‘Sanctuary’ - Eulogy

‘Sanctuary’ - Eulogy

Hoping when all hope is gone and praying for one last miracle

By TIFFANY VOGT
10-28-2009

This article may contain spoilers.

In the aftermath of the devastating attacks on the Sanctuaries around the globe, in “Eulogy” the team set about rebuilding, cleaning-up and redistributing the abnormals to more secure facilities, while grieving the deaths of Ashley (Emilie Ullerup) and Clara (Christine Chatelain).

On the lighthearted-side, Will (Robin Dunne) and Henry (Ryan Robbins) were tasked with transportation and assimilation of 20 containers worth of displaced abnormals seeking refuge after the attacks on the Beijing, Tokyo and London sanctuaries. With the aid of Ark-Fong Li (Hiro Kanagawa), they set about filling every available nook and cranny at the main facility. They also debated the necessity of keeping the EM shields at maximum capacity, but Helen had insisted that it stay at maximum while the Cabal threat is still out there. The threat had not been eliminated yet.

Still on the sideline was Kate Freelander (Agam Darshi) who was not certain how to contribute and who was trying to make up her mind as to whether she was going to stay or go. Without a clear invitation, she was in limbo, and as she astutely assessed, “things are just too weird right now.” But without anywhere else to go and with the temptation of the new arriving abnormals too great a lure to pass up, Kate decided to hang-out -- and got herself in a bit of a predicament in the process. While trying to steal some Steno tusks, she discovered a newly born Steno baby, which provided a merry chase before being recaptured. This provided some much need levity in a serious episode about the meaning of death. For it was pretty funny how the Steno baby steadfastly pursued Kate, not to eat her, but to play with her. As Henry explained, “You’re the first thing it saw. It thinks you’re its mother.” Watching Kate bond with the Steno baby was adorable and unexpected.

Then in the background, Helen (Amanda Tapping), secluded in her grief, was not only having visions of Ashley, she was also experiencing flashbacks. Between the visions and flashbacks, Helen felt certain that Ashley was not yet gone. She felt that it was possible that Ashley had been transported out of the Sanctuary just as the EM shields came up during the fight.

But even as all investigations proved futile, Helen continued to cling to her persistent belief that Ashley had somehow survived. For, if Ashley had not actually made it through the shield, then perhaps Ashley had been bounced-back to a point still within the Sanctuary. When a search revealed the skeleton of another hybrid embedded in the wall, Helen then latched onto the idea that Ashley was stuck inside the computer system. But as each theory was investigated and disposed of, Helen became more and more irrational in her desperate desire to believe that Ashley was still alive.

However, relying on Will as her moral compass and with reality check visits from Bigfoot (Christopher Heyerdahl) and John (Christopher Heyerdahl), Helen was finally forced to admit that Ashley was gone. Will had gently reminded her, “Are you searching for closure or a miracle?” Ashley could not have survived. She was not outside of the shield. She was not within the Sanctuary nor even trapped in the computer system. It was time to face the inevitable that Ashley was dead. So standing before an empty coffin, they each put an item of remembrance inside as Helen saw one last vision of Ashley who softly told her, “we must let go ...” It was haunting and heart-breaking to see to what lengths a mother will go to hold on to her lost child. Without a body to weep over, Helen simply wanted to believe that the impossible was still possible and that some essence of Ashley must still exist. It was like she was holding a butterfly net trying to capture a soul.

What Worked

The scenes between Helen and John were surprisingly touching. Under the guise of providing her an update on his efforts to track down and eliminate the Cabal brain-trust, it was clear that John had really stopped by to check on Helen. But after the funeral, when Helen asked him, “will you be joining us?” John harshly replied, “you may have found closure, but I have not -- not yet!” He had not yet finished stalking Dana Whitcomb (Lynda Boyd) who still remained at large and a threat to them all.

While not very clear on what all the flashbacks were supposed to mean, it was still cool seeing Helen in her Indiana Jones-looking outfit in her flashbacks while she searched the desert for a long lost tribe so that she could return the ashes of the tribe’s shaman for which they had been waiting for over 300 years. As the tribesman told her, “Now our ancestors will be at peace.” He then gave her the necklace that she ultimately placed in Ashley’s coffin saying, “may it guide you through dark places and into the light.” Whether this is a clue as to what really happened to Ashley or a reminder that Ashley has gone on to a better place remains to be seen.

What Didn't Work

The show’s writers need to tone down the gross-out factor as there is simply too much goo and gunk being flung about. The show is supposed to be about a sanctuary, not the Island of Dr. Moreau. In particular, Smithers with the long blue claw-like hand and the equally unnecessary and extremely repulsive flying insect guy. This is not supposed to be a creep-fest.

Also, Kate needs a serious attitude adjustment and she has some of the worst stereotypical dialogue: “You clearly need my help”; “If only you had the services of a world class tracker at your fingertips”; “Stun, no gun. I got it.” It would be helpful to not reduce Kate to a caricature and to allow her a bit more dimension to her character. Otherwise she will continue to alienate the audience.

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

‘Eulogy’ was written by Sara B. Cooper and directed by Brenton Spencer. ‘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.