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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