on the show, but his guest appearances were too few and far between. Druitt was summarily dismissed and no one bothered to deal with the consequences or the grief. There's no closure. There's no particular plan behind many of the episodes. For some reason, the writers seem to be in love with Will, but he spends most of his time doing a job he is not qualified for (how is he worthy of running the Sanctuary? he's not particularly brilliant and has been there a lot less time than Henry)... when he's not on some sanctimonious, holier-than-thou rant against his boss.
There are a couple of excellent episodes, including several in which Tesla makes Helen's life complicated. But the refusal to deal with her emotions, to talk about what happened to Druitt, and to put the emphasis where it should be -- on Helen, and the Sanctuary -- left me feeling a bit cold. It's a shame, because this used to be my favorite series and this season I found myself waiting a couple of days to watch episodes. Maybe my hopes were too big, or maybe the same boredom that set into the last handful of episodes in the previous season carried over into much of season four. I'm just frustrated that for all its potential, "Sanctuary" isn't better. It is sometimes fair, sometimes truly horrible (musical episode, anyone?), and sometimes wonderful. But to reach those truly terrific moments, we have to wander through a lot of predictability. I will own it, for "Tempest." I'm just sorry it ended with so many lost chances to shine.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By feralchica
Amazon Verified Purchase
If you liked Torchwood but find this show far too middle of the road, you might like this episode, if you watch the whole thing. Kudos to Amanda Tapping for putting forward a world that includes everybody, not just people who liked Richard Dean Anderson in a uniform, back in the SG days. Downside: this might be their last season. If so, they did it right.
I was not a fan of the show initially but gave it a chance while Tapping's last-century accent stabilized and they found their stride. It was all redeemed with this episode, for me.
To those who find the ending out of context, watch it all from the start again. It is a story that is told many times in many ways, but it isn't told the way y'all are taught to expect.
Five stars.
I was not a fan of the show initially but gave it a chance while Tapping's last-century accent stabilized and they found their stride. It was all redeemed with this episode, for me.
To those who find the ending out of context, watch it all from the start again. It is a story that is told many times in many ways, but it isn't told the way y'all are taught to expect.
Five stars.
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Vanessa M
Format:DVD
I have never agreed with all the writers choices, nor do I think any fan will. Looking at season 4 as a whole through a formalistic lens, it was pretty amazing. Very rarely was I ever truly disappointed with an episode. There are lots of things that would have made my fan girl heart very happy that didn't happen, but it's their story to tell, not mine. I still enjoyed the ride immensely.
The great thing about this season was it's utter unpredictability, which arguably makes it one of the best. The writers and directors made very bold choices and took big risks this season, most paying off in spades. I feel this season took itself a little more seriously, not to say they didn't have their fair share of fun. "Monsoon" was an incredibly entertaining classic action hero story with references to Die Hard and James Bond. "Chimera" was a distinctive episode in that it was one of the most hilarious episodes I've seen whilst at the same time being very dark and creepy. With only a 13 episode arch to work with, each episode no matter it's A story built the ground work for a final battle of wills that will leave you stunned.
The drama between the characters of Helen and Will was truly captivating this season. I just wish there could have been even more. "The Depths" and "Fugue" had some of the most intense and shocking Helen and Will moments of the series. To this day I still have mixed feelings about the musical episode. The drama in the episode is ridiculously good, it's just awkward as a musical. Tesla makes some great appearances as well this season and never leaves us wanting for dry,snarky witticisms. My only criticism would be that they overplayed flirtations between Magnus and Tesla making some interactions seem fake. I sorely missed Kate this season, but was glad she could at least be a part of a small number of episodes. Abby, whilst still incredibly one-dimensional, was decidedly less annoying this season.
Episode highlights were "Tempus", "Monsoon", "Icebreaker", "Chimera", "The Depths" and "Sanctuary for None" Parts 1 & 2. These were arguably the best episodes, boasting the highest caliber of acting, writing, directing and all-around entertainment value. Top three would unquestionably be "Tempus", "The Depths", and "Chimera".
