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Monday, November 12, 2007

O How The Mighty Heroes Have Fallen

**SPOILER ALERT!!!**

Remember the simplicity of, "save the cheerleader, save the world?" Even though season one took off slowly, at least we quickly learned what was at stake. We knew there was a clear villain, a lot of potential good guys, and a terrible catastrophe that threatened them all. Sure it got a little convoluted, and the "save the cheerleader" bit turned out to be a bit of a red herring. But by the time we figured that out we were so engrossed it didn't matter.

What happened?

I find myself less and less interested in the characters I came to love. Even my favorite, Hiro, has been completely wasted in what turned out to be a long-winded origin story for a villain introduced much too late. All that build-up for Mr. Nightmare, only to find out he's just a pawn in the grand scheme of a 400-year-old British samurai? Really?
And the future virus outbreak seems like a pale shadow of the nuclear disaster in New York from last year. I guess more people stand to lose their lives, but I just don't feel the danger. Too much time spent on Peter's amnesia, Micah's foster family, and Sylar's road trip south of the border, have confused the story to the point of being tiresome.

Last week finally seemed to be turning things around. But they lost the momentum with a flashback episode this week, that managed to fill in some holes without adding anything new to the overall story.
The thread about D.L. not actually being dead just so he can die anyway was probably the most pointless thing to come out of this show yet. Even Niki's reaction to D.L. getting shot a second time was more of a shoulder shrug than a life-altering event. And couldn't D.L. have retained the dignity of dying at the hand of Linderman, rather than some greasy nightclub guy?

The only part of tonight's episode that gave me any thrill at all was the scene at the beginning when we saw the season one climax from Nathan and Peter's point-of-view. For a brief moment I remembered how good the show was at one time.

I gave the second season the benefit of the doubt. After all, the first season spun its wheels for a few weeks before becoming the show it did. Unfortunately, it's now clear that nothing in season two is going to reach that previous level. And with the season being cut short, due to the writer's strike, they only have three more episodes left.
It's just as well, since the writers seem to have gone on strike much earlier.

6 comments:

Joe said...

Yikes. Harsh words for a series that, frankly, probably needs to hear them.

I'm with you per the flashback this week. No new information = wasted hour. And you're right, it came just as the storyline was picking up speed.

Every time they cut to Claire and the new flying character, Tara asks why I changed the channel to the WB.

Anonymous said...

I completely agree. My hopes were so up for this season of Heroes, and they just haven't given me anything for my loyal viewership.

I completely agree about the high point of last night's episode--that was cool.

I hate Kristin Bell's character, and I want her to electrocute herself to death.

I hate the fact that Nikki/Jessica/Gina's "superpower" seems to be multiple personalities. I know it's supposed to be superhuman strength, but it sucks. And I was really pissed they brought DL back to kill him.

I HHHAAAATTTTEEEEEEE all of the new characters. I've already addressed Kristin Bell, I don't understand the (Honduran?) twins that seem to cry Hershey's syrup, I hate "As Seen on TV" girl's wide eyed wonderment at...well, everything, and i HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE West with a passion. He's too excited about everything to be believable as a.) someone who has known about his power for a while, and b.) is supposed to be a bit of a social outcast.

I'm pissed that I haven't found out exactly what the deal is with Sylar.

I really love Hiro, and I really want to see if his whole feudal Japan storyline will have anything to do with anything. (PS--I didn't know you watched Heroes, and almost called you about 14 times to tell you about that storyline--I figured you would at least like the premise.)

I feel like this week's episode was the Heroes answer to a clips show. It reminded me a bit of the Simpsons roast episode...well, at least the song at the end.

"We have episodes for years...don't worry....this show will never end....we promise...."

Sharkbear said...

I actually like the Kristin Bell character...well, I like Kristin Bell.

I didn't even mention the most frustrating continuity problem. Why in hell doesn't Hiro immediately return to the plaza to stop Sylar? For all he knows, when he got knocked into the past Sylar killed everyone. Wouldn't that be the first thing on his mind? Instead, he shows up in Ando's office so he can do his clever samurai-helmet-out-of-nowhere bit.

For all his talk about wanting to become a hero, he seems to be going out of his way to avoid it at all costs.

Sharkbear said...

I actually like the Kristin Bell character...well, I like Kristin Bell.

I didn't even mention the most frustrating continuity problem. Why in hell doesn't Hiro immediately return to the plaza to stop Sylar? For all he knows, when he got knocked into the past Sylar killed everyone. Wouldn't that be the first thing on his mind? Instead, he shows up in Ando's office so he can do his clever samurai-helmet-out-of-nowhere bit.

For all his talk about wanting to become a hero, he seems to be going out of his way to avoid it at all costs.

rachel. said...

you WOULD like kristin bell. but you have to admit, her character is annoying. blech.

i did enjoy seeing peter petrelli's long, dreamy hair again. if we're talking about characters we like.

and speaking of hiro's drop-in at the office--would you not think others would see him? or at least smell him? cause you know he had to smell.

and remember, though--for all hiro knows, since the bomb didn't blow up ("No bomb? No boom?"), it doesn't matter that Sylar is evil, because his part is ultimately done. he was supposed to save NYC, and for all he knows, he did.

Sharkbear said...

Actually Hiro would have no idea that NY was saved, because Sylar threw him into a building before it happened. Hiro's last memory of that event was that Sylar was still alive, and his mission had failed.

Also, the whole plot device of Hiro writing notes and hiding them in the sword for Ando was really weak.
Hiro easily could have taken fifteen minutes out each night, or even once a week, to go and tell Ando personally.

Anyway, this is just nitpicking now. I've already stated my major gripes with the series in the post