Heroic Apology

Apparently Tim Kring hasn’t been too happy with Heroes this season. Numbers are dropping and fans are complaining. So he issued an apology via EW. When I love something I tend to overlook problems even the most glaring ones. I don’t know that I love Heroes, but I like it a great deal. As such I overlook a number of the issues he says it has, but I do agree with him. Pacing has been slow. I think they should have brought the virus in a little sooner. Claire’s love interest sucks. Having said that I disagree with him on two points.
Hiro – I love me some Japanese geek. A lot of non-fans and heck probably some fans don’t muchy care for him and find him annoying. I think he adds some heart and some comic relief, both much needed. He’s also the geek representative. Some call that “pandering”. Fine, whatever, I like him. I flat out love the “historical” Japanese bits. Yeah they shouldn’t have made Kensei a gaijin. It’s more than a little played and lord knows there’s enough Japanese talent out there. Still the Hiro/Princess thing was fun. It ended just as it needed too. Any less and some of the friendship development with Hiro and Kensei would have been lost.
The Newbys – I’m glad they injected some fresh blood. I don’t have a problem with how they were introduced. It’s the way it should have been done. This is a small enough world what with everyone being related to each other or the old school H’s. I had hopes that this would be an all new crew save Hiro to act as a bridge. As it is I hope they keep a couple of the new characters and ditch almost all of the old ones for vol. III.
So I’ll keep watching Heroes. It’s a good lead in to Journeyman (another flawed, but lovable work). Just tweak things a bit, keep the pace up, and inject some more powers. Once this writers’ strike is up I want to see more.

  • Patrick

    Both of these shows are a huge MEH in my book. As much as I like supers and powers and comics, I see Heroes like the by-product of a huge corporation trying to sell something to gamers or skaters…except in this case, comic fans and geeks.
    Corporate CEO: “What can we add to this show to get the nerdy stalker-types that go to anime cons and browse soft-core skin on their iPhones?”
    Marketing Exec: “I got it, let’s toss in a semi-hot cheerleader, a cyberslut who runs a webcam peepshow (but with a heart of gold), a guy that can fly, and a Japanese Neo. That’ll get ‘em.”

  • Ben

    I can’t really muster full-on mutant hate for it. It has it’s moments.
    But it’s lazily written and in some cases the performances are DIRE.
    The cheerleader and her pops are one of the very bright spots. They/she doesn’t remotely play up her sexuality. Which is good since the character is only 15…BUT…she’s just a cute kid who can survive vivisection.

  • Patrick

    That’s why they added whats-her-name who pulls camwhore duty so she can take care of her kid. The cheerleader is there as more environmental hotness.
    I think, if they really wanted to grab their audience, they could toss in Kevin Smith’s character from Die Hard 4 and give him some abilities.
    I don’t hate it either, I’m just have pretty mediocre feelings on it and can’t help but see the marketing angle they are working.

  • Ben

    What’s funny is that stripper is essentially The Hulk.
    Just once I want her to yell “JESSICA SMASH”.
    And while I’m feeling generous towards this crappy show. The departure of Malcolm McDowells character was spectacular. I watched that like 10x in a row, howling with laughter. I’ve always wondered why Kitty Pride never did that.

  • Pat

    I missed that. I’ll troll for it on the tubes. Was it in the finale?

  • Ben

    If not the finale than the penultimate episode.

  • http://www.spiritualtramp.com Scott

    Wait, a conversation on my blog? Regarding Heroes? And someone who used the word penultimate correctly? Be still my bleeding heart.

  • http://www.spiritualtramp.com Scott

    Oh and just for you Ben, BIBLEMAN!!!!

  • http://kansasbob.blogspot.com/ Kansas Bob

    Heroes.. one of my favorites.. I like the new season.. Adam is an interesting character.. what’s going to happen when Hiro meets him again? I like that they have good (Peter) and evil (Sylar) characters that seem to be equal.. I drone on..

  • http://kansasbob.blogspot.com/ Kansas Bob

    Noah lives by way of Claire’s blood.. what a hoot of an ending last night.. I must say.. I knew he woudn’t be written out :)

  • http://www.spiritualtramp.com Scott

    I caught the last few minutes of the episode. I didn’t expect him to stay dead and I’m glad he’s not. He’s a fave of mine. Still I hope season 3 reduces some regulars and brings some new blood.

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