Last night during the excellent premiere of Defiance, Syfy launched the first trailer for upcoming Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica) series Helix. We’ve been telling you about Helix, and Syfy mentioned it last week during their upfronts; it was given a direct-to series order, and had the designation of “new scripted series,” not “new scripted series development,” so it looks like this one is definitely happening.

Okay, I’ve seen this trailer and… well, here’s a reminder of what they’ve told us about the show so far.

Helix — A team of scientists investigate a possible disease outbreak in an Arctic research facility and find themselves trying to protect the world from annihilation. Co-executive producer & writer: Cameron Porsandeh. Executive producers: Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica), Steven Maeda (Lost, CSI: Miami), Lynda Obst (Contact). Production company: Lynda Obst Pictures & Tall Ship Productions. Studio: Sony Pictures Television.

Scientists, weirdness in the Arctic. Obviously not the first time that’s been used, but okay, there will certainly be much more to it. Now watch the trailer, then we’ll discuss.

Trailer: Helix
[youtube]http://youtu.be/NiOXG8dVib4[/youtube]

So, we have the Bad Robot-favored dimensional font (and ooo, it even goes a little off-kilter, just like in Lost), the extremely Lost-ish opening title creepy crescendos, the near-X-Files quote “the truth is out there will spread” and the X-Files signature black substance dripping out of an eye ear. My eyes are not only rolling, they’re rolling across the floor and out the front door.

I am certain, really certain that this series will not just be a bunch of some of our more favorite signature sci-fi tropes all strung together. Ron Moore is too good for that. So I’m really looking  forward to the series, in spite of its cool-looking but somewhat insultingly obvious grab for our Bad-Robot-and-X-Files-loving attention by the publicity department, and am hopeful that we’ll be seeing trailers for it sans the sci-fi tropes soon. With any luck, my eyeballs will be back in place by then.

We’ll keep you posted.