Sanctuary

Fata Morgana

Season 1, Episode 3, Aired 10/10/08

Episode Summary

Dr. Helen Magnus, her daughter Ashley, and the newest member to the Sanctuary, Dr. Zimmerman, travel to Northern Scotland to discover three women in an ancient crypt and bring them back to the Sanctuary for refuge and study.

8.4

EPISODE RATING: Great

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Cast & Crew

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Amanda Tapping

Dr. Helen Magnus
Robin Dunne

Dr. Will Zimmerman
Emilie Ullerup

Ashley Magnus

Fan Episode Reviews (11)

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Although I'm not too happy with some of the crappy special effects, Sanctuary certainly maintains its unique atmosphere and engaging premise.

8.0

"Great"

By Nissaxx, Nov 10, 2011 Report Abuse

The world of Sanctuary has been so meticulously built it is almost impossible for me not to be sucked in. The plots are quite intruiging and the dialogue isn't cheesy. Sure, some of the monsters do feel a little silly, but the actor's performances more than make up for it and what I dearly like about its show is its sense of humour. At times it doesn't take itself all that seriously and this is exactly what good Sci-fi needs. All in all, I like this show and will continue to watch it and plunge myself into the depths of this magical world.moreless

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3 0
Compared to the pilot there is a major improvement in pace and in some cases character but it still feels just a little boring.

7.5

"Good"

By AegisAtreyu, Nov 10, 2011 Report Abuse

The little things that help you see and understand the world our characters live in are what progresses this series past the Pilot. I particuarly liked the scene in the lift/elevator with Dr Zimmerman and the (literally) 2 faced schizophrenic character. Also the scene with Ashley and her informant. The character gives information for grubs which is interesting and the fact that they meet on the edge of a destroyed bridge (akin to the Golden gate in San Fransisco) tells us something that the Pilot in my opinion didn't convey, that the show takes place in a near-future post disaster world.

Along with the world building we also get a more sympathetic and rounded character in Dr Zimmerman here. His morals are more on show and although you can tell he's new at this he feels more part of the team now. Also gone is the computer-game 6th sense thing which I hope will stay lost as I didn't like it all that much. The story concerns his sympaties with 3 women they find in a crypt guarded by skull headed cult members. They turn out to be death-bringers sent out since King Arthur's time to walk among the battlefield bringing annihalation. This is an interesting concept and Zimmerman is the one who believes they can change their ways.

Of course there is more to it. This is another world building thing that has an ancient society set up as rivals to the Sanctuary (and owners of the 3 sisters fata morgana). I like this as with any show you need some sort of big rival that other enemies can possibly down the line play off. Druitt who doesn't appear here is bound to come back and with this society in order whos to say he won't use them in some ways.

So a good progression to the okay pilot. Its not clear wether the show will be lifted above its slight mediocrity yet but it seems like it definitely could, a little bit more occasional colour might help as well like.moreless

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Fata Morgana

10

"Perfect"

By TrueTvWatcher, Mar 28, 2011 Report Abuse

Fata Morgana was a perrfect episoode of Sanctuary. I really enjoyed watching this episode becasue there was a lot of character and plot development as Will really became part of the team and viewers learned more about Dr. Magnus and her operations at the Sanctuary. I thought it was interesting to learn more about the secret organization which has kept the Morgana Sisters in stasis for hundreds of years. I thought this was a very entertaining and interesting episode and I really enjoyed the pace and how every thing played out. I really look forward to watching the next episode of Sanctuary.!!!!!!!moreless

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Helen, Ashley, and Will go to Scotland where they find three women buried in a crypt protected by Abnormal creatures who are excessively violent in nature. This is also the introduction of the Cabal and their threat to the Sanctuary system.moreless

9.5

"Superb"

By jyarter, Jun 30, 2010 Report Abuse

This was the episode that got me hooked on Sanctuary for good. A great story of medieval witches that were held in stasis for twelve hundred years by an organization that wants to use Abnormals powers to their own devious devices.

The one part to all this that was a little strange other than the obvious was that the Sanctuary team was looking for something completely different in their search than what they found. Also Helen seemed familiar with the creatures that were protecting the crypt.

The girls were an interesting starting point for this show as a first stand alone episode. Somehow taking history and combining Arthurian legend to come up with an explanation for fantastic stories from the past. Also the stretch of the possibility of suspending a life form for centuries until reanimating. Some very cool stuff.

We also begin to really understand Ashley's capabilities and begin to better understand Helen's combined skills and knowledge.

Very entertaining episode that really put this show in perspective for me. Thanks for reading...moreless

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Great second,or is it third?,episode.

