The Story of a Heroes Hater

The NBC hit series Heroes has garnered a huge following since it began about one year ago. I personally have been ripping the show to shreds without ever having seen an episode. Claims of it being NBC’s Lost were the fuel to my Heroes hate. Ironically after tearing through the first season on DVD, I must now rethink my position. Being NBC’s slightly modified Lost is what makes the show so great.

Lost?

Since I do believe the shows share a lot in common, let me start out with why I was hesitant to believe in Heroes in the first place. When Lost began I was hooked, and brought the show to many of my friends. Sadly, the first season ended in a huge disappointment. I absolutely hated the season finale, and nearly the entire second season was a waste to me. I stopped watching the series after season two because the show kept asking questions without EVER answering any. Maybe some people like that sort of storytelling, but not me.

Call me old-fashioned but I enjoy a story that actually ends. I prefer a complete tale with a beginning, a middle, and an end. I understand that wrapping everything up would leave nothing for future seasons, but giving some answers would help. Based on nothing but trailers for the series, I dismissed Heroes as a copycat trying to make NBC some bank of Lost’s success.

…and Found

Of course, all of this came before a friend talked me into giving the series a try. In all honesty, I was hooked after one episode. The introduction to the universe was so captivating I could not help but get wrapped up in the world of these comic-book characters. Maybe it is the fact that I love comics and superheroes…well, actually I know for a fact that is most of it. To see a new take on the superhero in a dramatic setting was exciting for me. It is Smallville without the cheese.

The similarities with Lost are still there. Heroes is a drama with a lot of questions, and plenty of twists and turns. Combine that with a core of unsuspectingly connected characters and some quality special effects and you have your answer to ABC’s hit series. Heroes even keeps the boring character arc to fill time (Nikki) for good measure.

I got through the first season in about three weeks while watching it with a friend a few times a week. The show starts out strong, but gets slightly boring early on. Once over that hump, the quality is excellent. Even though things fizzle a bit the last few episodes, the end is decent. The important thing is that there are answers. The show knows how to complete a story without introducing new scenarios each episode, and while leaving enough to build its next season. This is why I have hope that it will be a more satisfying series that Lost; it has taken the general outline, but removed the largest flaw.

The creators of Heroes also are going for the ‘more than a show’ theme that has been employed by their ABC counterpart. Instead of a fake website (the old Oceanic Airlines site), Heroes has a web comic that follows the series as a companion. I personally did not read it, but it exists for those who crave more information and narrative during the series. The show also has plans for a spin-off, Heroes: Origins which will likewise complement the show with more backstory.

Save the Cheerleader

The first season is not perfect. I mentioned how I cannot stand some characters, but for the most part they are great. Many of the powers are unique, and the main villain is beyond evil. Of course now and again you will be frustrated, and when the ‘To Be Continued..‘ screen pops up you will often scream at the television. The partnership with Nissan is often hilarious. In the grand scheme of things, you will be engaged and eager to learn more about the heroes and their story. If you choose to check out the series, be on the look out for my favorite episodes (the title is cleverly inserted at the beginning of each):

Five Years Gone Homecoming Company Man

Though I enjoyed the first season, I did not start watching the second season. This is because with the speed I tore through the first, I am not sure that I could handle waiting a week between installments. When it hits DVD I will certainly pick it up and excitedly discover what has befallen this group of heroes. I would give the first season 8/10, and I recommend it to those who are interested or those who enjoy superheroes as I do. To those who have seen the series, do you agree? To those who have not, have I piqued your interest? Let me know in the comments.