So I’m giving up on Heroes. It was fun to start with, but it was a good 24-episode idea that has gone on way too long. Veronica Mars couldn’t save it, low ratings and a writer’s strike pre-empted the doom of the spin-off series Heroes: Origins before it could begin production, and even creator Tim Kring publicly apologized for his wrongdoings.
Kring and the rest of the off-camera talent stand accused of the following crimes against the audience:
– Jumping the shark by giving Peter (Milo Ventimiglia) amnesia. It may just be a soap opera with powers, but can they at least try to pretend it isn’t?
– Speaking of hackneyed soap opera devices, didn’t that Divining Rod Moppet just wake up from a coma last week?
– Blowing an obscene amount of money on costumes, sets, and special effects by dropping Hiro (Masi Oka) into feudal Japan, for no other reason than to introduce a character who may or may not be a bad guy.
– Continuing to give Nikki/Jessica (Ali Larter) premium screen time in spite of critical and viewer indifference.
-Making Mohinder (Sendhil Ramamurthy) go from a wide-eyed scientist on the constant verge of discovery, to just a giant weenis. I may not be a professional writer, but I do know that “dickening” isn’t character development.
– Introducing new characters with lame-ass powers like Midas Guy, Black-Eye-Goop Woman, and The Girl Who Can Do What She Sees On TV. You ripped off X-Men all through last season, and you’re getting creative NOW?
– Saddling Claire (Hayden Panettiere) with The Flying Emo-tastic Douchebag as a love interest. “I don’t think romance is a natural fit for us,” said Kring in his public mea culpa. It can be, like Buffy did, but set your characters up right.
– Setting up “The Hero Gene” as a virus, which really demystifies the whole thing. And you know it’s getting near Christmas when visions of FUCKING MIDICHLORIANS are dancing in my head.
Now in spite of all this, I’ve sat through each episode of this new season patiently, indulging them in the same way one would a child who didn’t necessarily fail his classes, but does need to go to summer school to bring the average up a bit.
This was before last night’s (11/12) episode. Now there is one adjective I could apply to an episode of Heroes that I could apply to no other.
“Bad.”
They’ve been great, they’ve been good, they’ve been mediocre, but they’ve never been bad until tonight.
Tonight’s installment (entitled “FOUR MONTHS AGO”) was a little bit of flashback filler bringing us the details of what went on in between last season’s finale and this season’s premiere. It’s telling that Kring’s name is on the writer credit for this episode, as we are stuck with the most relentlessly boring characters of the series right now (Maya, Alejandro, Peter, Nikki/Jessica) with no Parkman or Ando relief.
Two events were telling of the decline of this series that crystallizes the small viewer exodus: Firstly, Kring and his staff are apparently so bereft of ideas that they have introduced YET A THIRD personality into the Nikki/Jessica equation.
“Remember when you moved to L.A and told everyone to call you ‘Gina?’” this new personality asks.
Oh, Christ. Valuable screen time and money is being to devoted to Nikki’s IMAGINARY FRIENDS now? At least evil, kick-ass Jessica was Nikki’s sister. No doubt that, with the writer’s strike in effect and the general haphazard writing of the series as of late, that this personality is just for this episode, and is there for no other reason than to set up the contrived way in which Nikki’s husband DL died.
The other problem is a mite more an observation, but nonetheless deserves examination. Now I’m not gonna be an asshole straight guy and say that no, THERE IS NO AUDIENCE for Milo Ventimiglia being shirtless in practically every episode, and that every time he pops up sans shirt is a dagger in the heart of dudes everywhere. Women buy the crap that Heroes sells during the commercials too, and they deserve just as much of a cheap thrill as the guys get when they see Hayden Panettiere in her cheerleader outfit.
