Sanctuary does Kafka with lizards

So, I’m totally up in the air about this week’s episode because I found it middle of the road blah. Although contemporary radio/TV/internet society’s focus on big voices in an increasingly big space seemingly dictates having strong opinions when we don’t, this is one week where I can’t laud the Sanctuary writers’ brilliant awesomeness or hideous awfulness. “Metamorphosis” surrounded Will’s perspective undergoing a middle earth-catalyzed lizard transformation. It’s ironic considering Will revealed in “Breach” that he believes most unidentified abnormals are lizards until proven otherwise. All the same, I found it meh. I want to call it good because of the episode’s novelty and experimentation with the camera as the character, yet, because this is the second episode in-house that didn’t really show in-house group interaction, I didn’t quite care for it. I’m glad that Syfy renewed Sanctuary. However, perhaps reducing the amount of episodes will force the writing staff to keep the season tight and focused, while reducing throwaway episodes like this week, last week, and, assumedly, next week.

Yet, even when I find an episode meh-blah-eh, I still enjoy certain items. This episode I noticed a couple things:

• Although Tapping’s the show’s core, it still wouldn’t succeed without Robin Dunne’s energy.
• I love what they’ve done with Biggie. Seriously, from the hidden distillery and his deadpan WTF-face when Henry and Kate rehashed their adventures this week to everything they’ve done this season, he’s slowly becoming one of my favorite characters.
• Although the show’s slowly bringing back the Magnus-Will relationship, I miss the old magic. Don’t get me wrong, I recognize the need to re-work the Superfriends template. The sub-characters needed beefing up and the plotlines needed improvement, but that doesn’t mean we needed to remove all of the Will-Magnus face-to-face chats. So, I’m glad the last two episodes featured mini-Will and Magnus bits at the end. It’s enough to sate me.
• When watching Magnus and Henry interact, I realized that Amanda Tapping and Robin Dunne still have a natural on-screen chemistry that the new on-camera pair-ups don’t quite match. All the same, I’m intrigued to see more of their long-term friendship. And, I enjoyed the mini-massage Magnus gave Henry during his geek speak freak out.
• Is it me or are they slowly separating Magnus from the team? Magnus doesn’t really participate in the fun and games anymore. And, without Will, she’s basically an island. Also, considering last week she seemed willing to expend Will for a mission and willing to shoot to kill him this week, she seems slightly colder compared to the first two seasons. I know Kindler wanted season one Magnus to come across as badass, but he focused more on her mysteriousness and warmth. But, this season we actually see Magnus doing the badass, coldass stunts the writers always implied she did.
• However, I really enjoyed seeing more of the Magnus-Biggie friendship. Even through the makeup Heyerdahl and Tapping have a great connection. I loved seeing biggie give Magnus the Will pep talk, however, while Will might let Magnus run on, Biggie seemed a bit harsher by telling her to “stop putting on a show.” It seems different from his gentle, bumbling nature in season one. However, I like it. It makes him more real. It also explains why Magnus might bond more with Will.
• Although I usually view Magnus as patently honest, I found it interesting seeing her pull the Doctor bit i.e. “you’re doing well,” when he wasn’t.
• I viewed the slow reveal of Will’s face in reflective objects as interesting.

So, am I a Debbie Downer or did others enjoy this episode? If so, what did you particularly like?

Clacked by An Nicholson
on May 04, 2011 @ 08:57 EST5EDT