Emmy Catch-Up: The Mandalorian

Every year, I watch the six submitted episodes of every series I don’t regularly watch that’s up for one of the Emmy series prizes. This year, I’m watching the entire season of every series nominated in the top category.

The Mandalorian: Season 1, Episode 4 “Chapter 4: Sanctuary” (B)

This episode at least had a bit more action than the one before it, expanding on a Mandalorian rescue party to instead find not one but two bounty hunters more concerned with helping defenseless people than making their marks. I first encountered mixed martial artist-turned-actress Gina Carano in “Fast and Furious 6” and recognized her right away here as Cara, who made quite an impression on the Mandalorian when she bested him in hand-to-hand combat and even put a literal damper on his signature fire-wrist move. Fortunately, unlike the enemy she killed towards the end of the episode that helped them both realize that this wasn’t a safe place for Baby Yoda, she was a friend, and she may well prove to be an ally for him down the road when he undoubtedly encounters trouble again. The mention of an AT-ST was familiar, though I always think much more about the AT-AT from “The Empire Strikes Back” (the difference is apparently scout rather than armored). The raiders that were behind it were definitely villainous enough on their own, and weren’t interested in leaving any survivors to tell tales of their brutality. It’s interesting to learn that the Mandalorian is never permitted to take his armor off because that means he can never put it back on again – something tells me that, even though he’s committed to his own code, this particular Mandolarian is going to end up making choices that definitely make him an outlier even among his own people.

What I’m Watching: Nikita

Nikita: Season 2, Episode 12 “Sanctuary” (B+)

This isn’t a perfect episode, but it’s definitely the most multi-functional and twist-filled installment that we’ve seen in a while. The “previously on” segment dealt exclusively with Sean having planted the tracker on Alex, and the episode opened with Oversight meeting, refocusing the show in a major way after Alex’s lengthy obsession with going back to Russia. Sean managed to track Alex to Nikita’s rather easily, but a well-timed walk resulted in her taking him out and then Nikita thinking that it would be wise to try to turn Sean rather than just shooting him. Getting him to tell his mother that they had a black box that they would use if they executed Operation Clean Sweep was a big win, but it seems that Percy had even more secure plans, sending the Guardians to take out Oversight and threaten Amanda with Operation Clean Sweep, taking down two enemies in one and leaving Nikita and company pretty much powerless to do anything. Percy has sure rebounded from almost being placed into a medically-induced coma within seconds, ready to be back on top as Amanda seems unlikely to sacrifice the lives of everyone in Division for her own. We’re only halfway through the season at this point, so I imagine there’s going to be a major shift of power in the near future, and the ever-growing team that includes Nikita, Alex, Birkhoff, Michael, Owen, and Sean are going to have to face off against Percy once again with no friends on the inside.

What I’m Watching: Falling Skies

Falling Skies: Season 1, Episode 7 “Sanctuary, Part 2” (B-)

Here’s an important question: what is this supposedly monumental episode that nearly changes the game entirely missing? The answer: aliens! Without even one skitter or other alien in sight, it’s all about the human interactions in this episode, which just can’t hope to be as exciting. Mike so easily finding out what Clayton was up to managed to greatly accelerate events, prompting an attempted escape by most of the children and them eventually being cornered by Clayton. Pope’s escape was hardly a surprise, and I like that he came back to defend the kids not because he cared about them but because he so reviles anyone who would think about teaming up with the aliens. Tom encountering him and demanding that he put down his weapon was a sign that there’s too much human-on-human violence, and things really need to be sorted out so that the humans can take on their enemy invaders with a united front. Tom giving up to save the kids’ lives seemed like a poor idea, but Weaver was just around the corner to save the day. I’m glad that Tom shot Clayton without any hesitation, since excessive kindness and compassion in this war won’t do anyone any good. The episode’s big casualty is Mike, who serves more as an emblem of heroism and somehow deserves a big, fancy funeral complete with a history lesson from Tom while most of the soldiers likely die in the midst of battle and don’t get that kind of heavily organized and quite public sendoff.

What I’m Watching: Falling Skies

Falling Skies: Season 1, Episode 6 “Sanctuary, Part 1” (B+)

In search of more action, there’s nothing like a surprise alien attack right after the arrival of an old friend to get things going. Clayton infuses a bit of much-needed hope and optimism into the show as he signals the presence of a greater group out there that might help in saving the planet. Ironically enough, he’s actually the main reason that they appear to be doomed, as evidenced by the shocking revelation at episode’s end that he is somehow in cahoots with the aliens and has captured Pope of all people to give him intelligence on where the members of the 2nd Massachusetts were holed up. Not everything was hunky-dory back on the ranch before that bit of bad news, as Anne is the victim of a rather frightening mugging at the start of the episode when fearful people take matters into their own hands and steal antibiotics as they make a run for it on their own. We get our first chance to see a walking, talking Ben, whose behavior bothers his brother Hal enough for him to bring it to the attention of an already frazzled Anne. The invocation of the term “razorback” reminds me very much of the “toaster” slang for Cylons on “Battlestar Galactica,” and it’s interesting to see how that’s proving divisive. The episode’s strongest moment by far was the popping of a globe by a skitter, which was both awesome and rather representative of just what the aliens are doing to the inhabitants of the planet Earth.

