Heroes will be back for a fourth season. Does that prospect excite you? Bore you? Bounce off you like bullets off Superman’s chest? Count me as being…well, if not exactly excited, then really interested. Even though I’ve been pretty disappointed with the season, I remain enthusiastic and fascinated by its premise and potential. Especially right now: I don’t think the Big Theme of "heroism" has ever been more relevant. The whole idea of "sacrifice" — the chief quality of heroism — is certainly a tricky value to adopt here in these rough economic times. And then, there’s The Dark Knight and Watchmen, big, bold movies that dare to give superheroes a makeover into more complicated, more flawed creatures. Will kids these days leave our current moment even believing in the concept of heroism? All of this makes for great dramatic grist for Heroes, which at its best isn’t just fun, it has the ability to reflect back to us our of-the-moment attitudes about heroism. Of course, the show shouldn’t be pedantic or obvious about it. The Monica/Katrina storyline in season 2 was a little too on the nose. (But I dug the actress, and I really liked the character’s photo-memory power; I kinda wish the show could find a way to bring her back.) And the current national security/Homeland Security-themed storyline feels a little behind the times to me; "Fugitives" might have landed better in the first half of season 2.
Not that I want to try and give Heroes any more unwanted free advice than I already have. And not that I want the show to be all self-serious. This sentiment has been expressed before by others, but let me say it, too: When I was a kid, growing up geeky in Seattle and coming of fanboy age on X-Men by Chris Claremont and John Byrne, Teen Titans by Marv Wolfman and George Perez, and Daredevil by Frank Miller, I dreamed that one day I’d be able to see stuff like what I was reading on TV. Those stories were just so cool, and I knew in my bones that if someone had the nuts to bring this stuff to the masses, mainstreamers would dig it, too. At its best, Heroes has done that, and I really see no reason why it can’t do it again.
This is all to say that I’m happy to see that Heroes is getting another turn at bat, and I’m rooting for it to hit it out of the ballpark next year. But what do you think? Are you pumped that Heroes will continue? And what would you like to see the show do during its fourth season?
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I am excited to see what Bryan Fuller can do. I agree with everything you said.
I’m so NOT interested in Heroes. The only NBC show I care about is CHUCK!!! VIVA BUYMORIA!!!
This prospect definitely excites me. Season 3 was not that bad…Villians was okay, but Fugitives changed my mind over the show. It’s gotten better. Sure the show had some bad moments…but it’s all good. I AM PUMPED FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON AND FOR SEASON 4! YAYYYY (I would also like people to stop saying it sucks…why would you waste your time bashing a show?)
This show’s had waaaay too many bad episodes for it to be saved in my eyes, I just don’t care at all anymore.
Even the best episodes of HEROES never reached the awesomeness of Wolfman/Perez NEW TEEN TITANS, Claremont’s X-MEN or Miller’s DARDEVIL. HEROES’ supposedly “superb” first season was merely an entertaining distraction, fraught with some of the same problems the series still suffers today. But it had the benefit of being new and fresh to the mainstream. But for those of us raised on those classic comics, HEROES is (sadly) “X-Men for Dummies.”
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I’m happy about that! I think the show is great.
Are they going to bring back Chuck as well – that is the only show I watch faithfully on NBC!
The number one thing that Heroes is missing is comic relief. They need to bring on a comedic writer just to lighten it up a bit. That would also make the dramic parts more meaningful.
I dunno, Jeff–seems to me that it’s when times are flush and everybody’s rolling in credit they don’t deserve that we get the glut of “oh he’s a hero!” because he lost 50 pounds or “she’s a hero!” because she held onto her cat. When times get really bad is when we get heroes that deserve the label. Unfortunately, we also get villains, too, but that’s what happens when the stakes are high. The show might find a voice in this.
“Heroes” has been horrible for two seasons running…what is NBC thinking? If you’re going to give an early indication for renewal, it should be for the delightful “Chuck,” which is ten times better than “Heroes.” RENEW CHUCK!!!!!
