Did you see CLAIRE'S KISSING EPISODE of "Heroes" about a month ago? No? Did you even care to watch? How about the not-so-stunning return of Dr. Mohinder Suresh and Charlie (a.k.a. Google Girl) to the show?
If not then perhaps you're like several others I know who have opted to pass on the fourth season of "Heroes." This season the NBC drama sports a new toned-down format. No BIG super hero battles just a bunch of little skirmishes.
I think the biggest set piece of tonight's episode is Claire Bennet having dinner with her separated parents.
There was a small spike in the ratings a month ago (one episode had more than 5.7 million viewers). Despite that, I have had a tough time staying motivated to watch. As you know, "Heroes" used to average many more viewers, so I'm not alone.
There have been changes to the pace of the show -- changes that I have a few problems with. In previous seasons, "Heroes" kept the tempo brisk and occasionally staged the characters in splashy sets with some mixed success (Remember time-traveling Hiro's journey to feudal Japan? Or Suresh's mad-scientist lab?)
Anyway, if you haven't been tuning in, recording or watching episodes on the Web, you may be interested in some catch-up.
Here's your late Heroes Watch SPOILER warning, so if you want to go on reading, please do so after the photo of Claire and Gretchen (if you can).
All in 'The Family'
Throughout the season our intrepid heroes have had several encounters with a mysterious group passively referred to as "The Family" who reside in a carnival that appears to be everywhere and nowhere (We discover later that The Family has a time-traveler of their own).
Their leader, SAMUEL SULLIVAN, a quasi-religious, quasi-evil dude with the power to move rocks and soil (earthquakes, opening fissures in the ground) gathers premonitions of other super humans from the constantly shifting tattoos on the body of fellow carnival resident LYDIA. Samuel reaches out to just about all of the main crew of characters this season and if any refuse to join him, he intercedes in their lives somehow and manages to manipulate them his way.
For example, the moronic Hiro's fixation on his lost love, the formerly dead Charlie Andrews -- who has the power to recall and comprehend almost everything she encounters -- is used against him to bring him into the Family.
What is Samuel's motivation? One would think the smooth-talking carnival chief is only trying to fill the void left by the death of his brother (Joseph Sullivan), but he is most definitely a murderous baddie. Last Monday's episode "Brother's Keeper" clues us in that Samuel becomes more powerful as more evolved super humans are gathered around him.
If not then perhaps you're like several others I know who have opted to pass on the fourth season of "Heroes." This season the NBC drama sports a new toned-down format. No BIG super hero battles just a bunch of little skirmishes.
I think the biggest set piece of tonight's episode is Claire Bennet having dinner with her separated parents.
There was a small spike in the ratings a month ago (one episode had more than 5.7 million viewers). Despite that, I have had a tough time staying motivated to watch. As you know, "Heroes" used to average many more viewers, so I'm not alone.
There have been changes to the pace of the show -- changes that I have a few problems with. In previous seasons, "Heroes" kept the tempo brisk and occasionally staged the characters in splashy sets with some mixed success (Remember time-traveling Hiro's journey to feudal Japan? Or Suresh's mad-scientist lab?)
Anyway, if you haven't been tuning in, recording or watching episodes on the Web, you may be interested in some catch-up.
Here's your late Heroes Watch SPOILER warning, so if you want to go on reading, please do so after the photo of Claire and Gretchen (if you can).
All in 'The Family'
Throughout the season our intrepid heroes have had several encounters with a mysterious group passively referred to as "The Family" who reside in a carnival that appears to be everywhere and nowhere (We discover later that The Family has a time-traveler of their own).
Their leader, SAMUEL SULLIVAN, a quasi-religious, quasi-evil dude with the power to move rocks and soil (earthquakes, opening fissures in the ground) gathers premonitions of other super humans from the constantly shifting tattoos on the body of fellow carnival resident LYDIA. Samuel reaches out to just about all of the main crew of characters this season and if any refuse to join him, he intercedes in their lives somehow and manages to manipulate them his way.
For example, the moronic Hiro's fixation on his lost love, the formerly dead Charlie Andrews -- who has the power to recall and comprehend almost everything she encounters -- is used against him to bring him into the Family.
What is Samuel's motivation? One would think the smooth-talking carnival chief is only trying to fill the void left by the death of his brother (Joseph Sullivan), but he is most definitely a murderous baddie. Last Monday's episode "Brother's Keeper" clues us in that Samuel becomes more powerful as more evolved super humans are gathered around him.
I mentioned The Family to some of my friends -- who have basically
given up on the show -- and insist that these are worthy adversaries --
for a change. A "Brotherhood of Evil Mutants" for our aimless cast of
characters to face-off against.
