Fata Morgana (Sanctuary)
Encyclopedia
"Fata Morgana" is the third episode of the science fiction
television series Sanctuary. The episode first aired on the Sci Fi Channel
in the United States
on October 10, 2008. It subsequently aired on ITV4
in the United Kingdom
on October 20, 2008. The episode, which is named after a mirage of the same name
, was written by Damian Kindler
. Martin Wood
served as director.
"Fata Morgana" was originally released as the back half of the eight original Sanctuary webisode
s in 2007. In the episode, the Sanctuary team investigate an ancient crypt
in an island off the Scottish
coast and encounter three sisters with abnormal powers. "Fata Morgana" was met with a 1.6 household rating and was generally well received by critics.
that Helen Magnus
(Amanda Tapping
) believes to contain an elixir of life
. However, the team is spotted and ambushed. After defeating the abnormal crypt Keepers, the team finds three women in coma
tose state. They are brought to the Sanctuary for study, where it is later determined that the sisters, Danu (Miranda Frigon), Tatha (Leah Cairns
) and Caird (Laura Mennell
), have been held in suspended animation
for 1,200 years. After the sisters awaken, Will Zimmerman
(Robin Dunne
) learns that they were taken to the crypt because of an incurable disease. However, Will believes they are delusion
al, partly due to their ability to speak perfect English
for people from the Middle Ages
(according to director Martin Wood
, they were able to speak English after some sort of "mind meld" between Will and Danu). The sisters also experience nightmares in which they destroy an entire village. The sisters eventually determine that these nightmares are in fact memories, and it was they who caused the destruction 1,200 years ago.
After some research, Magnus determines that the sisters are the Morrígan, who were created with the intention of destroying man. Magnus also discovers ties to a powerful secret organization, the Cabal, who had put the sisters into the crypt to be used again in the future. Ashley Magnus (Emilie Ullerup
) learns that the Cabal was formed in the seventh century with the intention of controlling every abnormal on Earth for their own benefit; since going underground in the nineteenth century, its members have infiltrated several major organizations worldwide to continue their operation.
In the meantime, a group of Cabal mercenaries have captured several Keepers in Scotland and they release them to the Sanctuary in order to regain what they see as their "property". Before and during the battle between Magnus and the Keepers, Will teaches the sisters about freedom, and sends them to a safe-house. After killing the Keepers, the team are surrounded by the mercenaries. In the end, Danu, Caird and Tatha surrender to the mercenaries who in exchange spare the team's lives. Will believes his teachings of freedom got to them, as they plan to escape from the mercenaries.
brought up the idea of incorporating the Morrígan from Irish mythology
into the episode. Writer Damian Kindler
researched the subject and named the episode after Fata Morgana
as a reference to the Morrígan. During pre-production, the producers decided that around half of the episode would contain footage from the webisodes, and the other half would be rewritten to improve the storyline. Since they felt that Ashley Magnus was previously underused, they included her more into the storyline. The ending from the original webisodes, where the sisters manage to escape, was also rewritten.
"Fata Morgana" was originally scheduled to be the fourth episode in the first season. However, it was moved up to the third after Amanda Tapping
felt strongly that it would make a great start-stand alone episode after "Sanctuary for All
". She also cited continuity
reasons, as the characters appeared more comfortable with each other in the following episode, "Folding Man". Filming started in January 2007 when they were filming the webisodes. The new scenes were filmed in June 2008. The actors consciously played the characters more open to each other.
When Martin Wood became unavailable during one day of filming, Amanda Tapping filled in for him as director. Furthermore, a photo double stood in for Leah Cairns
in some scenes when the Cairns was unavailable to play Tatha. The outdoor scene that featured Kandyse McClure
was filmed in the same slot as "Sanctuary for All", because Wood wanted to use the present rain
. One scene was filmed on the same set that was previously used in Stargate SG-1
. In total, "Fata Morgana" contained over 400 visual effects shots, more than any other episode in the first season. The scene where Ashley was sitting on the edge of a tall building was actually done by having Emilie Ullerup
sitting on a green beam
, and next to a wind machine
. Every visual effects shot made for the "Fata Morgana" webisodes were remastered in the episode.
