HELIX is one of the best new shows of 2014 and it started in one direction and ended up going in another by the end of the first season, and creator Cameron Porsandeh and Executive Producer Ronald D. Moore make it work.   I thought the concept was going to be a limited concept, but they added so many layer and ideas that expand the story into so many directions (and I wonder if they will be doing some flashbacks to fill in the gaps due to the time jump in the last scene of the season finale). HELIX is one part THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN and one part THE THING as our characters are in an isolated environment where they can’t run because the place where they are at is surrounded by subzero temperatures.

 HELIX starts with Dr. Alan Farragut (Billy Campbell) of the CDC (Center for Disease Control)being  lured to the Artic by his ex-wife Dr. Julia Walker (Kyra Zargorsky) to investigate the Vector virus at a corporate biotech facility run by the mysterious Dr. Hiroshi Hatake (Hiroyuki Sanada) who knows more about the vector virus that he lets on.  US Army Major Sergio Balleseros (Mark Ghanime) and fellow CDC Dr. Sarah Jordan (Jordan Hayes) tag along as part of Alan’s team, but his CDC team aren’t aware that Sergio has his orders in keeping the truth about the vector virus quiet even if means not finding a cure for Alan’s estranged brother Peter (Neil Napier) who is infected. The CDC team learns quickly the Vector virus is unlike anything they have encountered and Alan wants to make sure it doesn’t get out into the world.

HELIX has lots going for it even though it also has flaws in the character writing at times, but the flaws doesn’t take away from my enjoyment of the show and I can’t wait for season 2 to start in early 2015.  I do hope they fill in the blanks of events leading from the events in the season finale and the last scene in the episode which takes place months later (a break from each episode representing one day format of the season).

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Deleted scenes on select episodes with the most deleted scenes for the PILOT and FUSHIGI, two deleted scenes for the DANS L’OMBRE, and cut scenes for VECTOR, SINGLE, and BLOODLINE.

Code for streaming or downloading Digital HD Ultraviolet copies of every episode of the first season via TV, Computer, Tablets, and Smartphones

DISC 1-

Audio Commentary on PILOT with actor Billy Campell and creator Cameron Porsandeh

RONALD D. MOORE: THE OUTLIER OF SCIENCE FICTION- Ronald D. Moore, creator Cameron Porsandeh, and the other producers discuss what Ron brought to the show as a writer and producer.

THE FUTURE OF DISEASE- keeping the disease grounded like it is something that could happen as the creator of the show said the genesis of the series is from a disease he got from some infected water

DISC 2-

WRITING THE TENSION- how to balance the tension in each episode with having quiet moments between the moments of tension and using music to help tell the mood of the story

THE ART OF ISOLATION- a look at the production art and design of the series in addition to using green screen during the outside sequences since they were filming in the summer.

Outtakes is the gag  reel for the show’s first season which is a series of line flubs, actors laughing, and actors having fun

DISC 3-

DISSECTING THE CHARACTERS- the producers and the cast (playing the characters) talk about the characters of HELIX

FABRICATING THE PLAGUE- how they achieved the look of the disease through special effects and special effects make-up

Audio commentary for DANS L’OMBRE with actor Billy Campell and Steve Madea

FINAL ANALYSIS:  I really loved season one of HELIX when it aired on SyFy and I can’t wait to see where the story will twist by the end of season 2.

This review is ©7-14-2014 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  Send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com

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