Heroes isn’t completely terrible, even if it is the worst show on television. Parts of the show are still practically genius. There were three things I liked about last night:
1) Peter Petrelli, who’s still an intriguing protagonist. Every time he uses his new healing powers, it hurts him. But there are always people to save, and to Peter, not using his power is the same as killing someone. Sure, this complex internal struggle is just like Kurt Busiek’s Samaritan, but Heroes was always enjoyable when it was “paying homage” to the best. (Season 1 is basically Days of Future Past with no costumes and no Kitty Pryde.)
2) When Sylar walked through the airport metal detector (in Parkman’s body, remember), we saw Parkman match his movements on a security screen in the same shot. That’s an awesome visual, right out of The Manchurian Candidate (Sinatra, not Denzel.)
3) The Sylar/Parkman Brain Battle finally got mildly unboring. Even though Sylar controlled Parkman’s body, Parkman still controlled his telepathy (Why? Don’t ask questions!). Advantage Parkman… until Sylar used Parkman’s surprising upper body strength to murderize a helpful tire-changing passerby. “The world is my hostage,” purred Sylar. Despite all the amnesias and power drains and fake parents, Zachary Quinto still makes you believe that Sylar is a bad enough dude to really mean it.
The problem with Heroes is that these few good things are drowning in a sea of terrific badness. The main problems:
1) Everything of consequence that happens will be erased by a resurrection or by the Haitian. At the start of the episode, two other sorority girls had just seen Claire get impaled. Claire convinced them that they were just tripping on accidental sorority acid, because everyone knows that’s how acid works: you see one crazy hallucination, and otherwise you’re totally fine. (The next morning, Uncle Haitian paid them a visit and took the bad memories away.) Later in the episode, Parkman pulled a murder-suicide on himself, with some help from the Texas PD. Exactly twenty billion bullets went through Sylar/Parkman’s chest… so naturally, he was alive in the ambulance at the end of the show. (Spoiler alert: He’s not gonna die!)
2) The villains make no sense. Samuel Sullivan has the amazing ability to come around any corner in America for a good shock before a commercial break. He’ll talk to whichever character he saw on Tattoo Lady’s back about the importance of family. He might do something cool with his terrakinesis, which is a word you should never say out loud unless you want to sound racist. Then he’ll disappear, and leave everyone wondering just what the hell that was all about. He’s basically the Great Gazoo. The really depressing thing is that, without him…
3) The different plot strands no longer have anything to do with each other. Hiro doesn’t care about Claire’s college troubles, Peter has no idea there’s two Sylars running wild across middle America, Tracy Strauss hasn’t been invited to Ando’s wedding, and the Haitian is actively trying to forget all of these people. The running bummer of season 4 is that these characters no longer really seem to have anything to do with each other; if Samuel didn’t keep randomly teleporting into their lives, Heroes would basically be 10 different soap operas, none of them watchable.
I know there are some people who still think this show is good, or watchable. I think you’re wrong (especially since, as Michael Ausiello noted, one of the best reasons to watch the show will soon be no more.) Just because there are a few cool things left from the salad days doesn’t mean Heroes isn’t a mess. Listen, we all loved Old Yeller, but remember what happened when he got rabies? I’ll give you a hint: the cure did not involve Mohinder Suresh.
Comments (1-30) of 106 Add your comment
That was a great review. Loved the Old Yeller-Suresh comment. I think Heroes could have redeemed itself if it had actually kiled Parkman. Does anyone like this character anymore?
He’s loathsome – you know I just noticed I watch a show in which I cannot stand 3 of the main actors. Vampire Diaries understands casting….this show does not.
Totally agree with you – I thought, wow – cool plot twist, finally! And then there could have been some fun times ahead for Sylar/Nathan. Bummer it’s not going to work out that way.
Parkman’s always been my favorite character, other than Sylar. Still is.
