There are sci-fi shows out there that cover everything from the strange and alien to playing God. And that’s exactly the premise of a short-lived series that gathered a fan base who enjoyed horror, mystery, and science fiction all in one. The show was made by those that worked on other TV shows with huge followings such as “Contact,” “Lost,” and “The X-Files.”
“Helix” premiered on the Syfy channel on Jan. 10, 2014. The series is about members of the Centers for Disease Control investigating potential viral outbreaks. The first season sees the CDC, alongside Dr. Alan and Dr. Julia, sent to an Arctic base to study a virus. The infection works by turning people into zombies called Vectors — if you like the sound of that there are a few essential zombie movies you should watch too. Along the way, it’s uncovered that the virus was made as a way to achieve immortality, giving some people silver eyes and eternal life. There’s a lot of double-crossing and misdirection, and fans seemingly enjoyed it.
The second season switches scenery and plot by changing the setting from a cold winter research facility to an island. An immortal cult leader, Michael, is infecting people with another virus on the island of St. Germain, turning them into feral zombies. The two seasons feature Dr. Alan on the island and Dr. Jules somewhere else dealing with her immortality.
The plot of Helix
The virus in the first season of “Helix” is meant to unlock the secrets to becoming immortal. It turns people into Vectors, who act more like vampires than in stereotypical zombie TV shows, including “The Walking Dead.” Throughout the series, it’s discovered that the virus was made by Dr. Hiroshi Hatake and the Ilaria Corporation. The virus is meant to infect the body to unlock dormant genes within a specific group of people that allows them to live forever. The Ilaria Corporation seeks to control the world through this immortal group, killing anyone without the gene. Those events lead to season two where a new virus is being used by Michael.
The show was produced by Ronald D. Moore, who worked on “Battlestar Galactica,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” and “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.” Producer of “Lost” and “The X-Files,” Steven Maeda, also acted as executive producer, as well. “Helix” is available on the RokuChannel, Tubi, Disney+, and Hulu.
It aired for two seasons on Syfy before being canceled after a total of 26 episodes. Dr. Hatake, played by Hiroyuki Sanada, also appeared in “Mortal Kombat II” as Scorpion and portrayed Yoshii Toranaga in “Shogun.” Dr. Alan is played by Billy Campbell who starred as Cliff in “The Rocketeer.” Dr. Julia Walker, Kyra Zagorsky, also appeared in “Arrow.”
What viewers thought of Helix
In March of 2014 it was revealed that “Helix” had an average of more than 2.1 million total viewers. The numbers were revealed just two months after the premier date of the first season on Syfy. That number of people watching the show is what helped the show secure renewal. It has an 81% average Tomatometer rating and a 65% average Popcornmeter on Rotten Tomatoes.
Viewers appeared to have mixed feelings about the show. “Helix” was well received by its fans, who fondly remember it online through posts on old YouTube videos showing the official trailer for the series. Comments range from it being a show that fans considered good, but are sad that it did not get a third season. In another video posted by Syfy recapping season one, viewers say they wish producers would bring the show back.
Reviews vary when it comes to seasons, however, with comments on Reddit finding the first season captivating and the second dull. Other commenters said they felt season one was a good zombie story while they had a hard time figuring out what the virus in the second season actually did. If you’re looking for a show about viruses, there are plenty of zombie shows to choose from.
