Sanctuary -Reviews & Articles #Announcements ONLY# Spoilers S1-4

[morjana]

From The Media Pundit article :

Hardly a spin-less opinion ,eh ?
How much clout and credence is given in the tv industry to this site's opinions,Morjana?
I ask because in all the ratings I've seen since Sanctuary premiered,the show has been outdoing the SGA figures.
Hardly "crashing" as they state ,though like all new shows there was a big drop off from the Premiere rating.

The Media Pundit is just one of many media critics on the internet.

[Bagpuss]

Good.I'll ignore their opinion then. *Hugs Morjana*

Don't get me wrong.I'd rather see a varied mix of opinions about Sanctuary than all glee on one side and bashing on the other,but that article seemed skewed to give the impression that the writer is all knowing.Hardly the case ,lol !

[morjana]

Good.I'll ignore their opinion then. *Hugs Morjana*

Don't get me wrong.I'd rather see a varied mix of opinions about Sanctuary than all glee on one side and bashing on the other,but that article seemed skewed to give the impression that the writer is all knowing.Hardly the case ,lol !

I commented at the site, pointing out that viewers tuned IN to watch Sanctuary after Stargate Atlantis ended, based on the ratings for the past three episodes:

Fata Morgana---------1.6
Folding Man-----------1.6
Kush------------------1.4

The Lost Tribe--------1.5
Outsiders-------------1.2
Inquisition------------1.2

Morjana

[Bagpuss]

Bravo,Morjana ! The hack will do their best to ignore your far more informed opinion ,but props to you for posting the facts so their readers have a chance of seeing through their bias.

*Sends VR Green as I can't give you the real deal yet*

[morjana]

Sanctuary - The Medium Is Not Enough (UK): Review - 'Sanctuary For All':

At The Medium Is Not Enough:

(Please follow the link for the complete review.)

Review: Sanctuary 1x1

Posted on October 7, 2008

In the US: Fridays, 10/9c, SciFi; 7p, Movie Central; 8e, The Movie Network
In the UK: Mondays, 9pm, ITV4

There are two big trends in TV and film production at the moment. Okay, there are lots of trends, but here are two big ones.

The first is green screen, in which rather than building great big sets, you stick the actors up against a green screen and use special effects to add a computer-generated set in later. George Lucas pioneered it on Phantom Menace, but it's only proved its truth worth recently on films like Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow and 300, in which pretty much everything other than the actors was computer-generated.

The second is the Internet. You might have heard of it. Now, all sorts of shows that don't manage to get a look-in on the mainstream networks can be shot cheaply, uploaded to YouTube or a dedicated web site, and suddenly everyone's watching it and one of the big networks picks it up. Quarterlife and The Peter Serafinowicz Show both managed it, but many argued they should have stayed on the Internet.

Sanctuary is a shiny new show, airing almost simultaneously on the US's SciFi, Movie Central and The Movie Network channels and ITV4 in the UK, that combines both these trends. Not only is there a massive amount of green screen work, but it started off on the web before being spotted by SciFi. Starring and produced by Amanda Tapping of Stargate SG-1, it's a bit of a dark piece in which faux-Brit Tapping, her faux-American kick ass daughter and a faux-bright criminal profiler join together to investigate odd beasties that they then take to their 'Sanctuary'.

But despite all these shiny trends, is it a show that's good in its own right, or simply "not bad for the Internet"?

**snippage**

Is it any good?

Well, it's not bad for the Internet. While it does have a great mood and look, it does suffer from a few problems. The first is that it's pretty derivative. There's a little bit of everything in there – a bit of Torchwood, a bit of Buffy, a bit of Friday the 13th: The Series, a bit of Psych (really) and so on. The dialogue and indeed the whole set-up oozes clichés and the acting is mostly pretty leaden or over-sedate ("Really? The world's ending? Care for some tea?"). Criminal profiler looks about 12. The plots are dreadfully predictable. And all the 'English' accents in it suck*.

**snippage**

* Although I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, given accents change so much over the centuries (you'll have to watch the show to understand why that's important)
* Didn't perpetual night lose its kudos post-The Crow and Dark City?

[EvenstarSRV]

I commented at the site, pointing out that viewers tuned IN to watch Sanctuary after Stargate Atlantis ended, based on the ratings for the past three episodes:

Fata Morgana---------1.6
Folding Man-----------1.6
Kush------------------1.4

The Lost Tribe--------1.5
Outsiders-------------1.2
Inquisition------------1.2

Morjana

I was thinking the same thing as I read that article, and I wondered why the ratings numbers The Media Pundit had were different from the ones we've seen.

That site seems to referencing a report from MAGNA about Cable Original Series Performance, which contains the ratings of 1.84, 1.32, 1.29, and 1.16 for first 4 Sanctuary episodes, while the ratings reported by SciFi Wire have been 2.2, 1.6, 1.6, and 1.4, respectively.

