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!
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42 Comments
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.