But can we at LEAST come up with better reasons for Milo to show up shirtless? First he was just shirtless on that dock, then they had to delouse him for the virus in the future, and now Kirsten Bell sets his shirt on fire. At least Claire is a cheerleader and that’s how cheerleaders dress. This just feels focus grouped. It’s like the Alec Baldwin character from 30 Rock stopped by Tim Kring’s office and said “Shirtless Milo is testing very well in key female demos. Try to incorporate that in every episode from now on.” I’m not against shirtless dudes on TV, but don’t be so damned lazy about it.
And no, I’m not using a double standard, I complain just as loudly when the genders are reversed, so shut the fuck up before you even start.
During this episode I wanted so very desperately to turn off the TV and read my book. And I’m that key 18-49 male demo. Guys, THIS IS NOT A GOOD SIGN!
Thanks to the strike, there are now three episodes left of the season, and I am now a tiny addition to the fifteen percent dropoff. Kring has given us his assurances that season three will be the everloving berries and I’ve half a mind to even believe him. Hell, Lost picked up in the closing stretches if ITS third season.
Ah, but there’s a catch. Even during the worst of Lost, I still cared. I don’t care about Heroes anymore. This is the straw that broke the camel’s back. I don’t feel like giving Heroes three episodes’ or a third season’s worth of the benefit of the doubt anymore. I’m done. I didn’t expect “awesome,” I just expected good. And Heroes couldn’t even do that one right.
The cheerleader can save herself, for all I give a shit…
I agree with ALL of this.
But the most disturbing thing about Hiro’s little time-travel adventure, is that giant chunks of Japanese history/myth/fable were based on the adventures of a WHITE GUY!!!!
MY GOD, how ethnocentric is that!!!! What Kring and company are saying here is that Japan wouldn’t have become Japan if some white guy hadn’t showed up a couple centuries ago to rescue the poor, backward, helpless Japanese people.
Man. NO WONDER they hate us so bad overseas….
Comment by T.E. Pouncey — November 13, 2007 @ 10:21 am
I’ll respond by saying, yes, I’m not enjoying this season as much as the last, for most of the reasons you listed, but I’m not ready to jump off the ship yet. I was dissapointed by last nights episode mostly because last weeks ep was so good, and they follow it up with crap and focus on three of the character groups, but don’t show anything about the rest of the characters. No Ando/Mr. Nakamura action? Way to waste an oppritunity to bring back George Takai. No showing how Parkman/Mohinder got custody of Molly, no Bennett’s moving to Cali, no Sylar getting rescued/captured? So many more interesting stories and they focus on three of the most boring characters and tell boring stories about them very slowly. I was hoping for a return to glory after last week, and instead we got a return to boring.
I will respond to T.E. Pouncey and say that I read the Hiro in the past story kind of differently, in that yes, they establish that Kensei was a white guy, but all of his actions were done by Hiro, so the hero of the stories was a Japanese man. Hiro ends up inspiring himself by performing all the actions of his childhood hero. All of last week I was worried that the writers had borrowed from Futurama and Hiro was going to end up being his own ancestor. I don’t know, I didn’t see it as needlessly ethnocentric.
I’m still watching, but I now have a replacement for Chloe from 24, in that every week I will wish for the Wonder Twins to die painfully for the sin of being boring. Hopefully, the strike will give the creators time to brain storm some great ideas for the next batch of episodes, whenever they show up.
Comment by Henchman21 — November 13, 2007 @ 11:46 am
The mutiny begins.
Comment by Jerry — November 13, 2007 @ 12:25 pm
Henchman21, I agree with you totally. The back stories they chose to tell were far less interesting than the ones they chose to ignore.
Even so, I think the Nathan/Peter back story needed to be told and I was happy with how it played out. The Maya and Nikki back stories added nothing and could have been covered easily with a little exposition (and in fact, they already had been).
The whole Parkman/Mohinder/Molly thing was always a little weird and creepy to me, and don’t get me started on the woeful Sylar storyline…
Comment by Phil — November 13, 2007 @ 9:10 pm
Actually, the Nathan/Peter story was told last week in a video from Richard Drucker, sent to Wireless. It didn’t need retelling. The boring twins could be Sylars demise.
