Thank you to everyone that posted a response to this week's critical take on Heroes.
We wish the article never had to be written, but it's nice to see that so many of us at least share similar complaints regarding the utter lack in logic for most of the show's current episodes.
With that in mind, we've made a list - and checked in twice, in order to see who's been naughty (Tim Kring) and who's been nice - that compiles reader responses to the show, along with a few specific complaints our staff had over the latest episode.
Feel free to agree or disagree with the following issues (we always welcome feedback/comments), but here are a few complaints Heroes fans have over the state of story lines:
- As described in the aforementioned article from earlier this week: Why the inconsistency between episodes? Two weeks ago, HRG had Elle/Sylar in his sights to end "The Eclipse Part 1." A week later, he waits to fire until after they've had sex? Just lazy writing.
- What happened to Mohinder's dangerous aggression? Didn't he murder some random guy in the park a few weeks ago? Now, the only consequence of his abilities is bad skin.
- How in the world did Parkman know where to find Ando/Hiro? They teleported themselves to that comic book store a couple weeks back, right? Then, this past Monday, Parkman just walked in after leaving Daphne's farm house.
Wait, am I good or evil in this scene?
- The volume is titled "Villains." But, ummm, who are the villains? Flint and Knox? We've barely met them. Sylar? He changes every week (see following bullet point). The series had a nice set up going, with the idea of Team Primatech vs. Team Pinehearst. But it's not clear who is even on the latter team, nor is it even clear what its specific, supposedly evil plan is.
- And, by far the biggest complaint from readers and from our staff: the constant, changing state of Sylar. He's been HRG's partner, Peter's friend, Elle's lover and then Elle's killer so far this season. He also seems to believe anything people tell him. I'm your son, Angela? Cool! Oh, my mom hated me? Thanks, Arthur! Wait, they are not my parents? Interesting, HRG!
Seriously, did it make any sense to viewers that Sylar killed Elle? Was he mad at her for helping to make him a monster (something HRG uttered while on the verge of death; we may know it to be true, but Sylar instantly believes his arch nemesis so quickly, and to the point that he simply murders Elle as a result?!?)?
It's almost impossible to keep track of, but remember when Elle encouraged Sylar to kill that rental car employee? Wasn't she actually the one who wanted his truly evil, monstrous side to come out? So... now that it has, why would he kill Elle? The "hunger" he talked so much about was based on taking the abilities of others... but he already has Elle's abilities!
Ok, we must stop. Our head hurts. Remember: we love Heroes. But not in its current state. We pray that Volume Four of the series resembles season one.
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32 Comments
December 4th, 2008 12:45 PM
i agree totally about sylar!! he is soo confusing?!? first he is like making out with elle, then locking her in an elevator, then they are 'together' and acting all 'cute couple', then he kills her?!?!? wtf heroes! i am like the biggest obsesser over heroes and the whole sylar thing is rediculous! if he is going to be good, then he should stay that way for at least 3 episodes!! not changing every minute!!!
December 4th, 2008 3:09 PM
This is something I sent in to Comic Book Resources dot com to be answered by Joe Pokaski & Aron Coliete in the next "Behind the Eclipse" interview. I think it fits in perfectly with your complaints, especially your last bullet.
"In past Behind The Eclipse interviews you’ve claimed that the Shanti Virus has stripped Syler of all of his powers expect Intuitive Aptitude (because its his original power) and Telekinesis (because of the emotional trauma he went thru when he killed Davis). But in the episode “I am become death” , Sylar uses both Issac’s painting precog power, and Ted’s Induced Radioactivity. You claimed that since this takes place four years in the future that Sylar has gotten those two powers from other people…
So are you seriously expecting us to believe that this is a “reformed” Sylar who was able to become a good guy and doesn’t kill anymore. But in the process of becoming this reformed man he still killed and stole two of the exact same powers he previously had? When are you or your writers going to stop giving BS fairly witty responses and take responsibility for the piss poor story telling this season. The past 11 episodes have had more inconsistencies then the entire past two seasons and it makes day one fans like myself really frustrated when the people working on the show can’t even keep their own stories straight. You can’t ask your fans to disregard the mytho’s and rules you’ve set up because you feel you’ve written yourself into a corner. And if this is the angle your really going to play, when are you going to CLEARLY address this in the show for everyone, instead of hiding your answers behind these interviews?
P.s. nothing would make me happier than seeing this show return to its former glory.”
December 4th, 2008 3:09 PM
This is something I sent in to Comic Book Resources dot com to be answered by Joe Pokaski & Aron Coliete in the next "Behind the Eclipse" interview. I think it fits in perfectly with your complaints, especially your last bullet.
"In past Behind The Eclipse interviews you’ve claimed that the Shanti Virus has stripped Syler of all of his powers expect Intuitive Aptitude (because its his original power) and Telekinesis (because of the emotional trauma he went thru when he killed Davis). But in the episode “I am become death” , Sylar uses both Issac’s painting precog power, and Ted’s Induced Radioactivity. You claimed that since this takes place four years in the future that Sylar has gotten those two powers from other people…
So are you seriously expecting us to believe that this is a “reformed” Sylar who was able to become a good guy and doesn’t kill anymore. But in the process of becoming this reformed man he still killed and stole two of the exact same powers he previously had? When are you or your writers going to stop giving BS fairly witty responses and take responsibility for the piss poor story telling this season. The past 11 episodes have had more inconsistencies then the entire past two seasons and it makes day one fans like myself really frustrated when the people working on the show can’t even keep their own stories straight. You can’t ask your fans to disregard the mytho’s and rules you’ve set up because you feel you’ve written yourself into a corner. And if this is the angle your really going to play, when are you going to CLEARLY address this in the show for everyone, instead of hiding your answers behind these interviews?