The SciFi Wire ratings come from the Nielson Galaxy Report, but I couldn't find what source MAGNA used in their report. It doesn't seem to be Nielson since the numbers are different, unless maybe MAGNA is not including DVR numbers and SciFi Wire is?

Here's a link to the MAGNA report if anyone's interested: http://tvbythenumbers.com/2008/11/07...-and-more/7776

Personally, I'm more inclined to trust SciFi Wire's ratings than MAGNA's since they've at least provided the source for their numbers.

[RealmOfX]

I was thinking the same thing as I read that article, and I wondered why the ratings numbers The Media Pundit had were different from the ones we've seen.

That site seems to referencing a report from MAGNA about Cable Original Series Performance, which contains the ratings of 1.84, 1.32, 1.29, and 1.16 for first 4 Sanctuary episodes, while the ratings reported by SciFi Wire have been 2.2, 1.6, 1.6, and 1.4, respectively.

The SciFi Wire ratings come from the Nielson Galaxy Report, but I couldn't find what source MAGNA used in their report. It doesn't seem to be Nielson since the numbers are different, unless maybe MAGNA is not including DVR numbers and SciFi Wire is?

Here's a link to the MAGNA report if anyone's interested: http://tvbythenumbers.com/2008/11/07...-and-more/7776

Personally, I'm more inclined to trust SciFi Wire's ratings than MAGNA's since they've at least provided the source for their numbers.

People seem to be confusing the National figure and the Coverage figure - they both come from Nielsen. The source document was using the National figures and SciFi Wire provides the coverage figures.

The National figure is calculated by using every potential TV viewer/household in the US while the Coverage figure is determined by using every potential SciFi Channel viewer/household and at the moment I think that SciFi only has about an 80% coverage of the US.

Converting the National to Coverage (rounded)
1.84 becomes 2.2
1.32 becomes 1.6
1.29 becomes 1.6
1.16 becomes 1.4
both are correct, people just need to state what they are using so that the correct comparisons can be made.

I don't think that the twit who wrote the article knows what he is talking about.

<added>
and judging by the comments on the article, I KNOW he doesn't know what he is talking about.

[morjana]

I was thinking the same thing as I read that article, and I wondered why the ratings numbers The Media Pundit had were different from the ones we've seen.

**snippage**

Personally, I'm more inclined to trust SciFi Wire's ratings than MAGNA's since they've at least provided the source for their numbers.

Oh, my.

Thank you so much for your reply, Evenstar!

That is interesting information.

SciFi Wire gets their ratings from a special report that Nielsen provides, the Nielsen Galaxy Report, which is released three weeks after the episode airs.

Our whole ratings system does need to be revised, to reflect DVR, online, downloading, and live viewing. What a challenge!

Morjana

[EvenstarSRV]

People seem to be confusing the National figure and the Coverage figure - they both come from Nielsen. The source document was using the National figures and SciFi Wire provides the coverage figures.

The National figure is calculated by using every potential TV viewer/household in the US while the Coverage figure is determined by using every potential SciFi Channel viewer/household and at the moment I think that SciFi only has about an 80% coverage of the US.

Converting the National to Coverage (rounded)
1.84 becomes 2.2
1.32 becomes 1.6
1.29 becomes 1.6
1.16 becomes 1.4
both are correct, people just need to state what they are using so that the correct comparisons can be made.

Ah, thanks for the clarification RealmofX. I'm learning far more about Nielson ratings than I ever thought I would, though this is the first show I've watched where I actually cared about the ratings.

[morjana]

Sanctuary - The Hachiko: Review - 'Nubbins':

At The Hachiko:

(Please follow the link for the complete review. The review author rated this episode with a 2 out of 5.)

'Sanctuary' (1.5) "Nubbins" - Review

Tue, 11/11/2008 - 10:52 — Vrej Hezaran

Just when I was finally starting to like the Ashley character, she goes off and acts so incredibly stupidly this week that I've been turned off from her for a while. When the Sanctuary received some furry little creatures and one mean predator, all hell breaks loose, and it looks as if the little guys - nicknamed Nubbins - are the cause. They have the ability to become invisible and they multiply like crazed rabbits. Their appetite is also virtually insatiable, and if the Nubbins epidemic isn't resolved soon, the Sanctuary could be the breeding ground for a creature that can do unmentionable harm to the outside world.

**snippage**

That's not to say there weren't a few enjoyable moments here, mostly involving Henry the computer geek. He's possibly the most interesting guy on the show, only because the show seems adamant in its refusal to show up Magnus's and Druitt's past. The inclusion of the girl who shares a telepathic ability with her grandfather was also interesting, but more so for a setup for future episodes than its largely useless inclusion here.

All things told, this show had better crank out some better stories, consistent characterization, and quality special effects if it wants to remain on TV.

[morjana]

At the Vancouver Sun (Vancouver, BC, Canada):


(Please follow the link for the complete two-page article.)