I will agree though, they didn’t answer enough questions. Only raised more.
Comment by Bill — November 14, 2007 @ 9:08 am
The biggest problem with Heroes, which I still enjoy despite some of its problems, is that there are:
a) too many old characters
b) way too many new characters (the only ones of interest so far are Sadistic Shocker Girl, “Bob” of the company, and Matt’s dad, who got less than one episode so far)
c) Nikki/Micah/DL/family – could all be axed without losing much (see point a) above) unless there’s a damn good reason for having Nikki around that we haven’t seen yet
d) the Company and Mama Petrelli – this is muddling around too much. What the hell is she up to and why did Matt’s father try to kill her?
e) Claire – the only thing I can see here is that they plan to kill off her adopted family by the end of the season, forcing her to become a “hero” and joining up with the Petrellis – although there’s that little concept out there that Sylar could become invincible by stealing her power
I could go on and on, but the biggest problem is that there’s too much going on, and there was too much last season, without adding all of these new characters. The Wonder Twins are just annoying at this point.
Comment by Mark Dykeman — November 14, 2007 @ 2:00 pm
After you run out of eps to download, theres always still porn :)
Comment by Steve — November 14, 2007 @ 2:48 pm
Yeah! I can’t believe that the Haitian could lead to memory loss, even though that’s his power!
And Nikki/Jessica/Gina is so boring! I can’t be bothered to find out if each personality has it’s own ability, like Crazy Jane in Grant Morrison’s Doom Patrol.
Also, duplicating abilities for Peter? Cool! Duplicating abilities for Monica? Lame. That’s not a double standard!
And they totally ripped off the X-Men! No one has ever thought of these powers before X-Men!
And the hero gene is a virus, which is stupid. The virus isn’t the Company’s attempt to stop the gene! Midichlorians! Meta-gene! X-Factor! Mutants!
People still watch LOST?
Comment by Brianary — November 14, 2007 @ 3:11 pm
You said there are only 3 ep. left in the season… BUT THATS WRONG… there are 2-3 more ep. left in chapter 2…. but thats only half of this season. They said this season will be 22-24 ep. and right now they are on ep 11 (i think might be 12)
Comment by dj disturbed — November 14, 2007 @ 3:12 pm
Wow… are we even watching the same show? While I agree with you on some points (e.g. the whole Claire/EmoBoy relationship is crap), I can’t help but think the show has gotten progressively better this season. Yes, I could do without Niki and/or Micah. Yes, I could do without Maya & her brother. But I’ve got to believe that it’s all leading up to something… and that these characters are still around for a reason…
Comment by Chris Harrison — November 14, 2007 @ 3:14 pm
You people are crazy. I’ve been following Heroes this season and it rocks!
It’s a long season and it’s appropriate to have different stories peak at different times. I think it’s been great.
Comment by anon — November 14, 2007 @ 3:18 pm
you guys are all whiny babies, you should’nt expect so much from televison, just sit back and enjoy the ride, i gotta admit i’ve enjoyed the new season so far, but that beacause i just relax and watch show, House wasnt one the best episodes this week with that whole documentary thing, but still i enjoyed it, these arent the movies folks, its just tv
Comment by AJ — November 14, 2007 @ 3:22 pm
Swear to God… It doesn’t take real Mexicans that long to cross the freaking border!!! Maya and her weak-ass brother need to kill Adam on December 3rd or I’m gonna be so pissed.
They also lied to us about this week, they didn’t say crap about how the hell Sylar was snatched and brought to the middle of no where Mexico.
You would think cockroaches would have a better plan than that!
At least Tim K. was man enough to admit they phoned it in this season.
I’m really starting to hate Maya and her weak-ass brother.