P.s. nothing would make me happier than seeing this show return to its former glory.”
December 4th, 2008 3:30 PM
OK, here's my take on some of the Sylar shenanigans:
Remember when Peter was going to cut Nathan's head open because the "hunger" was driving him to KNOW everything? Ostensibly, the old telekinetic finger to the noggin routine can provide more than simply powers - intuitive aptitude seems to give you the ability to yield desired info from rooting around someone's brain. Sylar didn't believe Elle, or at least wanted to see for sure, on the subject of whether his file did or did not support the "Sylar Petrelli" claim. The hunger was an info quest not a power quest in this instance.
However, he didn't really seem to finish the job on Elle, did he? We hear her screaming for a second or two, and then Sylar just kind of falls back with this weird look on his face. I don't think he really killed her, completely, yet.
I agree his character is totally in the toilet at the moment - I thought this was the guy who suddenly understands everything? The only defense I can offer for the writers regarding his sudden about face, is that experiencing life without the "hunger" for a little while, and then suddenly having it come screaming back into his brain, pretty much threw him for a psychological/emotional loop. If is wasn't for the eclipse screwing with him, he probably would have just remained on the course he's been on this season - trying to be a better person, feeling sort of confused but making a genuine effort. Suddenly getting his humanity back, only to have it ripped away again, must have made for a shitty afternoon.
December 4th, 2008 3:46 PM
i think that all of the incosistencies in the third season are bad but for me the biggest problem is the overall direction which the show is taking.
the moment it was made possible that powers could be transferred, taken, INJECTED, it just felt so dissapointing. what happened to the sense of fate and mystery that drove the first season.i thought that the eclipse might provide some welcome mystery and a sense of grandeur but it didn't change anything. if anything it made it worse because it was the most obvious plot device ever. much was promised but nothing developed.
i think that to give the show more mystery they should have peter get his powers back in a natural way such as he just learns them again with NO INJECTIONS PLEASE.
i think that i would quite like it if peter just discobered that he still had his powers.
BTW jason. good on ya for sending that. i agree with it completely.
" You can’t ask your fans to disregard the mytho’s and rules you’ve set up" absolutely spot on"
December 4th, 2008 4:06 PM
Re: Peter "Remember when Peter was going to cut Nathan's head open because the "hunger" was driving him to KNOW everything?"
DING, DING! I know this isn't the place for fan theories, but I think that's the answer. Sylar is going get the answers from her brain. But anywho:
What do I want to see from the show? They've already gotten part of it:
1) I wanted Hiro to be fun again. He got so damn serious about everything.
2) Stop recycling plotlines: maybe, just maybe, they don't have to save the world every 12 months. Certainly a *team* of writers can figure out an engaging story without that crutch.
3) GIVE US OUR FULLY POWERED PETER vs. SYLAR SMACK-DOWN! You know, the one you robbed us of at the end of Season 1?
4) We need a villian. A real one. Sylar was good, but now you've Borg-ed him up, Adam never did anything remotely scary and Arthur has been a horrid disappointment (DO SOMETHING!). Hell, Maury had potential and you just got rid of him.
5) If the discovery was what made the show so fun, I *may* be amenable to giving most/all of these heroes a chapter off. If done right, you could pull it off. I know you can't kill Sawyer, Jack and Ka... oops... I mean Peter, Hiro and Claire, but maybe strand them on the moon for a bit.
6) Lastly, I'm suspending disbelief for you already, but stop straining it by being so inconsistant. Sylar is a telekinetic powerful enough to stop bullets/SWAT vehicles yet can't stop a smallish Asian man with a sword? Baron's skin can't be penetrated, fine, but how would that help crushing all his bones/organs against a jeep?
P.S.: I don't care where the abilities came from. I really don't. Stop explaining it.
Aaron
December 4th, 2008 4:26 PM
Aaron-
"P.S.: I don't care where the abilities came from. I really don't. Stop explaining it."
i almost completely agree but only to the point that powers aren't just injected into people or swapped around all the time.
also i would really like to know why arthur wants everyone to have abilities. what does he get out of it.
and what exactly did hiro learn from going back in time. Nothing.
hold on, he can't remember it now anyway can he?!!!!
December 4th, 2008 4:39 PM
i can think ive so many answers to the shows writing and its inconsistencies, but right now i think why bother?!! i used to be the biggest fan of heroes, now even i dont think itll make it past vol 4
December 4th, 2008 6:46 PM
What was stupid regarding Elle and Sylar was one episode (part 1 with the rental guy) she was telling Sylar he needed to reject people trying to make him good and instead be bad and then in the next episode (part 2 on the beach) waffling on about how he'd changed and how things could be different. Condradicting herself much!
The writers didn't seem to have discussed that with each other (if indeed for these 2 episodes there were two teams of writers). I don't think the writers' strike was a good break, it seems to have made everyone stupid.
December 4th, 2008 6:52 PM
Pay attention before you complain. Sylar gains the power to use abilities via empathy. So that's how Future Sylar got those powers again. In fact, having Peter's empathy means he could have gotten all of them back just from Peter.
I think too that he can gain a bunch of information other than powers from people's brains; obviously he seems something else too in Claire. That explains why Present Peter attacks Nathan in the future (or why the hunger drove him to do it).