Sanctuary – Another awesome, hot-ass episode

This week, we get a blast from the past with a covert tribute to our lads and ladies in blue with Watson, Druitt, Griffin, Tesla, Magnus, and Will’s grandfather all fighting the assumedly Hitler-led WWII German Reich. Side note: I focused on 18^th century British history, so apologies for any historical mistakes. Before I address the awesomeness of this week’s episode, can I just say hot damn to all the male actors rocking the 1940s look? Christopher Heyerdahl with a little bit of hair? Peter Wingfield in his athletic awesomeness? Jonathon Young’s hairstyle and tailored suit? Robin Dunne rocking the grease? HOT. ALL OF THEM. SERIOUSLY. And, Magnus rocking the auburn look? Awesome. I’d love to delve into Magnus’ hair history and the reason for the changes: experimentation or introspection? All the same, I spent about five minutes waiting for Ryan Robbins and Agam Darshi’s cameos, until I realized they couldn’t force all the characters in without seeming too hokey.

Even so, I loved this week’s episode from start to finish. Whenever we get the five, the writing staff never forces the awesomeness. The established actors have such screen presence and honed acting experience that they ooze charisma. I always hate when writers/directors try to make characters seem cool when they aren’t. But, that never happens with the five. We never get the “look how awesome this character is with her flip-kicks,” because everything they do rocks. Because the writers/directors actually trust their actors to get their capabilities across without fanfare, five-centric episodes tend to give the viewing audience really tight plots. This week pulled it off in spades.

In fact I enjoyed this week so much, I have nothing to add but bullet points of adulation interspersed with commentary:

• I marked Tesla’s young assistant as a traitor from 0:00. All the same, I liked him. Tesla’s openness towards the kid’s eager beaver-ness shocked me considering his attitude towards Huey (Hank), Dewey (Kate) and Screwey (Will). Maybe his disdain for junior assistants stems from this.
• A couple comments on the Druitt-Watson interchange. Number one, Peter Wingfield is delicious. Despite Druitt’s increasingly ghoulish appearance, I couldn’t stop throwing my knickers at the screen. Also, Druitt unbuttoning Watson’s shirt and torturing Watson? Hot. The two fighting over Helen? Hotter. So, Magnus and Watson potentially dated? How did they get together/break up? Either way, I like how the show handled it as a fact without fanfare.
• I really like Nigel Griffin. Although I wonder how he hooked up with the mad scientists, they clearly needed a salt of the earth type character not caught up in his own inner turmoil or a never-ending Magnus crush. I also enjoyed the almost-end scene where Griffin and his love interest fought back to back
• I tend to complain how Kindler and staff write Magnus. Sometimes she’s too cold (like in the date night episode) or other times she’s a might weak. However, other times like with Adam’s introduction, it’s just right. This week, we didn’t see her lead so much as run between high action scenarios. However, this week I noticed that Magnus survives, not just because of her insane survival instinct, but because people willingly sacrifice themselves for her and she allows it, seeing it as for the greater cause.
• Will Zimmerman as his ancestor Jack Zimmerman? Luscious. Kudos to Dunne for getting the forties lingo/accent down. Plus, although I will assume Zimmerman pro-created before going to war, it makes sense now that Magnus would watch his offspring. All the same, her serving as witness to the violent deaths of two of Will’s direct relatives feels slightly creepy. Does Will know?

Penultimate Quote:

“Dedicated to all the men and women who serve in the armed forces. Thank you for giving us Sanctuary.”

Clacked by An Nicholson
on May 25, 2011 @ 01:22 EST5EDT