my criteria are weird

[kindkit]

I've been feeling a bit emotionally raw, for obvious reasons. So to console/distract myself, I've been watching the first season of Sanctuary. The first few episodes left me unconvinced, mostly due to the clunky dialogue and the fact that I can trace every single element in the show to some other show. But I think 1x07, "The Five," has won me over. Because, seriously, who can resist Nikola Tesla, not-very-ambiguously-gay vampire? Not to mention Henry's unexpected nipple-and-navel piercings! And Bigfoot apparently being in love with Henry. (I think Bigfoot's gestures of tenderness--you know, the hair stroking and neck caressing and all that--were meant to read as paternal. But, um, they didn't.)

I still have reservations. It's a pity that Will is hopelessly bland, considering he's the main character. And episode 1x06, "Nubbins," was not so much a homage to "The Trouble With Tribbles" as a shameless ripoff. Oh, and did the first character we've seen whose queerness is implied really have to be a depraved villain?

Nevertheless, I like most of the supporting characters and am enjoying the show on the level of silly fun.

I'd read a few pieces of fanfic before watching any of the show, because penknife's writing has a magical ability to lure me in like that. So I'm looking forward to making the acquaintance of certain other people from Helen's long and mysterious past.

Comments

Yay Sanctuary! My secret love!

[st_aurafina]

That episode, with Henry's nipples and the Big Guy being all "You shouldn't be ashamed of who you are" left me with a serious Henry/Big Guy ship.

Season One is pretty wobbly - the show hits its stride towards the end of S1. S3 has been dynamite so far. The Five is the episode I recommend for people to start off with - if you like The Five enough to keep watching, you'll eventually go back and watch the weaker episodes of Season One and see the good parts. S1.09 (Requiem) is another good episode, even if it's a Helen and Will heavy one.

Will settles - he's a bit preachy in S1, but as the ensemble grows and the Big Guy, Henry and others take stronger roles, I think he falls into place. Once we know how the system works, and we don't need him as a gateway into the world of the Sanctuary, he can get on with doing the job he's trained for. By the end of S2 I kind of love him. There's an awesome road trip episode with him and Henry in S3 that has me completely won over on the matter. They do go on about him being a protege, but if you think of him as an expert in his own field and a bit of a boffin, he fits better. artaxastra posted some awesome meta on Helen and Will and mythic archetypes that helps a lot with this - she sees Will as a priest. (Sanctuary and the Queen of the Dead - actually, that has spoilers for up to the end of S2, you might want to avoid that until you've caught up. Sorry!)

The Five are great, and I can ship them all up and down the street interchangeably and in one heap. There's more of them, right through S2 and S3, and even if you can't stomach Will, it's worth watching for the mad Victorian scientists who think it's awesome to experiment on yourself.

Re: Yay Sanctuary! My secret love!

[kindkit]

left me with a serious Henry/Big Guy ship

So, not just me then? *is rather relieved*

I don't hate Will or anything, I just find him the least interesting character. But I'm glad to hear he improves--and I do think the show is already getting a bit more ensemble-y and less focused on "Will copes with weirdness by playing dumb and saying all the wrong things."

an expert in his own field and a bit of a boffin

*nods* My absolute favorite line of the show so far is when Henry says, "Women and geeks first . . . oh, wait, that's all of us." It helps a lot to think of Will as a boffin rather than as The Hero.