I am – Hercules!!
A sci-fi procedural from writer-producer Damian Kindler (“PSI Factor,” “Stargate SG-1,” “Stargate: Atlantis”), “Sanctuary” follows an immortal doctor (“Stargate” vet Amanda Tapping) who makes it her business to contain and protect a menagerie of otherworldly creatures. It employs an unusual amount of green-screen and apparently started life as a Web series on sanctuaryforall.com last year. The New York Times says:

… sits at about the same level of writing and performance as the “Stargate” shows, which means it doesn’t have the narrative force of “Battlestar Galactica” or the wit and creativity of Sci Fi’s best original series, “Eureka.” It’s not an embarrassment for the channel, but it doesn’t raise the stakes either. … You might think, “Well, the animation can’t be cheap,” but you haven’t seen the show …

The Los Angeles Times says:

… a draggy piece of somber silliness …

The Chicago Tribune says:

… pace is a little on the stately side, and the show is competent if not particularly innovative sci fi. …

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says:

… another disappointing entry. It's a lot like BBC America's "Torchwood," just without the wit and a charismatic lead actor. The show isn't helped by a two-hour premiere that states and re-states its premise too many times. …

The Hollywood Reporter says:

… The problem with "Sanctuary" comes when it settles in to a predictable pace and denouement during the second half. It takes on an early thrilling ride, only to inexplicably start coasting when we need it to shift to the next gear. But the show's pedigree and premise, along with the technological breakthrough it brings to the table, make it worthy of a second look. …

Variety says:

… If yet another "Men in Black"-style, "Things that go bump in the night are real" drama sounds right up your dark alley, then "Sanctuary" is perhaps for you. Otherwise, there's little to recommend this dense drama, which recycles a number of familiar sci-fi tropes … suffers by comparison with any number of similarly themed dramas, most recently BBC America's fun-loving "Torchwood." …

9 p.m. Friday. SciFi.

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