13 Episodes
Short on time? Here's the essentials:
Forensic psychiatrist Will Zimmerman is recruited by Helen Magnus, a brilliant but secretive scientist, to her hidden Sanctuary. This is a refuge for "abnormals" – creatures with extraordinary abilities. Will joins Magnus and her daughter, Ashley, to protect these beings and investigate threats.
The season's central conflict revolves around the mysterious Cabal organization and their interest in abnormals. Key turning points include the kidnapping of Ashley by the escaped abnormal Druitt, the discovery of ancient, powerful beings called the Morrígan, and the revelation that Malcolm is the criminal Nomad. Mr. Jones and Carver are killed during an investigation into Nomad. Later, Ashley is revealed to be working with the Cabal, and Watson dies after uncovering a significant threat.
The season concludes with Ashley returning to the Sanctuary, but she now possesses Druitt's teleportation ability, indicating she is under Cabal influence. The Sanctuary faces a virus that causes violent abnormal attacks, and the team learns the Cabal is behind much of the chaos.
Season 1 of Sanctuary covers episodes 1-13. Here's everything that happened:
Season 1, Episode 1: Sanctuary for All (1) - Forensic psychiatrist Will Zimmerman is drawn into a bizarre homicide case involving an abnormal. Helen Magnus recruits Will to her Sanctuary, a haven for these creatures. A police officer, Russo, dies from an attack by Alexei's appendage. Magnus reveals the existence of abnormals to Will and introduces her daughter, Ashley. The episode concludes with Will agreeing to join the Sanctuary team.
Season 1, Episode 2: Sanctuary for All (2) - Magnus reveals to Will that she knows about his repressed childhood memory of his mother's death by a monster. Druitt, after being captured, escapes by teleporting, kidnapping Ashley. Magnus is forced to give Druitt some of her blood to save him. Will decides to take a leap of faith and work with the Sanctuary.
Season 1, Episode 3: Fata Morgana - Magnus, Will, and Ashley locate three women in a Scottish crypt, discovering they are the Morrígan, ancient beings connected to the Cabal. The sisters awaken with destructive powers, forcing the team to contain them. The Sanctuary's security is breached by crypt keepers. Will tries to help the sisters understand their past, while Ashley confronts a Cabal agent. The episode concludes with the Morrígan still in custody, but the Cabal's interest in them revealed.
Season 1, Episode 4: Folding Man - Magnus and Will investigate robberies committed by "folding men," abnormals with extreme contortion abilities. They discover the folders are addicted to a drug made by the criminal Nomad. Mr. Jones is killed, and Will realizes Malcolm is Nomad. Carver dies in a shootout with Nomad, and the remaining folders are taken to the Sanctuary for detox.
Season 1, Episode 5: Kush - Magnus, Will, and Allison crash in the Himalayas with a captured abnormal. Passengers fall prey to deadly attacks and nightmares. The creature, a Migoi, mimics victims and manipulates dreams. Magnus exposes the imposter by knowing Will hates coffee. The Migoi is killed, restoring reality.
Season 1, Episode 6: Nubbins - The Sanctuary team retrieves seemingly harmless "Nubbins" from a cargo ship where a predator killed the crew. The Nubbins reproduce rapidly, releasing pheromones that affect the team. They discover Sophie has empathic abilities. The team lures the Nubbins back into containment using a specific sound frequency, lowering the enclosure's temperature to control their population.
Season 1, Episode 7: The Five - Magnus lectures in Rome when Tesla warns of danger. Ashley learns Druitt is her father, as Magnus reveals the history of "The Five". Will and Bigfoot battle a creature at the Sanctuary. Tesla, now a vampire, wants Magnus to join him, but she refuses. Druitt injures Tesla before teleporting away with Magnus and Ashley.
Season 1, Episode 8: Edward - The Sanctuary investigates Edward, an autistic savant whose drawings predict his abusive father's death. Will's profiling reveals Edward accidentally killed his father. Henry struggles with his HAP transformation. Edward is left in the Sanctuary's care, and Henry decides against surgery, embracing his abnormal side.
Season 1, Episode 9: Requiem - Magnus and Will investigate dead Mer-people, discovering a parasite infecting Magnus. The parasite manipulates her, nearly causing Will's death. Magnus reveals to Will that he could replace her one day. They manage to remove the parasite. The episode concludes with Magnus reflecting on her long life.
Season 1, Episode 10: Warriors - Will investigates his missing friend Danny and discovers an underground fight club where genetically engineered abnormals battle. Magnus deals with the unexpected return of her father. Will is captured and genetically manipulated to fight. Magnus extracts a Scarab from her father, who reveals the fight's location. Danny is saved, but Magnus's father leaves.
Season 1, Episode 11: Instinct - A news crew, Amy and Zach, enters a warehouse where three people were murdered, seeking an exclusive story. The Sanctuary team, investigating a rare and deadly creature, encounters the news crew. The creature attacks Zach, but is ultimately shot to death. Amy, initially wanting to expose the Sanctuary, agrees to keep their secret in exchange for a future story. Magnus hands over the camera drive, and Amy leaves.
Season 1, Episode 12: Revelations (1) - Abnormals are infected by a virus causing violent attacks. Magnus and team investigate, facing the possibility of biological warfare. Druitt returns, claiming the Cabal is responsible. Ashley is revealed to be working with the Cabal. The team finds the lost city destroyed.
Season 1, Episode 13: Revelations (2) - Magnus and the Five seek the vampire blood in Bhalasaam, facing deadly trials. Ashley and Henry are held captive by the Cabal. Watson dies after warning Will of a larger threat. Ashley returns to the Sanctuary, but it's revealed she now possesses Druitt's teleportation ability, hinting at Cabal manipulation.