". It was still placed second in the top ten Sci Fi Channel
shows the week it aired, behind Ghost Hunters
, which received a 2.0 rating. In the United Kingdom, the episode was seen by 471,000, placing Sanctuary number two in the top ten ITV4
viewings the week it aired, behind a live UEFA Champions League
game.
Reviews for the episode were generally positive. Tory Ireland Mell of IGN
rated the episode an "outstanding" 9.3 out of 10, calling it a "great episode, and completely fun to watch." Mell praised the episode for its pace, action, choreographed fight sequences, visual effects and character development, but thought that Magnus and Ashley's relationship was a little forced. Carma Spence-Pothitt of Airlock Alpha
reacted positively to the episode, particularly for its use of celtic mythology
, how Damian Kindler
and Martin Wood
incorporates it into the storyline, and the introduction to the Cabal's. Spence-Prohitt was however, critical of the fact that "too much is being crammed into one." Amber Spence of PopSyndicate also reacted positively to the episode, calling it a "much stronger showing than the [somewhat convoluted] premiere," and that the action and pace were well executed to draw in the audience. Paul Simpson of Total Sci-Fi gave a more mixed reaction to the episode, rating it 6 out of 10. Though Simpson called it the first proper episode, he didn't feel it was as strong as the pilot.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
television series Sanctuary. The episode first aired on the Sci Fi Channel
Syfy
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on October 10, 2008. It subsequently aired on ITV4
ITV4
ITV4 is a British television station which was launched on 1 November 2005. It is owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc, and is part of the ITV network. The channel has a male-oriented line-up, including sport, cop shows and US comedies and dramas, as well as classic ITV action...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on October 20, 2008. The episode, which is named after a mirage of the same name
Fata Morgana (mirage)
A Fata Morgana is an unusual and very complex form of mirage, a form of superior mirage, which, like many other kinds of superior mirages, is seen in a narrow band right above the horizon...
, was written by Damian Kindler
Damian Kindler
Damian Kindler is an Australian-born Canadian writer and producer. He emigrated to Toronto, Canada, when he was young. He currently resides in Vancouver, British Columbia. He lives with his wife and his two children Hannah and Phoebe Kindler.He is most noted for his contributions to the Stargate...
. Martin Wood
Martin Wood
Martin Wood is a Canadian television director who has been directing since the mid 1990s. Specializing in science fiction, where he is best known for his work as a director and producer on Stargate SG-1 , as well as its spin-off series Stargate Atlantis .-Career:Martin Wood began his television...
served as director.
"Fata Morgana" was originally released as the back half of the eight original Sanctuary webisode
Webisode
A webisode is a short episode which airs initially as Internet television, either download or stream as opposed to first airing on broadcast or cable television. The format can be used as a preview, a promotion, as part of a collection of shorts, or a commercial.A webisode can be an episode...
s in 2007. In the episode, the Sanctuary team investigate an ancient crypt
Crypt
In architecture, a crypt is a stone chamber or vault beneath the floor of a burial vault possibly containing sarcophagi, coffins or relics....
in an island off the Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
coast and encounter three sisters with abnormal powers. "Fata Morgana" was met with a 1.6 household rating and was generally well received by critics.
Plot
The team travels to a crypt in an island off the coast of ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
that Helen Magnus
Helen Magnus
Doctor Helen Magnus is the series protagonist and central character of the Canadian fantasy-science fiction television series Sanctuary. She is portrayed by Amanda Tapping...
(Amanda Tapping
Amanda Tapping
Amanda Tapping is an English-born Canadian actress, producer and director. She is best known for portraying Samantha Carter in the Canadian-American military science fiction television series Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis...
