'Sanctuary' - Pavor Nocturnus; Fragments

'Sanctuary' - Pavor Nocturnus; Fragments

The series is doing a good thing by expanding its scope

By KATIE SAWYER
11-18-2009

This article may contain spoilers.

A few weeks ago, “Sanctuary” tried the obligatory alternate universe episode. Haven’t we seen this on all our favorite shows before?

They did pull the episode "Pavor Nocturnus" together nicely in the end, even if it did seem a bit like it had been done before. It turns out the alternate reality was one that Magnus (Amanda Tapping) caused all on her own. She just couldn’t resist opening up an ancient relic that contained the virus in it that ruined civilization.

In the very end, she gets to redeem herself and chose to leave the vial behind in the relics. A much better decision, especially when it causes humans to turn into zombie-like creatures that destroy the sanctuary and basically the whole world, as we know it.

The best part about the reversal of the virus was by far the fact that we wouldn’t have to see the alternate reality version of Will (Robin Dunne) ever again. Apparently the mullet went out in the 80’s, but Will brings it back with a vengeance in this alternate reality. Please don’t make us ever have to see that again, Dr. Magnus.

This last week in the episode "Fragments," we learned a bit more about Henry (Ryan Robbins). He’s got quite a past; it involves an ex-girlfriend and her new husband, Gerald (Colin Cunningham), that isn’t Henry. Lots of emotions, lots of regret and an attempted murder. Sounds like most relationships?

It was nice to learn about Henry. Magnus and Will can get a bit boring. In the end, Gerald was caught for trying to set Henry up. He wanted Henry dead because he knew Rachel loved him still, even though she shouldn't anymore.

As this is still "Sanctuary," meaning a bit blah, everything ended on a good note, with the bad guy losing and the good guys prevailing. Can we change things up a bit next week?

What Worked

Back-story on more characters is always good. “Sanctuary” is doing a good thing by expanding the show. The addition of Kate (Agam Darshi) and the inclusion of Henry is working, I just hope they don’t kill them off far too early like they did with Ashley (Emilie Ullerup). It would be a shame to lose them.

But we know that no one is ever really dead in sci-fi, so maybe there’s still hope for Ashley?

What Didn’t Work

Need I mention the mullet again? Please don’t make me. And what about the white eye? So nasty, but it showed that Will had changed on the outside as well as the inside -- he no longer had the compassion he has in the present. It was a relief to see him back to himself by the end of the episode.

Was there a really weird dynamic between Rachel (Anne Marie Loder) and Henry to anyone else? They didn’t seem to have any kind of real feelings for one another, even though she told him she loved him. There was no romance between them, nothing to make us see why he cared so much about her. Their scenes were dry and unemotional ... not exactly what you want to see in a love story.

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

"Pavor Nocturnus" was directed by Brenton Spencer and written by Damian Kindler; "Fragments" was directed by S.A. Adelson and written by Sara B. Cooper. "Sanctuary" stars Amanda Tapping, Robin Dunne, Christopher Heyerdahl, Agam Darshi, Jonathan Young, Christine Chatelain and Ryan Robbins. It airs Fridays at 10 p.m. ET on Syfy.

About the Author: Katie Sawyer is a writer for the BlipNetwork who has an degree in English literature from Arizona State University, and is currently pursuing her master's degree in education. She lives in Phoenix.