Helix - Season 01

For fans of medical epidemic SciFi without actually being zombie or apocalypse - this show is a treat. Such shows require isolation - so we have a setting in the Arctic for this one. The characters are well-developed, consistent, and worthy of ones time. Sets, lighting, costumes, directing, writing, music, camera, and especially casting - all high quality. A most satisfying season with a successful and conclusive story arc. Note that Season one and season two are quite different types of shows - although they have many characters in common. Season one is closer to SciFi while Season two is closer to horror. Both are wonderful in their own ways. Hiroyuki Sanada was the stand out actor for me in season one. He brings gravitas, mystery, and a keen sense of style to the show. Billy Campbell is the protagonist and is consistently engaging throughout. Kyra Zagorsky brings her game to season one before she absolutely blossoms in season two, which can also be said of Jordan Hayes. These are the two female leads. (Are real people as beautiful in real life as these two?) But, anyway... The primary antagonist in season one is Jeri Ryan, of Star Trek fame, gorgeous, deadly, and with such disregard for any life but her own. Season two has a variety of antagonists; one being Neil Napier - who also has a role in season one - but since he plays either coma or an infected zombie in season one, it's easy to see why season two was a better vehicle for him, given that he was conscious for it... The Iago (and Adonis) of season one is Mark Ghanimé - who, like the rest of the cast, is a treat to watch. He get's face-time/plot importance in season two also. Matt Long inherits this as season two progresses. This show will probably appeal more to those who enjoy thinking and who enjoy strangeness than those who don't. There is nothing straightforward about this show. The medical explanations devolve into jibber-jabber every now and then, but then again, they still remain within the cannon of this show and so get a pass. The music is so ironic. Reinhold Heil (formerly of Nina Hagen's band), is the composer. The theme song sounds quite a bit like that of British television's " Hotel Babylon. The 60s/70s pop adds a bizarre counterpoint to the trials and perils of the characters. Initially, I did not see how they were appropriate - but, well maybe after my third time through this show - I really got how nifty these musical selections were. Others may well disagree. I think season two makes the reasoning and effect of the musical selections more clear. I'd recommend this show. It's really fun to binge. And season one prepares you for the main event, season two!

SyFy had done a amazing job with this medical horror series. It has just the right mix of science, horror, and mystery. The cast are perfect in their characters. The sets and icy backdrop are perfect in giving you that trapped isolation feeling. Some people might think there are zombies involved, but they are not dead and do not feed on the flesh. From the very beginning the mystery of the Antarctic base begins to unfold. Seems that the very corporation that requested help from the CDC is involved in medical mystery. Then the true horror is realized by what the disease does to its victims. A secret order of immortals has been working on this project for years to effect the human race. Its up to the CDC rapid response team to find a cure and stop the immortals. The show is excellent in providing scares. It can be gruesome at times. The intro music will drive you crazy after a few episodes, but you will forgive that soon enough.

We're midway into the season so far, so I'm waiting to see how this all turns out. Hope I'm not disappointed. Billy Campbell is not my favorite star, but he's doing a decent enough job. The young female lead is pretty good, as well. This is a scifi show that's all premise. The writing is good, and they've built up a decent amount of suspense about what this helix is. The acting is mostly mediocre, but everything revolves around a good story line. I hope that I'm not disappointed by the ending.

Season one was the best. It has horror, icky black goo, twisted relationships, and adult themes. One does not know what will happen next. A CDC team is sent to an Artic outpost to investigate an outbreak of a mysterious virus. They are lied to, and have to sort the lies from truth. One thing I love about this show is how the characters change and evolve. They learn, grow, and may die. One character can be scum, and then do something to redeem themselves. This is not a special effects show. It's about people and relationships. It's also about what happens when science is used for personal gain, and how wrong things can become.

