Heroes Commentary: A Waste of Adam Monroe
Welcome to our weekly critique of Heroes.
It's a show we love - as we often must remind readers that misinterpret our analysis - yet it's one that can be awfully aggravating in its lack of logic and/or misuse of characters.
The focus is on the latter issue this week, as the death of Adam Monroe at the hands of Arthur Petrelli has our staff lamenting what might have been... and what used to be.
Monroe was the main villain last season. With Sylar sidetracked, the man formerly known as Takezo Kensei seemed like the perfect focus for the show. He and Hiro had great chemistry, that's for sure.
It may have taken too long for him to escape feudal Japan, but eventually Monroe was established as a former member of The Company, a man imprisoned by Mr. Nakamura for his desire to destroy the world through a virus.
That plan was thwarted in the season two finale, of course, as Hiro and Ando buried Adam alive. It was seemingly the only was to kill someone with his powers.
And we wish Monroe had either remained in that coffin, or had been used in a more effective way this season. Instead, here's what transpired:
- Angela Petrelli told Hiro to dig up his former nemesis because he'd - in some unexplained way - help Hiro track down the formula;
- Monroe was then captured by another villain, Knox;
- He was taken to Pinehearst and killed by Arthur Petrelli.
Really? That was the best story line the writers could come up with for an actor such as David Anders? This will only make sense if Angela is eventually shown to be on the same side as her ex-husband and was orchestrating Monroe's offing as a way to give him back life.
Even if that's the case, though, it doesn't make Hiro any less of an idiot for blindly following her advice.
Now, viewers are left with bad guys such as Knox and that guy who makes fire with his hands. They've spoken maybe six words between them.
For a chapter titled "Villains," it seems awfully silly of the show to rid itself of someone such as Monroe, a villain with a solid back story that we've actually gotten to know over the last year.
Agree? Disagree? We welcome all feedback!
October 22nd, 2008 3:58 PM
I cant gree.I think Tim Kring and the rest of the gang r doing a really good job.I think they have made a good comeback after last season's debacle.Adam's death is just another twist in the awesome storyline.Cant wait for ep 7.
October 22nd, 2008 4:47 PM
I enjoyed the scene of how ARthur killed Adam..but I would've given anything to see Adam and Hiro fight with Swords again! Since it is Heroes anything could happen. Who knows maybe someone will travel to the past and make sure that doesn't happen? They can use Time Travel for anything you know.
October 22nd, 2008 8:03 PM
i am rather disipointed in heroes for killing of adam soooo soon. he is practacally my favorite villian.
October 23rd, 2008 12:09 AM
Have you ever seen the movie The Usual Suspects?
What good would it have been if we knew who was up to what from the very beginning? Just sit back and enjoy.
October 23rd, 2008 2:42 AM
I completely agree. Adam was a brilliant character last season, and killing him off in the beginning of his second episode this season just seems cheap.
It does pretty obviously show that Petrelli Sr. means Serious Business, but there had to be some other way to do that. They could have still done so much more with Adam's character.
Heroes seems to be getting way too caught up in bringing in new characters. Not that that's always a bad thing, but it shouldn't be at the expense of more in-depth story lines with established characters.
October 23rd, 2008 6:45 AM
I agree also.
Adam Monroe was the point of the whole entire Season 2. He was also the only good thing the whole season. They should've saved him for later seasons.
October 23rd, 2008 8:27 AM
Couldn't agree more. Adam was the character with the most potential on that show and was by far one of the most interesting characters ever to be introduced. The man lived over 400 years for crying out loud, just imagine all the stuff he's seen and the things they could have explored with such a background.
His "death" was an absolute insult to the character and a kick in the groin to fans, as Adam was a fan-favorite. They finally bring him back then kill him within the first 10 minutes of the following episode. Yeah, brilliant writing there fellas. I find it laughable they actually claim they've been outlining the stories of Season 3 since last year when production halted. Such events as this say otherwise; they're still obviously making this up as they go.
