Helix Season 2 Trailer Trades The Arctic For An Island, But The Body Count Remains

By David Wharton | Published

This article is more than 2 years old

Along with Defiance, Syfy’s Helix was one of the first signs that the network was shifting its focus away from light, fluffy fare like Eureka and Warehouse 13, and back towards more serious science fiction dramas. That’s a good thing, but it doesn’t mean those early experiments were entirely successful. Defiance eventually found its footing, but Helix was frustrating bordering on terrible for most of its first season, only to rally somewhat at the end. Now the latest Helix teaser has provided more clues about where the show is headed: namely, to an island populated by at least one Steven Weber.

As you might have noticed from the distinct lack of snow, Helix is leaving behind the claustrophobic Arctic setting of its first season in favor of a more temperate climate. The second season kicks into gear with a CDC team investigating an outbreak aboard a ship, which eventually leads them to a mysterious island inhabited by a utopian cult led by “Brother Michael” (Weber). Brother Michael isn’t your average, ordinary cult leader, however. In addition to mixing a really delicious Kool-Aid, he’s also a top-notch geneticist. And I think we can safely assume his long-term goals are more sinister than “hang out on this island sleeping with all my female acolytes.”

Also joining the cast this year is Mad Men’s Matt Long in the role of Dr. Kyle Sommer, the newest edition to the show’s squad of CDC disease experts. Billy Campbell will return as Dr. Alan Farragut, as will actors Jordan Hayes and Neil Napier as Dr. Sarah Jordan and Dr. Peter Farragut, Alan’s brother, respectively.

It’ll be interesting to see how Helix’s second season ties into its first. Will the new disease the CDC is up against be a strain of the one from last year or something entirely new? The most interesting thread of season one’s storyline was the revelation of the true nature of the Ilairia company as a bunch of silver-eyed immortals who’ve been pulling the strings behind human history for who knows how long. I’m sure Illaria has something to do with this new disease even if it’s something new, and based on this latest teaser, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that Brother Michael wears colored contacts…

At any rate, it looks like we won’t be able to drop any more casual Thing comparisons in our Helix stories. If you’ll excuse me, I just need to unlock this crate full of Lost references…

Helix returns to Syfy in January 2015.