) believes to contain an elixir of life
Elixir of life
The elixir of life, also known as the elixir of immortality and sometimes equated with the philosopher's stone, is a legendary potion, or drink, that grants the drinker eternal life and or eternal youth. Many practitioners of alchemy pursued it. The elixir of life was also said to be able to create...
. However, the team is spotted and ambushed. After defeating the abnormal crypt Keepers, the team finds three women in coma
Coma
In medicine, a coma is a state of unconsciousness, lasting more than 6 hours in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light or sound, lacks a normal sleep-wake cycle and does not initiate voluntary actions. A person in a state of coma is described as...
tose state. They are brought to the Sanctuary for study, where it is later determined that the sisters, Danu (Miranda Frigon), Tatha (Leah Cairns
Leah Cairns
Leah Cairns is a Canadian actress. She is best known for her role as one of the Raptor pilots, Lieutenant Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson, on the Sci Fi Channel television program Battlestar Galactica.-Biography:...
) and Caird (Laura Mennell
Laura Mennell
Laura Mennell is a Canadian actress. She is perhaps best known for her roles in Watchmen, Montana Sky, and the Emmy nominated Flight 93. Mennell currently co-stars on the Syfy television series Alphas...
), have been held in suspended animation
Suspended animation
Suspended animation is the slowing of life processes by external means without termination. Breathing, heartbeat, and other involuntary functions may still occur, but they can only be detected by artificial means. Extreme cold can be used to precipitate the slowing of an individual's functions; use...
for 1,200 years. After the sisters awaken, Will Zimmerman
Will Zimmerman
Doctor William "Will" Zimmerman is a main character and male lead of the Canadian fantasy-science fiction television series Sanctuary. He is portrayed by Robin Dunne...
(Robin Dunne
Robin Dunne
Robin Dunne is a Canadian actor who is mainly known for having had numerous leading roles in sequels throughout his career, and lately for his role as Doctor Will Zimmerman in the cult Science fiction Television series, Sanctuary....
) learns that they were taken to the crypt because of an incurable disease. However, Will believes they are delusion
Delusion
A delusion is a false belief held with absolute conviction despite superior evidence. Unlike hallucinations, delusions are always pathological...
al, partly due to their ability to speak perfect English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
for people from the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
(according to director Martin Wood
Martin Wood
Martin Wood is a Canadian television director who has been directing since the mid 1990s. Specializing in science fiction, where he is best known for his work as a director and producer on Stargate SG-1 , as well as its spin-off series Stargate Atlantis .-Career:Martin Wood began his television...
, they were able to speak English after some sort of "mind meld" between Will and Danu). The sisters also experience nightmares in which they destroy an entire village. The sisters eventually determine that these nightmares are in fact memories, and it was they who caused the destruction 1,200 years ago.
After some research, Magnus determines that the sisters are the Morrígan, who were created with the intention of destroying man. Magnus also discovers ties to a powerful secret organization, the Cabal, who had put the sisters into the crypt to be used again in the future. Ashley Magnus (Emilie Ullerup
Emilie Ullerup
Emilie Ullerup is a Danish actress. She is best known for playing Ashley Magnus on the television series Sanctuary.-Early life and education:...
) learns that the Cabal was formed in the seventh century with the intention of controlling every abnormal on Earth for their own benefit; since going underground in the nineteenth century, its members have infiltrated several major organizations worldwide to continue their operation.
In the meantime, a group of Cabal mercenaries have captured several Keepers in Scotland and they release them to the Sanctuary in order to regain what they see as their "property". Before and during the battle between Magnus and the Keepers, Will teaches the sisters about freedom, and sends them to a safe-house. After killing the Keepers, the team are surrounded by the mercenaries. In the end, Danu, Caird and Tatha surrender to the mercenaries who in exchange spare the team's lives. Will believes his teachings of freedom got to them, as they plan to escape from the mercenaries.