I like the carnival setting for these super-humans, it reminds me of a PG-rated version of HBO's Carnivàle. Samuel is interesting and formidable. He's the best part of this season because actor Robert Knepper who plays Samuel (also the best part of "Prison Break") brims with menace.
Alas, most of my friends wince whenever I mention the title "Heroes." And while they tolerate my updates about the series, they usually thank me for keeping them updated and swear they will never watch the show again. Considering the slow progression of the series to this point, I don't blame them.
Is there an actual "hero" in the house?
Peter (borrows powers from others) has been using his ability to be an even better paramedic. He works relentlessly to rescue people whether it be with Suresh's (Spider-Man-ish) powers or Edgar's super speed. He's one of the only actual Heroes on the show unless you want to give points to Claire (the immortal teenager) for going to college and attracting the amorous attentions of her former-roommate, Gretchen.
OK, some people may give her credit for that.
Nathan, Pete's politician bro, is himself and yet not himself since he is actually the defeated mega-serial killer SYLAR. At the end of season three psychic cop Matt Parkman forced Sylar to take on the looks and persona of the dead Nathan.
Apparently, the show's producers can't get enough of Sylar. In the last month and a half, Nathan got himself smoked and wakes up in his actual form as, um, Sylar with hardly any memories. It isn't long before Nathan/Sylar is found by Samuel, baptized into The Family and then becomes Nathan again as in last week's episode.
Noah Bennet (Claire's dad, also known as Horn-rimmed-glasses or H.R.G.), is the only human main character and one of the most interesting players in the game. We discover that he was into Lauren, a former agency partner of his played by Elizabeth Rohm. Yes, while he was married. H.R.G. is separated from his wife and still kicking superhuman butt with the occasional help of his on-again, off-again partner René, also known as the mysterious HAITIAN.
When Noah met Samuel the week before last it had to be one of my favorite episodes this season, because H.R.G. had the right idea about what to do with him (psst! It involved aiming a gun and pulling a trigger). I understand the agency man didn't want his daughter Claire -- who was a few feet away -- to see him punching someone's ticket.
I could tell you more about the other bizarre adventures of Suresh or the resurrection of Tracy (political climber with ice powers) but what I just wrote basically sums up what they've been up to.
What I've explained to you is pretty much what's been going on for the last ten episodes. Ten hours of television. Four hundred and eighty minutes of not much.
Yeah, not much is happening and that's the problem.
Rx for 'Heroes'
The snags with "Heroes" have been armchair-analyzed since season two, but I'm going to give it a try anyway.
When it launched and became a television sensation, "Heroes" used an episodic "comic book" format for the first season and a half. All season it was about premonitions of citywide disaster and a mysterious and deadly serial killer. On top of that, there was a subplot focused on Suresh's obsessive search for the source of their powers. The series producers pretty much abandoned most of that by the time season three came around.
But the problem was not the original comic book/cliffhanger format, it was the producers' ability to execute a story within that format. For example, the canceled "Veronica Mars" television series was excellent. It bravely centered its plot around a main mystery for the entire season and episodically gave us the story piece by piece.
To be fair, Mars wasn't a major TV audience draw. By the time the third season rolled around the show handlers attempted to make the episodes more stand-alone. That TV series strategy not only makes programs more accessible to newcomers, it makes it a more attractive option for syndication. In the case of "Veronica Mars," the network and producers cut back on the continuing story lines and shifted to more "contained-story" episodes. Several regular viewers I spoke to, including myself, stopped watching it.
When "Heroes" launched it had some of that energy. While lacking the deft characterization of "Veronica Mars," "Heroes" hooked you with its swift pace and compelling premise. It carried a major storyline for at least a dozen episodes and succeeded with fans because the show had a style about itself and was unafraid to be what it was.
You want to see how someone with superpowers copes in the real-world? Do you want to see how normal folks deal with a world-threatening menace? How about facing a mysterious deadly enemy who has every talent you have and then some? If the showrunners go back to actively answering these questions there's still a chance that the second half of the fourth season of "Heroes" can be a success story.
(You didn't ask for it but...) Here is my Rx for "Heroes" list:
1. Go back to the comic book format and get back to using the cliffhanger again.
Use it PROPERLY. Revealing a new and deadly villain that you've foreshadowed, providing a vital, surprising piece of information or putting a character we care about into a really good jeopardy situation is worth its weight in gold bullion.
On HBO's "True Blood" when we learn more about the mysterious Marianne and slowly reveal her motives little by little. It works much better than dragging a story out with no main plot focus. So please, Tim Kring ("Heroes" executive producer), continue to introduce us to The Family and get to the good stuff already. The first half of the season is over and the main characters have barely realized they are facing a new threat.
