Heroes Commentary: Remember the Concept of Evolution?
Over the past couple weeks, we've written commentaries on the state of Heroes that have received some criticism from readers. Many wonder why we insult a show we supposedly love.
In response, we say: we insult the show because we love it!
For over a year now, Heroes has failed to live up to the expectations it set for itself in its first season. We're yearning for the series to reach its potential again. So consider these critiques tough love, ok? After all, the greatness of America lies in our freedom - nay, our responsibility! - to openly question the state of affairs.
With that in mind, this week's commentary focuses on a main character: Hiro.
Remember when Mohinder started the first season by rattling on about evolution? It was the basis for he and his father's research, as our Heroes were meant to symbolize mankind's constantly evolving state. "Evolution is an imperfect and often violent process. A battle between what exists and what is yet to be born..." Mohinder said back then.
When it comes to Hiro, therefore, we can't help but wonder what happened to the evolution of his mind.
This is the same guy that confronted Sylar in the season one finale, stabbing him (supposedly) to death. He then traveled back in time in season two and realized - through a series of heroic actions - that he was actually the real Kensei, the hero whose stories Hiro's father read to him as a child.
Based on those impressive steps, it would be safe to assume that Hiro would be a more focused, mature, intelligent character now, wouldn't it?
Instead, season three began with Hiro acting in such an erratic, selfish manner that he was willing to sacrifice the world in order to cure a case of boredom. Seriously, the best way the writers could put Hiro back in action was to have him defy his father's orders and break into the safe just to, what, look at the formula?
Then, once this moronic move backfired and Daphne stole the formula, is there a rational explanation for why Hiro couldn't go back in time and simply NOT open the safe? Are we meant to believe that this hopeful hero is so desperate to be put to use that he'll risk the safety of humanity just to track down the formula himself?
Then, Hiro dug up Adam Monroe this week - the same Adam Monroe whose mission it was last season to basically destroy the world - simply because... Angela told him to? Have we received a reason yet as to why Angela thought Adam could assist Hiro in his quest for the formula? Because he knew the location of one bar? Seems like something the head of The Company would have known herself.
We still love Hiro and we understand his important use as a source of comedy in an otherwise dark show. But, come on, writers. Go back and read Dr. Suresh's "Activating Evolution" and remember that the show is based around the fact that people evolve. We haven't seen that in Hiro this season.
What do you think? We always welcome and encourage feedback!
October 15th, 2008 2:28 PM
this is a funny post. i love the way doctor suresh use to talk about evolution at the start of each ep. it really was like a documetery (soz spellings). it feels like they rushing in the stories, expect of focusing on one or two people like in season one. i do admit that hiro does act immature in season 3 i dont know why,but when u think about it hiro always was immature since season one, he even stole adam girlfriensd lol. soz about the essay lol and about evolution i though it took like millions of years, same for hiro. wt would u do with hiro power, i know i would not try to save they world for shit. excpecially america lol (i love heroes).
October 16th, 2008 2:47 AM
I agree. Even if he goes back in time to before he killed Ando, how on Earth could he go through with it? I understand this whole season is apparently about messing up two years of character development and presenting the heroic side of villains and the villainous side of heroes, but this is too much. Future-Claire being bad-ass after four years of seeing what a jerk Daddy Dearest is, Peter turning evil due to loosing his memories last season and gaining Sylar's "hunger" this season, Suresh turning bad due to being under the influence of an injection, Sylar wanting to reform -- all hokey "let's make the bad guys good guys and vice versa" gimicks, but still plausible. But Hiro killing an innocent? And killing Ando? ANDO? *sigh* The reason science fiction works is because its not just fanciful tales: Its fanciful tales that could, given the right circumstances, happen. But having characters act so out of character destroys any hope of believability for the story your trying to tell. What's next -- We find out The Company is really just a bunch of human drones mind-controlled by Mr. Nuggles?
October 16th, 2008 2:51 AM
And latter, when Hiro kills Nathan, he'll exclaim, "*GASP!* DYING Man!!!"
October 16th, 2008 12:26 PM
Agreed. Hiro is one of the story lines who's truly disapointed me. Its almost as if the past 2 years of his life have not effected his persona at all. The writters havent taken a single step into actually evolving his character; insted try their hardest to keep Hiro the exact same quirky dork from the very first episode of season one.
Hiro should be well on his way to becomeing the man we see in the future. A colder harder version of a man who's lost his innocence yet fights to retain his heroic side. Insted it seems as if the writteres dont want their fan favorite to change his personality... well tuff shit. Life sucks, get a helmet. No one goes threw hell and comes back an angle.
October 16th, 2008 1:46 PM
Couldn't agree more. Spot on, I normally adore Hiro but this season he's been getting on my nerves. Seemingly killing Ando (although I don't believe he has) just seems to be put there to shock us. Incidently what a coincidence that there happened to be a samurai sword in the bar before Knox asked Hiro to kill Ando and also why release that video before the season began of Hiro in what looked like an old joke/nicknack shop finding said sword?! I don't think that sword was real. Ando's not dead anyway.
October 16th, 2008 1:49 PM
Also Hiro had grown up at the end of season 2. He seemed worn out and tired after his adventures and I was hoping we'd return to find him more cautious about his actions and how even the smallest thing he does affects so many people and yet he acted so stupidly so quickly. Bad writers, off to bed with you!
October 16th, 2008 3:42 PM
We could notice the evolution with Hiros character in these past 2 seasons but he has De-evolved into an idiot all over again. I remember all that training he was getting from his father with sword fighting and he was "Ready" to take on Sylar. You could see Hiro's maturity all the way to the point he stabbed Sylar...and exactly same to when he was fighting against Adam Monroe. He's gone through so much and has learned Nothing to build his character. It's as if he is still a rookie to the show. Come freaking on!!!!!
October 17th, 2008 10:07 AM
Actually, in the previous seasons, we have seen what Hiro will become. In his future state, he does seem to be more mature. But ever since the Butterfly Efect, I think that he is doomed to be immature for all time.
I was, however, very shocked to see him kill Ando (if he even actually did so. It did look like just a flesh wound). I wonder what is to come
October 17th, 2008 4:49 PM
He didn't kill Ando, the show makers ruined that cliffhanger by releasing a behind the scenes video of Hiro acquiring a retractable sword and packets of fake blood in a joke shop before the season started. It's all a ploy. The question now is how did he know he'd be asked that by Knox and Daphne?
I miss old future Hiro (from season 1), the new future Hiro isn't sexy anymore and what he and Ando were arguing about in the future didn't match the subtitles (try lip-reading it and Hiro says "This is my mission" and Ando replies "Then you have failed").
December 4th, 2008 11:48 PM
I just think that they are trying too hard to recreate the lust everyone had for season one. Now we have soooo many characters and sooooo many stories. They are trying to rush a huge story into a small season. I dont like them cramming to make people happy. They should have kept big story big and split over 2 seasons. I really think that most of the problems come from the trash that season 2 produced. I still love the show but the shanti virus needs to come back and kill about a dozen characters.
January 6th, 2009 3:17 AM
hero=olid egg ,Who show us the olid egg?,delay our time i fuck you