Helix Episode 4 Recap: Single Strand, Quadruple Homicide

Day 4 finds Julie still quarantined with the other infectees and vectors in Level R. Peter is still fighting for his life. There is an environmental alert. Everyone may die of carbon dioxide poisoning in a matter of hours.

The effectiveness of the test that Sarah designed to detect the virus is in question. Of course we already from what Julie found last week. Sarah tries to help one of the infected (sorry I dont know her name). Sarah appears to be getting sicker and sicker as well. She has a tumor.

Daniel and Hatake determine that the oxygen scrubbers in Level R are not working. Yep some of the infected turned them off in order to get Hatake to negotiate with them. Julie doesnt want to go along with their plan so they lock her out in the hall. A rage monster almost gets her but she's rescued by a gas mask wearing woman named Jaye.

Alan administers some Arctic Biosystems experimental drugs to Peter. They at first look like they're going to kill him but then he's much better and able to speak but is hallucinating. By the end of the episode he's back to being comatose.

"I've run every gene sequence known to man. This is a unidentified species-- a single strand" says Doreen to Sergio. Yep that's why the name of the episode is "A Single Strand". What does it mean though? Are Hatake, Daniel and Tony aliens?

Hatake and Daniel go to chat with the guys who turned off the scrubbers. Hatake is not known for his negotiation skills and shoots all three of them dead. Problem solved. Mental note, never trust anyone that says "you have my word of honor".

The mystery with Julie deepens when she finds her initials behind a locker. She has been there as a little girl but has no memory of it.

RIP Doreen. She was my favorite character. We knew she wasn't long for this world when Sergio said "I like you too" (which means he's going to kill her at some point). Death by rats though is a bad way to go... but maybe Doreen would have wanted it that way.

And in the last scene Hatake approaches a rage monster in the hall. He snarls and let's Hatake pass. No, I have no idea what that means.

Other observations:

Hatake's sipping coffee from his "Keep Calm And Carry On" mug was a nice touch.
The visual of the person in the gas mask was very effective. Another fun visual was the spiral staircase in Hatake's secret passageway that looks like DNA.
And I dont profess to know about such things but do you really need oxygen scrubbers in the Arctic? They have oxygen there ya know, it's just very cold. Its not like they're on the moon.
Favorite quote: "I havent had enough sleep, coffee, or cigarettes to deal with any more of this Fox Mulder crap"- Doreen to Sergio.

Grade: 4 Monsters (out of 5). I'm enjoying this show more and more each week. The acting, story line and visual effects are great. I have no idea what any of it means though. Please leave your theories in the comments section below.