'Sanctuary' - End Of Nights (Part 1)

'Sanctuary' - End Of Nights (Part 1)

The new big-bad is part of the 'Sanctuary' family

By KATIE SAWYER
10-14-2009

This review may contain spoilers.

The Sanctuary is back for its second season, but it’s missing one pivotal member. Ashley (Emilie Ullerup) is still being held captive by the Kabal, and off running covert operations for them. She’s being turned into a killing machine, not unlike one of the dolls in Joss Whedon’s “Dollhouse.”

Ashley’s parents, Helen Magnus (Amanda Tapping) and Druitt (Christopher Heyerdahl), are traveling across the globe to try and bring her back, assuming she’s still alive. They’re about to lose hope, but they get to see her by the end of the episode. It won’t be enough for Magnus, and she’ll end the episode angrier then she was when she couldn’t find Ashley.

Apparently Ashley and five other humans are being turned into perfectly engineered human beings. They’ve then been blended with source DNA from those like Magnus and Tesla, turning them into a kind of vampire/human hybrid with creepy faces and long fingernails. The masterminds behind the operation are the Kabal, who will do anything to destroy the Sanctuary, as we learned of last season.

Ashley can’t be killed, and she doesn’t appear to have anything in common with her old self anymore. She’s presumably dead, as we’ve known her.

We were also introduced to what could be a new character, Kate Freelander (Agam Darshi). She’s cute, sarcastic and a con artist. She’s the female version of Josh Holloway’s Sawyer on “Lost.”

The episode seems to mostly be about setting up the new big-bads for the next season, the six individuals who were chosen to become the new killing machines. The running question must be whether or not they can save Ashley and bring her back to herself without having to kill her.

What Worked

The creepy lady playing Dr. Frankenstein on Ashley most certainly worked. The way she talks to her was sweet in a way, and it kind of makes you like her ... but mostly just creeps you out.

Tesla (Jonathon Young) is a welcome new addition to the season. He’s funny and brings a nice new factor into the semi-boring dynamic between Magnus, Will (Robin Dunne) and Druitt. This is affirmed when he compares the level of emergency equal to the near death of one of the Sanctuary's inhabitants with the fact that they’ve almost run out of wine in the Sanctuary. Hopefully he’ll become a regular if he hasn’t already.

What Didn’t Work

The new split screen shots. They’re a bit distracting, not quite as cool as Syfy is trying to make them. Perhaps they’ll take some getting used to, but I’m hoping the channel will give up on them.

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

"Sanctuary" stars Amanda Tapping, Emilie Ullerup, Christopher Heyerdahl and Robin Dunne. "End of Nights" (Part 1) was written by Damian Kindler and directed by Martin Wood. 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.