Production
"Fata Morgana" was originally released as the back half of the eight original webisodes. The episode was given an ancient and mythological feel to set the intended tone of Sanctuary. During the original writing, director and executive producer Martin WoodMartin Wood
Martin Wood is a Canadian television director who has been directing since the mid 1990s. Specializing in science fiction, where he is best known for his work as a director and producer on Stargate SG-1 , as well as its spin-off series Stargate Atlantis .-Career:Martin Wood began his television...
brought up the idea of incorporating the Morrígan from Irish mythology
Irish mythology
The mythology of pre-Christian Ireland did not entirely survive the conversion to Christianity, but much of it was preserved, shorn of its religious meanings, in medieval Irish literature, which represents the most extensive and best preserved of all the branch and the Historical Cycle. There are...
into the episode. Writer Damian Kindler
Damian Kindler
Damian Kindler is an Australian-born Canadian writer and producer. He emigrated to Toronto, Canada, when he was young. He currently resides in Vancouver, British Columbia. He lives with his wife and his two children Hannah and Phoebe Kindler.He is most noted for his contributions to the Stargate...
researched the subject and named the episode after Fata Morgana
Fata Morgana (mirage)
A Fata Morgana is an unusual and very complex form of mirage, a form of superior mirage, which, like many other kinds of superior mirages, is seen in a narrow band right above the horizon...
as a reference to the Morrígan. During pre-production, the producers decided that around half of the episode would contain footage from the webisodes, and the other half would be rewritten to improve the storyline. Since they felt that Ashley Magnus was previously underused, they included her more into the storyline. The ending from the original webisodes, where the sisters manage to escape, was also rewritten.
"Fata Morgana" was originally scheduled to be the fourth episode in the first season. However, it was moved up to the third after Amanda Tapping
Amanda Tapping
Amanda Tapping is an English-born Canadian actress, producer and director. She is best known for portraying Samantha Carter in the Canadian-American military science fiction television series Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis...
felt strongly that it would make a great start-stand alone episode after "Sanctuary for All
Sanctuary for All
"Sanctuary for All" is the two-part series premiere of the science fiction television series Sanctuary, a television spinoff from the web series of the same name. Both parts originally aired on the Sci Fi Channel in the United States for October 3, 2008, and subsequently aired on ITV4 in the United...
". She also cited continuity
Continuity (fiction)
In fiction, continuity is consistency of the characteristics of persons, plot, objects, places and events seen by the reader or viewer over some period of time...
reasons, as the characters appeared more comfortable with each other in the following episode, "Folding Man". Filming started in January 2007 when they were filming the webisodes. The new scenes were filmed in June 2008. The actors consciously played the characters more open to each other.
When Martin Wood became unavailable during one day of filming, Amanda Tapping filled in for him as director. Furthermore, a photo double stood in for Leah Cairns
Leah Cairns
Leah Cairns is a Canadian actress. She is best known for her role as one of the Raptor pilots, Lieutenant Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson, on the Sci Fi Channel television program Battlestar Galactica.-Biography:...
in some scenes when the Cairns was unavailable to play Tatha. The outdoor scene that featured Kandyse McClure
Kandyse McClure
Kandyse McClure is an actress, best known for playing Anastasia Dualla on the Sci Fi Channel's television program Battlestar Galactica.- Biography :...
was filmed in the same slot as "Sanctuary for All", because Wood wanted to use the present rain
Rain
Rain is liquid precipitation, as opposed to non-liquid kinds of precipitation such as snow, hail and sleet. Rain requires the presence of a thick layer of the atmosphere to have temperatures above the melting point of water near and above the Earth's surface...
. One scene was filmed on the same set that was previously used in Stargate SG-1
Stargate SG-1
Stargate SG-1 is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Stargate franchise. The show, created by Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner, is based on the 1994 feature film Stargate by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich...
