Heroes Primer on Second Season

By Bam

First off I have to say that HEROES is not my favorite TV show. That honor belongs to Battlestar Galactica.  My second favorite show is Lost. Both have distinctive hooks that urge the viewer to continue their time investment. Along with the obvious titillation factor Battlestar tends to use screw up and die stakes with the human race as the gambling chip. Lost tends to use connections, discovery and human flaws/ strengths for audience bonding.

            The unfortunate problem that plagues the show is the lack of direction that many of the characters suffer from. Please understand that I don’t slight the actors in any way. They are accomplished and appreciated by this writer. Rather it is my view that the character of Hiro Nakamura, and not Peter Petrelli, is the show upon which a majority of the show’s forward progress is observed. Hiro’s goofy heroism is akin to a milder form of Jacque Closeau’s insanely improbable victories. Hiro’s pal Ando help make the duo a comedy team of amazing proportions as they bumble their way to victory.

Milo Ventimiglia’s Peter Petrelli is written as too conflicted, albeit moral superman. I think they have the wrong take with this character. Superman type characters have more success when their morality remain present but are pushed forward through science fiction. In other words, it is the future civilization of Krypton that we the audience receives along with Superman that makes our stay unique interesting and fun. The fact that he is a very upright and moral man however important to the character should not be the prime thrust of the story. The only memorable times I recall Superman’s morals be outrageously successful was the epic Kingdom Come (where superman was led by events to take an authoritarian role and Action comics 775 where he came close to killing the Elite led by the telekinetic Manchester Black). I would say that it is the lack of delving into Peter’s true life this season that takes his story arc backwards.  Peter needs to grow, not become the amnesiac sub-mariner of the fifties and early 60’s which is exactly what he was this season.

His brother the senate candidate is the chameleon of the show. Props to the writers because the elder Petrelli’s power is pretty basic, the complexities of his life are what drive his character arc.

The incredibly spooky even in real life Zachary Quinto who plays watchmaker turned brain eater Sylar brings a restrained glee when he victimizes those he’s captured. What a freak. I do want to reach into the screen and kick his ass, so I must say “Good acting man!”

The only character that comes close in the creepiness department is the quiet Haitian dude that nullifies powers.  

Schizophrenic porn star-house mom, Jessica/Niki (Ali Larter) is supposed to be the random variable on the show (Essentially she is Wolverine/Hulk light). These characters tend to shine when they can’t use their physical abilities to defeat their bad guys so they have to resort to their wits. Unfortunately I haven’t seen that happen yet.

I understand that these characters are slowly getting acclimated but my suggestion is to take the characters and have them study up on how they can manipulate science to aid their crime fighting. Claire could legitimately end disease, but she doesn’t really know how that works. Fix that. Please Fix that. One of the best things, besides Jessica Alba in the Fantastic Four, is Reed Richard’s use of basic science kicking doom’s ass in the first movie. Where the heck are those scenes in heroes? 

Claire’s impressionable ability to regenerate is a high point for the series writing and the audience. I am mesmerized by Claire’s juggling of identities and her proclivity to jump off of buildings. I see that the writers took some of the best Spider-Man stories and added a feminine slant. Claire’s foibles as a cheerleader are balanced perfectly by her heroics and super ruthless father: Horn Rimmed Glasses Guy (A.K.A. HRG).

Mohinder, the doctor on the show, is the way that the writers most steadily inject science into the show. Sendhil Rathamuthy’s earnest voice really is directed overdramatically or at the very least hangs too long. He sounds ridiculously calm for all the crap that he goes through. Have the fracker yell or something once in a while. I’d like to see him turn into a hybrid Nick Fury/ Reed Richards. He is going to need that kind of fighting skill hanging around these freaks. 

Speaking of which, Greg Grunberg’s pudgy officer Matt Parkman does need to improve his fighting skills but is affable and diligent. This character will hit his stride.

The production design and C.G.I. is decent considering it is an NBC show. Unfortunately we’ve seen seamless stuff like the Lord of the Rings and The Dark Knight or insanely awesome over the top shit like the Star Wars prequels. The show is definitely hurt. In their defense only  Battlestar Galactica has decent enough CGI and that’s because they have been working together for years on stuff like Firefly.

Now that you’ve heard me opine on the good the bad and ugly of this show, you’ll get to see my play by play reviews.