Are We Diggin' on the "Heroes" TV Series or Not?  

Just watched a rerun w/ my wife (who is also a dedicated fan of the show, but doesn't share my comic geek background). Personally, I really like this show, and I can't wait for it to come back at the end of the month.

At first, I watched w/ a very critical eye, and wasn't too enthusiastic. I thought Claire's father was a blatant ripoff of henry Peter Gyrich from the 80's X-Men story arcs, with the whole persecution of mutants thing coming along for the ride. A great (if somewhat inconsistent) idea, but one that had already been done. One that was so famous (at least to us comic geeks who've read it all, or anyone who saw any of the X-Men movies) that it changed the genre for awhile. I figured this show was gonna start out slow and fizzle because no one but the comics fans would watch it, and they wouldn't like it for the above reason. I figured it wouldn't last a season.

But they're taking this character in a whole different direction. It's not clear he works for the government. And he MAY actually be pro-hero, and trying to help them ("Whose side is this guy REALLY on?" asked the teaser to one of the season's final episodes). I admit it; they've got me hooked and I can't wait to find out what his deal is. Although I think me and my geek buddies almost have "Save the cheerleader, save the world!" figured out (but therein lies another thread), we're still puzzled by Claire's dad, and I for one want to figure this out more than anything else they've thrown out there.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised that I like this show as much as I do. What do the rest of you think?

I figured it being a show based on what has traditionally been a comic book owned theme, the folks who hang around thie comic board would have opinions on it in that context apart from more TV oriented people. I guess now I know why there's never more than 4 people looking at this particular board, you're all just so articulate and friendly. All apologies to Jared.

Exactly. And you were the only one. I KNOW there's a thread about the show in the TV Board, but there's threads on Creature corner about horror movies, books and video games outside the movie, book and video game boards, because horror fans have a different take on these things than movie fans in general might. I thought comics fans might do likewise here. Maybe I should have spelled that out in the title.

You're probably right. About the love affair, I mean. I wouldn't go so far as to say the show's retarded. I think the whole "only an occasional glimpse of the powers being used" thing is because they're trying to emphasize these are still basically ordinary people who happen to have one extraordinary ability, and this season has mostly ben about them coming to terms w/ that ability. They don't all seem to know how to control the powers, and are probably afraid to use them. It would be cool to see them used more, but I think I see why they aren't doing that.

And there's lots of annoying stuff done for no better reason than dramatic effect (Like Hiro giving Peter the really cryptic mesage from the future. If your message is so damned important, why not just spell it out? and Mr. Bennet's whole mysterious bit. It does keep you interested, but if he really is pro hero (and I'm starting to think he is), what's w/ the abductions? I am glad, as a comics fan, that they aren't BLATANTLY ripping off the X-men mutant prejudice angle (at least, not yet). That was the main reason I was lukewarm on it to begin with.

I just hope they get to finish the current story arc before the love affair wears off.

Duly noted. Can I still say "Hatin'"?