Comment by Vizzor — November 14, 2007 @ 3:34 pm
While I agree this season doesn’t have the impetus that the first season did I desperately don’t want this to off the air. I will continue to watch because tho it isn’t the worlds greatest show it is still better than 90% of other things out there.
Comment by CROW — November 14, 2007 @ 3:47 pm
I totally agree with you, somehow the pacing/slowness of the show has turned painful to the audience. Maybe it’s just because the show had so much potential, but somehow nothing cool every really happens, and no one can really move into multi-dimensional characters. I don’t know about the shirtless thing… he had to lose his shirt somehow just for continuity, so I think the whole dock part just counts as one.
Comment by Andrew — November 14, 2007 @ 4:01 pm
I think you’re being a tad over dramatic. Yes Nikki and her multiple personalities aren’t up to the standard of the other characters (dare I suggest she’s only there because of the male focus groups?), and the whole Maya thing is quite possibly the most contrived and boring way of re-introducing Sylar to the rest of the heroes imaginable (you don’t honestly think they exist for any other reason do you? They’ll both be dead within 2 episodes of hitting America) but I think it’s getting better. This weeks was definitely the best of the series, and last weeks is the next best. A good, and reassuring, sign, surely.
But please, Tim, get rid of Nikki, Mica, Maya and her brother.
Comment by Simon — November 14, 2007 @ 4:17 pm
Everything said is spot on. This series was just great until the finale – a major disappointment. This season has started off pretty weak as well…but it took a little while to drag me in on season one as well. I am holding in there…not much else on tv.
The worst part by the way, is still unmentioned: the way hiro’s buddy is deciphering his tale with the scientist from the tiny scrolls…ridiculous and retarded.
Comment by Mark — November 14, 2007 @ 6:51 pm
Though all of you had excellent points concerning the pros and cons of the show, I’m going to have to agree with AJ.
It’s just television. It’s not supposed to be all brilliant, just entertaining.
That said, season finale of 1 WAS disappointing. I thought it was building up to this crazy fight scene with all these powers flying around all over the place but, alas, nothing. Also, season 2 is running slower than season 1 did but I’ll still watch it and enjoy it. I actually really liked the “four months ago” episode because it kinda clarified things for me (why peter had no shirt on and was cuffed in a cargo with amnesia and why nathan was seeing him with his face melted off). They probably didn’t need to show us how DL died; whether we thought he died after the Linderman event or because some sleazy looking coke dealer was jealous and shot him isn’t really relevant to the plot. Bottom line is, he’s dead.
But despite my criticisms and yours, I still wish for the show to continue so that at least I can continue watching it. I’m actually still trying to figure out what the deal is with maya and alejandro (their powers and purpose in the show) so if T.Kring could reveal that soon, that’d be awesome. Is it some ying/yang thing going on? oh and — they’re twins?!
Enjoy the rest of the season!
Comment by Shirley Desiderato — November 15, 2007 @ 1:17 am
Way over dramatic and everybody’s whining is going to get the show canceled. It’s TV, not a movie, so don’t expect an Oscar worthy script. For TV – this show is amazing and fits the 10-40 demographic perfectly. What out there is comparable in quality, besides BSG which holds the number one spot in terms of what is possible to do on a TV budget? Just Lost and people need to stop bitching about that too. If we whine, whine and whine – TV networks will think we don’t like this shit and put reality TV and flat sitcoms back on.
Ups and downs are part of how any TV show goes – relax and deal with it.
Comment by Beth — November 15, 2007 @ 8:27 am
Why should we have to settle for mediocre or lower TV? Are movies inherently better than TV? No! TV can tell longer, more intriguing stories and create more character growth than any movie could hope to do. If we continue to watch mediocre shows, the studios will continue to produce mediocre shows. If we don’t expect quality from the shows we watch, we will not get quality. Now granted, there are different measures of quality. I’m not expecting Oscar quality from “Heroes” but I do expect fun, and excitement, and intersting characters, which the show had last season. It has had precious few of those things this season.
