I can’t be the only guy who wants to like Heroes again. Read the full post.
Oct 23
2008
09:53 PM ET
'Heroes': What's on your fix-it list?
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Just because you up the violence and gore 1000%, it really doesn’t make the story any better. Tone it down and focus the story! We get it,
“Who is a hero? Who is a villian?” At some point I just don’t care – people need to at least like some of the characters.
The things that were most impressive about the first season had nothing to do with superpowers. Intelligent domestic stories that broke typical TV conventions: Ando and Hiro talking entirely in subtitles; Nikki’s interracial marriage (with NO comment made about it); the ambivalence of HRG’s character/motivations (I loved not knowing if he was a good guy or bad guy from one week to next); Mohinder’s quest for for connection to his father; Clair’s difficulties coping at school. Then when you add all the supernatural hokum, your audience is already invested and ready to join the ride. Consult with your special staffer Stevie King – no one does that better than him!
I think the core group of characters should stay, but I don’t think they should try and give everyone a slice of time on every episode. Focus on one, two or three characters max per episodes. Give everyone mini-arcs that come together eventually, but with bigger “chunks” of weave rather than tiny braids, if that makes any sense.
Make being a hero as interesting as becoming one. I feel that is the main flaw. Season one was so great because we were watching these characters turn into something beyond themselves. Now that they are these supreme beings the show has not proven that we should care. The Matrix Trilogy carried this flaw with us captivated by Neo becoming THE ONE in the 1st. The second film floundered as we realized him being THE ONE wasn’t so exiting. And the third film just floated into oblivion. Heroes is the same. Season 1 capitvated, season 2 floundered, and season three is “its still on”. Online Harry Potter was a comparison and one must realize it isn’t untill the seventh book when Harry becomes the great Harry Potter. The first six are his path getting there.
I say give one great destiny and work towards it over the whole series not a season. Make key players in that final destiny a small number with two characters being the center foes. Everyone else becomes expendable getting to that end.
Let the characters have some fun every so often. And get rid of those annoying subtitles.
More shirtless Peter!
I agree with thinning the cast. Cut it substantially. And the characters that remain (Sylar, HRG, the Petrellis) need to have consistent characterization. It seems like every season (if not episode) the characters develop new personalities. It’s annoying and lazy writing.
Also, have an end in sight. The Lost writers were smart with setting an end date. Heroes would be wise to do the same.
Honestly, I’m forgetting that this season is even occurring and re-watching Season One, supplemented with a healthy dose of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
even though we’re in season 3 sylar still seems to be the only new generation character who understands and uses his powers intelligently. i think its hard to watch these ‘powerful’ characters who cant seem to remember they even have powers much less how to utilize them to their own advantage. i often feel like a scene would work as a comic but some of the acting (maya, mohinder, and especially peter) has been terrible of late. and some of the writting, why would peter attack sylar for ‘what you did to me’ when only last episode peter insisted sylar give him his powers w/ sylar trying to explain the side effect. and since when did peter have to ask anyone for their powers anyway, hasnt he always sponged them off whomever he encountered almost accidentally?
i did really enjoy the 1st season, til the final ep, and have been let down since. there have been great moments but the whole thing feels sloppy
1. Keep the powers to a minimum.
Jeez, every character with a speaking role on this show is special. Except for 1 or 2 people. A strength of season one were all the normal supporting players that kept the show grounded in reality.
2. Trim it down.
I’m all for large ensemble casts because it gives us a lot of unique stories to follow. Except Heroes doesn’t juggle this well. They obviously have many key characters that get stuck with nothing to do. So kill off the dead weight.
3. Consistency.
It’s like they don’t pay attention to what they establish in earlier episodes. Sometimes I feel like they’re making it up as they go along. Please think before you make characters do something that totally contradicts something else from before.
4. Keep the powers cool, not lame.
Blue flaming hands? Sonic screams? This show gets enough heat for ripping off X-Men. The least they can do is come up with more original stuff.
Dead should be permanent. There is no tension if no one can really die. No doubt annoying Maya will be freed from her web and go on being whiny and demanding, instead of being dead like she should be.
And I will never believe in Sylar’s redemption. He is not a hero and trying to turn him into one after all the awful things he has done is stupid.
I watched all of S1 and S2, but this season hasn’t been as interesting to me. I think the cast is too large. It started overexpanding last season, and it’s just continued to do so. Some of the characters are interesting (I’d like to see Adam again, if that’s possible, and Daphne is just now starting to get interesting to me). Please kill Mohinder. Even if he’s cured, I’ll still dislike him. And I like the idea of keepign characters a shade of gray instead of classifying them as “hero” or “villian.” What they’ve done with Sylar so far is the only thing that’s kept me interested this season. I used to hate him, now I find myself wanting to learn more about him and watch him evolve.
Also, it’s been mentioned above that no matter what’s done, not everyone is going to be happy. But Heroes, while it needs to make changes, should only take our suggestions into consideration. Don’t mold tohe show to what you think everybody wants, because it just won’t work. Just use common sense, okay?
Here’s a way to fix everything: JUST CANCEL THE SHOW! It’s impossible to fix. Maybe in a couple of years a new show will debut, with – you know – actual superheroes, good actors, and writers who know what they are doing. Because this show doesn’t have any of that. Instead they have morons for characters, actors who can’t act to save their lives, and writers who make up crap as they go.
No matter what they do, I won’t be back to see it. It’s no longer worth my time.
1. Have Hiro grow and mature while maintaining his charm. One of the few things accomplished last season, was that Hiro gained life experience. It should’ve put him on the path to being a hero instead of the idiotic child they regressed him to in the 3rd season.
2. You don’t need to trim the cast too much if you have more of them interacting together and solving problems, as opposed to having Parkman wandering in the desert.
3. If the cheap special fx (Nathan Petrelli’s bridge rescue, anyone?)don’t cut it, don’t use it.
4. Hire some good writers or at least some that can maintain continuity.
Still watching for now because I’m just that much of a fanboy but getting ready to leave this show behind…
Don’t get so preoccupied with Season 1.
Sure we all want the show to return to its glory days, but not so much that things become repetitive. Wow, Claire doesn’t trust her father- AGAIN. Doomed future- AGAIN.
i agree, thin the cast! but than when you do, please tell us WHY. like, why aren’t we seeing micah and his cousin? she had a COOL power, where she at? i didn’t like their backstory, but it’s still pretty neat. and maybe have two or more heroes who have the same power? like micah’s dad – that was a COOL power. BRING. IT. BACK. with someone new.