Heroes Commentary: Give the Fans a Present!
Last week, we suggested that Heroes take a page from Lost; i.e. focus more on individual character development each episode and really give fans a chance to watch these characters in action, as opposed to dizzying our heads with non-stop twists and turns.
This week, we have an even simpler recommendation:
Heroes needs to act more like... every other show on TV!
Why can't the writers carve out a season that simply involves these individuals fighting a problem in the present day? We hoped that would be this chapter's set-up, as its dubbed "Villains" and it opened with a handful of bad guys being released from Level 5. Perfect. Let's go after them!
Instead, only one of those villains (Knox) remains on the loose. But more importantly, the focus of the season has shifted to stopping a dangerous future from occurring... again. Didn't we see this already in season one?
The trouble with constantly jumping into the future, and the back again in order to change it, is two-fold:
- It's pretty darn confusing;
- It gives the writers unlimited freedom to make stuff up.
The first point speaks for itself. So let's focus on the second.
Does anyone think we'll learn how Daphne and Parkman got together? Or how Sylar had a son? Or how Nathan became President?
Of course not. These were just convenient plot devices the writers made up in order to work backwards and give our present day Heroes something to fight for. We can imagine the writers' room prior to the season:
Let's put Parkman and Daphne together! Let's give them a daughter! That'll inspire Parkman to act after we also randomly send him to Africa and make him see the future!
At this rate, the show can essentially start over again every season. If the Heroes are successful in preventing the sort of fateful future we witnessed Monday night, what's to say the writers won't just make up an entirely new one next year and have at it again?
Look, if a logical path is laid out in the coming weeks for how Sylar, for example, will eventually see the error of his evil ways and settle down with a son, we'll be the first to admit that we're wrong.
But if we never again see any glimpses of the future the show laid out for this week - with the exception of individuals fighting to change it - then the series simply can't be trusted to deliver a coherent story line that viewers can rely on to follow with each new chapter.
What do you think of our thesis and our concerns? Do you share them? We'd love to hear feedback!
Share
26 CommentsRelated Posts
- A Recap of Volume Three
- Is Nathan Right?
- Wait, Aren't Abilities a Good Thing?
- A Series of Heroes Complaints
- A Critical View of Heroes
December 3rd, 2008 11:49 AM
What happened to Peters girlfriend? Last season they left her in the future. We were made to believe they were in love. Even if they bring her back it's kinda odd that he's never mentioned wanting to get back to save her. Some heroe!
November 17th, 2008 9:44 PM
Looks like the Sylar fan club got their wish and now he's the bad boy turned good and cuddly (he's just misunderstood, awww). Yep, we can just forget the whole first season at this point, get ready to forgive Sylar of mass murder and welcome him with open arms *cough, *gag.
November 6th, 2008 2:24 AM
QUESTION.... Why is it Peter got Sylars power from sylar in the future and not the sylar hes enounterd a handful of times in season 1?
because sylar's power doesn't constitute as a *super power*...it's more of an intuitive aptitude..an inherent ability which helps him understand how things work, the mechanisms of things, the big picture and the small picture, cause and effect. It's not something you can *absorb* or just *get*. It involves a certain way of thinking (using a certain part of ure brain). There's a reason he made peter learn the mechanisms of watches for him to understand. Kapish?
November 6th, 2008 2:24 AM
QUESTION.... Why is it Peter got Sylars power from sylar in the future and not the sylar hes enounterd a handful of times in season 1?
because sylar's power doesn't constitute as a *super power*...it's more of an intuitive aptitude..an inherent ability which helps him understand how things work, the mechanisms of things, the big picture and the small picture, cause and effect. It's not something you can *absorb* or just *get*. It involves a certain way of thinking (using a certain part of ure brain). There's a reason he made peter learn the mechanisms of watches for him to understand. Kapish?
November 6th, 2008 2:19 AM
There is an element of risk involved in writing a series like Heroes. WHy? because it's something new so you take chances. It's only understandable at this point in time to see the show having some highs and lows. I'm sure Kring is as frustrated as some of us all are. The plot, storyhline, characters, abilities are complex. When put together what do you get? mindnumbingly complex is what u get. I'd give the writers some time to find a comfortable angle to work on and continue to expect greater things.
October 12th, 2008 2:45 AM
Yeah... But it's also kinda FUN to take the storytelling seriously enough to armchair quarterback the writers a bit. Dudn't mean I won't follow them wherever they take the show. I'm sure everyone else agrees. No one that reads and comments on a Heroes fanpage is gonna be chucking the show overboard any time soon. And I give the writers and creators mad props - even if they're only human.
October 11th, 2008 5:12 PM
you should stop complaining. Don't try to control stuff ok! Just let it come the way it comes and let the artists do their work! If you were making a painting or a song, you didn't want people to tell you all the time how it should be done, now would you? Just make your own heroes tv show! bet you couldn't! so, a bit of respect for the people who made it up and came with the idea in the first place. It's a great show and all the time again refreshing as was every season and also every episode. Just chill and be good now!
October 11th, 2008 1:58 PM
The whole time travel story is not confusing. It's just that sometimes it does not make sense. There are many loop holes if u put time travel into the story, which is the major flaw of the ending of season 1. I think the writers should follow the time travel story format of that of the movie '12 monkeys' instead of changing alternate futures as in 'back to the future' kind of story. Kind of hard for me to explain, but if u watched 12 monkeys, then u know what i mean... I agree with A. Hiro though, but still, the season is of to a great start. Way better than season 1 and 2. Hope the writers can merge the whole plot logically this season, instead of suffering the major flaw that was the ending of season 1.
October 10th, 2008 3:36 AM
This season is the best yet. The future stuff is great. Stop your bitchin, "saving the world" is what the show is all about.
October 9th, 2008 4:54 PM
I am a Major Fan of Heroes..and I enjoy being a HeroesFanatic, but I have to agree with A. hiro writing this article. At this point Heroes is just Good...NOT great. I think the storyline can be tweaked a bit to make it great and I think this whole go to the future, witness a major problem, then come back to present and stop that from happening..has been done one to many times now. Sure its entertaining no doubt about it but reality is that if its going to continue to be redundant like that people might start hating heroes..AND THATS NOT WHAT I WANT because if that happens the show will cancel. The proof of this is in the show numbers. Viewers are declining and really people thats not healthy. Everything in this world is not perfect and could use some improvement. Just constructive criticism you can say. BRING BACK THE VILLAINS or BRING MORE VILLAINS and let them stay for a season or 2. I have to say that is technically why we enjoy Sylar is it not??? You can honor what I say or Bitch me out..I WANT Heroes to Survive..Thats me being a TRUE fan!!!!