Heroes - fun new TV series

[econ21]

Just caught the first two series of Heroes on the Sci-fi Channel in the UK and highly recommend it. I guess US viewers may have seen more of it, but it was the most entertaining couple of hours of TV I've watched in years. I was laughing at loud alternately at the humour and at the high concept of the thing.

Apparently, the creator conceived the idea after watching the Incredibles and The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind within 24 hours, wanting to combine the two. And he has created something as fresh and inventive as those two films. The story is about some people with superpowers, but you absolutely must forget about that when deciding whether to watch it. It has no relation to your standard "underpants outside tights" superhero fare.

The most fun of the characters is a young, short, portly, bespectacled Japanese office worker who can stop time and teleport. Watching him revel in his abilities is a joy. His travel to the future and witness to New York's destruction in a nuclear explosion is the motivation for the series. The other standout is the indestructible cheerleader, whose attempts to test the limits of her powers provides the shocking opening hook of the first episiode.

The other characters have entertaining high concepts too. One can paint the future - including the nuclear destruction of NY. Another is a policeman who can hear people's thoughts; he has only a small role in the first two episodes, but it's intriguing, in a Sixth Sense, sort of way. Ironically, the one which does not work that well so far is the politician who can fly - I guess flying is just too mundane; too close to the high jinxes we are used to in Superman, Spiderman etc.

The programme has a dark, grainy quality too it - a serial killer is apparently the main protaganist and one of the "heroes" special ability is a pyschotic mirror image. It may peter out as the series develops, but the opening was most promising. Highly recommended.

UK viewers can apparently catch the opening on the Sci-Fi Channel each night, with the regular slot Mondays at 10. Too good to be confined to the Sci-Fi Channel, apparently it's coming to BBC2 later in the year.

[Beirut]

My woman likes that show. I've only seen a few minutes of it.

Mind you, I did see that cute blonde chick who looks like Diana Krall.

[professorspatula]

I watched that last night too after Medium. I was pleasantly surprised. I thought like many US shows that appear on non-mainstream channels and are hyped to kingdom come, that it would be a bit rubbish. But it wasn't. It doesn't feel quite as high production value as some other shows - Lost, 24 etc, but it certainly has it's charms. Definitely worth catching when it's on.

[Martok]

My roommate is fanatical devotee of the show. She's usually not one for most TV programs, but don't you dare get in her way of the boob tube come Monday nights at 8:00 (Central Time)!

I would mock her for her zealous dedication, except I'm the same way with NCIS, House, and Battlestar Galactica.

[master of the puppets]

i like the show but i have 1 problem with all these shows, they all come on only once a week.

sorry, i'm sure House, Lost, 24 and other such shows are good but i cannot be arranging my entire schedule around when ER is on.

[GeneralHankerchief]

As someone who's been following the show from the beginning (and who's seen all of the current episodes), I can confirm that it only gets better.

I don't want to give too much away, but let me just say that there are several interesting results when paths cross.

-edit- If you can't wait, I believe all of the shows are available in their entirety at http://www.nbc.com.

[Crazed Rabbit]

Gah, it seems only the 1st and last 5 (of 16) episodes are avalible at NBC. And I want to see the second episode after seeing the first. Gah.

CR

[Sasaki Kojiro]

I heard about it, seemed a bit like x-men. I'll just get on netflix when it comes out, that way I can watch it without waiting a week between episodes.

[Csargo]

Saw one episode never watched it again.

[doc_bean]

i like the show but i have 1 problem with all these shows, they all come on only once a week.

sorry, i'm sure House, Lost, 24 and other such shows are good but i cannot be arranging my entire schedule around when ER is on.

I have a VCR.

Still, I prefer watching shows when they come out on dvd, television is just too much hassle for me these days.

[Sigurd]

As someone who's been following the show from the beginning (and who's seen all of the current episodes), I can confirm that it only gets better.

I don't want to give too much away, but let me just say that there are several interesting results when paths cross.

-edit- If you can't wait, I believe all of the shows are available in their entirety at http://www.nbc.com.

Yes it is a great show... even if I get the episodes 1 day after GH..

[yesdachi]

I like the show, good drama, story twists and plenty of sub-plots combined with cool powers, interesting characters and mysterious villians. I hate to miss an episode.

Interesting tid-bit, the little Asian dude worked for George Lucas’s ILM as a designer prior to his big Hero break.

[The Spartan (Returns)]

in US Heroes is already out since October/November.

it's good, but since my vacation, i stopped watching because i got offtrack.

[The_Doctor]

I watched it last night and thought it was great.

[econ21]

I watched it last night and thought it was great.

I persuaded my wife to watch the first two episodes last night and found it almost as much fun on a second viewing as it was on a first. My wife also liked it, despite her being as anti-sci-fi/fantasy in her tastes as it is possible to be.

[The_Doctor]

fun on a second viewing as it was on a first.

Its on again tonight, then again on Friday. And I would guess that it will be shown again on Sunday.

[Ronin]

I watched the first 2 episodes and found myself un-impressed....didn´t watch anymore.

I´m currently watching : Supernatural, Scrubs and House

[The_Doctor]

I´m currently watching : Supernatural, Scrubs and House

At the same time? While on the internet.

[Ronin]

At the same time? While on the internet.

multitasking is the name of the game

[The_Doctor]

multitasking is the name of the game

What, and game called multitasking.

So, let me get this straight, you have the ability to watch 3 TVs, surf the net and play some kind of game all at the same time?

If so, that pretty cool.

[Sjakihata]

and playing with his genitals while having a cup of coffee.


speaking of old shows... did you watch Young Ones?

[Crazed Rabbit]

Hmmm, got caught up on the recent episodes.

I don't usually go for TV drama, besides an occasional episode of Law and Order if it's on while I flip through the channels.

Last year I watched Lost for several episodes before getting fed up with no answers and constant flashbacks. '24' a highly rated show, just really doesn't intrigue me. I usually just watch comedy on TV - The Simpsons, Scrubs, etc.

But this show is different from others - the premise is unique and well thought out, unlike a gazillion rehashed crime/medical/etc. dramas.

The plot is very interesting - how the paths of the 'heroes' wind together and indirectly affect one another, their abilities, etc. The acting is good, also. Basically, the first TV drama where I've cared to see the next episode - and where I've known it'll actually give answers (*cough* lost *cough*).

It seems to have more bloodiness than a prime time show on basic cable would have - I don't personally mind, but it is surprising. The beginning of the fourth episode made me uneasy and I actually couldn't watch for a bit. Other than that, not *too* bad. Good special effects, I guess.

I heard about it, seemed a bit like x-men. I'll just get on netflix when it comes out, that way I can watch it without waiting a week between episodes.

I think it's a better idea and execution right now. The characters are deeper and seem more realistic. Also, Stan Lee is in one episode. Waiting till it comes out on DVD isn't a bad idea if you haven't seen it yet.

The programme has a dark, grainy quality too it - a serial killer is apparently the main protaganist and one of the "heroes" special ability is a pyschotic mirror image.

Do you mean antagonist?

Crazed Rabbit

[Marshal Murat]

And here I am loving the sarcastic, biting, harsh, and rude House.
Pft, what was I thinking!?