The third volume of Heroes came to an end this week.
And while we've been openly critical of most story lines this season, the concluding episode did leave our staff with a few reasons to hope for an improved fourth volume.
Therefore, as viewers wait until February 2 for new installments of Heroes, here's our take on what was promising and what was problematic about the conclusion to volume three...
PROMISING: Nathan's evil turn. Arthur was never a believable villain. He was too sarcastic, we had no background for his motives and his powers were never fully explained (or logical; he just showed up in the past and took the catalyst from Hiro? That was easy!).
But we bore witness to Nathan's conversion, as he saw the possibilities of powers first-hand during he and Peter's trip to Haiti. Sure, he turned to the full dark side rather quickly, but we can accept such an immediate conversion in exchange for a morally complex villain going up against his brother and former friends. Juicy stuff, indeed.
Fans are seeing a new side to Nathan Petrelli.
PROBLEMATIC: The lack of build-up for the third volume finale. It's Television 101: events throughout the season of a show are slowly built up, with momentum and suspense leading to an emotional and/or action-packed climax in the finale. Perhaps no show in history did this better than the first season of Heroes, as story lines converged for a world-altering battle in Kirby Plaza, remember?
For weeks, viewers were enthralled by the mantra of "Save the Cheerleader, Save the World," as well as by the deadline of an exploding NYC.
But what did we have in "Dual," the finale to Heroes' volume three? The main focus was on Sylar trapping HRG, Meredith, Angela and Claire inside Primatech. This came totally out of nowhere; heck, Meredith had literally not been seen for four episodes and now she was being thrust into the finale of the volume.
Remember a few weeks ago, when the show seemed to set the sides of Team Primatech vs. Team Pineheart? We were excited for a showdown between good and evil, but one never came about. The entire chapter was titled "Villains," yet new characters such as Knox and Flint were scarcely used. It all reeked of lazy, constantly-changing writing.
PROBLEMATIC: Anything involving Knox. First off, this character was played by Jamie Hector, well-known for his portrayal of Marlo on HBO's The Wire. Yet Knox/Hector was barely utilized. Secondly, wasn't Knox working for Arthur this entire time? Why would he have done so if he was against the use of the formula?
Lastly, the second-to-last episode of volume three ended - supposedly ominously - with a super-powerful Marine... who then had his neck snapped by Knox in about half a second in the finale. Weren't we supposed to be afraid of how the formula would affect those it was injected into?
PROMISING: The initial set up for "Fugivites." We have an established villain, Nathan. We have a simple story line: capture everyone with abilities. And we hopefully have a straightforward set up that won't require jumping from the past, to the present, to the future. Keep it contained. Keep it exciting.
PROBLEMATIC: Mohinder and Tracy are still alive. We don't wish unemployment on anyone, especially in this economy, but come on. What purposes do Mohinder and/or Tracy serve at this point? What connection do they have to anyone else on the show? Many of Heroes' problems are due to its ever-growing number of characters.
No offense, Sendhil Ramamurthy and Ali Larter, but we'll be happy if the car you're now sharing drives off a cliff.
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18 Comments
December 17th, 2008 10:56 AM
Hey Suresh's character is still excellent but just probably not utilized the correct way. I was still amused by his role in the 3rd volume. Tracy well Looks really good in that red skirt she had, and this show REALLY needs sex appeal. They can evolve more on her story line and freezing power instead of the WAshington blah blah!
December 17th, 2008 11:31 AM
jesus christ you guys suck just watch the show for fun and not to have a comment on every single flaw in it.
i'm going to heroesrevealed because you guys lick ass
greetz
December 17th, 2008 12:20 PM
... no comment
December 17th, 2008 4:37 PM
I agree with a lot of the inconsistencies, but honestly...these same inconsistencies are found in every tv show and ever movie we watch. Not to mention that this a show about people with powers. WAIT THAT'S...NOT LOGICAL EITHER! I really enjoyed this episode because I thought it really did converge on characters - like the ando getting powers suited to his personality deal, hiro and nemesis, the relational twists with Sylar, Angela, Claire, Meredith, Noah (it was deep), nathan and peter's changing relational dynamic...and I actually think one of the greatest moments of the finale was when Hiro snapped the formula in half and u find out that he was the one that actually did that.
So come on, there will be thousands of inconsistencies in every episode just because it is a fricken superhero show. I just enjoyed the fast paced ride of this finale.
December 17th, 2008 4:54 PM
I would just like to say that I come to HEROESFANATIC.COM almost everyday and I absolutely love that you guys critique the show as harshly as you can.
I love Heroes, but I love your opinions. Please keep it up! Keep up finding flaws and plotholes - It's about time the writers start visiting the site too! And ignore the haters!
December 18th, 2008 2:49 AM
I really don't understand why Nathan as a father, as a brother, and as a son would 'sell' his families, Claire, Peter, Angela, etc.