Hopefully the writers will get their act together and go back to why we loved Heroes in the first place! So much potential!!! I’m glad that it’s back again
Glad to hear it will be back. Like the new season so far. It’s nice to have something to watch besides hospital/medical shows I don’t care about. Still don’t understand Nathan’s reasons for being a butt head this season, nor do I particularly like whoever the hell Ali Larter is supposed to be. Someone please, please, cut Hayden’s hair. How she doesn’t catch it on something with all that running around she does is beyond me beside it looks like a really, really bad wig.
Fire Tim Kring! Make Brian Fuller showrunner!
I am excited!! Granted every show has its ratings problems, but even a bad ep of Heroes is better than about 80% of other regular TV.
YES!!
So psyched! As with you, I’m more excited about the potential than what has actually happened on the show, but the premise is just too good to give up! And honestly, if we’re going by premise alone, (not actual execution of said premise) it’s more original than most television, and that’s good enough to keep my attention.
People are still watching this trash? I’m hard pressed to think of a show that squandered more potential after starting so strong out of the gate.
Yeah, I’m waiting for Bryan Fuller’s input to start kicking in (I think his presence will be felt pretty soon). I thought the show started off well enough this season, but then descended into the same sort of bad habits that have plagued it the past year and a half. Hopefully Fuller will bring it back down to a more “human” level and stop the writers from relying so much on all these contrived conspiracy-driven plots.
Heroes is such a lost cause. I doubt even Fuller would be able to sweep up all the muck to find a salvagable plot. And plus, the cast have been phoning in there performances since the director called “ACTION” on the first day of shooting for Season 2. I tire myself out with not only watching the show, but finding a reason to keep watching the show. I’d compare Heroes to a heroine addiction – you still need the fix, but don’t dare look yourself in the mirror to see what the hell you’ve become of this addiction. I hate to be so blunt, but when the show starts not only insulting my intelligence but sucks the fun out of it – maybe NBC shoulda just pulled the plug.
I’m glad “Heroes” is getting another chance. I’m digging the ‘Fugitives’ story line much more than the first half of the season.
I’m extremely thrilled that Heroes has another chance to get its groove back! Does anyone know why they got rid of fuller in the first place?
They need to figure out another catastrophic event that does not include An explosion or virus…haha it’s too predictable
I really want this show to stay because THERE IS NO show like that. Kyle XY and Smallville are not even close to being comparable to Heroes. I’m getting sick of Detective, Crime Scenes, and Hospital shows…Reality shows, Cribs, and gossip shows (Gossip GIrl, One Tree Hill, and the Hills)
Who cares about Heroes? I want to know if Medium’s gonna be back next year. That’s way better than Heroes, and it’s even kicking the Heroes’ butts in the ratings this year. The Dubois family should definitely be on NBC’s schedule next year.
This show is still on?
Just like a dying horse, put a bullet in it and put it out of it’s misery. I’ve been waiting for a new season of good but have finally gave up on waiting. They just keep getting worse every season. So the question is when will they stop the madness which has been to much to watch.
Yeah, no. Even with Bryan Fuller back on board (@ Max: they didn’t get rid of him, he moved on to do another show, the late great “Pushing Daisies” *sniffle*), I can’t be arsed to care about this show anymore. I catch bits of it while surfing during commercials of the program I actually watch, and even the acting is painful to watch. It’s hard to believe NBC is so committed to such a mediocre show, but then again, with their track record…
Wolfman-era Teen Titans and Wonder Woman were my first comics, so thanks for the shout out, Doc. I just went to Wonder-Con in San Francisco to look for issues of these two books to add to my collection. Whoop!
Meh. It’s a show I watch on a sort of automatic loyalty, but with personal disinterest. The third season, like the second season, just fails to live up to the hype generated by the zeitgeist first season. My brother remains a fan of the show, though. I’ve already decided not to attend the Comic-Con panel for this upcoming year based on last year’s disappointing panel and the disappointing returns of this season.
I guess I still have some interest in Heroes but where are the story line(s) going….
The show I would REALLY like to see back for another season is CHUCK !!!
I gave up on Heroes when it came back in February. It’s time to cancel this craptastic show!
Duh people. Hayden wears a wig. Thew producers got mad at her because she cut her hair off, so they made her an expensive wig.
It looks like crap, too.