13 Episodes
Short on time? Here's the essentials:
A CDC team, led by Dr. Alan Farragut and his ex-wife Dr. Julia Walker, investigates a deadly, rapidly spreading virus at an Arctic research facility. Their mission is to contain the outbreak and find a cure. Alan's infected brother, Peter, exhibits superhuman strength and becomes a primary threat, actively spreading the virus.
The core conflict escalates as the virus proves to be man-made and highly contagious. Key turning points include the discovery that cold slows the virus, and the arrival of the Ilaria Corporation, who want to control it. Dr. Sulemani is killed after becoming infected, and Doreen is murdered before she can reveal the virus's origins. Daniel sacrifices himself in a desperate attempt to save Julia.
The season ends with the survivors facing an uncertain future. Julia's mother is killed, and the virus has spread beyond the facility. Alan and Julia are left battling the main antagonist, Spencer, who possesses both the virus and a potential cure.
Season 1 of Helix covers episodes 1-13. Here's everything that happened:
Season 1, Episode 1: Pilot - A CDC team, including Dr. Alan Farragut and his ex-wife Dr. Julia Walker, investigates a deadly outbreak at an Arctic research facility. Alan's infected brother, Peter, is found to have superhuman strength. The team discovers the virus is unlike anything they've seen. The episode concludes with Peter escaping and cutting off a security guard's hand to steal his RFID chip.
Season 1, Episode 2: Vector - The CDC team races to contain the rapidly spreading virus, hunting down those exposed. Panic rises as Peter continues infecting others. Alan finds a body in the vents, realizing Peter removed the hand for its security chip. Julia discovers the virus is unlike anything from this century. The episode concludes with Julia infected by Peter.
Season 1, Episode 3: 274 - With the infected numbers rising, Alan forces Hatake to open Level R. Julia, attacked by Peter, struggles with possible infection. Sarah develops a rapid response test, but its reliability is questionable. Dr. Sulemani, now a Vector, attacks, forcing Alan to kill her. Julia stays on Level R with the infected.
Season 1, Episode 4: Single Strand - The scientists on Level R, fearing abandonment, cut off the air supply to force communication. Alan attempts a risky cure on Peter. Julia teams up with a mysterious researcher named Jaye. Doreen discovers the virus is man-made before Sergio kills her. Hatake restores oxygen, then murders the rioting scientists.
Season 1, Episode 5: The White Room - Alan investigates Doreen's death, discovering evidence of murder. Julia finds an ally in Level R, while Sarah hides a patient and battles her morphine addiction. Daniel kills Balleseros with a pickaxe. Peter shows brain activity at the episode's end.
Season 1, Episode 6: Aniqatiga - Alan and Jordan make progress decoding the virus, realizing cold slows it. Hatake "cures" Julia. Balleseros, rescued by Anana, is held in an Inuit village where she accuses him of involvement in missing children. Ilaria Corporation helicopters arrive. Julia wakes with an altered eye.
Season 1, Episode 7: Survivor Zero - Constance Sutton from Ilaria Corporation arrives to collect the virus and cure. Alan discovers Walker seemingly symptom-free. Daniel learns the truth about his "adoption" by Hatake. Julia discovers she has silver eyes, and Hatake appears emotional. Three new infected vectors are now loose in the facility.
Season 1, Episode 8: Bloodline - Sutton captures Julia, forcing Alan and Sarah to continue work on a cure. Julia escapes and frees Hatake, who reveals he's her father. Alan and Sarah attempt to kill Sutton, but fail. Hatake then strangles Sutton. He places her head in cryonic storage.
Season 1, Episode 9: Level X - Alan and Julia venture to Level X to destroy the NARVIK virus, while Hatake reveals to Julia that he is her father. Sarah's condition worsens as she helps shut down the power. Peter, revived by the vectors, becomes their leader. At the episode's end, Victor leaves the base with the missing Narvik virus.
Season 1, Episode 10: Fushigi - Alan and Julia track Adrian, who has stolen the Narvik virus. Sarah discovers a potential cancer cure using Julia's DNA before collapsing. Gunnar, an immortal prisoner, commits suicide. Julia secretly keeps Narvik samples, and Peter builds a shrine to Julia.
Season 1, Episode 11: Black Rain - As Vectors hunt the uninfected, the CDC team races to develop a cure. Julia discovers a potential cure while Ilaria's kill squad, led by the young assassin Scythe, infiltrates the base. Scythe massacres scientists in an elevator. Hiroshi is injured, and the team prepares to move to the bunker. The episode concludes with the survivors heading to the bunker, facing an uncertain future.
Season 1, Episode 12: The Reaping - The Scythe, revealed as Constance's son Spencer, seeks revenge on Hatake. Hatake and Alan attempt to trap him, but Spencer captures Julia. Spencer forces Hatake to choose between Julia and Daniel, leading to Daniel's explosive sacrifice. The episode concludes with the team reeling from the loss and Spencer in possession of both the virus and the cure.
Season 1, Episode 13: Dans L'Ombre - Alan tortures an immortal for Julia's location, while the team discovers a Narvik outbreak in Puerto Rico. Sergio seeks a list of Inuit children taken by Hiroshi. Spencer/The Scythe triggers explosives, killing Julia's mother, Jane. Peter reveals he infected himself to smuggle the virus off base. The episode concludes with Alan and Walker battling Spencer.
