
Stargate fans don’t just rewatch SG-1, Atlantis, and SGU on a loop (though we do that, too). We also follow the franchise’s writers, producers, and cast members to other science fiction and fantasy projects to fall in love all over again. And one of those is Amanda Tapping’s Sanctuary.
Sanctuary originated as a Web series before getting four seasons on Syfy Channel in the United States (2008-2011). The show was created by former Stargate SG-1 staff writer Damian Kindler, and used groundbreaking green-screen technology to build virtual sets. Tapping was an executive producer and starred as Dr. Helen Magnus.
The third link in the chain was long-time Stargate director Martin Wood. He also served as an executive producer on Sanctuary, along with working as one of the show’s regular directors.
Magnus is the head of a clandestine organization that seeks out “Abnormals” — creatures and people with extraordinary abilities — both to protect the world from danger, and to protect Abnormals from the world.
The show also stars Robin Dunne, Ryan Robbins, Christopher Heyerdahl, Emilie Ullerup, and Agam Darshi. There are no shortage of familiar faces from Stargate here: Robbins played the Genii Ladon Radim on Atlantis, and Heyerdahl the Wraith Todd and the Athosian Halling (after making his Stargate debut as Pallan in the SG-1 episode “Revisions”).
Also keep an eye out for Chuck Campbell (Atlantis’s gate technician), Paul McGillion (“Dr. Carson Beckett”), Peter Wingfield (“Tanith”), Brian Markinson (“Lotan”), a guest turn from Michael Shanks (“Daniel Jackson”), and many others.
We went looking for Sanctuary a year or two ago and had a tough time finding it anywhere online to complete our rewatch. But today that’s no longer a problem!
Fans looking to revisit the fantasy series, and newcomers who are discovering it for the first time, can find Sanctuary streaming for free in the United States at Pluto TV. (It might be available in other countries where Pluto streams. Check the site to see if you can watch episodes in your country, and let us know in the comments.) All four seasons are currently available on demand.
Pluto TV is an “over-the-top” streaming service that is supported by ads rather than subscribers, so episodes are watchable even without logging in to an account. The service is available through the Web site or the Pluto TV app, available for mobile devices and smart TVs. (And there’s a 24/7 channel dedicated to Stargate!)
Seasons Three and Four are also available for free (with ads) on YouTube.
Sanctuary is where Tapping went after her departure from Stargate. She worked on the original Web series during the production of SG-1, and when the show was picked up to series in 2008 the actress opted to take the leap to her own series rather than signing on to be a main cast member on the fifth season of Stargate Atlantis.
Have you seen all four seasons of Sanctuary? What do you think of the show?
It’s also steaming on Tubi.
Also available on Tubi!