Helix Season 2 Episode 13 Review: You Might Want To Avoid The Ilaria Fresh Fruits At Your Grocery Store (Season Finale)

Update: As of 4/30/15 "Helix" has been canceled by SyFy. 

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Thus ends season 2 of the hot mess we call "Helix". Did it satisfactorily answer your questions or were you left thinking WTF? Based on the finale, are you looking forward to a season 3 (if there is one) or ready to call it quits? Feel free to let me know in the comments below. Before I pass judgement, I'll hit the highlights of "O Brave New World".

Last week's episode ended with a gunshot. Since we knew Julia was alive 30 years later, I was certain Alan was the recipient of the bullet. In the finale it is confirmed that Julia shot Alan. Of course she immediately tries to save his life afterwards. He repays her by taking the Mother samples and going back to the tree. He plans to set it on fire. 

Arent They A Cute Couple

In one of the highlights of the episode, we learn Amy is NOT dead. Landymoto turned her into his hideous twin. She does not appreciate the effort. They later approach their mother Anne. Amymoto takes the baby from her. She tries to set a trap for Julia and Sarah but, oops, that backfires. The sisters from the basement turn on Amymoto. They pull out her teeth (just as she did to them). Now that's poetic justice. 

Before Alan can set fire to the tree, Eli (previously known as Peter) finds him and sets the fire all around Alan (thus trapping him). Are those two ever going to get along? Apparently not. Enough with the sibling rivalry already! Also just a helpful hint Eli. If you want to kill someone, make sure to pore the gasoline ON them (not AROUND them). He's such a putz. Anyway Julia saves Alan from the fire. A helicopter arrives and evacuates them from the island. 

Peter And "No Toes Anne" Making Their Escape From The Burning Building

Peter, Anne, "their" baby, Sarah, the immortal jar baby, Kyle, Soren, Julia and Alan all end up back in Seattle. Where did everyone else from the island go? There were still a number of people. Oh well, I guess no one cares. Kyle gives the cure to the CDC. They have named the vaccine "Olivia" (in honor of Soren's mother). It turns out that Peter secretly contacted Ilaria (sorry I cant remember the woman's name) and sold them the Mother samples. Julia is taken aback by this. But have no fear, Peter is still carted off by the police (based on Kyle's investigation).  

Haaa, Immortal Alan Should Be Fun

In a waiting room it looks like the immortal jar baby is dead (but given how the scene was set up we're not entirely certain). It appears Alan will also die. Later he wakes up alone and looks in the mirror... where he sees silver eyes. Psych! Sarah has turned him into the thing he hates most in the world. 

Then there's a commercial for Ilaria Fresh. Yep they sound scrumptious. Too bad they'll make ya sterile. Loved it!  

Hi Im Dr Sarah Silver Eyes. Welcome To The Baby Farm. 

Next we're off to 2029. A woman wants to get pregnant but she cant do it the natural way. The process is very selective. She says she doesnt care what she has to do. The nurse takes the women to a doctor. In the room are thousands of rows of cubes where pregnant women are located. A huge arm brings the women down to be examined by the doctor who is...Sarah. Well she did agree to join Ilaria in exchange for getting off the island.

Nope I Didnt See That Coming...And Neither Did Caleb (Cause He's Got One Eye)

Speaking of St Germaine, its 30 years in the future. Julia is getting sicker all the time. Caleb again asks her if she knows the way to San Jose. I would have punched him in the face at that point. But she finally remembers what it means. It was something she and Alan said to each other on their wedding day. Caleb finally reveals that he is...wait for it... he is Soren. Well I didnt see that coming. I had guessed silver eyed jar baby. As Alan has said previously, Soren's blood is the cure for the virus. Apparently Alan and Hatake concocted the TXM-7 virus that kills immortals. The info on Hatake's sword (which he referred to as his "legacy") is the recipe for the virus. Since Soren is the cure, Alan hid him back on the island. Caleb/Soren gives Julia a vial of his blood. It doesnt look like she will take it. Will she die instead? On a side note, I really hope Soren got to play Call of Duty before he was sent back to the island. 

Julia You're Not Looking So Good

Grade: 4 Monsters (out of 5) for "O Brave New World" and 3 1/2 Monsters for season 2 as a whole. The finale wrapped up a number of elements but some of the plot still dont make sense IMHO. See my breakdown of the positives and negatives below. I've been with "Helix" since episode 1. Will I be sorry if the show doesnt return for a season 3? Not if it continues on it's current trajectory. I would like to see the show focus mainly on Ilaria (and not all these ancillary story lines). I'd also watch an Amymoto and Landrymoto spinoff. That would be great fun! Bonus points for the Ilaria commercial. Ilaria Fresh indeed.   

The Negatives:

• The Writing- In season 1 I thought "Helix" had a master plan of where it was going. Now I think the writers are making it up as they go along. There seems to be no cohesive overall structure (which is a shame since it has great potential). 
• Peter- I know Peter has major childhood issues but is that enough to become a mass murderer/cult leader? I just dont see it.
• The Abbey- Yes it gave us some great characters (see below) but much of it was a hot mess.  
• Julia 30 Years Later- I know Julia went to the island to find the cure for the immortal virus. But at the beginning of the season when she dug up a skull, wasnt she trying to figure out if it was Alan? She later found Alan's tombstone on the island. But we now know Alan is immortal so why the fake tombstone (unless he's one of those immortals that got killed)? Im confused. 

The Positives:

• Great Characters- Sister Amy and Michael (and his dysfunctional family and Wall of DaughterWives) from season 2 are standouts (as was Hatake from season 1). I also really like Julia. Please dont let her die if the show continues.  
• Ilaria- I love the idea of a group of immortals who are secretly trying to control the world. I'm just sad we couldnt learn more about them in season 2. If this show hopes to survive, FOCUS ON THE IMMORTALS.  
• Great Moments- 1. Michael getting his just reward by being buried alive only to later lose his head to Caleb/Soren. 2. Amymoto getting her just reward courtesy of the Basement Sisters. 3. All the scenes with Hatake and Julia were the best-- him trying to inject her with whatever (great acting!), the sword fight, and the horrific family dinner. 4. The first silver eye reveal (yes I know most of those was in season one). 5. I also enjoy Julia and Alan's relationship which was up, down and all over the place. 

Photo Credits:
http://www.tv.com/shows/helix/community/post/helix-season-2-finale-episode-13-o-brave-new-world-review-142870977461/
http://observationdeck.io9.com/yup-the-helix-season-finale-just-raises-more-questions-1697222382
http://www.foreverafangirl.com/helix/

The World According To GMonster
TV: Heavy On Sci Fi, Horror & Adventure; Light On Reality 

April 12, 2015

10:09 PM