. In total, "Fata Morgana" contained over 400 visual effects shots, more than any other episode in the first season. The scene where Ashley was sitting on the edge of a tall building was actually done by having Emilie Ullerup
Emilie Ullerup
Emilie Ullerup is a Danish actress. She is best known for playing Ashley Magnus on the television series Sanctuary.-Early life and education:...
sitting on a green beam
Chroma key
Chroma key compositing is a technique for compositing two images together. A color range in the top layer is made transparent, revealing another image behind. The chroma keying technique is commonly used in video production and post-production...
, and next to a wind machine
Wind machine
The wind machine is a specialist musical instrument used to produce the sound of wind. One type uses an electric fan with wooden slats added to produce the required sound...
. Every visual effects shot made for the "Fata Morgana" webisodes were remastered in the episode.
Reception
"Fata Morgana" was broadcast on October 10 on Sci Fi in the United States, and October 20, 2008 on ITV4 in the United Kingdom. According to the Nielsen Galaxy Report, "Fata Morgana" received a household rating of 1.6 after original airing in the United States; this was a drop from the 2.2 rating in "Sanctuary for AllSanctuary for All
"Sanctuary for All" is the two-part series premiere of the science fiction television series Sanctuary, a television spinoff from the web series of the same name. Both parts originally aired on the Sci Fi Channel in the United States for October 3, 2008, and subsequently aired on ITV4 in the United...
". It was still placed second in the top ten Sci Fi Channel
Syfy
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
shows the week it aired, behind Ghost Hunters
Ghost Hunters
Ghost Hunters is an American paranormal reality television series that premiered on October 6, 2004, on Syfy . The program features paranormal investigators Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson who investigate places that are reported to be haunted. The two originally worked as plumbers for Roto-Rooter as...
, which received a 2.0 rating. In the United Kingdom, the episode was seen by 471,000, placing Sanctuary number two in the top ten ITV4
ITV4
ITV4 is a British television station which was launched on 1 November 2005. It is owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc, and is part of the ITV network. The channel has a male-oriented line-up, including sport, cop shows and US comedies and dramas, as well as classic ITV action...
viewings the week it aired, behind a live UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
game.
Reviews for the episode were generally positive. Tory Ireland Mell of IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
rated the episode an "outstanding" 9.3 out of 10, calling it a "great episode, and completely fun to watch." Mell praised the episode for its pace, action, choreographed fight sequences, visual effects and character development, but thought that Magnus and Ashley's relationship was a little forced. Carma Spence-Pothitt of Airlock Alpha
Airlock Alpha
Airlock Alpha, formerly SyFy Portal, is an entertainment news website focusing on science-fiction, fantasy and comic book television series and films.-History:...
reacted positively to the episode, particularly for its use of celtic mythology
Celtic mythology
Celtic mythology is the mythology of Celtic polytheism, apparently the religion of the Iron Age Celts. Like other Iron Age Europeans, the early Celts maintained a polytheistic mythology and religious structure...
, how Damian Kindler
Damian Kindler
Damian Kindler is an Australian-born Canadian writer and producer. He emigrated to Toronto, Canada, when he was young. He currently resides in Vancouver, British Columbia. He lives with his wife and his two children Hannah and Phoebe Kindler.He is most noted for his contributions to the Stargate...
and Martin Wood
Martin Wood
Martin Wood is a Canadian television director who has been directing since the mid 1990s. Specializing in science fiction, where he is best known for his work as a director and producer on Stargate SG-1 , as well as its spin-off series Stargate Atlantis .-Career:Martin Wood began his television...
incorporates it into the storyline, and the introduction to the Cabal's. Spence-Prohitt was however, critical of the fact that "too much is being crammed into one." Amber Spence of PopSyndicate also reacted positively to the episode, calling it a "much stronger showing than the [somewhat convoluted] premiere," and that the action and pace were well executed to draw in the audience. Paul Simpson of Total Sci-Fi gave a more mixed reaction to the episode, rating it 6 out of 10. Though Simpson called it the first proper episode, he didn't feel it was as strong as the pilot.
External links
- Fata Morgana on scifi.comSyfySyfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
- Fata Morgana on the official website