New on DVD: 'Helix,' 'Lovejoy'

This week's list of releases is thin, but there are some good options to consider. It looks like studios didn't want to compete with Fourth of July activities.

Helix, The Complete First Season, B-plus: The cable series from Ronald D. Moore is a gripping thriller about a team of scientists on an Arctic expedition to research a viral outbreak. The search proves as deadly as the virus.

Billy Campbell and Kyra Zagorsky turn in first-rate performances.

The set includes all 13 episodes, plus cast and crew commentaries, deleted scenes, and four featurettes. "Dissecting the Characters" studies the dynamic relationships that fuel the series. "The Art of Isolation" explores the approach to creating a realistic Arctic research center.

"The Future of Disease" examines advancements in the field of medicine, while "Ronald D. Moore: The Outlier of Science Fiction" features Moore's perspective on creating the series.

Lovejoy, Series 1, B-plus: In recent years, Golden Globe winner Ian McShane has become known for playing dark and crusty characters with roles in Deadwood and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Before he went down dark paths, McShane played the likable Lovejoy in this BBC mystery series that aired on A&E in the early 1990s.

Lovejoy is to antiques dealing as Jessica Fletcher is to mystery writing. Along with his gift for spotting real and fake art treasures, he also has a skill for solving mysteries. The puzzles often take place in a world of aristocrats, con men and criminals.

The set includes 10 episodes.

Twilight Zone, Essential Episodes (55th Anniversary Collection), Grade A: It would make more sense to own the entire collection of Twilight Zone episodes because each is so good. But if you only want to own the best of the series, this collection includes those episodes: "Time Enough at Last," "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street," "To Serve Man," and "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet."

Others in the set include: "Walking Distance," "The Hitch-Hiker," "A Stop at Willoughby," "The After Hours," and "The Midnight Sun."

Also new on DVD:

Vinyl: Based on Mike Peters' rockl hoax of 2004.

Afflicted: Journey around the world takes a horrifying turn.

The Lunchbox: Two lonely people in India have their lunches mixed up.

Operation Petticoat: The 1959 film from Blake Edwards is being rereleased.

Anna Karenina: BBC's 10-episode version of Leo Tolstoy's masterpiece.

Hinterland, Series 1: Welsh detective drama.

A Young Doctor's Notebook, Season 1: Jon Hamm and Daniel Radcliffe star in the comedy based on Mikhail Bulgakov's writing.

Wild Brazil, Land of Fire and Flood: A look at the home to more specials than any other country.

  The Final Terror: The '80s horror movie starring Daryl Hannah is now on Blu-ray.

The Legend of Korra, Book Two, Spirits: Tells the story of the very first Avatar.