Helena G. Wells
Helena G. Wells | |
---|---|
Warehouse 13 character | |
First appearance | "Time Will Tell" |
Created by | Jane Espenson |
Portrayed by | Jaime Murray |
In-universe information | |
Nickname | H.G. Wells |
Gender | Female |
Occupation | Author, Inventor, Agent |
Family | Charles Wells (brother) |
Children | Christina Wells (daughter) |
Agent Helena "H.G." Wells is a fictional character on the US television series, Warehouse 13 (2010–present), portrayed by Jaime Murray. Agent Wells has been a recurring guest-character of the series and was the major antagonist of Season 2 appearing alongside Agents Myka Bering (Joanne Kelly) and Peter Lattimer (Eddie McClintock). Syfy is currently developing developing a spin-off series, Warehouse 12, centered around the Helena G. Wells character.[1] She is an inventor and author as well as having been a former/current agent. She is portrayed as a genius, is methodical by nature, and eschews the use of firearms.
Character history
Wells (born c.1866) is from Bromley, Kent,[2] and later lived in London, England.[3]
Little information is given about Helena's early life, but she is shown joining Warehouse 12 in 1889 where she came under the tutelage of Caturanga, who was "rather the Claudia of Warehouse 12." It is unclear how much of the biographical information available on the historical H.G. Wells would apply to Helena due to her claim that her brother, Charles, was the person history remembers by her name.[3][4]
A master of deductive reasoning, Helena excels at investigative inquiry. Her attention to detail and nearly eidetic memory allow her observe minutae and assimilate them into a cohesive theory. She is shown during her Victorian Era days in two episodes: "3...2...1" and again in "Stand".[4][5] In her first meeting with Caturanga she learns Warehouse 12 has an affinity for her when she informs him she can detect the aroma of apples[5]. In the Season 3 finale, "Stand", she smells them again moments before sacrificing herself to save the lives of Myka Bering, Peter Lattimer, and Arthur Nielsen.[5] She worked as an agent, presumably, from her instantiation in 1889[5] until she asked to be bronzed sometime after 1899.[6][7]
Following the death of her daughter, Christina Wells, Helena embarked on a quest to bring her back to life. She invented her time-machine for this purpose but was unable to change the events of the past.[6] She made at least three other attempts using artifacts, until she inadvertently caused the death of a fellow agent. Feeling as if she had become a danger, she asked to be bronzed,[7] and was kept in that state until she was set free by James MacPherson - whom she killed as retaliation for his betrayal when he attempted to avoid being arrested by promising to reveal her plans.[3] Throughout Season 2 Helena attempts to be reinstated at the Warehouse as an agent and enlists the aid of Myka Bering as an advocate. She is eventually reinstated, [6][7] but is later shown to have been working toward a plan to destroy modern civilization.[8] She voluntarily gives up following a confrontation with Myka Bering and is placed in a unique prison as punishment.[9]
During her incarceration in Season 3, Helena is shown only as a holographic image. Her consciousness is projected by a small spherical device allowing her to converse without any physical interaction.[10][4] She persuades Myka Bering to return to work at the Warehouse, and is not seen again until she is brought in for consultation on a case she unsuccessfully worked in 1893. The same artifact was also unsuccessfully investigated in 1962 by previous Warehouse 13 agents Rebecca St. Clair and Jack Secord.[4]
While attempting to circumvent instructions by Regent Jane Lattimer, Myka Bering and Peter Lattimer find Helena in the personage of Emily Lake - a high school literature teacher located in Cheyenne, Wyoming. They later discover Helena's consciousness was separated from her physical body by way of The Janus Coin artifact. They are unable to save her from abduction by Marcus Diamond and under-cover Warehouse agent Steve Jinks and she is eventually taken into custody and delivered to Walter Sykes.[2] Her consciousness and her body are reintegrated, and she is taken to China where she is eventually forced to help Walter Sykes in order to save Myka Bering's life after an unsuccessful attempt to save Tyler Struhl. Shortly afterward, Helena chooses to sacrifice her life in order to save the lives of her fellow agents.[5] Her death is negated in the Season 4 premiere when Arthur Nielsen reverts time and finds a way to avoid the explosion that killed Helena and destroyed the Warehouse. Arthur Nielsen then successfully advocates to keep Helena from being re-incarcerated.[11]
Skills and abilities
