Here's my problem with "Heroes"
I'm an big fan of NBC's "Heroes". I'm a nerd with a comic/superhero background and a TV addict so I should be hopelessly devoted right? Not quite.
While I watch the show weekly, I have some major problems with the way the show is put together. Before you balk, this is not going to be another "my how the mighty has fallen anti-'Heroes'" rant. It's just, similar.
What day is it?
At what rate does time pass in this universe? How much time has passed between "Villains" and the just started "Fugitives" arc? 1 month? 6 months? 3 hours? If they said on screen I missed it, but regardless time moves at a weird pace, especially between arcs. This isn't normally a huge problem is shows, but in one as serialized as "Heroes" knowing the timeline is essential so you can follow the drama. Without time (and yes I'm ignoring the actual time travel stories, I'm referring specifically to "real time") there's little to no urgency, you have no way of knowing when the cataclysmic event will happen. There's the looming doom, of course, but you never know how close the doom is. It takes a lot of the tension away. And, it's bloody confusing.
You can do what now?
Super powers are a tricky thing, you have to remain consistent. You don't want to get too stupid with abilities (I'm looking at you "The 4400") and, once you establish powers, you can't radically change everything to make things cooler (there are ways to do everything in sci-fi people. You don't have to resort to "secondary mutations" X-Men). The "Villains" arc really messed with everyone. Let's break it down"
- Nikki's heretofore unknown twin sister (there's a thrid too!) Tracy appears. Same actress, new powers.
- Arthur Petrelli's power absorbtion ability casued at least two characters, Peter and Hiro, to lose their powers. Or did they?
- Mohinder's power granting serum gave super powers to himself, and Ando (as well as numerous soldiers)
Nikki/Tracy I can get over, I've watched enough soaps to get unknown twins. But, Arthur and the serum piss me off. So, Peter lost his powers to his dad and then injected himself with the serum reactivating his powers (it seems). How? His powers should be in his DNA which Mohinder claims the serum rewrites, so unless Arthur's power was to suck out your powers and rewrite your DNA to that of a baseline human how would the serum have helped him exactly? After the injection Peter flew (seemingly copying his brother's powers by proximity, which is his power). Now in "Fugitives" Peter's power seems to work off of touch. Why? And how did that happen? Lazy writing? As for Ando's "supercharge" power, I'm guessing that the writers are going to use it as an everypower, a "we have no idea what we're doing so, hey Ando can do it" ability. Wild guess, Ando will give Hiro his powers back accidently.
And, why does Matt now have precognative drawing? Did the hallucinatory ghost of the African guy give it to him through magic African guy powers? How?
Look, I still like the show, I really do. But, in order to keep moving forward and if it hopes to EVER return the heights of it's 1st season glory something needs to be done. Characters need to remain consistent (If you need help guys, rent some of your own DVDs, or, hell ask your fans), plots need to go somewhere, time needs to be relevant, and everyone needs to stop being aimlessly evil for the sake of being the ominous macguffin of the week. This isn't "Lost" people.
And, really, pick a direction with Sylar. I don't really care which one, but pick one.
