Review: SyFy’s “Helix”

by Mary Anne Butler, Editor/Reporter/Photographer

I’ve been saying it since the first appearance of this new show at SDCC 2013,  “It’s like X Files and Walking Dead had a baby.  A black blooded genetically engineered evil baby.  But so far no zombies.  Or Scully.”

That’s the basic gist of the first two episodes of this new medical thriller from SyFy and executive producer Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica).    And let me say the presskit sent out is AWESOME.  A very heavy box with the X logo containing colored oil in water that moves when shifted, a beautiful spiral bound book featuring full color pages of photos from the show and character write ups and a nifty hypodermic needle pen filled with blue ink.

I won’t give away too much before the premiere of the show on January 10th, 2014 on SyFy.  Let’s start with our main cast.

Dr. Alan Farragut (played by former Rocketeer Billy Campbell) is one of the top pathology scientist for the CDC, and the head of the team sent to the Arctic research facility to try and determine/classify/stop the outbreak of an unknown mutagen.  He has a lot of baggage, that’s pretty evident.  But he is EXTREMELY capable within his duties.

Dr. Julia Walker (Kyra Zagorsky), former wife of Dr. Alan Farragut.  We find out rather quickly about why the ‘former’ is a thing; she apparently had an affair with Alan’s brother Peter.  She works for the CDC doing ground-breaking research with virus vectors.  Of late, has been isolating herself in her fieldwork.

Dr. Hiroshi Hatake (Hiroyuki Sanada) is the head of the Arctic Biosystems research facility.  He is outwardly in control, almost annoyingly so, but within the first 30 minutes, you get the notion his ‘calm’ is covering for some dark secrets.

Dr. Sarah Jordan (Jordan Hayes) is a young virologist who thinks out of the box and will never hesitate to let her ambition lead her actions.  She is part of the team brought in to understand the nature of the outbreak of the unknown pathogen.

Dr. Doreen Boyle (Catherine Lemieux) is so far my favorite character.  This could be because of the scene where the elevator music plays while she conducts some tests, or because of her smart-assed well timed quips.  She is a veterinary pathologist.

Maj. Sergio Balleseros (Mark Ghanime`), your basic military guy who may or may not be in on everything sinister happening around him.  Always quick with suggestions and the “I’ll go first” person, I’m curious to see what his deal is.

Daniel Aerov (Meegwun Fairbrother), adopted son of Dr. Hatake and head of security in the facility.  Knows FAR too much about this level of bio-science to be just a grunt.

Dr. Peter Farragut (Neil Napier), brother of Alan and seemingly patient zero of this strange virus.

Got it?  So those are our main players, and they are all together in a sizable underground facility above the 52nd parallel (which is international territory and therefor outside normal jurisdiction for genetic testing.  See?  I paid attention) when some sort of unknown virus breaks out.  What is it?   Out of the three people first infected shown, only one survives.  The other two become body bags oozing  with a viscus preternatural black oil and green tinged bones.  The survivor exhibits above normal human strength, crazy eyes, dark veins, and an odd quiver to the throat.

The scientists go to work trying to identify, classify, quantify, and ultimately determine how the virus is a) transmitted, b) it’s incubation period, and c) how to stop it.  This of course means lab animals, so if you are not a fan of rats and monkeys in cages, this isn’t  the show for you.

This far in (I’ve seen both the pilot and the second episode “Vector”, with the third getting my attention after the show premieres) I am mightily curious to see where it all goes.  I will say again, it’s not zombies.  The survivor’s heart hasn’t stopped yet, his brain is obviously working, and he isn’t hungering for human flesh….ok, well, not in the way you’d think.  You’ll know what I mean when you see the shower scene.  I hope to the Lords of Kobol the music in the scene is the same when it airs.

While yes, the word predictable comes to mind regarding the first two episodes, Moore hasn’t let me down with a show yet, and I’m more than willing to give it time.  I mean hell, we’ve been putting up with the geek-blue-balls of SHIELD this long, right?

Mab says:  WATCH IT