Helix (2014–2015) User Reviews

Good concept, bad delivery

[movies-61420 · 6/10 · 29 January 2018]

To start off with the good, I will say that the show "sounds" very appealing (deadly virus outbreak on a massive secluded base in the arctic). The general setting/premise is solid.

The show fails however in many facets. The acting ranges from mediocre to sub-standard, though I don't blame the actors. While I can't say I enjoyed any of the performances, The writing is where the show falls apart.

If you tasked someone to find a team of writers to do a project, but instead of doing any work finding the right writers, they just hired a football team (no offence to football teams here), you would have the quality of writing in this show.

The characters typically do not act rationally (rationally referring to how a person might normally act under the same circumstances). Conflict feels like it is created on the spot, and often leads to very unrealistic sequences of events.

The show has poor dialog, and very undefined characters (their personalities seem to change radically without a proper basis as to why).

I could go on, but I would like to end on a positive note.

Despite having it's serious flaws, you may find yourself still willing to endure this series. It has mystery, it has action, it has zombie-ish themes, and from time-to-time has a few moments.

Macabre Entertainment

[jrhgriffiths · 7/10 · 23 April 2014]

Helix is a strange show. The show is both deadly serious and deliciously satiric, as exemplified by the title sequence where blood drips to the tune of elevator music. At times this unique mixture works; at others it becomes farcical. Helix is about a virus that breaks out in a mysterious science facility located deep in the Arctic. The virus causes humans to become violent zombies; a group of scientists (our protagonists) are sent to control the situation.

The show's modus operandi is to gradually reveal layer after layer of conspiracy and intrigue behind the virus, all while people die in variously horrible ways. The acting is relatively poor; the characters are fairly uninteresting; the plot-twists can be somewhat ludicrous. And yet, the show's macabre sense of humor and wonderfully absurd plot are appealing. How many shows gleefully display the explosion of rats in a microwave oven? Moreover, the facility isolated in the Arctic provides a perfect stage for violence and horror. As an enjoyable late-night diversion, Helix succeeds.

Over the first two seasons, riveting and aggravating

[cherold · 7/10 · 15 July 2021]

After the first three episodes, I was a big fan of this one. It was stylishly filmed, intriguing, and contained some genuinely creepy/scary moments, making it the closest thing to Fringe I've seen in some time.

Unfortunately, the series as a whole was never as good as that beginning. There were always problematic choices, such as characters who failed to offer pertinent information for no good reason, or who did dumb things, or who made weirdly uncharacteristic choices. While Season 1 was better than Season 2, both times the season went off the rails towards the end, with endings that were very unsatisfying.

Season 1 I would rate a 7.5 overall, season 2 probably deserves a 6.5, so let's give it a 7.

What a letdown

[ethanstraffin · 6/10 · 31 March 2014]

I jumped at the chance to watch "Helix," especially because it's not as though we're drowning in great TV sci-fi at the moment. Zombie movies meet "The Andromeda Strain" with a bit of "The Thing" thrown in? Count me in! And for a few episodes, it really did seem as though it might become the diamond in SyFy's rough.

Unfortunately, "Helix" to date has failed to live up to its potential. By the end of the first season, the familiar sci-fi/horror tropes that served as a promising setup have become a stronger prison than its isolated setting. Where tension should be building, the story instead begins to run out of steam, with each new threat and cliffhanger somehow less compelling than the last. Questions are answered, but the answers aren't as interesting as they could be, and most of them fail to produce new questions that might take the story in unexpected directions. And while a few characters may hint at multidimensionality, others do things that they simply would not do -- solely for the sake of manufacturing drama, and with little sign that we might learn something about them later that would justify it.

By the time the final "big bad" of the season (who felt more like a reject from the "Harry Potter" franchise) arrived to walk us through most of the same plot points the previous one did, I was gritting my teeth to make it through the finale. I'm glad for the sake of its more devoted fans that "Helix" was renewed, but I don't see myself sticking around for the second season.

Decent, not as bad as haters make it out to be

[karim_arabu · 7/10 · 29 January 2014]

OK, so I've been reading reviews to see people's opinion on this, and I see that a lot of "internet doctors" and CDC employees are pretty mad about what's been going on.I have to say, does anything impress you lot?

