The essential episodes of Sanctuary

Watch these 10 in order and you've got Sanctuary — each pick states its reason.

1. 01

   S01E01 · Pilot · October 3, 2008 · 1h

   Sanctuary for All (1)7.4

   The enigmatic Dr. Helen Magnus recruits insightful forensic psychiatrist Will Zimmerman to join her in the quest to track, study and protect the strange and often terrifying creatures that secretly populate our world.

2. 02

   S01E07 · Season 1 peak · November 14, 2008 · 1h

   The Five8.1

   While leading a covert meeting in Rome, Magnus encounters an old friend from her past who confides that the cabal has come to exact revenge on her for the events in "Fata Morgana."

3. 03

   S02E02 · Top rated · October 16, 2009 · 1h

   End of Nights (2)8.2

   Furious at being duped into a trap, Magnus takes on Kate, demanding information and complete access to her Cabal contacts. The Cabal's true agenda is revealed and Magnus realizes that they are not only holding Ashley as ransom to obtain complete control of the Sanctuary Network, but turning her into the ultimate weapon. She might have to choose between saving her only daughter, or losing the Sanctuary and all the lives and secrets within it.

4. 04

   S02E05 · Top rated · November 6, 2009 · 1h

   Pavor Nocturnus8.2

   A disoriented Magnus wakes up to find the Sanctuary in ruins and the entire city decimated, with no memory of how the devastation occurred.

5. 05

   S02E10 · Top rated · December 18, 2009 · 1h

   Sleepers8.3

   Magnus and Will investigate a number of inexplicable teenage disappearances. The common denominator in the case seems to be that they all recently spent time at an exclusive rehab clinic in Mexico.

6. 06

   S02E11 · Top rated · January 8, 2010 · 1h

   Haunted8.0

   The team rescues the occupants of a sinking ship off the coast of South Africa and teleport them to the Sanctuary. However, Magnus suspects Druitt of murdering one of the passengers during the rescue.

7. 07

   S02E13 · Season 2 peak · January 15, 2010 · 1h

   Kali (2)8.5

   Will begins to experience strange visions that are connected to the Cult of Kali. Magnus has difficulty with finding the solution to their problems.

8. 08

   S03E10 · Season 3 peak · December 17, 2010 · 1h

   Hollow Men8.0

   Seeking a gateway to the secret subterranean city, Magnus leads a treacherous mission to Tibet - telling a bitter Adam that he must stay behind while promising to bring back a cure for their radiation sickness. Because of their source blood, Magnus insists that Tesla and Druitt stay behind as well, taking the only shield Tesla was able to construct for herself. The hidden city, however, is rigged with deadly security traps - and death awaits the team at every turn.

9. 09

   S04E01 · Season 4 peak · October 7, 2011 · 1h

   Tempus7.5

   Magnus has pursued Adam Worth back to 1898 London to stop him from altering and quite possibly completely destroying the future. As she battles to stop Worth, stay hidden from her past-self, and avoid taking any action that might change the events of history, Magnus must also figure out how to get back to her own present day timeline.

10. 10

    S04E13 · Series finale · December 30, 2011 · 1h

    Sanctuary for None: Part 27.4

    With the new Abnormal Homeland now openly under threat, Henry and Tesla learn that the SCIU weaponized Tesla's work to use against Abnormals. Bigfoot and Kate investigate Caleb's rise to power while Will and Abby look into Magnus' past.