My boyfriend actually started cheering when they shot Parkman. I told him not get his hopes up since nobody dies on heroes except the interesting ppl I actually cared about (wormhole guy, takeso kenzei, veronica mars -sorry I don’t remember what she was called on heroes:) ). He kept trying to convince me that this was “for real” and that the writers finally figured out how to hang on to zach quinto while getting rid of sylar, parkman and petrelli in one fell swoop. Aaah, to be so innocent and naive again… Suffice to say by the end of the ep he was sobbing gently and I almost wished I could haitian him of the entire heroes experience. I still love the show even if it doesn’t make any sense and completely shuns the idea of continuity regarding anything (powers, chars, timelines). Then again I never expcted it to make sense from the begining so it was hard to be dissapointed when they confirmed my expectations. I watch cartoon network for the exact same reason
*killed
Worst. Review. Ever.
Best. Review. Ever.
Agreed. Terrible review.
Definitely the worst review I’ve seen in a very long time.
Darren, can you be any more of a downer. If there is one thing you can depend on, it’s a negative “oh how horrible is this show” review from you after every episode. I for one, never thought the show was all that the first season – entertaining to be sure – but certainly not the potential second coming everyone was trying to turn it into. And yes, the show got overly convoluted, but really, it’s been a comic book come to life since the beginning – it was just more grounded the first season. Frankly, of all the seasons, THIS one is the closest to season one than any of the others – individual stories, all going to intersect at some point, not all characters appearing in every episode – and people are still complaining. It was cool to be fan at one point and now it’s cool to NOT be a fan and Darren, I think you are trying too hard to be cool.
God its so annoying when people say the guy gives a bad review every week for a few reasons
1. This is no the same guy as previous weeks. Marc is the A hole who gives terrible review week after week
2. This review is actually decent . Darren highlights some of the good parts of this episode (and episode I personally think has been one of the best this season)
3. EW Has finally found a reviewer to do what fans have asked. Be somewhat objective and give fans good with the bad and not talk about how bad the episode sucked.
I wish people would pay attention before pulling bullshit out their a$$
God its so annoying when people say the guy gives a bad review every week for a few reasons
1. This is no the same guy as previous weeks. Marc is the A hole who gives terrible review week after week
2. This review is actually decent . Darren highlights some of the good parts of this episode (and episode I personally think has been one of the best this season)
3. EW Has finally found a reviewer to do what fans have asked. Be somewhat objective and give fans good with the bad and not talk about how bad the episode sucked.
I wish people would pay attention before pulling bulls**t out their a$$
Totally agree with all your points. The show doesn’t need to have them all connected all the time. That leads to seasons like last one. Darren is on the bandwagon. Why do we even waste our time?
When the show gives the audience a bad episode, the critics will give us a bad review.
Amen to that, dude. The show has many sucktastic moments, so why shouldn’t the reviewer talk about them? Otherwise, NBC should just put him on the payroll.
By the way, where’s Marc Bernardin? Has he left EW permanently? I like this reviewer, but Marc’s references were always amusing and and his reviews were well-written. Is he coming back??
I don’t think he is with EW anymore. A big crew of some of the best writers were let go.
I too (even though I like…wait, I think I like Greg Grunberg, but Parkman, eh) am disappointed in the fact that Parkman’s idea won’t be working. I really don’t know if it would have worked (I was theorizing that since Sylar wasn’t all there, he might springboard back into his whole body, and it would be funny to do it while Nathan was pleading with Peter that Peter is suddenly talking to Sylar (and even funnier, they were hugging and Peter managed to get back his power, yes I know that Sylar doesn’t have it, but the power stealing is very similar and why I am still convinced Sylar and Peter are related, only Angela is the parent in common, or heck, they are full brothers and Peter is not that Arthur Pertrelli’s son)
I was having such fun with the episode until I saw that Parkman/Sylar was coming back. I thought “Cool, the Nathan death was a big trick to get our guards down and hit us with the Parkman/Sylar death!” That would allow them to take amnesiac Sylar in any direction they wanted and cut some dead weight. Certainly redeem themselves for that idiotic drinking game of Parkman’s.
So up comes the preview and I was PEEVED. I am tired of being jerked around by this show. Charlie’s death meant something until you did a takeback on that. So let me guess, we are not going to kill people (Darwin would call bull****) and just keep resurrecting characters?