December 18th, 2008 4:58 AM
Volume 3 was better than volume 2 (we can all agree) But the show has gone way (a long way)down hill since volume 1 heres why. In season 1 the writing team, directing team and executive directors were all the same people so whenever a new director or writer came into the scene they were put in place, but since then every week there is a new director or writer wh wants to put his/her new stance on the show. Even things such as lighting and music have come down (which looks to be different in volume 4). The characters have gone down massivly with what they actually want to do ect. New and Interesting character barly last 10-12 episodes (adam monroe, the german,Kaito Nakamura, Charles Devaux, Knox and the cadet in episode 12) these were interesting characters who have been killed off who were great. As for Bob, Linderman, Elle, Maury and Utusu we new a little more but not enough. The Hatien is being misused by the team. Micah and Monica need a good finishing storyline, Molly aswell. The show is going three way's
1- Focus on Petrli, Gray and Bennet (meaning bigger storylines, more confrontations)
2- The misuse of other great characters, Matt, Daphne, Hiro, Ando, Mohinder and the Hatien
3- Worse fates for the world and perhaps uncontrolloble for the heroes (powers or not) A virus, An Injection, whereas New York exploding was down to one of the heroes not external
So it seems to me that Volume 4 needs to curve back round to volume 1 standards or mght not do well in Season 4!
A few questions about the show (if someone knows please post)-
1. Is Mohinders abilities fully gone and is he powerless.
2. And Peters new ability to fly or is it his old empathic ability?
even with all my critisms i still tune in each week to watch the show as it still remains to have a few strengths in it left and since Nathens turned against his own kind
December 18th, 2008 8:22 AM
I somewhat agree with you guys about not nitpicking every detail. There were inconsistencies and unanswered questions in both previous seasons. People are STILL debating on whether Niki and Jessica were twins and waiting to see if the Caitlin storyline will wrap. It is best to suspend belief with these kinds of shows. However, in an episodic, cliffhanger-style show, designed FOR people to pay attention to details, there HAS been some lazy storytelling. It went from sci-fi to soap REALLY quick with characters falling madly in love with characters after only meeting once (Matt & Daph) or after one kills the other's father (Sylar & Elle). Quite a step away from the angsty, but more realistic Peter/Simone/Isaac love triangle in Season One. Give it another season, party people. Let's see where this new volume goes.
December 18th, 2008 11:01 AM
X
I completely disagree with you. I feel Volume 2 was far better than Volume 3 and mainly for this reason. Volume 3 moved to fast, had to many characters/story lines, and never paid enough attention to the “main focus” of any given episode this volume.
Volume 2 was criticized for it’s slow and repetitious pace. People said that it was too much like Volume one in the sense that the beginning seemed to drag on. Sure the beginning was a little slow but I still feel it was better than the jumbled speedster speed of Volume 3. Why? Because you never really got the change to understand any of the characters in volume 3. One of its biggest flaws was in the failure to deliver these characters motivations… so many people are baffled on why Arthur was so bad. Had they taken time to develop these new characters and build on to existing characters stories then Volume 3 would have been much better then Volume 2. But they didn’t so you never ever get an idea of who Arthur is or why (anyone but Daphne) is fallowing his lead.
We were supposed to feel for these people, love them or hate them we should have completely understood why there were doing whatever it was they were doing but frankly the emotion that these characters exuded just fell flat. Choose any character from the first two volumes (perhaps minus angela) and I’m willing to bet the majority of fans will be able to tell you WHY they were doing what they were doing and what drove them on their quest… that’s something Volume 3 doesn’t have.
Now onto your questions, we don’t know for sure exactly how these will play out but its been hinted that Mohinder still has his powers. In the multiple futures he was unable to remove the powers from people. They are (or have become) hardwired into their DNA. No matter which timeline you fallowed Mohinder was unable to remove anyone’s powers. When he got the Formula bath it only “cured” his side effect, or so we should presume. But according to the Mytho’s set up by the show, Mohinder should still have his powers.
As for Peters Ability, again we don’t know for sure but the common consensus is that he has his Empathetic Mimicry back. Tracy was incorrect in her assumption that they would be able to pick and choose what powers people get. It’s been stated numerous times in the show that people get specific abilities based on their genetics. In the episode “Our Father” you see Future Hiro walk past a window during a scene with Mat Ando and Daphne. The only way this is possible is if he acquired his original ability again.
Again this is all speculation but if you (and the writers) have fallowed the Mytho’s and the small hint’s they’ve dropped this season then Mohinder still has his ability’s minus the scales and Peter regained Empathetic Mimicry
December 18th, 2008 5:01 PM
i think that: Tracy will use Mohinder because he might remember the formula, dont know what to do about the catalyst. Mohinder still has his powers but is sick and it looked like the formula only fixed half his face. Ando didnt zap Hiro in the future he might have enhanced his power somehow, peter got his original power back, the Hatian was chasing Sylar and then was not seen or heard of after, alternate futures are different now, at the end they show the african in Mohinders lab on front of matt and thats just a little of what i think