If you've ever been a fan of Amanda Tapping's work in the "Stargate" franchise and wished you could see her in a series that's just as imaginative and action-packed, the Roku Channel has the show for you. And you don't even have to pay for a subscription streaming service to see it.
"Sanctuary" takes a premise that could easily be a monster-of-the-week procedural and turns it into a serialized adventure that was canceled far too soon. If you've ever felt like an outsider, there's plenty you'll find to like about this story of a secret organization dedicated to protecting the strange and terrifying creatures that secretly populate our world. Surprise, they exist!
The show might look like just another dark, turn-of-the-millennium sci-fi series at first glance, but it's a lot more than that, and seriously underrated at that. And right now, you can stream "Sanctuary" free on The Roku Channel.
What's 'Sanctuary' about?
"Sanctuary" follows Dr. Helen Magnus (Amanda Tapping), the strange but brilliant leader of a global network of safe havens for "Abnormals", cryptids and creatures that secretly populate the world. While investigating a case, she observes the work of Dr. Will Zimmerman (Robin Dunne), a forensic psychiatrist whose career has been sidelined.
Drawn to his affinity for the unusual, Magnus makes Will an offer he can't refuse: to leave his normal life behind and join her on her mission. Will finds himself in a strange new world where he has to reconcile his scientific knowledge with the unbelievable reality of his new job.
He begins working alongside Magnus's team, including her daughter, Ashley (Emilie Ullerup), as they track and protect these creatures. Will doesn't ever fully realize until it's too late how this new path will force him to both confront the truths of the hidden world as well as his past.
Why you should stream 'Sanctuary' on the Roku Channel
This show was made for sci-fi fans of the 2000s and in a big way. More than that, though, it's a vehicle for several actors you've probably watched and enjoyed in other projects.
Amanda Tapping and Robin Dunne have some great chemistry here and their uneasy partnership makes coming back to watch positively addictive. He's a modern man of science, and she's an ancient protector of monsters. So they kinda fit, right?
"Sanctuary" also does a good job of balancing monster-of-the-week action with deeper ethical questions without leaning too hard into silliness. Plus, it shows a team of outsiders forming their own family to protect those who can't protect themselves, a difficult theme to express in some of today's modern shows.
It might be a bit cheesy here and there, especially with the dated monster designs and CG. But it's full of heart too, and if you want something that clicks with your cryptid-loving, MC-slash-loving soul, you're going to love it. Just stop watching all your old "Supernatural" reruns long enough to check it out.
Watch "Sanctuary" free on the Roku Channel"
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