'Heroes': Strangers and a new hero
So what did we learn this week? Don't pick up hitchhikers facedown on Mexican back roads, "going to the library" is rarely a good excuse for ditching the parents, watch wrestling (you might learn something) and never chase your nightmares.
The show is moving along at a better pace now, though (grumble, grumble) there are still so many story lines that someone is always left out. This week? No Hiro, no Niki, no Peter Petrelli. Luckily, two story lines merged when Maya and Alejandro coincidentally came across Sylar in Mexico. Coincidentally. Hmmm ...
Other recaps
Claire/HRG: A moonlit talk on top of the Hollywood sign with flier West was ... weird. She'll have to get over being "different" sooner or later, and lying to dad could come back to bite her. HRG, though, is on his own quest with the Haitian.
Molly/Matt/Suresh/Nathan: After Nathan and Matt figure out that the older heroes are being hunted, Matt pushes Molly to find his dad -- and we find out that Parkman Sr. is the nightmare man! Her search puts her in a coma. Dang it, Matt! BTW, this story line seems to be the central one for now. THE photo: Linderman, Hiro's dad, Mr. and Mrs. Petrelli, Deveraux, the gold spoon guy, a red-headed woman (a connection to Peter's new love, perhaps) and Parkman's father!
Micah: Not really about him, but about the introduction of new hero Monica (Dana Davis), Micah's aunt. Her photo-reflexive powers (like Marvel's Taskmaster) are cool. The Times-Picayune's Dave Walker gives us a great glimpse of Dana and her prep for a role as a hero from post-Katrina New Orleans. The article also has a great overview of Nichelle Nichols' introduction into the cast of "Heroes," and how it even affected trekkies.
How does Dana see the role? "It's deeper than being a superhero. It's about helping. Throughout the course of the season, you'll see that."
As long as folks keep watching they will. Many people, critical people, say they don't like "Heroes" anymore. It's too this, it's not enough that, it's predictable. OK, Maya and Alejandro finding Sylar (or was it the other way around) was a bit (again) coincidental, but chance and planned encounters are some of the endearing characteristics of the show.
But are critics' perceptions the popular ones? "Heroes" has fallen from a 6.5 rating among 18-49 viewers during the first week to a 5.5, then to a 5.1 this last Monday. And critics may not even have to watch all season if a writers' strike is called, though crews have apparently been working around the clock to make sure things are completed before, or in case, a strike happens.
Somebody (besides me) still likes the show, though, or the G4 and Mojo networks wouldn't have paid about $300K an episode for off-network rights.
Who knows? Maybe the introduction of sleuth-turned-hero Kristen Bell next week will bring "Veronica Mars" fans to the screen.
Now, as promised, more from our interview with Jack Coleman (HRG).
Truthfully, would you rather have the splintered story lines or the group/team format?
In terms of story formats, I think the way to go is a combination of global stories about many people at the same time, with the occasional foray into a smaller, more specific story, which sheds light on a particular character or event. This show can't lose it's macro focus, however rewarding the micro episodes may be.
If you could change one thing about your character, what would it be? Why?
If I could change one thing about my character it would to make him irresistible to Swedish supermodels -- to match my personal life. Truthfully, there is precious little I would change about this part. I'm having the time of my life.
What's the most surprising thing that's happened to you as a result of the show's popularity?
The most surprising thing that has happened to me as a result of this show is to find myself with Hayden and Adrian and Milo on a Paris street in front of 6,000 screaming fans and thinking ... a year and a half ago I was hoping the show would get picked up and my part might recur. Adrian actually turned to me and said, "Not bad for a couple of old war horses."
If you had to have a powers-based showdown with another character on the show, who would defeat you?
If I had a powers-based showdown with any other character on the show, I would lose to every last one of them, with the possible exception of Suresh. My character could give him a fatal dose of the creeps, but his insistent refrain of honoring his "father's research," in the end, would most likely bring me to my knees.
Which brings us to our next poll:
Photos: NBC
-- Jevon Phillips
Actually, the twins meeting up with Sylar is the intersection of at least 3 stories because the car the guy is driving is the Nissan Rogue that HRG gave the cheerleader in episode 1. The guy said he picked it up in California and HRG reminded us a couple of times that the car was stolen (plus the date on the Hollywood sign reminded everyone that they are now in Cali, not TX).
Posted by: Tim Bond in Denver | October 16, 2007 at 11:59 AM
No body seems to have noticed the Nissan Rogue being driven through the Mexican desert is Claire's stolen car in anything I've read. Maya mentions the California plates on the car and on the bumper next to the rear one is a "Go Conquistatdors" (I think) sticker.
I think the overall central theme of this year is going to be that these people with powers, despite their attempts to hide will be brought together by a bigger overall force. Look at Claire meeting West and the tie back to HRG or the fact they just coicidentally come accross Sylar in that vehicle with powers. The surprising thing, and possibly because he's lost his own powers, is that Sylar didn't kill Maya and her brother.
The fault in this show this year, and the probable reason it's ratings are dipping is that too many new storylines and importent characters are being thrown at the audience in such a short time at the expense of established characters and story ars from last year. This isn't the Love Boat or Fantasy Island where you can do a quick in and out of a storyline each week. The question the producers need to ask themselves is: What characters and storylines do they want the audience to form a bond with? TV isn't written for 12 year olds because they are catering to 12 year old minds but because it is meant to be a diversion to life and somthing you deal with at the end of your day with other diversions interupting it! If Masi Oka was nominated for "Best Supporting Actor" Emmy, who's the star of the show, who do we centrally focus on?
A writers strike might be the best thing that could happen for Heroes at this point giving the producers time to stop and and rethink and possibly retool!
Posted by: Dodger_Fan_Since_'74 | October 16, 2007 at 02:50 PM
if Dana Davis did so much preparation for the role, why does her character comment on the "county" when the entire state of louisiana doesn't have any counties, but instead it has parishes... I guess she isn't smarter than a fifth grader
Posted by: KFLOTT | October 16, 2007 at 03:53 PM
Frankly - I am bored with Heroes. I will give it one more week - this season is so overwritten it give me a headache. Esp laughable is Clare's family trying to be "discrete" - Ha! Dad works as a copy store assistant manager and buys his daughter a car? And the house they live in is 1.5 million at least - even in today's market. How are these people being discrete? How does the asst. manager of a copy joint afford this?
THe writing too often is just ridiculous this season. It was more fun and tighter when it was a one season deal.
Ah well, I'l always have House
Posted by: John Smart | October 16, 2007 at 05:55 PM