Sanctuary starts season four with a blast from the past

Last week Sanctuary returned for its fourth season. The premiere episode featured Magnus going back in time to prevent Adam from changing the timeline. Of course, in her attempt to avoid her old self, she encounters her old friends.

I’m up in the air about this episode. I thought it was well-done and I always enjoy seeing the original five (even without two of its members). However, something felt off. I enjoyed seeing Helen’s rage against Adam and Druitt, but I didn’t quite understand it. Considering she’s seen both men pull multiple atrocities, her rage seemed over the top. All the same, I enjoyed Amanda Tapping’s portrayal.

I wonder what Magnus’ extreme emotion hints at for the future. Last season, the writers separated Will from Magnus and distanced Magnus from the team. Although I enjoyed Magnus’ hardness, it seemed different from her earlier incarnation. In season one, she mixed her hardness towards the Sanctuary’s world with warmth towards her staff. I understood Magnus’ willingness to remove Carentan’s time bubble last season, because the bubble would’ve swallowed the world. However, Magnus’ desire to blatantly kill a girl who received a second chance felt over the line.

So, in a way, Magnus does deserve a vacation. But, what does that mean for this season? Will we see more of her season three hardness or will she return more mellow? Also, this means we’ll get plenty of back episodes concerning Magnus’ adventures without the team. But, won’t Magnus’ travels still affect the timeline? Considering who she is, I doubt she’d avoid helping anyone who needs it. But, if she does, is that any different from what Adam attempted? (Admittedly, there’s a difference between starting a surface war and annihilating an underground race to save one’s already dead daughter vs. helping already living people). All the same …

I still love Adam (Ian Tracey) and hope we see him again. After all, Magnus killed off future Adam, not past Adam. And, his daughter’s death re-catalyzed his anger. I wonder. What if Magnus left the girl alone and only killed future Adam? Would she have averted future horrors (or left others to occur)?

I always thought Magnus might miss the past and want to stay, but clearly she does not. I loved the subtle nods to institutionalized Victorian sexism including Watson excusing himself as an escort and Adam blatantly insulting Magnus by denying her “offer.” You see, my dear reality children, that is how you insult people Victorian style. You don’t need the bitch slap or the in-your-face-aggression, just a a few subtle words gets it across.

What do you think will happen this season concerning Druitt? It seems like he obsessed over Helen because she was a pseudo-punching bag. Yes, she could protect herself. But, at her core, Victorian Helen was still slightly softer than 21^st-Century Helen. The look on Druitt’s face when Helen kicked the crap out of him, didn’t look like a man who wanted his girlfriend back. Christopher Heyerdahl acted the hell out of his Victorian ripper. I love the contemporary push and pull dynamic between both Druitt and Magnus. But, if Druitt’s century-long fascination fades to friendship, that could open the door for Magnus to finally start dating.

Also, what’s up with the other Jack? Is Sanctuary implying that Druitt wasn’t the Ripper (despite multiple conversations to the contrary)? Or is it another historical nod? I took a Ripper tour once, and the guide, a former bobby, mentioned the final death (which happened indoors, mind) seemed slightly different from the others, but people still attributed to Ripper. What do you guys think?

I loved Magnus’ initial interaction with Watson. Only Helen Magnus would go back in time, see her long dead friend and give him the cold shoulder to preserve the time line. With all of the flashbacks, I no longer fear not seeing Peter Wingfield again.

So what did people think? I liked it, but I didn’t get that usual panty-creaming feeling. All the same, I’d rather see episodes like this than like “Into the Black.” On a side note, I noticed Agam Darshi in this week’s promo shots, but I haven’t seen her in any other group publicity shots. However, she’s still doing the publicity circuit for Sanctuary. I hope the writers don’t get rid of her. If she leaves of her own volition, fine, but I wish the producers would stop giving us action heroine after action heroine. They just have to improve the female characters and their storylines. On another note, if Helen relives her timeline all over again, that mean she’s no longer 150-160 years old, technically she’s 280-300.

Clacked by An Nicholson
on Oct 15, 2011 @ 10:52 EST5EDT