Helix [S2] Ep. 1: "San Jose" Review

So far, my intrigue level is pretty high. I'm still indecisive about doing full reviews for this season, but I will be reacting to every episode in some way showing my thoughts on here. The setting is slowly (very slowly) winning me over and the timeline transitioning plot is very interesting. However, I'm finding myself more interested in what happened between the ending of the last season and the beginning of this one. Those gaps of important story points that are just begging to be told are really what's grabbing my attention. I will say that the whole cult
vibe introduced in the show can be quite interesting depending on how they utilize it. It's sort of this season's "vectors" where we're probably going to progressively see how messed up and intelligent they really are. As for the cult leader, Michael, I wasn't head over heals in his debut, but he seems creepy enough to sell me in. Now, the viral outbreak plot itself, I'm liking the idea of us having a new virus with new symptoms. It keeps the show fresh and interesting aside from the other character subplots. Visually, the virus reminds me heavily on "The Last of Us" (a highly regarded video game that also deals with a viral outbreak). I hope much like in Season 1, that we get some very interesting scientific experimentation scenes with the virus. Some of my favorite moments of the show involves our cast of doctors struggling to understand the unknown. Just like I remembered from the past season, Helix has a way of giving you more questions than answers making you addicted to find the truth to it's many mysteries. I feel like this season will send some people away while winning others over with it's entirely new tone and setting. Seriously, it's amazing what a simple switch of environment can do to the overall feel of a show. 

Pros: 

The timeline shifting twist really caught me off guard especially in the way that they revealed it. I'm not sure if the entire season will take this method of story telling with every episode, but if shows like Arrow has proven anything, there is a way to pull it off. 

The new virus (although not explored yet obviously being the first episode) has already caught my interest. I'm very curious as to the origins, symptoms, and any possible connections to the Narvik virus introduced in Season 1. 

With the character of Michael so far, I feel like they can either go the complete over the top personality route (won't be the first time), or they can actually give a genuinely creepy villain. Fingers crossed for that second option as not everyone in this cast can stand on the same pedestal of acting. 






Cons:  

Julia Walker became my most anticipated character of Season 2 especially with the way the show wrapped her character up. They sort of built her up as this powerful new leading figure of Ilaria giving her the greatest character arc so far in the show. This season however introduces her as a highly vulnerable victimized person on a mission. I guess we'll find out what happened beforehand, but the transition just didn't entirely work for me. Those flashback scenes will be vital to this beginning half of the season.