Sanctuary's route to television a labour of love and sweat

Web show's producers find TV market but they're not out of the woods yet

Marke Andrews, Vancouver Sun
Published: Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Sanctuary, a Vancouver-made drama series, has broken new ground on a lot of fronts.

Originally shot for the Internet, it reinvented itself as an over-the-air television series with international sales. It raised funds through private investment, a rarity in Canada, where investment capital is almost non-existent. It was shot primarily without sets in a green-screen studio setting, the sets and background details later added digitally.

As a Web series, Sanctuary failed, not because it wasn't popular -- the eight 15-minute webisodes had four million viewers -- but because there was no revenue stream from a public used to getting Internet entertainment for free.

So the three Sanctuary executive producers -- writer Damian Kindler, actress Amanda Tapping and director Martin Wood, all veterans of the successful two Stargate TV series -- started all over again, making 13 one-hour episodes for TV, at $1.6 million per episode, funded by Vancouver-based The Beedie Group and "hundreds of thousands of dollars" of their own money.

Thus far they've earned licence fees from their main broadcasters (Sci Fi Channel in the U.S., ITV 4 in Britain, and Movie Central and The Movie Network in Canada), and will get income from DVD sales, but it may be three years before they earn their investment money back.

And they don't even know at this point -- five episodes have aired on Sci Fi Channel, with respectable viewership numbers -- if their broadcasters want a second season.

"We still believe [success] is possible," says Tapping. "We've personally taken a huge financial hit. We're not getting paid as executive producers and we've deferred our fees to try to make this property a success. But it's going to take awhile."

**snippage**

[morjana]

At Blackfish Publishing (UK):



New issue! New size! New price!

The eagerly awaited winter issue of Death Ray (all 180 packed pages of it!) goes on sale this Saturday, with subscribers receiving their copies a day or two earlier. This is our biggest and best issue ever, featuring a bit of a freshen-up on the design side, and packed with more of pretty much everything: more New Gods, more Deep Thought, more Time Trap, and way, way more reviews. Amongst this issue's highlights are goodies like these…


All the big new TV!

We've got previews and behind-the-scenes features on all the latest American TV, from Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles to Sanctuary, Battlestar Galactica to True Blood. Plus reviews of pretty much everything from Heroes to Fringe to (the American) Life on Mars, and interviews with Summer Glau, Jamie Bamber, Amanda Tapping and more. Plus: inside the BBC's new take on Survivors, with Paterson Joseph, Julie Graham and writer/creator Adrian Hodges.


New films galore!

Join us behind the scenes of The Day the Earth Stood Still, Inkheart and the fandom-dividing Stephenie Meyer movie Twilight, plus we take a gander at everything from The Road to Max Payne.


More interviews than ever before!

This time around we speak with horror legend Clive Barker, geek philosopher-king Neal Stephenson, ’70s concept rocker Jeff Wayne, Judge Dredd co-creator Carlos Ezquerra, Star Wars special effects guru John Dykstra, cult fantasy writer Peter S. Beagle, porn legend Jenna Jameson, artist supreme Rodney Matthews and many, many more.


Reviews bursting at the seams!

We've got over 50 pages of the damn things! Everyone's here, from Neil Gaiman to Terry Pratchett, Eli Stone to Solomon Kane! It's as rich as a Christmas pudding, but much better for you.


Plus! Plus! Plus!

That's only scratching the surface! There's also Dune and The Avengers, the swords from The Lord of the Rings, and the love life of Merlin. Pat Mills writes about the creation of Marshal Law, while Hugo Award-winning author Mike Resnick contributes a top-notch short story – and it's got robots in it!


The new Death Ray: on sale Saturday 15 November, priced £4.99. Now, more than ever, it's where science fiction lives.

[morjana]

SciFi Talk: Robin Dunne Audio Interview:

At SciFi Talk:


Robin Dunne

A lot has happened since Robin and I talked last. Sanctuary is on the Sci-Fi Channel and his character of Will Zimmerman has gone through some changes too. We catch up on the first season and what's ahead. As with the other actors, Robin will do part of the interview as his character of Dr. Will Zimmerman. Special thanks to Carole Appleby of Kayro Edelman. Music is by Victor Stellar.


Download link

[parsifal]

"Sanctuary: The Experiment Continues"

http://www.vfxworld.com/?sa=adv&code...ticles&id=3822

[EH-T]

Good.I'll ignore their opinion then. *Hugs Morjana*

Don't get me wrong.I'd rather see a varied mix of opinions about Sanctuary than all glee on one side and bashing on the other,but that article seemed skewed to give the impression that the writer is all knowing.Hardly the case ,lol !

I agree it was skewed. Truth is, Sanctuary has better numbers than SGA.

I commented at the site, pointing out that viewers tuned IN to watch Sanctuary after Stargate Atlantis ended, based on the ratings for the past three episodes:

Fata Morgana---------1.6
Folding Man-----------1.6
Kush------------------1.4

The Lost Tribe--------1.5
Outsiders-------------1.2
Inquisition------------1.2

Morjana

Green for you my dear!