Review: Sanctuary, “Resistance”

Be warned: Minor spoilers ahead.It seems I got my wish with an ongoing arc/threat following the Hollow Earth invasion. I just miscalculated where that threat would be coming from. It’s not the bands of renegade Abnormals running amok; it’s the paranoid government trying to contain them.

I rather enjoy this direction for the story, though it does make the show smack of X-Men even more than it already did.

Anyway, getting on to this specific episode, “Resistance” has Magnus and Henry trying to infiltrate a top secret government facility for Abnormal experimentation. They are promptly captured and introduced to the facility’s director, who is someone they know well.

ZOMGTesla.

What follows is the kind of monster and arrogance-filled caper that always results from Tesla’s presence.

This season does feel like a step up from previous ones, at least in terms of consistency. It may not have hit the heights of the Adam Worth/Hollow Earth arc yet, but I’ve yet to see an episode from this season that I haven’t enjoyed. They even remembered that Henry is a werewolf again. Three times in a single season must be a record.

Between the more consistent writing and the lack of Kate Freelander getting in the way, this episode greatly reminded me of the first season. This is largely a good thing, though I think they have gone too far to the familiar. I can’t help but think of all the other times I’ve watched Magnus and Tesla stalk monsters through dim tunnels. The characters even joked about it. But this isn’t a crippling flaw.

There is once again a side plot with Will that felt a bit like filler, but it did have a good twist for an ending.

Overall rating: 7.4/10 Sub-par for a Tesla episode, but still decent overall.

The first three seasons of Sanctuary are available to buy on my Amazon Affiliate for anyone looking to get caught up.

Review: Sanctuary, “Monsoon”

I have a terrible flu just now, and I can barely stand, so forgive me if I’m a bit less coherent than usual.I get the feeling like Amanda Tapping went to the Sanctuary writers’ offices one day and said, “I’m bored. Give me a fun episode.” “Monsoon” is the result.

Following the events of last episode, Helen Magnus must now find new sources of money for the Sanctuary. This quests brings her to a backwater island off the coast of Africa to meet with some mysterious fellow who specializes in backroom money transfers. But things become a bit more complicated when a group of Abnormal criminals show up and start taking hostages.

What follows is an hour of Magnus, as one of the other characters put it, “getting her James Bond on.”

There’s also a side plot about Will and his girlfriend that seemed only there to fill air time.

There’s not much to say about “Monsoon.” It’s fun. It’s goofy. Lots of things blow up, and Magnus punches a lot of people. But it’s not going down as one of the more memorable episodes of the series — at least not for me.

The one thing that makes this episode noteworthy (warning: minor spoiler ahead) is a brief scene at the end in which Magnus kisses another woman. And no, I don’t mean in a platonic, just being polite way.

This has caused a massive uproar among many of the fans, with lots of people planning to boycott the show for pushing “the homosexual agenda.” This is quite disappointing, especially when you consider Sanctuary’s message of universal tolerance (“sanctuary for all”), but it’s not really surprising. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my life, it’s that even allegories as ham-fisted and simple as Sanctuary’s are completely beyond a large section of the population. As Einstein said, “Only two things are infinite: the universe, and human stupidity — and I’m not sure about the universe.”

Besides, Magnus is over 200 years old. You don’t think she’d want to broaden her horizons after all that time?

For my part, my only complaint about “Monsoon” is the name. It’s supposedly the rainy season on the island upon which most of the action takes place, but yet it’s sunny and dry for the entire episode. Huh?

Overall rating: 7.3/10

For those wishing to get caught up, the first three seasons of Sanctuary are available to buy on my Amazon Affiliate.