What I’m Watching: Rescue Me

Rescue Me: Season 6, Episode 6 “Sanctuary” (A-)

This is one intense episode that brings this show back to the good, old days. And by that, of course, I mean a rougher, much more disturbing and also more meaningful exploration of the job (being a firefighter) and the disease (alcoholism). Colleen’s failure to move forward in a new manner after her drug-induced blackout could have simply been another chapter in the humorous riffing on the Gavin family alcoholism. Instead, having a drunken Teddy drag an even more wasted Colleen to a meeting where a sober Maggie is calling out a sober Tommy for all of the things he’s done was more powerful than I could possibly have imagined. Tommy’s own self-exploration and his inability to move and go on the call was his first serious taste of doubt that he’s had since the start of the show. He’s always been conflicted about his family, about drinking, and about 9/11, but he’s nonetheless still charged into fires just as fearless as ever. Having both Needles and Father Phil call him a coward really egged Tommy on to do something drastic, chasing after Colleen when she told him she’d see him in hell and then performing his own exorcism on him. Father Phil’s initial interference seemed level-headed, but it got even more frightening when he decided to encourage Tommy to keep going. Damien did point out something truly interesting: all that fighting broke out even without Tommy there, which at least means that some of the supporting plotlines not directly involving Tommy are capable of being interesting. Still, that terrifying makeshift exorcism performed by Tommy is easily the most memorable moment of the television season thus far.

What I’m Watching: Human Target

Human Target: Season 1, Episode 4 “Sanctuary” (B+)

Though it’s hardly as unserious or colorful, I couldn’t help thinking for the whole of this episode about Chi McBride’s last trip to a place of worship while on a case. That may have been a nunnery while this was a monastery, but there were definitely some similarities. I like the way that this episode started out, with Chance taking off his hood and revealing himself and then freezing while Winston narrated the whole thing. Winston does have a knack for narration, and that’s really great, especially since his demeanor contrasts well with the two other main characters on this show. Chance is marvelously subdued and always cool under pressure, eager to take risks just for the thrill of it. I was impressed at the bravery of Abbot Stevens, especially since he should have been furious at John Grey for betraying his trust. Though we didn’t see very much of him in this episode, it’s always great to have the reliable William Mapother (Ethan from “Lost” and Gunneson on “Threshold”) on board, here as the uber-villain. This episode also provided us more of a glimpse into the awesome and crazed personality of Guerrero, who engineered a seemingly malicious break-in into Winston’s apartment while ignoring countless calls from the man himself. He might have done better to turn his cell phone off, but he ultimately proved slightly helpful when Winston panicked since Chance kept mistaking Guerrero’s role in multiple bomb diffusions for Winston’s. It looked for the whole of the episode that Guerrero was a bad guy, but his big move to protect Winston and Chance at the end was a nice twist.

Pilot Review: Sanctuary

Sanctuary (SciFi)
Premiered October 3 at 9pm

This show was heavily profiled in the SciFi magazine fall preview I happened to pick up a month or so ago, and they seemed to be looking rather forward to it. As a sci-fi fan myself, I thought perhaps it might be a good idea to look into it. What it is, as it turns out, is somewhat of an ineffective hybrid of the very poor "Charlie Jade" and the cult sensation "Supernatural." In many ways, it's actually just another version of "Fringe," especially since lead actor Robin Dunne seems to follow in Joshua Jackson's footsteps, appearing as the lead in both "Cruel Intentions 2" and "The Skulls II," both not quite released in theatres. Dunne's actually okay for the role, and that's actually one of the better things about the show. Obviously the token unbelieving cop sucks, but Christopher Heyerdahl makes for a great villain (he has the look and the voice), and Amanda Tapping is a decent mentor. I'd need to warm up to Emilie Ullerup, since she seems a bit annoying at the moment, as does the groundskeeper/cleanup character, or whatever his function is. The show is intent on highlighting its creatures, but its obsession with being dark and mythic is what drags it down. It's dying to be a cult hit, and I'm not sure that's a recipe for success. I'm by no means decrying individualism, but it's just not successful or terribly interesting. I'm not sure why I watched both hours, but the dialogue just got worse and the show got more boring. I can't really stand much more of it.

How will it work as a series? Week-to-week, things should work out pretty well, since it's mostly a "freak-of-the-week" show a la "X-Files," "Smallville," or "Fringe." It does have that undercurrent of Druitt as the recurring villain and Ashley's father, so that should help it along. Basically, anyone who watched and liked this pilot episode should have no trouble getting fully behind this series.
How long will it last? SciFi is often kind to its shows, at least for a while, looking specifically at "Eureka" and "Battlestar Galactica." I think at least a season is in store for this show, but beyond that, this show could go the way of "The Dresden Files" and "Painkiller Jane."

Pilot grade: D+