Ron Moore first became successful as a writer for “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” before creating one of Syfy’s highest-rated series, viagra sale “Battlestar Galactica, ambulance ” and now he’s returning to the same network that made him famous as an Executive Producer for “Helix.” Following a team from the Centers for Disease Control investigating a potential outbreak, prescription the new thriller does for the biopunk subgenre what their last collaboration did for space opera almost ten years ago, elevating it to a higher level using human drama set against a science fiction backdrop. Starring a cast of relative newcomers as well as seasoned actors Billy Campbell and Hiroyuki Sanada, characters are well-rounded rather than simply pawns trapped in a life-and-death game.
Dr. Alan Farragut (Campbell) and his field team are called in to investigate a potential outbreak at a high-tech research facility in the Arctic, which operates a mysterious viral research program with its own team of scientists led by the secretive Dr. Hiroshi Hatake (Sanada). Among those working at the facility is Dr. Farragut’s brother, Peter (Neil Napier), who has fallen victim to a terrifying virus that infects its host, causing them to bleed black goo and at first become catatonic, then later other more interesting side effects appear, as it slowly takes over their body. Soon enough, everyone begins to realize something quite calculated is being covered up at Arctic BioSystems, and the fate of mankind relies on them discovering the truth while not letting the contagion spread to the rest of the population.
But much of the action actually revolves around the CDC’s other team members, like Dr. Farragut’s ex-wife Dr. Julia Walker (Kyra Zagorsky), a Senior Scientist that co-heads the rapid response team’s mission and has a personal stake in many of the events that unfold. She’s just as brilliant as her ex-husband, yet her determination provides a welcome contrast to Dr. Farragut’s equally impulsive nature. Then there’s also the sarcastic Dr. Doreen Boyle (Catherine Lemieux) who delivers the comic relief, younger scientist Dr. Sarah Jordan (Jordan Hayes) and military man Major Sergio Balleseros (Mark Ghanime). With such a varied ensemble cast, viewers are bound to find someone to call a favorite. If there’s one complaint to be had, however, it’s that Dr. Hatake and his Head of Security, Daniel Aerov (Meegwun Fairbrother), seem a little too villainous and so far lacking in motivation.
The original idea for “Helix” was developed by Cameron Porsandeh, but it’s Ron Moore’s fingerprints that show up all over the series. From humanity creating their own destruction (through a virus) to distrust in your fellow man (since they may be infected) or repeating music for dramatic effect (using Dionne Warwick’s “Do You Know The Way To San Jose”), the same themes and techniques he first developed on “Battlestar Galactica” are present here again, making this a must-see for fans of his previous work or science fiction aficionados looking for an enthralling and cinematic, special effects-driven new entry into the science fiction genre. At the very least, viewers should watch until the end of the third episode, because that’s when the series really kicks into high gear.
“Helix” debuts this Friday, January 10th, with a two-episode premiere at 10PM on Syfy.
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