When I heard news that the NBC sci-fi drama series "Heroes" was getting canceled, I was actually relieved. The show outlived its worth right from the second season. The subplots became confusing, the characters were sloppily erased or reintroduced, and the overall plot just wasn't entertaining. I loved the first season not only since it tickled my geek instinct but also because it was genuinely new and interesting. Now I'm compelled to think that network producers should just stay away from sci-fi shows based on superpowers in the future.
The main problem with the show is that it was extremely inconsistent. I don't know about you guys but I got really annoyed at how clumsily they would kill off characters. I'm willing to forgive if there were some contractual disagreements with the actors or if the show needs to eliminate a character out of necessity, but Heroes did it so frequently that it became way too distracting.
Case in point: the character of Niki Sanders, played by Ali Larter. Her storyline was overwhelmingly boring, especially in the first season. I'm willing to bet that the writers picked up on this and decided to find a way to get rid of her. But instead of getting rid of her, they introduce a ridiculous story about a twin sister and genetic manipulation which doesn't really add to the overall plot and just wastes a good episode's worth of time.
I'm not saying that this one incident is indicative of the quality of the entire series, but damn, Heroes did this so often that nothing was cohesive. If you're going to get rid of a character, have some sense to not half-ass the job.
Another complaint is the character of Sylar. He was easily a hallmark of the series because his motivations were sincere and his methods of murder were frightening. Why was it so hard for the writers to stick to that? He flip-flops between super villain and ordinary, mentally stable guy in the space of a few episodes that he just ceases to be a threat.
I will admit that I stopped watching after the third season. But out of fairness, I decided to watch an episode from the latest season online at random just to see how things were going. In this episode, Hiro, the time-traveler, apparently thinks he is Don Quixote after someone screws up his mind. For the better part of the episode, Hiro thinks he must save a doctor from a hospital run by Storm Troopers. After a few commercial breaks and after Hiro and his friends manage to escape the hospital, Ando decides, in the middle of being chased by wild dogs, that he'll use his power to fix Hiro's brain. Lo' and behold, the plan works, and they escape in the nick of time by teleporting. My only question is, why did it take more than half an episode for Ando to use his power? What a kick in the nuts. The rest of the episode was boring, and I kept pausing to look at other things on the web before I could finish.
So, Heroes, I'll cherish the first season DVD box set that's sitting on my shelf. But to the rest, good riddance.
What do you think of the series now that it's being canceled?
Recommend
Comments (44)
I have never seen an episode of this Heroes show.
Its getting canceled was definitely for the best. I also love and cherish the first season wholeheartedly. I watched the rest just so I could know that I had it finished (It's some weird thing for me that I have to finish things that I start watching @_@).
I wish Sylar had stayed a bad guy. But maybe they just made him too bad-ass to beat. I dunno. And they made Peter lame. The second season definitely killed it for me. But I kept watching nevertheless. ;_;
My Fiance is obsessed with this show. I have only seen a few episodes from the first season, and they were okay. The show really just reminds me of a twisted version of X-Men.
NOOO, it doesn't. Sad face.
You are quite correct. The first season was fast paced and full of fun and I was excited to see each episode and wondered where it was going. Then they had to finally explain where it was going and the wheels began to fall off. They should never have explained so much and written themselves into corners.
I never watched it because it sounded stupid.
It was good only in its first season but afterwards...it just kind of died. I'm not too surprised..
I thought even the first season was poorly written, unengaging and unoriginal.
I admit I was disappointed, then I realized I hadn't liked it since season one, so.... yeaaah.
There were so many problems with it that it basically is a joke, but I am still sad that it is canceled, because it was still so entertaining. But then I like b-grade science fiction.
The first season was decent but it had numerous *significant* flaws. But I could live with them. The other seasons were almost entirely without worth. I agree with you. I've heard the problem was the writer's strike. And I agree that probably hurt the show. But the deeper problem was probably an utter lack of a deep overriding artistic vision from the start.
The writers didn't have any idea where they wanted the show to go so it ended up shifting back and forth between various random attempts at crowd pleasing gimmicks to try to win back audience none of which worked.
Even so I'm still a little sad to see the biggest super power television show so far die an ignominious death. I hope it doesn't mean television networks will fear to go in that direction in the future.
I really think it deserved to be liked, and I tried so hard, but I just couldn't do it. I think I watched the entire first and second season but I can't even remember. I'm glad it's over, but to be honest I didn't even know it was still on.
They should fire the writers instead of cancelling the show.
This season sucked! They kept adding new characters and your kinda wondering, if having super powers that normal, then why is it such a big deal? ha ha
Sadly, I agree. I loved the first season. It was engaging and I thought it was really going places. But then it turned into a soap opera and random things just happened without explanation. (When Peter was found in Ireland and he fell in love with that Irish girl, but then both of them were persecuted and he went back in time to save her, he ended up helping his brother and there was no mention of her ever again!)
Yeah, it's just terrible! The show has been going on for too long.... only season 1 was worth watching
@kayoobi@xanga - I totally agree!
With this show being canceled and "Lost" having ended, this looks like the end of big network sci-fi series with big casts. Granted Lost was way better than Heroes, but it is still sad to see.
Heroes was one of my favorite shows. While I agree with everything you said in this post, it's still sad to see it go since it was one of the few shows that got me to actually turn on my television.
I think the first season was awesome too!
Even though they got sloppier but I still like Heroes. I am so hooked on Sylar. :\
Wow.
Totally agree!
I don't really care how it sucked, I hate when they cancel shit and don't give me a conclusion.
OH thank God! I loved the frist season of heros. But by the thrid season. It just got stupid.
honestly I can't stand for such long series...when I hear about 6th/7th/8th season I suddenly lose all my will to seat and take a look at it...(that's because here these American series arrive years later their first broadcasting)...despite this..I loved the first season....I loved how in the end all the characters, who were connected to each other by apparently random "ties", got together..even if the end itself was a bit stereotyped (Good vs Evil started being a little boring to me..)
Definitely!