Don't get me wrong, I still love this show but this is one of the few times where you just can't just shrug it off and say "Ah, it will get better" or "I'm sure the writers know what they're doing". Until now, Heroes has tried to dissuade the public opinion that the show just doesn't have good writing, but now it seems they've given up and are saying "Yeah, we're not trying to fool anyone anymore, we know our writing quality isn't good and we're just going to work with what we've got.
October 23rd, 2008 8:36 AM
The series isn't on yet here in New Zealand, I hope we don't have to wait too long. I don't think we can jump to any conclusions yet, this is Heroes after all. I wouldn't be surprised if they some how bring Adam back. The fact that Hiro is a time traveller and needs Adam to get the formula back suggests he may go back in time and save Adam, which in turn may save Peter....
Expect the unexpected seems to sum up Heroes, and thats what I love about it :)
October 23rd, 2008 10:19 AM
Agreed, as I said before.
In a season volume titled villains it is expected that they introduce new villains but heres where they royally botched things.
All of our old villains arnt villains anymore... wtf. Sylar is a good guy now and Adam Monroe is dead. The two villains the fan's LOVED and have gotten to know are no longer anything we loved about them. We've learned their back stories, their motives, their likes and their hates... and then the writers say "well... to f'n bad! Check this twist out"
Well your twist blew! After the second season the writers have tried so hard to give the fans what they wanted. They tried to hard and overshot the sweet spot.
And now I'm really starting to feel disconnected to the characters I've loved. Hiro hasn’t learned from any of his experiences, he should have changed as much as claire has but he hasnt. Sylar is a good guy now... please just kill him off if thats the route you want to take that. HES A SERIAL KILLER, the hunger can suck my dick. Adam Monroe, seemingly the only character whos actually clever and uses his head to get out of situations (other then HRG) is dead. Elle is MIA (thou coming back next weekend). We all beg for more of the Haitian and instead hes MIA this season too.
As for the new characters who seem like they might stick around... Daphne is the only one worth a damn. Knox is lame, his lines are stupid, his power is ridiculous, and hes just boring to watch. Doyal was twisted and cool but hes recaptured. The German... way to kill off someone who could have been really bad ass. Flint... i'll patently wait too see how they play him off as Merideth's brother, maybe it will be cool.
And my final complaint... Way to totally blow off Micha & Monica... every wanted their story to END not DISAPEARE... can anyone tell me what happened to them....
All in all... im not pleased
October 23rd, 2008 10:25 AM
On another note... please don’t get me wrong. I was gun ho about this season, the premise is absolutely phenomenal.
When a bad guy looks in the mirror does he see a bad guy?
This is an amazing premise.... that they have not done a QUALITY job at delivering. Making heroes question their motives and their actions is key… but seriously don’t try and make a villain out of a hero… The pope doesn’t go around acting like he’s part of the Hell’s Angels for no reason.
October 23rd, 2008 12:54 PM
I am beyond pissed and upset that they killed Adam. Like many have said before me, he was the one good character from season 2. They spent the whole season developing his character, only to kill him in a heartbeat this season.
I would have loved to see him interact with Peter again, lord knows that would've been a blast! So much unfinished business there. Adam betrayed Peter and played him like a puppet. I also would've loved to see him interact with Claire, Sylar, and maybe even Elle!
Even the small bits we saw of him, I felt like I was watching a different character. His dialogue was off...too humor-filled. Adam is cunning and manipulative...always thinking; not joking. I admired him so much because he could persuade without an ability; with his own mind! Now that is powerful.
I am hopeful that he is the "light" that Kaito spoke of. Please, save him Hiro!
October 24th, 2008 12:08 AM
Adam was a great character. I'm pissed that they brought him back just to kill him. Of course they could bring him back if they wanted to. Just have Hiro go back in time... or have some stupid twin brother story (Nicky/Tracy anyone).
