TV is the new reading

Sci Fi's 'Sanctuary' fun to watch, hard to swallow

While the networks premiere show after show hoping new viewers stick, the Sci Fi channel focused its fall season energy on “Sanctuary,” the unlikely creature feature starring Amanda Tapping of “Stargate: Atlantis” as Dr. Helen Magnus and Robin Dunne as psychologist and police consultant Dr. Will Zimmerman.

Helen looks good for her age. She’s 157 years old, and has been tracking exobiology and cryptozootica (that is, mythologized beasties like mermaids and minotaurs) as part of her father’s initiative since the 19th century. In the series premiere, a former – well, let’s call him a fan – tracked her to her Sanctuary, where she maintains a bizarre collection of beings, as much for their protection as for everyone else’s.

The fan, a serial killer and vampire, can actually teleport anywhere he wants – part of his scariness – but he can’t get into the Sanctuary itself, because of a combination of the spells in place and some sophisticated electro-magnetic shielding. He ultimately gets in by allowing himself to be captured by Helen’s daughter, Ashley – who is actually Helen’s daughter with him, but that’s another story. Ashley, 18, is part of maintaining the Sanctuary by investigating unexplained phenomena, tracking creatures and bringing them in.

Will is brought in because, well, his “Monsters are real” philosophy doesn’t fly so well with the police, and his consults with them range farther afield than they’d prefer. He’s got good reason to be afraid of the things that go bump in the night and to accept unconventional explanations, however. Will lost his mother to some scary monster when he was growing up.

I guess the one thing that stands out to me so solidly in this show is that the Sanctuary is a gigantic Gothic castle. With space at such a premium in New York City, a gigantic Gothic castle is basically going to stand out. Like, a lot. It’s going to stand there looking like – and taking up as much room as – a gigantic Gothic castle, and there’s no way they’d be able to keep activity down to just the four or five people they’ve got on staff (among others, Helen maintains a Neanderthal as a manservant) and the guest register of dozens and dozens of creatures.

Once you get past the fact that there’d have to be tour buses running nonstop just to keep the place open and funded, along with a gift shop for T-shirt sales, Helen’s shocked retort that these creatures are kept for their safety – that it’s not a prison and it’s certainly not a zoo – might be more credible.

But on the plus side, Will is intrigued by the offer to join her, the value in helping the creatures in the Sanctuary, and the possibility of avenging his mother’s death.

And I guess I’m intrigued by the potential this show opens for wizard effects and amazing creatures. The effects used in presenting a mermaid, for example, were especially satisfying, and if they employ that kind of care with the other creatures, it will make for a visually stunning show.

“Sanctuary” airs at 8 p.m. Fridays on Sci Fi.