Helix [S2] Ep. 2: "Reunion" Review

     New episode of Helix was awesome. Loved the Alan mystery that the series has begun with. Honestly, it's the reason I'm so intrigued with season 2. I want to know more and through the tradition of this show, they're teasing the hell out of it. I'm still tagging along the Julia future plot to see where the connections draw, but for now I'm
loving everything in the present day story. I am already warming up to our new scientist squad for the show so far (Sarah, Peter, and new show member Kyle). The interactions between the three feels natural and I would love to see how this specific team became what they are with Alan being left out. So many questions that I have for the time gap between the seasons and as I said before, the show is teasing the life out of me (in a good way). The way the episode started showing quick cuts of Alan's personal mission to find Julia was surprisingly powerful (just like the final episode of season 1). Alan has slowly become my favorite character not only because of Billy Campbell's brilliant performance, but the character arc that he embarks. We see this CDC scientist trying to save the world turn into this rouge spy like character on a solo mission to find someone (by any means necessary). Every time we see Alan, I'm always hoping for some flashback showing him in Paris dealing with Ilaria and getting close to finding Julia as that's where the most engaging moments in the show takes place so far. There is this constant look of determination and tension building in his eyes as if something big is about to happen, but of course we don't know what it is yet.

     As for Peter, I'm happy to finally see him not crawling through vents and leading a pack of virus ridden savages (talk about a character arc). It's good to finally see him in his true role as an intelligent scientist in the field now taking Alan's place. Of course there is that moment where the episode reminds us of what he once was with the infected in the process of attacking him in which he freezes up with a vector memory. That was interesting to say the least, but I'm not sure if it means anything more than what it is. Is Peter simply suffering from guilt? Or perhaps there's something a little more sinister brewing within. We'll see in the upcoming episodes I suppose. Sarah is one of those characters that could've easily been wiped out from Season 1 without having any significance of the main story except for being another immortal (but I honestly liked having her around). She was the background female role that became the perfect filler for extra drama, but in Season 2, she definitely shows her value a bit more. Not only do we get moments of her standing up to Peter in opposition to his leadership, but she becomes to key to unlocking Alan's secret to the viewers. Every question that she begs for Alan to answer is almost like a direct link to the audience. It's as if she's yelling at him for us to find out what happened in Paris. She becomes our eyes and ears in that sense and let's not forget the delaying pregnancy. I thought this show couldn't get any more twisted, but apparently a slowly growing fetus due to immortality is on the table for character arcs. Looks like things are going to get quite interesting for our CDC team as many side stories get stirred up together eventually in this melting plot of potential called St. Germain.

Pros:

I swear if I can get just two episodes of just Alan's mission before getting to the island, I would be a happy camper. Seriously, every scene with him getting answers and taking out Ilaria members just to find Julia is what I call "badass as badass can be". I love this new cold, grizzled look of the character (reminds me of Joel from "The Last of Us"). What in the world is his big secret mission and what are these bombings in Paris that are constantly mentioned linking to him? My predictions is that Alan will completely steal the show for me this season with intriguing story lines just like Julia's transformation did in Season 1. All eyes will be on his hidden agendas as the show progresses. It may even steal the spotlight from the whole cult chaos going on which theoretically should be the main focus of Season 2. Maybe I'm just a sucker for rouge agent type story lines especially when it involves one of the good guys. However, it seems that Alan is seen as a criminal on the run in the eyes of his brother. Than in itself is something worth diving into this season. Have I ever mentioned how much potential this show has?

I know I haven't talked much about Brother Michael and his possible hidden agendas, but that's simply because there really isn't much to go on in these first two episodes. Sure the guy just screams "creepy evil bastard" at first sight, but he technically hasn't done anything noteworthy (oh I'll give it an episode or two until I start hating his guts or loving the character as a great villain). However, we finally get some preaching scenes that I've been sort of expecting where we can see what makes these people look up to him with such grace and confidence. Although the speech doesn't end will with an infected child wandering in, the moment itself was quite entertaining. It was the one time where I said "I think I'm starting to like this island" because I realize how much of a powerful villain he can potentially be if they ever take the brainwashing preacher direction. Brother Michael definitely has what it takes to be a great television villain given the right story. I hope we get more scenes like these.

Cons:

This episode was actually pretty solid overall, so my negatives are more in the nitpicking region than anything really. For one thing the relationship between Peter and Alan is quite black and white which is strange being that they're brothers. Yes, I know brothers in the real world can be just as conflicting, but given the bond that they starting to have in Season 1, it feels a bit extreme for Peter to completely disown him. Another thing is the typical fast motion infected scenes. I know it's made in effect to portray the brutal and savage nature of the infected, but it does come across as a little extreme in some scenes. It worked surprisingly well in Season 1, but that was also due to the infected moving in herds. However, the effect just don't work as well with one as it feels forced. The best way to describe it is that it feels like the show is forcing the projection of "This thing is dangerous. Just look at the way it moves!" So, my suggestion is that they use that effect very sparingly as regular motion can be just as effective if not more with some of these scenes.