If you really want to nit pick about characters being stupid and "stuff that wouldn't happen", I could nit pick your precious TWD ( which I'm a fan of ) and your other little precious gems to pieces.

Now, if "The Following" can get a second season, then so can this.At least it has a more interesting plot.What was the gripe of most people about Following?The fact that FBI are presented as the most stupid human beings on the planet, except maybe the main character.

After watching the 4th episode of Helix, I can say that things are become pretty damn interesting.

I don't want to spoil or anything but by the 4th episode you will start to get the storyline a little bit better than if you only watched till 3.At least in my opinion.

This is not a new hit series that would have the main character get 1 million per episode, but its pretty solid show with its flaws and it has room to improve and I think we all have seen TV shows start a bit slow and then find their footing.

I really wish all these trolls would stop with the 1-2-3 ratings and blatant hatred wit no arguments besides "characters are stupid, this wouldn't actually happen if......"

Look if you don't like it, stop watching and stop living on this forum bashing it everyday, it is not that important.

I really like the setting of this show.Tho that's just me, I like shows and even movies that are more "enclosed".

I'm not a massive fan of the show, and I do realize it has its flaws and characters might do some stupid stuff once in a while, but I recall thinking this in a lot of the more popular TV shows but I get passed it cause I want to watch not be a sad little arm-chair analyst.

See the show people, if it clicks with you, then good, if it doesn't, there are a lot more out there.

Shoot the person who chose the soundtrack!!!!

[k_strougo · 8/10 · 26 March 2022]

This show is quite good. It has nice twists and plot cliffhangers.

However, the person who chose the soundtrack should never be allowed to do that ever again!!! It's excruciating!!!!

Started out OK, but ran out of steam.

[sfwriter999 · 6/10 · 20 May 2017]

The first 4 episodes of season 1 were engaging and interesting, but then the writers must have of run out of ideas because then they just started running around a lot and there is the merry-go-round of who captured who and who escaped and some crazy-doesn't-make-any-sense plot twists. I'm up to episode 9 and ready to stop watching.

Must Watch!

[RoswellAlien · 10/10 · 10 January 2014]

I have been anticipating this series for a while now and it was exactly what I expected. The story flows very well together so far it doesn't rush it's self into things it takes it's time to all come together. I will not spoil anything that happens in the show so you have to watch it if you wanna find out. The production value looks top notch for a Syfy series. The locations looked amazing and the CGI was really good. If that's what we got tonight I can't wait for the series to continue because it's only gonna get better. 10/10 from me but this show might not be for everyone but give it a shot even if it's not your cup of tea you might like it in the end!

*Edit* 2/16/2014- Just finished episode 7 I really like how this show is picking up big time. I am looking forward to the rest of the season.

Fun

[davor1607 · 6/10 · 14 April 2014]

I watched the first season until the end. I'm definitely not fascinated, it's never going to be my favorite show. Some events are unrealistic, some characters react in a way "real humans" wouldn't (but then again, it is still unclear how much of that is just bad writing and acting and how much will be explained later on). Still, every episode was interesting and fun to watch.

Sure, there are moments when they watch a virus under a microscope or create miracle drugs in days by mixing few flasks of colored liquids, but if you can let go of the expectations of realism for the sake of fun, I recommend this show.

back and forth to the point of confusion

[Stan-K97 · 5/10 · 8 April 2015]

As a sci-fi fan I was drawn in by this show and did give it a good chance. However, after half way through the 2nd season I am giving up. Nothing makes sense on the island - from the disease (Navark B), to the cult, to the CDC, to the freakish cannibal inhabitants. The military arrive and are picked off one by one islanders in a really naive way. Random things happen - all of a sudden Peter is the cult leader, there are incubators beneath the abbey, there is a fetus being transported back and forth in a glass bottle amongst other nonsensical things. The worst thing for me is the constant yo-yo'ing - one second Peter is captured, then Kyle, then Alan, and it goes back and forth.

After a while it seems like the writers have run out of ideas and are just filling up time with nonsense.

Storyline aside, the acting is decent and the production is pretty sharp.

I can't see how this show can be turned around.