Helena is shown to exhibit a remarkably tuned quality of deductive reasoning, extremely calm focus, and extraordinary attention to detail. She is portrayed in a style similar to that of the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes.[4]
She is an expert in the marital art of Kenpo, and an accomplished author and inventor.[4] She appears to have a fluent grasp of the French language, [3][9] is able to recognize Demotic upon hearing it spoken, and considers the study of dead languages to be a hobby.[8]
Relationships
- Agent Wolcott - Her partner from her days as an agent at Warehouse 12. She investigated the "Joshua's Horn" artifact with him.[4]
- Agent McShane - A fellow agent from her days as an agent at Warehouse 12. Caturanga shot him with a Tesla-like weapon when she refused to carry a firearm.[5]
- Arthur Nielsen - A fellow agent at Warehouse 13, initially her main antagonist until she won him over with her self-sacrifice.[11]
- Caturanga - Her instructor at Warehouse 12. She described him as "rather the Claudia of Warehouse 12, and my teacher."[5]
- Charles Wells - Her brother who she claims was the "mustache" for her books.[4]
- Christina Wells - Her daughter whose death resulted in Helena's eventual bronzing.[7][6]
- Claudia Donovan - Her friend, mentee, and fellow agent at Warehouse 13.[6]
- Dickens - Her cat while in the personage of Emily Lake. Helena, herself, does not appear to be fond of cats.[2]
- James MacPherson - Her "old friend" and co-conspirator. He betrays her in an attempt to avoid arrest and she kills him in response.[3]
- Myka Bering - Her friend, fellow agent, and presumed love-interest at Warehouse 13.[3][12][7][6][8][9][10][4][2][5][11][13]
- Peter Lattimer - A fellow agent and friend at Warehouse 13, occasional antagonist. Pete has a marked dislike for her at times and often refers to her as "Lady Cuckoo".[9][4][2]
- Steve Jinks - A fellow agent at Warehouse 13. Her interactions with him were limited, but he plays a major role in her capture for Walter Sykes.
- Walter Sykes - Main antagonist during Season 3. He captures Emily Lake and is responsible for the reintegration of Helena's consciousness. Later he forces her to help him breach security at the Warehouse and is ultimately responsible for her death in the Season 3 finale which is negated in the Season 4 premiere.[2][5][11]
Continuity Issues
- Author status - According to Helena, her brother "Charles was the writer" and that he "supplied the mustache" while she "supplied the ideas - the research".[3] However, Helena implies that she wrote "The Time Machine" when she states of her time-machine device "It's not a vehicle, like in my novel."[6] Another difficulty is presented when Caturanga, shown in 1889, states that he had read many of Helena's novels and praised her talent.[5] The historical H.G. Wells was not first published until 1895. There have been no reference-able clarifying statements by the cast, crew, or executives to explain this continuity discrepancy.
- Christina Wells - According to the marker on her grave at the mausoleum in Paris, Christina was born 16 May 1891 and died 14 July 1899.[9] The same year is referenced by Helena when she explains her trip to Paris in 1899 where she attempted to save her daughter's life.[6] However, in a later episode Helena states that by 1893 her daughter had been "gone for nearly two years".[4] There have been no reference-able clarifying statements by the cast, crew, or executives to explain this continuity discrepancy.
Inventions
As shown in the series, in order of appearance/mention:
Episode Appearances
Season 2 (2010)
- "Time Will Tell"
- "For the Team"
- "Vendetta"
- "Where and When"
- "Buried"
- "Reset"
Season 3 (2011)
- "The New Guy"
- "3...2...1..."
- "Emily Lake"
- "Stand"
- "The Greatest Gift" - she is mentioned repeatedly but is not shown.
Season 4 (2012)
- "A New Hope"
References
- ^ Lacey Rose. "Syfy Prepping 'Warehouse 13' Spinoff Centered on H.G. Wells Character (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ a b c d e f Syfy. "Emily Lake". Syfy.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Syfy. "Time Will Tell". Syfy.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Syfy. "3…2…1…". Syfy.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Syfy. "Stand". Syfy.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Syfy. "Where and When". Syfy.
- ^ a b c d e Syfy. "Vendetta". Syfy.
- ^ a b c Syfy. "Buried". Syfy.
- ^ a b c d e Syfy. "Reset". Syfy.
- ^ a b Syfy. "The New Guy". Syfy.
- ^ a b c d Syfy. "A New Hope". Syfy.
- ^ a b c Syfy. "For the Team". Syfy.
- ^ Charlie Jane Anders. "Warehouse 13's Joanne Kelly: "I would love" to see H.G. Wells and Myka get together". i09.com.
External links
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