9.5

"Superb"

By sajwest, Oct 20, 2008 Report Abuse

This story was covered in the last 4 webisodes...however this time we actually got to see an ending rather than a cliff-hanger!
The introduction of the Morrigan as objects or property of the Kabal was an interesting change.I have a feeling we haven't seen the last of the creepy guys with guns.
The scene with Helen trying to connect with Ashley was well acted,I thought.You could see that Helen and her daughter as so different but so similar too.When Ashley was denying she had an injury from her fight with the lizard thing,it was almost as if Helen was psychic and knew she was lying.They seem to have a much closer relationship now.
Henry made me crack up again.Ryan Robbins seems to get the best lines,here and in the pilot.The poor bloke has been taken hostage (sort of) twice in two episodes,though.Not a good record,he really needs to work on that!
I was glad Will managed to make the Morrigan see that they didn't need to be what the Kabal told them to be.They don't need to kill,that is not who they are.It was a shame that they decided to leave with the armed men at the end.I guess it showed their new found compassion,though...giving themselves up to avoid the Sanctuary team being killed.
I am very much looking forward to the next episode.With it being a new story,that has no connection to the webisodes,I won't have anything to compare it with for once.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- This episode uses far more Webisode material than the Sanctuary For All two-part opener - albeit, often with subtle edits. The music is certainly new and more lavish. Some of the gunshot effects and explosions are new, as well - often resulting in a far different soundscape. All of the Cabal scenes are new, as the story has been rewritten to include them as an ongoing menace. Similarly, while Ashley's battle with the chameleon appears to be the uncut original scene, she's no longer on an "anger management" mission (as she doesn't yet know about "dear old dad") - here, she's simply cleaning up a loose end. Some changes appear disappointingly inexplicable, such as the opening crypt scene. While much of the video appears unchanged, when Will asks what Magnus' "wiggly" hand signal to Ashley meant, in the original she replies "I'm cutting off your allowance". Here, she says "Either we work together or we die!" Helen Magnus as John Wayne? The humorous line had better flow. Edit
- A minor matter to be sure, however, the degree certificate visible on Magnus' desk during the opening credits does appear to be incorrect. It describes Magnus as an alumnus of Oxford University; whereas, as a woman, she is an alumna. Also, a doctorate of medicine at Oxford is described by the initials DM, not MD. Finally, slightly obscured by her glasses, are the words "Class of 1921". At Oxford, students are grouped by their year of matriculation (the year they enter the university), not the year they complete their degree. Until recently, the concept of a graduating "class" was an entirely foreign concept in England - and remains such at Oxford. Edit
- Discontinuity: Magnus says that the Morrigan "fought" on the side of King Arthur ("according to myth, when the Morrigan appeared on the battlefield, Arthur's enemies simply began dropping dead - their souls drained of life"). However, in Webisode 6, Wexford told Magnus that the Morrigan were created by Morgan Le Fey, said to be the nemesis of Arthur and Merlin, "to wreak havoc against Arthur's armies". Edit
Notes
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- Original International Air Dates
  Canada : October 10, 2008 on Space
  U.K. : October 20, 2008 on ITV4
  Czech Republic: August 17, 2009 on AXN
  Australia : June 4, 2009 on Sci Fi Australia
  Edit
- Fata Morgana, the title of this episode, is an interwoven play on words. On the surface, Fata Morgana is the Italian name for Morgan Le Fay, the legendary fairy enchantress-witch/sorceress, half-sister of King Arthur - who was supposedly skilled in the art of changing shapes. Translated from the Italian into English, fata means fairy - while Morgana is usually translated as mirage. In literature, the phrase Fata Morgana is often associated with something so mysterious, so illusory, that it could, and should, never even be approached. In optical science, the branch of physics involving the behavior and properties of light, a Fata Morgana is an unusual and very complex form of a "superior mirage" - a mirage which greatly distorts the object or objects they are based on. In such complex mirages, the object often appears to be transformed in such a way that it is completely unrecognizable. Edit
Quotes
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- (hiding behind tombstones on a cold, windy night with lightening flashing) Will: I said, are you sure this is it? Helen: Keep your voice down! We're trying to remain undetected. That does require a modicum of silence. Will (cold and whiny): Modicum, right. Why are we hiding? We're on an island in the middle of nowhere - and it's a crypt, not the Pentagon. Helen: A crypt potentially containing an elixir capable of prolonging life for centuries. Such secrets are rarely left unguarded. Will: Yeah, but why can't we just … Helen: Look! (hands Will a spyglass and he is shocked to see strange creatures guarding the crypt) Keepers of the Dead - best to be avoided if at all possible. Will: Right. Edit
- Helen: Take the other side. Draw them away if you can. Will: You're kidding, right? Edit
- (Helen and Ashley battle a host of Keepers) Ashley: Okay, I know this was not on the brochure! Edit
Allusions
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