Let me tell you a story!

[thomas-klas · 10/10 · 9 March 2014]

Small spoiler alert:

I was watching the series from the beginning. At first i expected nothing else than a series about a virus infection, so maybe nothing new. Then it changed to be a series i expected to be a resident evil remake. Then i expected at some point aliens. An now, i really want to know what is going on there.

What i want to tell you here is this: I have never seen a series with so much plot changing, so much different ideas. That is really a welcome, because at this moment, i enjoyed every single episode. This is mystery science fiction at its best, and nothing else. The story that is told here is one of the best in science fiction history. Everyone who can should watch it. If you liked X-Files, you should watch it. If you liked Lost, you should watch it. Hell, this series did want to make me an IMDb account, because i did not understand the people who were giving bad critics.

Bio-Horror Sci-Fi Fans Check It Out Yourself

[HaveWisdomWillTravel · 6/10 · 18 March 2014]

I'm up to 5th episode now. Been looking for a decent sci-fi and this one didn't disappoint. My taste: Battlestar remake, The Killing, Continuum, Breaking Bad, Damages. I also lost interest very fast with Walking Dead, Almost Human, Under The Dome. I can deal with some violence and gore, have no patience for sentimental creeping plot and trope repackaging.

Helix shines in editing, pacing, style, direction, and overall actor performances. Sleek delivery of plots and character expositions. Exceptionally concise scenes move with a rhythm that's varied, surprising, and logical; nothing superfluous, nothing contrived or overly-cryptic, a sheer pleasure to watch and follow.

Mood is unsentimental and high tension, some romantic complications and family entanglement that sometimes affect human judgment in high stake situations, but nothing overdone so far. The hotter women feel confident enough to go without distracting salon hair and lash extensions. Hope they keep it this way.

Gore level...some, but not as liberal and nonsensical as Walking Dead or degrading like Game of Throne. Horror level, Firefly Serenity. Blood splatter level, True Blood and Dexter.

Imperfections: non-whites over-represented among baddies. Also, if I ran CDC I will not have severely obese or weak-bodied scientists on my team to the arctics. Morphine and other staples should not be locked in some god-forsaken storage cages, and weak-bodied females should not wander about a danger zone unarmed or unescorted. The scientists can do with more pseudo-real insider-speak - basically, stop bothering to score "real" science credibility with the audience. And one Japanese isn't enough for "global" tone of the setting. Also, questionable age gap issues, between male-female couples, and parent-child. Juvenile shock-value gross-porn can certainly be reduced.

That said, overall consistency and mystery is sufficient for me to suspend a little disbelief and anticipate the next episode.

I would've given an 8 for overall watch-ability, but +1 for balancing. Recommended for those who like bio-horror sci-fi or fantasy.

Great idea quickly destroyed by horrible writing.

[williamdeanauthor · 2/10 · 18 February 2018]

I think most of the negative reviews here have it all summed up. It is television at it's lowest.

Typical "SyFy" channel schlock.

[temporaldisturbance · 11 January 2014]

I was hoping for something like "Burning Zone" - intense show about a team of brave scientists containing deadly diseases. A show with tense and creepy atmosphere and genuinely frightening moments.

Instead, I got this.

The yellow-blue filter only accentuates the show's low-budget look. Characters spout out generic lines, and every scene unfolds right on cue of a predictable beat. There are no surprises, no scares, no suspense, no sense of involvement with the cardboard characters.

SyFy channel has succeeded at accomplishing the most difficult task of taking a show about infectious diseases and people in Hazmat suits and making it into a banal snore-fest.

Of course, if anyone could do it, it's SyFy.

The duality of man.

[whatsasriel · 6/10 · 29 October 2020]

Perfect example of what SciFy can do both right and wrong. The first season started out so strong, the mystery kept getting more and more in depth, the romance was about as good as a cheesy romance can be in a zombie tv show and the artistic vision was mindbogglingly good, then the last episode happened in the first season and gave a hint as to what season two would be like. Everything was dropped for an absolutely horrendous Chinese knockoff of the first season with random interjections of references from it. The artistic vision went out the window and the ratings reflected it. It's just such a shame that SciFy can produce stunningly amazing stuff, but ruins it over time. They're the mavericks of the industry at least, picking up stuff that's super underappreciated but also picking up stuff that is poison.

