Helix Episode 4 – “Densho”

densho: Japanese – meaning “to pass on to the next generation,” or to leave a legacy. “Flight Of the Bumblebee” opens this episode, with one of Brother Michael’s followers getting stung by a very angry bee, which in turn makes him very angry, pustule-y and homicidal. Could it be bees or even the pollen and honey causing the pathogen? Time-hop to Julia and Hatake, he clearly in a state of delusional psychosis as he believes the corpses of his dead son and wife are out having a pleasant little hike. From the first ten minutes this week promises to be a real hum-dinger. One thing is for certain, before this season is over, Kyle and Michael will either come to blows or join forces to combat the virus. For now, there seems to be a bit of a pissing contest going on between the two, with Michael seeming even more a power to be reckoned with rather than the benevolent shepherd he sets himself up to be. Yet it is clear that the circumstances the pathogen presents has Michael unraveling. The meeting with Sister Anne, Sister Agnes, and Sister Amy seems to exacerbate that theory. Which brings me to my theory of the symbolism between these two women. Not only do their names share the same first letter, but there seems to be some Celtic connotations going on here too. From their age differences, it would seem that they represent the Maiden (Sister Amy), Mother (Sister Anne), and Crone (Sister Agnes). Could it be the women who are truly in charge here and Michael just a figurehead? Agnes mentions a “Mother,” whom we are left completely in the dark about, so could this be the creature Leila saw in the woods? As for Alan and Peter, their relationship is strained at best. Peter asserts his dominance by subtly reminding Alan that this is his mission, his crew, and any interference from Alan is completely unacceptable. Anyone hoping for a heartfelt reunion between the two brothers will be sorely disappointed. Alan is still playing dumb as to his association with Ilaria, but it seems that Alan is catching on, slowly but surely. Especially when he spies on Peter’s phone call. To Ilaria. WITH BALLESEROS???? Oh, yes, that was my exact reaction. Just when we thought the Gorgeous One had turned a new leaf at the end of Season One, he returns as enigmatic as he was introduced to us, putting Christian Grey to shame with his suit and calm, ruthless demeanor. Christian Grey? Pfft! Balleseros would take him in that Red Room and have him screaming “MOMMY!!” in a heartbeat. Back to in the time-hop, we realize that Hatake wants to make Julia like the rest of the macabre family members, which means injecting embalming fluid into her while still alive. But not before he and Daniel go on a little fishing trip, complete with yet another brilliant track placing in the form of the theme to “The Andy Griffith Show.” I was amused how Daniel seemed the pouty little kid this episode (although Daniel is anything BUT little – the man is a tree, a tall, gorgeous, tree) and Hatake the acquiescing father. When he returns, he finds Julia has tried to escape and, scolding her, continues his “therapy.” She tricks him, though, playing on his intense affection for his daughter, and escapes, wisely taking the axe on her way out. Hatake in turn staggers out of the cabin, taking a katana from under the porch, and goes after her. What follows is one of the most beautifully shot and choreographed duels I have ever witnessed. The slow motion shots illustrate perfectly the grace of the two fighters – Hiro not surprising as we know his history and background, but Kyra’s Capoeira training really showed through making her a more than worthy opponent. After Julia delivers a crippling blow to his stomach, Hatake gives her his blade, which is inscribed with the kanji meaning “dansho,” or legacy. In the end, we are left wondering if Hatake is truly dying, bleeding out from the wound inflicted by Julia, surrounded by his “family,” or if he is old enough and powerful enough that the wound would close quickly, much like Constance’s wounds from Alan’s booby trap in Season One. After all, Gunter made Julia aim for his neck, severing his jugular and nearly his head, which would seem to indicate that the slow drip from Hatake’s wound would surely put him in torpor, but perhaps not kill him. We are left with more than one bleeding victim this week as Olivia, the missing Soren’s mother, loses her cool and stabs Sarah, leaving her clutching her hemorrhaging abdomen, murmuring “My baby.” Per usual, this week leaves us with more questions than answers. Is it the honey or the bees carrying the pathogen? It seems to be a little of both as when the man was stung, he became instantly sick, yet Soren had no indication of a sting but still had a large amount of sugars in his system suggesting he somehow got a hold of some honey. What and who are all those pictures on Michael’s wall? Most seemed a bit old, so is Michael an Immortal as well? We eagerly await next week’s episode, which no doubt will be a decidedly pivotal one considering the previews. Please feel free to comment your thoughts below or on the Helix group on Facebook.

