A Preview of ‘Sanctuary: A Witch’s Tale’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Key Art for ‘Sanctuary: A Witch’s Tale’ Courtesy of AMC Networks.

For the most part, stories about witches and their incredible understanding of magic, follow some pretty standard formulas. Some of these stories for instance, are always set in Colonial America. Where witches were hunted and feared and the journey, we go on in that tale is either designed to remind us of the horror’s ignorance can inspire or they outright explore mystical concepts or darker ones. Or… the witch story in question features a modern twist, where they exist, and all is well, and magic is widely accepted by the masses. With some minor dissenting voices of course, which are quelled through heroic magical acts. Which are stories that work because they tend to satisfy our imagination and stick with what we know about the witch, but let’s be honest… those particular formulas and tropes… simply don’t do the witch justice. 
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Because they so rarely explore the potential power of magic and the burden that could create for a witch in any particular era, since they would see and experience things that no one else does. Not to mention, modern stories about witches don’t touch upon the fact that it doesn’t matter what era of our history a story operates within, we fear that which is different, and that would bring about great trouble for the witch, and that too… is a missed storytelling opportunity. But thankfully, there are creatives working to rectify that, since we’ve seen in more recent years stories that offer more than the norm, and AMC Networks continues to lead the charge in such matters. After all, the Sundance Now adaptation of A Discovery of Witches broke ground in its presentation of modern witches living amongst us and battling ancient prejudices. Not to mention, AMC’s adaptation of Mayfair Witches showcases real struggles for women with a magical twist, and well… AMC Networks isn’t done working to give the witch its due.

For this Thursday will see the debut of another fascinating witch series entitled, Sanctuary: A Witch’s Tale. A series that is set in modern times in the town of Sanctuary. Where witches live in a community all their own and well… live their lives… in the most normal manner possible. Where their kids go to school like anyone else and where witches have created their own economic structure where they go to work and contribute like anyone else, and of course, they practice magic, and they also deal with very real-world problems. All of which brings about one fascinating and unique series. One based off of the novel from V.V. James and harbors the depth and care that AMC Networks is known for. Because this is that rare witch story that truly brings them into the modern world and forces them to handle matters other than persecution and stereotypes. They must balance magic and the human experience and that brings about… some incredible episodes.

The kind that we won’t be breaking down just yet, because to spoil anything from this series would be a crime against storytelling. Because this one really does break new ground in what the characters face off against, and it asks some hard questions about the wonder of magic and what place it would have in 2024, in a world where our beliefs in anything intangible are all but non-existent. Not to mention, it features some incredible depth and some amazing messages and commentary within the framework of its well-written and well thought out episodes. In fact, to really hammer home how much meaning one can find in this story, this reporter, recently had the opportunity to speak with several members of the cast to discuss what they hope audiences will take away from this story, and here is what Amy De Bhrún (Abigail Whithall), Stephanie Levi-John (DCI Maggie Knight), and Hazel Doupe (Harper Fenn) had to say about the incredible depth present in this series, and what they hope you take away from it.

Stephanie Levi-John: I would like to think that people would take away the fact that even though you know, there's witchcraft and witches in the story, that it doesn't actually differ too much from what's going on in real life. So, I'm hoping that it'll kind of hold a mirror up to what's happening in society and stuff like that right now and has been going on. But just told through a different lens. And I just really hope that people just enjoy it so much that they just want to watch every single episode. And in fact, continue to watch it just to allow us to take them on the journey.

Hazel Doupe: Yeah, same here. That's exactly what I had for it as well. It is sort of a fantastical story told through, like the lens of a bit more of a reality, and a gritty sort of means. And it would be really nice if the takeaway was sort of that you have your own sort of thoughts, and the way you act on them matters.

Amy De Bhrún: Yeah, I agree with all of that. The human experience, and that we're all essentially, everyone has their struggle and their pain, and what pain and grief and love can do when you know, when people turn against each other, and we're seeing a lot of that kind of, I guess, in the world at the moment. So, I would kind of love that too, that people kind of see it's a reflection really of what's going on at the moment, in the world. And if we could just… as hard as it can be sometimes… to try and just see the humanity and each other. How much better a world we could make, really.

So, as you can see, this really is a different kind of witch story, a truly revolutionary one in nature. Thanks to its refreshing setting, dynamic writing and wondrous characters and amazing depth, and the best news of all… is that you don’t have to wait all that much longer to travel to experience all that this story has to offer. For Thursday, January 4, 2024, will see two episodes of the show debut on Sundance Now and AMC+, with subsequent episodes to follow on Thursdays, and we here at Nerds That Geek cannot wait for you to experience this magnificent series. One that changes the game for the witch subgenre of horror storytelling and will hopefully serve as a blueprint for future stories about this ancient and beloved icon. So that the witch will not only enjoy a revolution on the silver and small screen but enjoy the long overdue respect that witch stories outright deserve.

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