A bit underrated

[martin-ib-bruun · 7/10 · 5 May 2018]

I really enjoyed it. Maybe not a great show, but definitely worth watching. It has its own distinct style.

Not bad

[emmajaynee42 · 8/10 · 20 May 2019]

The first season was ok and had a mystery element. The second series was a bit odd, it started off slow, gradually introducing the old characters. With two time zones (past and present). But the elements in season 2 were a little bizarre.

Overall enjoyed watching the seasons.

Syfy canceled the series.

The Music Destroys the Plot

[cocacolagurllcf · 6/10 · 30 January 2016]

I really like the plot line and the characters are complex and relatively well written but the music destroys everything. I seriously believe that the person who picked the music has an emotion dissociative disorder because that's how bad it is. I've never made a review on IMDb before but I felt that this was necessary because the music selection literally pains me. It distracts from the intensity of the story board and it's a real shame. Maybe they thought light hearted music would be a sort of comedic relief but it just makes me not take the show seriously, which is pretty important for a medically based show focused around microbiology. To be fare I just started watching it but that's the first impression I got, and that isn't good for a pilot episode. I really hope they realized this clash of emotion and change it

Awesome Show

[castle_colditz · 10/10 · 25 January 2015]

This show has the capacity to grab you within its mystery. Script is written with great effort and actors did there part as well. Season 1 was worth watching and its great that it continued to season 2. It should have at least 8/10, but feeling sorry to see just 7. So far two episodes are full of suspense and the story is building in the best capacity. And to make show more versatile, two parallel time lines are introduced, where we see the Dr. Julia Walke as 30 years ahead of present day, searching for Dr. Alan Farragut. And remaining crew is in year current year investigating a suspicious viral pathogen on an island.

You must give it a try. it is honestly worth watching show, and series must be continued.

I've seen a lot worse than Helix

[Littlefinger817 · 7/10 · 26 January 2015]

OK I just have to say something because of the massive mixed reviews I'm seeing regarding this show.

"An insult to scientists" That's a laugh. I'm insulted every day by the media. Cry me a river.

The acting has it's ups and downs, yes. Some may not "like" the plot or the turns it takes, but that doesn't make it bad. And the character development might be shallow in places, but seriously, it's science fiction. We are seeing the characters develop with the show just enough without being bogged down by extensive back stories that take away from the plot focus. And that happens a lot in other shows.

People might have gripes about the protocol, professionalism, science and blah blah about the CDC and scientists in general, but a situation that's depicted in season 1 is not something black and white, or even a remotely regularly occurring instance. I would like to see how a "scientist" would react to a stand-alone situation depicted in this plot.

I you are a fan of science fiction, the show is worth a watch. I personally enjoy it, and am super excited to see how season 2 plays out.

You can't make a t.v. show perfect in only hour episodes. Certain aspects of realism have to be sacrificed in order to fight that 44 minutes time frame. Please, name one science fiction piece without a flaw. I've seen a lot worse than Helix.

Started out good..

[SpikyRaindrop · 4/10 · 20 February 2015]

I really liked the first 2 or 3 episodes. It was very intriguing and I liked the concept about a virus that turns people in a sort of zombies who can be controlled by someone.

But after 5 episodes or so the peoples own problems got the overhand and I really dislike that. Things as 'Please don't tell anyone' and 'Keep it a secret' or they just lie against each other and if I hate anything in series it's that. It's not that I don't like personal problems in series, but there are series who take literally 5 episodes to fix something as a lie. It's just frustrating and it makes the characters look stupid as hell. Like they can't solve problems like adults (which they are). I stopped at the point that a girl turned out to have cancer and the only one who knows is some infected woman. They make a pact that the infected doesn't tell anyone she has cancer (the reasons why are still unclear to me) in trade for that she doesn't kill or rat out the infected woman.

Plus this series has a love triangle that's stupid beyond words. This guy was married with a woman. But the woman cheated on him with his brother. And this girl with cancer really liked the guy and they eventually have sex, despite the age difference (20 years I guess, although it only looks like that). And of course all of those 4 people are together fighting the virus and the brother is infected with the virus.

