Season 4 of "Sanctuary" promises to be the season when the sanctuary goes rogue, no longer taking direction from national governments or whatever organizations of sanctuaries might exist.
“Sanctuary” stars Amanda Tapping from Syfy’s “Stargate” saga. Tapping plays the century-old Helen Magnus, who runs a facility designated for catching and protecting people or other beings with strange origins or strange characteristics. They are referred to as "abnormals."
In the season premiere, Magnus has been transported back in time along with an old nemesis who wishes to change events of the past. Magnus must stop him before he destroys the future they just came from.
She finds herself over 100 years in the past when she was still working on the project that would result in her extended lifespan. With the help of an old ally, Magnus attempts to hunt down the villain who brought her through time while maintaining a minimum amount of interference on the past and, of course, avoid running into herself.
She must also discover a way to get back to the 21st century once her task is done. The solution might come as a surprise.
Viewers will likely find “Sanctuary” a difficult show to jump into, even on a season premiere, without knowing what has transpired previously on the show. Magnus and her team have had a number of adventures that do not directly fit into the show's premise and the significance of the relationships and histories between some of the characters will be lost on those who are not faithful followers.
The show does offer clean entertainment. There is some violence, and a few of the “abnormals” might be a little scary for younger viewers. But overall, it tends to be a family-friendly series.
Still, it's somewhat lacking.
The show is difficult to follow and seems mostly centered on making Tapping’s Magnus look like an action hero. She always happens to have the right piece of information or equipment to just barely get her out of any situation, no matter how flimsy the explanation.
“Sanctuary” is better than many shows on television today, especially in terms of cleanliness, but as for quality entertainment, it doesn’t say much for modern media.
Season 4 of “Sanctuary” premieres Friday, Oct. 7, at 9 p.m. on Syfy.