The point of the original article was to say that one viewer was disappointed with the current season and had decided to stop watching, which is his perogative. One person critiquing the show will not get a show cancelled. One person not watching a show will not get it cancelled. But if enough people aren’t enjoying it, and if enough people stop watching, then the show will be cancelled, and if that many people have stopped watching, it’s usually cancelled for good reason.
Comment by Henchman21 — November 15, 2007 @ 10:12 am
How is Heroes not anything short of stellar quality? It hasn’t jumped the shark, it looks amazing, and you’re talking about it aren’t you? Sure, it’s a little slow, lacks clear direction, and feels a little bloated right now – but it still is a superb show. I think if you are not finding Heroes anything but – you really don’t like this type of television and should go back to CSI and Deal or No Deal.
Comment by Beth — November 16, 2007 @ 8:49 am
I agree in killing the Nikki/Jessica/Gina character.
Kill the flying emo then have the cheerleader kill dad.
Hero gene as a virus is a bad idea, but maybe its not the virus that killed all the people in the future but Mayas power? Misdirections is good if executed properly, like in the movie Swordfish.
Yes Maya and the wuzz brother maybe interesting if, Maya controls death while wuzz brother cant just cancel Mayas death poweres but also bring a dead person to life and I would definitely want them fight each other in the end but if theres no big part for them in the fight finale then just have them die before chapter 2.
Hell, have Sylar have both their powers instead, i rather want to see Sylar go psycho using Mayas power.
Lastly yes, bring Matt back to main lot but kill the Molly character (or maybe just null her powers then exit stage left), its a cheat to know where everyone is especially that shes cured and she wont be scared to use it because of the boogieman anymore.
Its also interesting to if see Matt can evolve his powers like his dad.
I like the idea that someone dies but their power is preserved through another character just like all the characters Sylar killed but their powers is preserved and is still part of the story.
Comment by godie — November 17, 2007 @ 8:45 am
Season 2 HAS been kinda slow, fair enough, but I do agree they didn’t do enough with Four Months Ago. It needed Sylar, Matt/Mohinder, and Mr. Bennett! I’ve LOVED this ‘Noah’s gone bad’ aspect of season 2, I think we need to see more of that, and less of the twins! I didn’t want to dislike them JUST because they were new characters but, come on, SHE kills people when she cries, and HE’S the only one not affected, that’s not interesting! As for Nikki, she always annoyed me in season 1, but now I find myself waiting for her story arc so that one of the others will end? That is NOT a good sign… Loved DL, though. Poor guy.
Comment by silvas — November 17, 2007 @ 12:44 pm
FYI: Heroes storylines are not working because of a lawsuit filed by two NYC artists call “The Twins”.
Tim Kring stole these artists work and sold it to NBC as his own.
The lawsuit is now in a NYC Federal court and the suit’s files are available to read online.
this story is all over the internet and industry insiders have been buzzing about this story from what I’ve read on the blogs.
check out this lawsuit, it will answer a lot of your questions about what went wrong with Heroes.
FYI: HEROES IS NOW #30 IN THE NIELSEN RATINGS.
this lawsuit which the Heroes fans know very little about is the “hidden secret” that has had a chilling effect on your once favorite show “Heroes”.
Comment by POLI — November 17, 2007 @ 8:43 pm
ive read through what you said and i do agree with some bits of it but still im loving this season of heroes although its not as good as the last it still has me hooked. and hopefully kring will better the story line in the last few episodes and hopefully in the 3rd season if there is one
Comment by Chronic — November 26, 2007 @ 6:02 pm
One thought about Nikki/Jessica/Gina/Sybill…Multiple Personality Disorder is NOT a superpower.
Comment by CapnPenguin — March 21, 2008 @ 9:02 am
feel better now! what a brilliant rant!
Comment by andrew — April 23, 2008 @ 8:35 am