The explosive spring finale of Freeform’s Siren left the fate of the lives of three characters up in the air — Xander (Ian Verdun), his best friend Calvin (Curtis Lum) and merman Sarge (Hugo Ateo). Though the survival of the fisherman was a given, Calvin — to us, at least — was a toss up. In a previous post, we predicted it was he who dies, with Xander and maybe Sarge being in the clear.
In a recent sneak peek released by the network, it is revealed that Xander is alive and well and buddy Calvin is also out of the woods. With this information, it’s quite safe to say it’s bad news for Helen and the mermaids: Sarge is pretty much a goner and didn’t survive at the end of mid-season.
RELATED | OMFGTV had the pleasure of speaking with Helen herself, international award-winning New Zealand-born actress Rena Owen, as she reflected on her storylines with the relationship her character lost too soon, the relationship that will continue to grow, and what else to expect this season.
“I was really happy for her to have a relationship with Sarge throughout this season,” Owen tells us. “It was fun! It was really neat. I felt like a gooey teenager! It was something really good for Helen. It was a boost for Helen to have this very handsome, gorgeous merman being so interested in her. It was very enjoyable.”
Working with the actor who portrays Sarge, Hugo Ateo, Rena says was just lovely. When looking back at their scenes and work together, she says they had some really good moments. In addition to saving Sarge from falling off the cliff, it was seeing him in his natural form that really stood out.
“When I see him in the tank,” she says, “I think that’s got to be my favorite scene of mine for this season, is when Helen sees Sarge as a merman. That’s a real wow moment. It’s a really special moment.”
Another special moment for Helen is when she finally discovers that she has living relatives. Earlier this season, we were introduced to Rick Marzden (Brendan Fletcher), a blood relative the antiquities shop owner never knew existed. After spending most of her life feeling totally out of place and alienated, learning about Rick has changed her life.
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“It meant everything,” Owen says. “Besides her mother, she’s pretty much had to live in secret and keep this secret. Now she’s got people, the mer-people and the hybrid, that now she can just be her true self. She gets to relax and she just gets to be herself and she’s accepted and she’s loved.”
“When she first goes to see him, it’s a very emotional scene,” says Owen. “When she goes to see him at the cafe and shows him the DNA report, I loved that scene and I felt very emotional. Thinking you’re an only child and then suddenly you find out someone shares your DNA.”
In a promo released mid-May for Siren 2B, we see that a lot of stuff is going on with Helen and she could be in grave danger! To hype up the fans, the actress was able to give some (f)intel on what’s to come!
Adding more about her relative Rick, Rena says the young man who brings him to life, Brendan Fletcher, is a “very brilliant actor.” She reveals that coming up for the two of them, they get to do some “fun stuff.” “We’re a great team!” Also when meeting Rick, he had shown Helen photos of his sister. “So maybe you’ll get to meet the sister. Maybe. I can’t confirm or deny.”
Since it was discovered in Season 1 that Helen is “one of them,” fans have been wondering what kind of abilities or powers she could possess. Saving Sarge off the cliff was the first time Helen exhibited such. “Maybe it’s the fact that she is now being more of her true self, because she’s safe in their company,” she explains, “that these abilities are coming out of her.” She couldn’t say, but it’s possible we’ll see more in the coming episodes!
RELATED | “Siren” Exclusive: Ian Verdun Talks Sean’s Death & What’s to Come for Xander
Xander has clocked on to Nicole (Natalee Linez) being two-faced and having a hidden agenda. “If you look throughout the season, there’s always those little moments where he kind of looked at her or felt it was odd that she was looking for her keys,” she says. Now that he’s knows the truth, we’ll get to see how that all plays out. “He obviously confronts her and that will continue, the resolution of what happens with that. They’ve got a lot coming up in the second eight [episodes].”
There’s a lot going on for Helen, a lot with Xander and Nicole, and just all around a lot going on. “I think it’s safe to say that the second half, there’s just so much going on in the second half. It’s a real ensemble. Everyone gets their own little storylines. All these new players come into play.”
“I think it just gets better and better,” Rena Owen adds. She also excitedly reveals which episode you will not want to miss! “If you think [episode] 8 is crazy, wait till you see [episode] 16. Our season finale is epic. It’s epic! It’s absolutely epic!”
Siren Season 2B premieres Thursday, June 13, at 8pm on Freeform.