Just in case anyone else here watches the Hidden Frontier shows, Helena Chronicles episode 2 was released between Friday and yesterday.
My verdict: better than the first one, but Sharon Savene as Faisal is still FAR too wooden, and I don't think we care enough about the new characters -- and Zen and Faisal aren't really sympathetic enough -- for the big bombshell at the end. But the writing was good, and I finally had a Rockney moment I enjoyed ("because people will say I'm crazy!"). Also, the way they're treating Lt. Dais is pretty interesting.
There's also a LOOOOOONG glamour shot of the Victory or the Antietam -- some Sovereign-class ship -- that I think was included to say "look what we built in the 3D model shop!" It's a great shot, but it's too long.
Also good were the introduction of the DS12 counselor and her little side project, the return of Johns (who in his few moments on-screen was nonetheless more sympathetic than Faisal), and the fact that the HF team has progressed to the point where someone can walk out a door, have it close behind them, and do it all with green-screens.
Melodee Spevack's overacting was TOO much, and I think someone could've come up with a better BDSM prop than that horsehair whip. Ah well.
Overall, like I said, not bad.