Characters draw you in and you can't wait to watch the next episode. Addictive, like the TV classic "24" was. Lots of unexpected and interesting twists and turns. The actress who plays the Inuit police detective was amazing: truly outstanding. Where did this person come from?! Update: The last series was a big disappointment. It devolved more into the horror/gore genre: the harsh violence was a huge turn off. However I did like the fact they brought back the middle-aged plain-spoken CDC lab lady from the first episoes. Helix, if you cram your next season with disgusting gore, I'm gone.

Love this first season, especially the quirky music that plays during violent or scary scenes. Good plot, acting, etc. Only drawback is it appears that they intended this to be a single season and everything was supposed to be wrapped up by the final episode, but some producer somewhere decided half-way through to leave some things open for a second season. Doing that left the ending of this first season a little wanting.

This show is awesome. With all the mediocre Sifi that has been coming out (there are a few exceptions) this is a welcome return. It also blends with modern horror, graphic enough but over bearing like they rely on shock to carry you through. They build a excellent sense of fear as you never know when something is going to pop out, the score they have plays hand and hand in creating this effect. Characters are good so far but then again I am only 5 episodes in. I do hope at some point they move the plot out of the facility.. maybe in season 2. The walking dead played out the jail way too long, I hope they do not make the same mistake. Anyway Excellent show, it have me from the pilot. Check it out!

Ron Moore has created one of the most exciting medical and high-tech science fiction thrillers I've ever watched. His writing is so well researched it reminds me of the great medical thrillers of Michael Crichton! Each show is a master smorgasbord of all the finely developed plots he has woven, each snowballing into newly revealed details about the protagonists and the evil Ilaria Corporation and its plans for genetically engineering a new human species that is faster, thinks better, heals in record time with the only side effect being greatly enhanced photo-sensitivity. Helix is my first introduction to a Ron Moore scripted TV thriller and I am unabashedly hooked! I play each new episode three or four times when it's first introduced to my Amazon Video Library. -Herrmann Hardy

Excellente série. Un suspense constant qui fait parfois froid dans le dos. Et si demain... Vivement la saison 2 ! Conseillé aux amateurs de ce genre de fiction.

excellent

i loved it thank you

Ich weiß echt nicht, was manche Menschen, die sich hier so arg aufregen, hieran so mies finden, dass die Serie nur 2 Sterne bekommt. Helix ist die erste Serie des Senders Syfy, die mir persönlich wirklich mundet, denn normalerweise, bin ich überhaupt kein Science-Fiction-Fan, vorallem nicht von spinnerten Weltraumabenteuern, weshalb mir dieses bodenständige Projekt hier, besonders zusagt. Klar. Die Handlung ist schnell erzählt. Ein Team des Kriesenintervensionsteams der US-Amerikanischen Seuchenschutzbehörde, wird in ein arktisches Forschungslabor verfrachtet, um dort eine ausgebrochene, unkontrollierbare Seuche zu untersuchen. Jeder der Protagonisten hat dabei seine eigenen Hintergründe, und gerade die undurchsichtigen Charaktere, sind doch immer wieder für eine Überraschung gut. Die ganze Story, erinnert in ihrer Umsetzung, verstärkt an die Resident Evil-Filme, auch mit dem bösen großen Strippenzieher am Ende. Dabei beweist die Serie, wie ich in meiner Überschrift schon sage, dass eine "billige" Serie, auch gut und spannend sein kann. Immerhin hat bei dieser Serie, keine Folge ein Budget, das etwas mehr als 1 Mio $ überschreitet (verschiedenen Quellen zu entnehmen). Für mich, einer der Neustarts des Jahres, zu Recht, um eine 2. Staffel verlängert. Und zu unrecht: gehated. Ohnehin stellt sich mir hier die Frage, weshalb Amazon die Bewertungen für DVD und BluRay, bei dieser Serie, nicht zusammenzieht, wie bei anderen Serien auch. Der bisherige, hier erzielte Bewertungsdurchschnitt, lässt nämlich darauf schließen, diese Serie könnte unterdurchschnittlich sein. Doch das, ist sie keinesfalls.

Bonne serie