This show is so self indulgent and I am sick of it. I want to see some heads roll, literally *and* I want those characters to stay decapitated. Know what I mean?
I thought during the writer’s strike you folks worked so hard to create a gameplan for the next few years. Was this plan to wander aimlessly giving nobody any character development, forward moving plot, or watchability? Because if that was the plan you are doing a bang up job. Either kill some characters or kill the show.
Completely, I was so psyched at how Parkman was dead. Not really because I wanted him to die, but it was such a great way for him to take final control and end it all. I thought, just like 24, they finally had the gall to take out a character! Then the preview hits, and I was peeved as well. They need to be able to pull the trigger and live with wiping out characters.
I felt the same exact way! I started yelling as soon as I saw the preview. I was like ‘just when you rope me in with something good…it doesn’t really happen!’ I love this show and continue to watch, but I find myself so frustrated that nothing is ever really progressing or happening. Just kill someone, anyone, and don’t heal them!
I absolutely agree, I felt the same way. They should get rid of Parkman and permanent amnesiac Sylar would possibly redeem that character. I think this show is headed for cancellation — I am still hanging on but I don’t know how much more of this I can take!
It was a race to see who could act the hammiest and most obnoxious last nite: Claire, Sylar and Matt Parkman. Parkman taking the win! I really pray he doesnt survive his gunshot wounds, but with all that blubber to protect him, he most likely will
Three reasons to watch Heroes: Zachary Quinto, Zachary Quinto, Zachary Quinto
The *only* reason to watch is Zachary Quinto.
There are three reasons to watch (in alphabetical order): Jack Coleman, Robert Knepper, & Zachary Quinto. Or if you’re a hormonal male, Ali Larter!
Yeah, okay, it’s time to admit it — this show (most of the time) really sucks. I have a weird ambivalence toward this show, though — it annoys the hell out of me, but I can’t imagine not watching it anymore. These last two episode have been absolutely putrid. The episode before this one by far the worst in its history. What has become obvious is that the writers don’t map out their seasons, and they continually have to readjust as the season rolls on. Now things that have happened in seasons past don’t match up to what’s happening today, and the currently storylines inevitably hit a lull. Sylar and Noah are the only remaining characters on this show worth keeping around. I’m just sick of everyone else, especially Claire (and I hope her roommate, which provided us with the worst acting I’ve ever seen, is gone for good). “Heroes” writers always do the most obvious thing. They don’t work to be inventive. And nothing ever makes sense. Why could Parkman take control of his own body with Sylar in it — enough to make him fall — but couldn’t prevent him from killing that man? If he was going to make the ultimate sacrifice and kill himself (again controlling the body) why did he do it after telling Sylar everything that had happened to him? Why does Claire feel so close to her roommate — because they shared an awkward kiss? And could that story Emma told about why she doesn’t want to be a doctor be anymore cliche? Is that the best they could come up with? Listen, “Heroes” had a great first season — but it was a season of revelation, as all the heroes discovered who they were, and they had a locked-tight plot to travel on. Since then, the writers haven’t given them anything to work with but a jumbled mess. And it’s stayed afloat on the strength of its acting and production.
Your post is exactly what I would have written (except I would have used a few paragraph breaks.)
And why did Parkman think that his dying would trap or kill Sylar? If Parkman died, wouldn’t that release his control of Sylar and Sylar would just get back to his body, exactly what he wanted anyway?
Come on Heroes! Thats a good boy! Out to the shed out back with me! Good boy! We’re gonna play a little game. Click. Click. BANG.
I agree with a lot in this review. I did find the Sylar/Parkman thing interesting (for once!), but kept thinking there is no way for PArkman to get out of this. I am pretty sure that the writers will gloss over the fact that Parkman killed someone, or they will just write it away. Regardless it was finally Sylar being Sylar.
The thing I could not stand was anytime Claire was on screen, boring boring boring. Not only is the writing weak and aimless, she still can not act. Why does anyone care about her character?
Oh and why does Noah keep wearing a suit and tie? He has no job.
She’s a bad actress. And coupled with that fact, the Claire character is more annoying than I can describe.