2. Play up the most interesting characters.
And no, Sylar is not on that list. He's an OK subplot guy but your show is best when it gives us plenty of CLAIRE (as you already are), NOAH BENNET, ANGELA PETRELLI and TRACY. Also, PETER is more interesting in this season than he's been in the past.
Here's the important part: Have them DO SOMETHING. Get them out of the same comfy surroundings they have been in for 10-plus episodes and get them into the fray. Don't make this show into "E.R." It's not "E.R.," it's "Heroes" and on this show everyday folks learn they can turn things to gold or walk through walls. And every so often, people who don't fight discover that they have to.
When did Claire go back to the idea that she's supposed to be completely normal? What happened to the girl who bravely takes on mind-controlling sociopaths or evolved serial killers like Sylar? Please don't let her or Peter or anyone else regress anymore.
And, I hate to say this, but the writers should either dramatically redefine or cut back the screen time for MATT PARKMAN, HIRO and even though he plays a major part, DR. SURESH. They are running on a anti-progression treadmill, i.e. going nowhere.
3. It may not have to be in every episode but someone has to use their powers to kick some butt!
Peter took on Edgar early in the season and and that was fun but I feel like there hasn't been any real scrappin' since that scene. Even if the show's budget is an issue that's no excuse -- please figure it out. You can't call a series about people with super human powers "Heroes" and not have some super throw downs! Look at "24." Almost every episode Jack Bauer has to get medieval on some chump. There's action on that show every flippin' week and all they have are guns, knives and cellphones! You had a guy who could open black holes and a woman who can freeze your face off.
Once again, this show is not a quaint stage play it's "Heroes," so represent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I know this whole thing was rant-a-licious but I actually liked this show when it launched and I still see its potential. I do watch it still, but if "Heroes" doesn't pick up I'm going to have make more room on the DVR for "Fringe" and "FlashForward."
Of course, if a lot of you aren't watching the show anymore, maybe I should get a clue.
ABOVE: CLAIRE BENNET (Hayden Panettiere) is smooched by former roommate GRETCHEN BERG (Madeline Zima). ABOVE RIGHT: PETER PETRELLI (Milo Ventimiglia) faces off against EDGAR (Ray Park).
I like the carnival setting for these super-humans, it reminds me of a PG-rated version of HBO's Carnivàle. Samuel is interesting and formidable. He's the best part of this season because actor Robert Knepper who plays Samuel (also the best part of "Prison Break") brims with menace.
Alas, most of my friends wince whenever I mention the title "Heroes." And while they tolerate my updates about the series, they usually thank me for keeping them updated and swear they will never watch the show again. Considering the slow progression of the series to this point, I don't blame them.
Is there an actual "hero" in the house?
Peter (borrows powers from others) has been using his ability to be an even better paramedic. He works relentlessly to rescue people whether it be with Suresh's (Spider-Man-ish) powers or Edgar's super speed. He's one of the only actual Heroes on the show unless you want to give points to Claire (the immortal teenager) for going to college and attracting the amorous attentions of her former-roommate, Gretchen.
OK, some people may give her credit for that.
Nathan, Pete's politician bro, is himself and yet not himself since he is actually the defeated mega-serial killer SYLAR. At the end of season three psychic cop Matt Parkman forced Sylar to take on the looks and persona of the dead Nathan.
Apparently, the show's producers can't get enough of Sylar. In the last month and a half, Nathan got himself smoked and wakes up in his actual form as, um, Sylar with hardly any memories. It isn't long before Nathan/Sylar is found by Samuel, baptized into The Family and then becomes Nathan again as in last week's episode.
Noah Bennet (Claire's dad, also known as Horn-rimmed-glasses or H.R.G.), is the only human main character and one of the most interesting players in the game. We discover that he was into Lauren, a former agency partner of his played by Elizabeth Rohm. Yes, while he was married. H.R.G. is separated from his wife and still kicking superhuman butt with the occasional help of his on-again, off-again partner René, also known as the mysterious HAITIAN.
When Noah met Samuel the week before last it had to be one of my favorite episodes this season, because H.R.G. had the right idea about what to do with him (psst! It involved aiming a gun and pulling a trigger). I understand the agency man didn't want his daughter Claire -- who was a few feet away -- to see him punching someone's ticket.
I could tell you more about the other bizarre adventures of Suresh or the resurrection of Tracy (political climber with ice powers) but what I just wrote basically sums up what they've been up to.
