# Sanctuary (2008)

> A brilliant scientist protects a clandestine population of strange beings hiding among humans while she searches for the secrets of their existence.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/1229

## Facts

- Seasons: 4
- Episodes: 59
- Episode runtime: 45 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: science fiction, action, adventure
- Created by: Damian Kindler
- Network: Syfy
- Cast: Amanda Tapping, Robin Dunne, Christopher Heyerdahl, Ryan Robbins, Agam Darshi, Emilie Ullerup, Jim Byrnes, Jonathon Young
- TMDB rating: 7.3/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0965394/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: moderate
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: mild
- Tone: adventurous, brisk, wondrous, tense

## What critics say

Audiences rate the series as positive, praising its sci-fi premise of hidden Abnormals and its lead Amanda Tapping as Dr. Helen Magnus, while its modest budget and uneven episodes keep it below top-tier genre fare.

## Synopsis

Sanctuary (2008-2011) is an American science fiction adventure series created by Damian Kindler for Syfy. Amanda Tapping plays the brilliant, enigmatic Dr. Helen Magnus, a scientist who guards a clandestine population of strange and sometimes terrifying beings called Abnormals who hide among ordinary people. Her engine is a double quest: she must keep these vulnerable creatures out of the hands of those who would hunt them, while unlocking the mysteries behind how they came to exist. Robin Dunne plays Dr. Will Zimmerman, a principal ally in her work, and Christopher Heyerdahl appears as John Druitt, also known as Bigfoot, one of the Abnormals who complicates her mission. Each episode typically pairs a new threat with a larger serialized thread, giving the four-season run a mix of case-by-case adventure and an ongoing mythology. The tone is brisk and adventurous, with a sense of wonder about the hidden world beneath everyday life and an undercurrent of danger. Fans of Warehouse 13, Fringe and Torchwood will find resonance in its blend of monster-hunting action, scientific curiosity and a secret society operating in plain sight. Set in the present day of its broadcast, the series delivers 59 episodes across four seasons, each season a steady step forward in its growing world.

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