Love this review! Great job! The Old Yeller thing was hilarious!
I wish Matt Parkman would have died, that would have been a true spoiler. . .AND I’m super disappointed that I have to endure at least one more episode of Nathan. . .ick.
http://www.orble.com/teevee-heroes/
I just want this season to go in a certain direction and go no holds bar, and I think it’s being too safe. . .
I don’t know which is more pathetic, a reviewer watching and then writing, poorly, about a show he doesn’t like or people making an effort to comment on a crappy review about a show they don’t like. Sad really.
Sorry Tony, but as a fan of season 1 (except for the finale) I now only watch Heroes in “Mystery Science Theater” mode. The show is laughably bad and poorly written. Boring characters never stay dead, but return again and again.
As another fan of season 1 (finale included – the showdown was weak, but exciting nonetheless), I think this season shows the most storyline maturity in a long, long time.
I wish the writers would come up with their own ideas, instead of giving us retreads of X-Men and Carnivale. Get rid of dead weight like Tracy and Parkman, stop using Hiro + Ando as comic relief, stop repeating situations again and again (overuse of the Haitian, Claire’s whining, making enemies “team up”, etc.), and stop tearing down the characters of HRG and Sylar.
okay, i understand where your coming from, i do, but thats just a lot of negetivity. I’d like to piint out, Heroe’s ratings have been up each week so far for the past month. People are cathcing on to the fact that it’s ‘redeeming’ it’s self in a way. It’s not longer all about the flashy powers. It’s about the people. I will agree with you that they do not interact enough with each other at all. But S4 is better tehn S3.
Heroes needs to get back to their roots. Even if it means (bum bum bum bum) more bagging and tagging. I LOVED those episodes and it opens up ENDLESS possibilities for ‘testing’ out new characters/abilities…seeing if they work and if not…kill um’ off. They were VERY creative in the past (Elle, that one dude who created vortexes…etc.) And wtf happened to Ando’s power??? Is that storyline ever going to grow? I’m sick of Samuel and his lurky-pedophile creepiness. Just tell us what you want already! Heroes season 4, I love you…I think you’re a great show…but I’m going to wait til you’re out on instant view before watching more of you b/c you’re driving me batty.
I was an avid watcher of “Heroes” during the first season. But the subsequent seasons make no sense to me. It’s as if each season has its own mythology that has no relationship to the previous season. I can’t follow it.
I have been trying to figure out what Samuel’s power is? He causes earthquakes but also can write in ink on tatoo girl but if that is just her power then how come he could change his picture in the paper? And how is he managing to pop up everywhere? I know this is fantasy but it should still make sense. As a previous poster said, how come Parkman could make Sylar trip and put a gun in his suitcase but couldn’t stop him from killing the guy?
Not so much earthquakes as sinkholes – but apparently he’s the All Powerful Irish Oz. Or some kind of Sylar who simply doesn’t slice people’s heads open.
The ink he uses is mixed with dirt. They showed it in the beginning of one of the episodes when he collected some dirt and mixed it.
Eh, tell Darren that Bryan Fuller is coming back tomorrow and see how great Heroes has suddenly gotten. Like a lot of his fellow media morons, Darren goes with the flow, so if everyone tells him the show sucks, he’ll repeat it like the monkey that he is. Et cetera.
HAHA I’m not the only one who hates Claires caracter. She to me is the worst part of Heroes. I normally can not watch her plot without my eye twitching. Does Tim Kring not hear the reviews on her, so what if other fans adore her. Fans on Heroes hate her, please Kring. If you get rid of her, I’m sure many fans would come back. She’s the one driving the fans away!
I don’t know what to make of this show anymore. We still have no idea why Samuel needs as many as of the current Hereos still out there for his circus. We have no idea what his grand plan is. I’m also at the point where I don’t really care either. What a complete mess. This show could have been so much more. Alas I don’t think we will ever see that day.
I THOUGHT that Samuel was trying to gather Heroes to try to wage a war against humanity Magneto style (they even have similar powers), but you are right that is quickly going nowhere as well. Like I said earlier I can take the confusion I just can’t take the boredom.