What I've explained to you is pretty much what's been going on for the last ten episodes. Ten hours of television. Four hundred and eighty minutes of not much.
Yeah, not much is happening and that's the problem.
Rx for 'Heroes'
The snags with "Heroes" have been armchair-analyzed since season two, but I'm going to give it a try anyway.
When it launched and became a television sensation, "Heroes" used an episodic "comic book" format for the first season and a half. All season it was about premonitions of citywide disaster and a mysterious and deadly serial killer. On top of that, there was a subplot focused on Suresh's obsessive search for the source of their powers. The series producers pretty much abandoned most of that by the time season three came around.
But the problem was not the original comic book/cliffhanger format, it was the producers' ability to execute a story within that format. For example, the canceled "Veronica Mars" television series was excellent. It bravely centered its plot around a main mystery for the entire season and episodically gave us the story piece by piece.
To be fair, Mars wasn't a major TV audience draw. By the time the third season rolled around the show handlers attempted to make the episodes more stand-alone. That TV series strategy not only makes programs more accessible to newcomers, it makes it a more attractive option for syndication. In the case of "Veronica Mars," the network and producers cut back on the continuing story lines and shifted to more "contained-story" episodes. Several regular viewers I spoke to, including myself, stopped watching it.
When "Heroes" launched it had some of that energy. While lacking the deft characterization of "Veronica Mars," "Heroes" hooked you with its swift pace and compelling premise. It carried a major storyline for at least a dozen episodes and succeeded with fans because the show had a style about itself and was unafraid to be what it was.
You want to see how someone with superpowers copes in the real-world? Do you want to see how normal folks deal with a world-threatening menace? How about facing a mysterious deadly enemy who has every talent you have and then some? If the showrunners go back to actively answering these questions there's still a chance that the second half of the fourth season of "Heroes" can be a success story.
(You didn't ask for it but...) Here is my Rx for "Heroes" list:
1. Go back to the comic book format and get back to using the cliffhanger again.
Use it PROPERLY. Revealing a new and deadly villain that you've foreshadowed, providing a vital, surprising piece of information or putting a character we care about into a really good jeopardy situation is worth its weight in gold bullion.
On HBO's "True Blood" when we learn more about the mysterious Marianne and slowly reveal her motives little by little. It works much better than dragging a story out with no main plot focus. So please, Tim Kring ("Heroes" executive producer), continue to introduce us to The Family and get to the good stuff already. The first half of the season is over and the main characters have barely realized they are facing a new threat.
2. Play up the most interesting characters.
And no, Sylar is not on that list. He's an OK subplot guy but your show is best when it gives us plenty of CLAIRE (as you already are), NOAH BENNET, ANGELA PETRELLI and TRACY. Also, PETER is more interesting in this season than he's been in the past.
Here's the important part: Have them DO SOMETHING. Get them out of the same comfy surroundings they have been in for 10-plus episodes and get them into the fray. Don't make this show into "E.R." It's not "E.R.," it's "Heroes" and on this show everyday folks learn they can turn things to gold or walk through walls. And every so often, people who don't fight discover that they have to.
When did Claire go back to the idea that she's supposed to be completely normal? What happened to the girl who bravely takes on mind-controlling sociopaths or evolved serial killers like Sylar? Please don't let her or Peter or anyone else regress anymore.
And, I hate to say this, but the writers should either dramatically redefine or cut back the screen time for MATT PARKMAN, HIRO and even though he plays a major part, DR. SURESH. They are running on a anti-progression treadmill, i.e. going nowhere.
3. It may not have to be in every episode but someone has to use their powers to kick some butt! Peter took on Edgar early in the season and and that was fun but I feel like there hasn't been any real scrappin' since that scene. Even if the show's budget is an issue that's no excuse -- please figure it out. You can't call a series about people with super human powers "Heroes" and not have some super throw downs! Look at "24." Almost every episode Jack Bauer has to get medieval on some chump. There's action on that show every flippin' week and all they have are guns, knives and cellphones! You had a guy who could open black holes and a woman who can freeze your face off.
Once again, this show is not a quaint stage play it's "Heroes," so represent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I know this whole thing was rant-a-licious but I actually liked this show when it launched and I still see its potential. I do watch it still, but if "Heroes" doesn't pick up I'm going to have make more room on the DVR for "Fringe" and "FlashForward."
Of course, if a lot of you aren't watching the show anymore, maybe I should get a clue.
ABOVE: CLAIRE BENNET (Hayden Panettiere) is smooched by former roommate GRETCHEN BERG (Madeline Zima). ABOVE RIGHT: PETER PETRELLI (Milo Ventimiglia) faces off against EDGAR (Ray Park).
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