October 24th, 2008 12:34 AM
I was hoping to see an episode about living for 400 years. How everyone got together. What a screw up. I did notice he was more humorous this year but I kinda liked the new attitude he had. And also since his cells renew why did he die? Yeah he is old but his body was still young biologically. When the power left him just means he can get old and die not just vaporize. A show with Adam meeting claire and talking about living forever would have been good. And who gives a $#!+ about level 5.
October 24th, 2008 10:00 PM
Argh, terrible. I want to get into this season, but if they kill of ANOTHER great character I dunno if I'll be able to. I mean, I seriously don't know what these writers are smoking sometimes. Are we gonna see a DL all over agian? Wasn't there enough lashback when that happened? I mean I would be upset no matter what if adam was killed off, but this just felt horribly executed. Plus it felt as though Adam's death was simply to show us how dangerous Arthur was, which is a POOR way to use a favored character.
October 27th, 2008 4:58 PM
I know its a pity,but I've formulated a 'bring him back' theory. Firstly, he was killed because mr Petreli drained his powers, and 400 years hit him like a bomb. However its possible that if Petreli sr. loses HIS powers then the effects will wear down, just like when adam lost his, rejenerating Adam. And i like the whole 'All the villains are turning good whilst the goodies are going nuts' twist, Sylar is such a cool is-he-good-or-is-he-baddie.
October 27th, 2008 5:29 PM
totally agree
but if peter got his power stolen as well that makes me think adam will either get saved by hiro OR petrelli sr. will die and and adam will get his power back but the hiro theory is more likely
October 27th, 2008 9:46 PM
adam was a great character who deserved much better in my opinion. his death is the only thing i havent liked about this show since it started, still a great show, im just disappointed one of my favs was killed off.
October 28th, 2008 9:37 AM
the show travels forward and back in time. room for him to return as a guest star
October 28th, 2008 11:50 AM
One thing that I disagree with on Adam Monroes death is the 400 yrs catching up to him. I don't think that is true because his ability to "Heal" would produce "new" cells instead of aged ones or broken down cells (reason why we age) so his body would be new, not 400 years old. For example your skin is constantly shedding of old skin and producing new skin, so you don't have the same skin you were born with. So... Adam Monroe's body wasn't 400 yrs old. I think it was part of A. Patrelli's power. Now, I also agree to develop Monroes character and then kill him off was mistake but we'll see where this goes
October 29th, 2008 7:54 PM
i think that the writing team and everyone working on heroes is doing an amazing job. If you have a big main character like Adam then when they appear to die they probably haven't no one ever really dies on heroes. if you watch heroes unmasked for the episode prior to Adam death one of the people who work on heroes says that Adam plays a big role in season 3 so i don't think he is dead. You never really know when it comes to heroes.
October 30th, 2008 7:17 AM
I don't think Adam is dead, somehow. Either that or I'm just having false hopes - he's perhaps my favourite character.
Pleeeaaaase come back!
October 30th, 2008 4:21 PM
I have been looking at spoilers for this show all over. Nowhere did they mention a major character getting killed off (aside from Maya). So I do think he will come back.
I always liked Adam and hoped to see him grow as a villain or a hero he could go both ways.
That whole scene did not make sense to me, Adam being as old as he is would not be that afraid of... Anyone he has lived for centuries and cant expect him to be chumped soo easily..
Evolution remember how much more would Adam have grown (intellect and power).
October 30th, 2008 5:09 PM
I could not agree more. I was furious. I thought Adam extremely interesting and well developed - he had so much potential... A villain who was a true LEADER, who could talk others into doing his evil bidding. A villain who honestly thought he was a god... all the creative Christ allusions... all for naught.
I feel seriously SERIOUSLY let down.
October 30th, 2008 5:24 PM
BAD idea to kill ADAM.
Bring him back!
November 2nd, 2008 12:20 PM
i am so disapointed in the writers of heroes! how can they kill off adam monroe! He lived for over 400 years come on! this season is titled villians! And sylar, well isnt, adam is dead... so ???? hmmmmm this makes noooooooooo sense!