No villain seems manacing compared to Sylar. Sylar could destroy the whole carnival if he had his mind together. Kill Sylar off and I will start caring about the new villains.
I held on for as long as I could with Heroes. I wanted the show to get good again, but it is going NOWHERE. I was so bored by last week’s episode that I turned it off half way through and played Halo. This week I didn’t even bother watching half of the episode. I could watch Heroes when it was convoluted and confusing because at least it was entertaining. Now though it is just tedious and I realized that I was just watching out of habit. The only way they could redeem this show is to wrap up this current batch of Heroes and start over with a completely new group and new story. Call it Heroes: Generation 2 or something. They could even have some cameos from the current group of heroes. Sorry for the long post. I’m just a little aggravated that a show that I really liked for so long has fallen so far.
I think this episode was possible the best episode of the season. I am a avid Heroes fan. I loved season 1. The next two seasons I enjoyed though I see peoples points that they havent been that great. The begining of this season has kind of be slow and dull and sometimes laughable but for the first time this season I was intrigued and had that edge of my seat feeling waiting to see what was to come. Samuel showing up and talking to claire, peter meeting with nathan and next week parkman meeting nathan its going to be exciting. This season is starting to resemble season 1. This episode really showed how all the characters stories are going to come together and cross paths soon which should start making this season pick up alot
This is the first episode I’ve seen in a few weeks (due to baseball), and I was surprised to see that not much had happened to the point where I felt confused. It used to feel like you couldn’t miss an episode, or you would have missed something important. Needless to say, I’m still fast forwarding through Sylar/Parkman and their nonsense, Claire and her nonsense and really only enjoy the scenes with Peter. I find myself continually pleased with how well Milo does with his character.
Bad review? The show has gotten so lame how can anyone expect a good review?
Smallville is certainly mediocre, but a live-action comic book is still a pretty cool thing, something that we could have never achieved competently 20 years ago. It may never get even close to measuring up to its promise in season one, but, for what it’s worth, it’s far superior to the few similar offerings in this genre like Smallville, Dark Angel and Mutant X.
You make some good points, but I have to respectfully disagree about Smallville. At least the plot lines and character progressions in Smallville make sense, and there is a clear path to an end point we all know is coming. The end point is known, so the journey is the point of the show, and I enjoy it. I have watched every season of both Smallville and Heros, and Smallville does not have the circular/repetitive plots, deadends and lack of focus that Heros has. Clearly, Heros will NEVER make it to a 9th season (and beyond) as Smallville has. The proof is in the longevity pudding.
Here’s a twist: I used to watch HEROES then come to EW.com to read the review. Now I do it in reverse to see if I am wasting my time. What makes it more enjoyable is the fact that I am AWARE it’s going to blow chimp, and I watch it with a poisoned mind, completely prepared to make sarcastic comments to my wife.
I missed the episode….ok..didn’t miss it. purposely did not watch it. This review and negative comments pretty much summed it up for me so now I feel that I actually watched the show! Great review!!!!
I guess I’m just easier to entertain. I still love this show. We got to know more about Emma (which NO ONE mentioned!) The whole interaction with Peter was great. More back story with Claire and Noah, and all though I too was mad that they didn’t kill Parkman, it was still a great scene to watch. It made me like Parkman again!
STOP WATCHING if you don’t like it!!!
Hahaha, objective? This review boils down to “you think this show is good? Nope. Walk away from it now”. The vendetta EW has is insultingly pathetic and transparent.
The only thing that’s pathetic is your inability to accept the fact that Heroes is simply a craptastic show! There’s no vendetta going on here. The review was spot on, the series has gotten so bad that it doesn’t matter if they actually do something good, it’s too little too late! The audience has lost interest, the pitiful ratings are proof of that!
No vendetta? “The worst show on television”? Ridiculous hyperbole at its finest. It’s become nothing more than a masturbatory exercise to hate on “Heroes”. You’re not looking at things objectively, you’re purposefully trying to make this show out to be the worst thing ever. A truly objective person whose opinion I can respect wouldn’t let shallow bitterness get the better of him. The strawmen and the misinterpretation is almost mind-numbing.