It's just too much of those 'of course' moments. So it got boring and we saw less and less of the zombies, unfortunately. It was my fear in the beginning already and I hoped they didn't go that way.

Interesting

[sanadan · 8/10 · 8 February 2014]

Id say that this year only this new series have gotten me to the point where I ask myself "what are they going to do next?". I'm curious every time a new episode of Helix pops on and with that they have accomplished their first objective, to captivate me. The series is well made in terms of visuals and the premise is entertaining even if it is kind of another Zombie themed story. It feels like a mix of the beginning of Lost and the third season of the walking dead. Good but at the same time some characters make no sense by judging their actions. This might lead up to a big reveal or maybe these characters are just selfish and dumb. For now Id rate it an 8 out of ten but this early in anything can happen. Have a look and see for yourself, it's going to be an interesting ride.

Immortals not so immortal?

[fablechild-89792 · 7/10 · 27 May 2017]

Though I like the series, I find it hard to accept that immortals are on the brink of dying every other minute. What's the point of adding the immortality brick in the series if they are not truly immortals?? Other than that, I find the story line interesting. The subtle way that supernaturals are used as second to the story is brilliant and I can't wait to see what happens next.

An Andromeda Strain-like Start Leads Slowly to Necropsy

[puesta31 · 4/10 · 28 March 2014]

SPOILER: This series started out with such promise. It had a fun concept, it had decent early promotion, it had mystery after mystery flooding in each new episode; leaving people restless for the next Friday. Unfortunately Helix did not reach orbit after its stellar launch. I was a large proponent of Helix after everyone else was bashing it after one episode. I liked the Dionne Warwick and the eery feel of being trapped in a location with no salvation. The summation of the first few episodes all lead to a terrifying, electric and dramatic series that had the potential to throw curve ball after curve ball introducing us to futurist fringe genetic theory.

Unfortunately after the midway point of the series everyone came to find out SyFy was throwing nothing but fastballs. They went the obvious direction with the show and made it into a stupid corporate black ops series, rather than the hard science fiction show it had potential to be. You will leave this season feeling cheated. After hanging around through the noticeable decline in original content that hits midway through the first season, all the questions you were pining to have answered were...and they were the most unsatisfying answers I have ever received in a series. Maybe I was to invested in this show; maybe I am too reluctant to give up on what SciFi was; I will admit my own fault here. The end was simply stupid and the last three episodes were literally unbearable.

After years of the "SyFy" channel showing moronic shows like "faceoff" and their classic CGI knockoff's of any movie that had a decent theater buzz, they really had a chance to make something scientists and casual viewers alike could enjoy each week. Somehow I don't feel they ended up making either of these audiences happy. The science was sloppy, boring, and literally non-existent in the latter half, and the revelations and characters were stale, old and two dimensional.

In conclusion, the relatively fresh opening lead slowly to your archetypal (and we are talking SyFy archetypal here) ending that left everything to be desired. I suggest you enjoy the first 5 or so episodes for what they are and allow your mind to play around with the endless opportunities there can be to make something genuinely new and interesting. Just be sure you don't let your curiosity get the better of you, because you will leave episode 12 angry and confused.

TLDR; Just avoid it, the beginning is alright but you will definitely be disappointed by the end.

enjoying helix

[srosen7 · 22 February 2014]

i have been reading several of the reviews for this show & i don't understand why people are so upset with the lack of realism. one person wrote that it is an insult to scientists. its a fictitous show, not a documentary. i'm a viewer being entertained, not a scientist picking out the flaws in this show. the acting is decent, the script is fine & the mystery is above average. some people compared this to the TV show lost saying its not nearly as good. yes, i watched lost & that show made no sense on many occasions & the conclusion was a real disappointment. for syfy channel, this is a decent show. one thing i do agree on is one of the reviewers said the following depicted all the fbi agents as stupid, except for kevin bacon. i agree with that. if you are looking for realism then i suggest watching documentaries, not fantasy, scifi shows. maybe i'm just not that fussy, but this show, in my humble opinion, is entertaining, not thought provoking, which i don't expect from the syfy channel. its great escapism.