‘Sanctuary’ - End of Nights (Part 2)

‘Sanctuary’ - End of Nights (Part 2)

When in a standoff with your enemy do you allow yourself the luxury of scorched-earth tactics?

By TIFFANY VOGT
10-21-2009

This article may contain spoilers.

After walking into a trap at the Cabal headquarters, and losing Ashley (Emilie Ullerup) in the process in Part 1, this week’s episode was a constant adrenaline rush of fear, uncertainty and nail-biting conflict.

Perhaps wishing to toy with her prey, in a mock-gesture of mercy, Dana Whitcomb (Lynda Boyd) gave Dr. Helen Magnus (Amanda Tapping) a choice: “your daughter or your work -- you choose ...” Helen must either surrender the entire Sanctuary Global Network or sacrifice her daughter. But not willing to bow before such a common terrorist ploy, Helen declared that she will not surrender every abnormal under their protection. For her father created the Sanctuary network to protect abnormals and humans from each other out of fear that if he did not, chaos would reign -- which is exactly what Dana Whitcomb wants.

In the wake of an outright declaration of war and the ease with which the Tokyo sanctuary was taken, Helen rallied the team in order to prepare for battle. Rounding out the team were Dr. Will Zimmerman (Robin Dunne), Clara Griffin (Christine Chatelain), Nikolas Tesla (Jonathan Young), John Druitt (Christopher Heyerdahl), Henry Foss (Ryan Robbins) and Bigfoot (also Christopher Heyerdahl). The only one not joining in the fight was Kate Freelander (Agam Darshi) who they feared had set them up and she was released so that she could get away before the fight began. For there would be no compromise and they would fight to the bitter end. It was a fight to the death.

After learning that the Cabal were using some kind of remote data burst to interfere with and breach the EM shields; and the hybrids had the ability to communicate telepathically and quickly regenerate (bullets seemed to bounce off of them and wounds healed within seconds -- which John figured out after stabbing Ashley straight through the heart to no avail), Helen gave Tesla the task of creating a weapon to combat the seemingly invincible hybrids. After Ashley had been captured, she had been converted into a hybrid human-abnormal. Due to her lineage having a human mother and a teleporting father who is akin to “Jack the Ripper,” she is arguably already a hybrid -- and that unique DNA made her a perfect test subject for the source-blood. John noted that Ashley may have inherited her father’s blood-lust as one of her gifts and pronounced, “what is bred in the bone cannot be undone in the flesh.” Therefore, Helen wanted a weapon that will interfere with the effects and influence of the source-blood; something to disable the genetically-enhanced abilities.

Unfortunately, with such a handicap that it must only disable and not kill, once created, the gun only stunned the hybrids for just a few moments. Helen was then forced to admit that the gun needed to be programmed to kill if they were to survive. This was even more clearly emphasized after the attack on the London Sanctuary. It had been necessary to release the Elemental, which ended up torching the entire facility -- and after it was discovered that Clara had died so needlessly. As Tesla sadly noted, “Churchill may have been wrong. Victory at any cost?”

It was a high-priced episode with the loss of two lives -- R.I.P. Ashley Magnus and Clara Griffin. The battle may have been ultimately won with their sacrifice, but it remains to be seen who wins the war. For Dana Whitcomb is still out there and she has the ability to make more hybrids.

What Worked

The battle sequences were astounding to watch in execution. Additionally, there were some particularly fun tactics used, such as the black petrifying oil that Will employed to encase and subdue one of the hybrid-attackers. Also fun was watching Nikolas locked in an electrical battle both with Ashley and later with one of the other hybrids.

Then it was cool to find out the agent for the demise of their entire security system was a mere cellphone. The incoming call was embedded with a computer virus that wrecked havoc and brought down their shields within seconds. Very well executed indeed.

What Didn't Work

It seemed implausible that Will would allow Clara to distract him with a bit of foreplay while they were expecting an imminent attack. It was nice that they got to say good-bye, but it felt very clichéd.

Also, it felt drawn out that Bigfoot would continue to refuse the Lazarus medication at such a critical time as well.

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

"End of Nights (Part 2)" was written by Damian Kindler and directed by Martin Wood. "Sanctuary" stars Amanda Tapping, Robin Dunne, Emile Ullerup, Christopher Heyerdahl, Agam Darshi, Jonathan Young, Christine Chatelain and Ryan Robbins. It airs Fridays at 10 p.m. ET on Syfy.

About the Author: Tiffany Vogt is a contributing writer for Rabid Doll and the BlipNetwork. She loves science fiction and is addicted to sci-fi films and television shows and attends as many conventions as her busy work schedule will allow. Vogt hails from Los Angeles, Calif.