Save the cheerleader, save the world
*Warning: this post has spoilers. If you have not watched the first 11 episodes of Heroes, then do not read on from here.*
I love this show. It is brilliant. Apart from the fact that I’m a comic/manga geek and that I love superheroes and mutants, the storytelling and plot are the main reasons why I love Heroes. Once you start watching, you will be sucked in and you will be desperately waiting till the next episode comes on.
Broadly speaking, the characters fall into 3 groups: Good Guys, Bad Guys, and Unknown. To me, there is only one obviously bad guy, which is Sylar. You’ve definitely got to be evil (and absolutely psycho) if your primary motivation is going around killing other people and cutting out their brains to obtain their powers.
On the other hand, Mr Bennett (Claire Bennett’s adoptive father) appears to be an ambiguous figure. It is clear that he can be ruthless if he has to be, but he’s not sociopathic like Sylar. He clearly loves his daughter Claire, and would be willing to go to all lengths to protect her.
There are other ambiguous characters, such as DL Hawkins, a criminal cum loving father who can pass through solid objects a la Kitty Pryde from X-Men, and his super-strength wife Niki/Jessie Sanders, two sisters-personalities who share the same body.
Then there are the obvious good guys, such as Claire Bennett, the sweet teenaged cheerleader who can heal from any sort of injury. Micah Sanders, son of DL and Niki, who seems to be some affinity for technology. Hiro Nakamura, the good-natured japanese otaku who can bend space and time. Nathan Petrelli, the district attorney with the power of flight. And his brother, Peter Petrelli, who is able to empathically mimic the powers of others he is physically near to.
After watching a couple of episodes, I have come to the conclusion that the two main characters are Peter Petrelli and Sylar. They seem to be positioned as polar opposites: one has to murder and steal the brains of others to gain their powers, the other copies the powers of others by being close and empathic. Clearly, Peter becomes more powerful as he gains more friends and allies, while Sylar becomes more powerful by slaughtering others. Peter is the ultimate teammate, as he would double the powers available. Sylar is the ultimate villain, as he can only become powerful if he is alone.
Tim Kring, the creator of this show, has stated that he has enough material for 5 seasons of this show. Hopefully I get to find out my predictions soon.
You’re late on the field, boy! Get crackin’!
Oh, and if you haven’t watched the latest Heroes (up to 14) I suggest you don’t visit squarebrain for a bit. Spoilers, hurr hurr.
Ray
6 Feb 07 at 11:07 pm
Hi Han,
Now I found someone to discuss Heroes with me. I have been following the series as well. Of course, I always view Niki/Jessica as the woman with super PMS.
BL
6 Feb 07 at 11:18 pm
is this better than 24? because to me, that is the most awesome series ever.
evie
7 Feb 07 at 1:24 am
Heroes definitely has more promise than other series such as Lost where episodes were written in silo. If Tim Kring has enough gripping material for 5 seasons, NBC has an advertising cash cow on its hands.
I like wonder if a superhero with the power to heal others (unlike Claire Bennett) will appear. Now I feel like running through the list of superpowers to see what Tim Kring might introduce!
gecko
7 Feb 07 at 12:07 pm
The last few episodes were disappointing. It is probably going to follow Lost and become a soap opera.
dodo
7 Feb 07 at 4:58 pm
Love the show, but I hope that having enough material for five seasons means that after the end of five seasons that that will be ‘enough.’ My worst fear about shows like this — including ‘Lost’ — is that they will repeat the X-Files model and end with a pointless and disappointing episode.
Myrick
9 Feb 07 at 1:16 pm