"Icebreaker" was decidedly a standout episode for me because its focus was horror. In my opinion, Sanctuary doesn't play with horror often enough, because when they decide to go dark they come up with some pretty amazing results. The best episodes are always of a darker nature. Fluff doesn't do any justice to their real talents.
I am deeply regretful that there will not be another season in the works. Season 4 was an incredibly entertaining ride and the stakes were definitely at their highest!
The great thing about this season was it's utter unpredictability, which arguably makes it one of the best. The writers and directors made very bold choices and took big risks this season, most paying off in spades. I feel this season took itself a little more seriously, not to say they didn't have their fair share of fun. "Monsoon" was an incredibly entertaining classic action hero story with references to Die Hard and James Bond. "Chimera" was a distinctive episode in that it was one of the most hilarious episodes I've seen whilst at the same time being very dark and creepy. With only a 13 episode arch to work with, each episode no matter it's A story built the ground work for a final battle of wills that will leave you stunned.
The drama between the characters of Helen and Will was truly captivating this season. I just wish there could have been even more. "The Depths" and "Fugue" had some of the most intense and shocking Helen and Will moments of the series. To this day I still have mixed feelings about the musical episode. The drama in the episode is ridiculously good, it's just awkward as a musical. Tesla makes some great appearances as well this season and never leaves us wanting for dry,snarky witticisms. My only criticism would be that they overplayed flirtations between Magnus and Tesla making some interactions seem fake. I sorely missed Kate this season, but was glad she could at least be a part of a small number of episodes. Abby, whilst still incredibly one-dimensional, was decidedly less annoying this season.
Episode highlights were "Tempus", "Monsoon", "Icebreaker", "Chimera", "The Depths" and "Sanctuary for None" Parts 1 & 2. These were arguably the best episodes, boasting the highest caliber of acting, writing, directing and all-around entertainment value. Top three would unquestionably be "Tempus", "The Depths", and "Chimera".
"Icebreaker" was decidedly a standout episode for me because its focus was horror. In my opinion, Sanctuary doesn't play with horror often enough, because when they decide to go dark they come up with some pretty amazing results. The best episodes are always of a darker nature. Fluff doesn't do any justice to their real talents.
I am deeply regretful that there will not be another season in the works. Season 4 was an incredibly entertaining ride and the stakes were definitely at their highest!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
RichardB
Loved it, just wish it had ended differently! Got all excited with the scenes of the new Sanctuary and was really looking forward to season 5.
Published 11 days ago by Richard Buie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sanctuary 4
Sanctuary - The Complete Fourth Season. I love this show. It arrived quickly and was a good price. Item was as described. Thanks a lot!
Published 15 days ago by Michelle Strop
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Series
I liked Amanda Tapping in SG-1 and she does fine as a female "Dr Who" in Sanctuary. Spoiler - when she walks through her huge library and sitting room, it is all CGI!
Published 16 days ago by Thomas E. Eichhorst
5.0 out of 5 stars
Loved it!!
as soon as I got this season i was instantly happy all the dvds were in it and everything was fine.
Published 20 days ago by Gail Coash
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great show
I love this show, and was disappointed it was cancelled after the fourth season. But I now have it to watch any time I want on my Kindle!
Published 26 days ago by Loretta Cottrell
4.0 out of 5 stars
Sanctuary 4
Another brilliant season from the Sanctuary team. You can't help but be engrossed with this cool series. Another must see for all SciFi fans.
Published 1 month ago by Mandy-Lee Hope-Johnstone
5.0 out of 5 stars
fast and good service
I ordered the 1,2,3,and 4th season. They arrived on time and in very good conditions. I recommend it.. Cant waith for the other season.
Published 1 month ago by Nelida Vasquez
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sci-fi nut review
I bought all the Sanctuary seasons as fast as I could. You made them affordable and available. I can't say that about my local retail stores. Keep up the great work that you do.
Published 1 month ago by Micky Kaylor
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic show
The quality of the show was incredible. Enjoyed the series. Would recommend this series to anyone who likes the stories.
Published 1 month ago by Susan C Werner
5.0 out of 5 stars
4
The only thing I have to say is that I wish there had been more. While it does tie itself off in the end. It's one of those shows, that for me, if there was 20 seasons. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Kristina