Helix S2 Premier – Review

Two words to describe the Helix S2 opener:

Holy

Frak!

What the creative team has accomplished this season is nothing short of remarkable: not only do we have a deliciously disgusting new virus to contend with, but a time hop as well, all woven together to make the audience stand up and say “WTF?” but not confusing or off-putting as some scenarios can be. The whole introduction to said time hop is a study of expert storytelling and cinematography. One can see clearly the whole of Helix Writer’s Room rubbing and wringing their hands together with glee like A-list villains, concocting this twist of the senses (and I’m sure many more to come). Yet as new as these scenarios may seem, it still feels like – to the veteran fans – in a word, home.

With several new additions to the cast, I must say that each melded perfectly into the Helix universe.

Dr. Kyle Sommer (Matt Long) takes on the role of new kid on the block to the team consisting of Dr. Peter Farragut and Dr. Sarah Jordon. He’s a Texan, and has all the charm and brass bravado a native country boy should have without being over-the-top.

Brother Michael (Steven Webber) was creepy, but calming, with his awkward bro-hugs and soothing, resonating voice. This is a man one could end up actually liking even while saying “Ewww” in the process.

Caleb (Jim Thorburn) is an enigma. As part of the time-hop sequence with Julia, he brings to the story more questions than answers. He starts off appearing more psycho serial-killer, only to find he is as much against Illaria as Alan and the gang ever were.

The returning cast is no less amazing in their transformation. Peter is on a mission and isn’t taking any crap from anyone. Gone is the invalid, the unsure, frightened, and bewildered brother, enter the decisive and powerful team leader. We’re still left to question what his true intentions are, however, given his traitorous acts at the end of S1, but for now it seems he’s on the side of right.

Sarah has also grown from the geeky, eager-to-impress newcomer to an established powerhouse in the CDC infrastructure, as if taking Julia’s role as her own. She is more confident, determined, and completely at ease with her new-found immortality.

Julia – we cannot yet determine whether she is rogue or still working with Illaria. She has a mission to find a cure for this new virus, revealed not as Narvik but TXM-7, a personal mission as much as a global one because she herself is dying despite being immortal. Is this the virus Hatake was supposed to develop at Arctic Bio Systems? The one Constance wanted so terribly to help thin the herd and keep the 500 at 500? Or is it a backfired product of the goal to wipe out the mortals as Illaria had also planned, the double-edged sword Hatake was worried about?

The biggest reveal in the time-hop, however, was the heart-wrenching vision of Alan’s tombstone. Knowing that he’s doomed this season is a cruel but crafty twist to the present-day scenario, especially when we see him at the compound, looking all the part of a cult member.

All in all, this was beyond what I expected for a S2 opener. For anyone who even remotely expected it to fall flat and predictable (as some series season openers tend to sway), they were put to rights from the first scene on.

Bravo Helix! May you have season openers like this for many years to come.

Billy Campbell

Remembered for his starring roles in The Rocketeer, The 4400, and Once and Again, Billy Campbell joins the cast as Dr. Alan Farragut, a man with a mission who doesn’t allow his personal baggage to (or gives a good try not to) get in the way.

Following his portrayal of Alan, it’s clear the role was made for him, with the emotional complexity of having to save quite possibly the world and his own brother, along with having to work with his ex-wife (who had an affair with said brother), his face is such an open book hardly a word needs to be said to convey what’s being felt. One can tell when Alan’s resisting banging his head against a keyboard or a wall with the sheer frustration of the situation, and there are times when we wish he would, if only for his own sake to relieve the tension.

Spread the infection

Dr. Alan Farragut

 

No stranger to battling infectious diseases, Alan soon finds this is more than he bargained for, especially considering the potential distraction of his ex-wife on the team and his brother’s life on the line.

At first he seems content to let Hatake take the reigns, yet he soon tires of the unanswered questions and secrecy, knowing that unless he is allowed full access, he may not be able to save his brother or anyone else either.