Talk about real life horror: an outbreak of a new and terrifying disease is contained in an isolated Arctic facility … for the moment. But the clock is ticking. Where did the new virus come from? What is it doing to its victims? And how can it be cured before it escapes?

Let’s be honest: SyFy is triple-schizo. On the one hand it has those so-bad-it’s-not-funny Saturday Night movies like DinoCroc vs. SuperGator and Sharknado. On the other hand, i’s got a few ‘eh’ shows that go a few years a peter out, like Haven and Alphas. And on the third hand, now and then it unexpectedly offers up a few real classics, like Farscape, Stargate SG-1, and Battlestar Galactica. All, inexplicably, from the same network.

Why the really good shows have to be so rare is anyone’s guess, but now — finally — a new one has arrived. It’s from Ron Moore, the producer behind Battlestar, and the first fifteen minutes have just been released (after a whole series of trailers you can catch right here, on YouTube.)

Houston, we have a winner.

Top of the chart: some awesome production design that makes even the most jaded fans of 28 Days Later shudder a little. The wonderfully understated acting of Billy Campbell, whom we will love forever if only for Rocketeer. A BSG shout-out in the first ten minutes (“This is going to be the most frakked-up family reunion ever.”) And for the creepiest use of pop music ever. Trust us: you will never listen to Dionne Warwick in the same way again.

You remember — if you’re lucky — what it was like the first time you saw Buffy or Heroes or Lost or Breaking Bad or Dexter. Yes, they didn’t all end well, but God, didn’t they start wonderfully? That’s where we are with Helix.