The second season of Heroes has come to an abrupt end, or is on ‘hiatus’, depending on the writer’s strike and how you choose to look at it.
Heroes got off to a shaky start with its new season, and creator Tim Kring does a better job of summing up its problems here although I will still give it a go.
Major spoilers for the end of season 2 here.
It didn’t get to the main storyline until way too many episodes in. I was almost ready to give up on it entirely. I was preparing to abandon Hiro to his life in past Japan with his love (yerk), very happy to leave Peter with the shoddy Irish accent brigade, and Claire could continue her cheerleaderdom and relationship with pretty but dim (and unable to act) West.
Thankfully, I stuck with it, chore that it was at times, and it did get much better a few episodes ago. Not up to season 1 standards, but way better. We got a new villain, and a good villian, one that knows more than one facial expression and can change his tone of voice (Sylar, take note). We got some back story, hell, we got some actual story! After spreading it thin with an abundance of new characters with the super ability to annoy with one word (the Wonder Twins – My-Ha, get a grip love, you cannot be that stupid, he is E.V.I.L, the so-cute-it-hurts kids, Elle of the irritating voice – sorry K Bell, I love you and all, but no), we finally got back to our core crew.
So Volume 2, Generations, is over. The sins of the fathers are revisited on the children. Revenge is the order of the day. I wasn’t too keen on yet another ‘future-in-peril’ storyline. Been there, done that. The virus plot is weak, for me, and I’m hoping we’re done with that now. But The Company is still intriguing and Mama Petrelli is badass. But does she have a power, and what is it!?
Ok, to some other issues I have:
Peter Petrelli: I know I know, he’s the goddamn hero of Heroes. But he bugs me. He’s so stupid. Seriously. Why would he believe Adam over Hiro and Parkman? And why did it take another naff Buffy-esque ‘I love you’ speech to kick his arse in gear? Bad writing there my friend. I’m also at a bit of a loss as to how he’s going to save annoying Caitlin. She is lost in the future. The horrible ‘virus-takes-Manhattan’ future. If they are done with the virus storyline, scary future no longer exists, so…does she no longer exist? Is she lost forever in time? Hopefully that will become clear.
Sylar: Worst. Villain. Ever. I want to hate my super villains, and because they are seriously evil, not because they are annoying. Zachary Quinto has one facial expression, one tone of voice, he simply oozes ‘evil’ in everything he does. Subtlety is lost on this guy. The acting sucks. Enough of him already. And you take the good villain (you know what I mean) and bury him alive out of the way? No no no. Bury Sylar. Under concrete, or at the bottom of the ocean. Just get him off my screen pronto.
I guess one of my problems is there still aren’t that many characters I’m invested in. I love Hiro, I love the buddy relationship between him and Ando, I like following his story. I am intrigued by Mr Bennett and by association Claire, but that’s kinda it. Others are often watchable but I don’t really care what happens to them.
As for the final episode, it was good-ish, it tied up some loose ends, it set some things up, it toyed with emotions a little as to who lives and dies, or at least attempted to. Sadly Maya was resurrected, but I’m assuming Nathan is dead (which would be stupid as he is actually a decent character and balances out the stupidity of his brother), and the jury is out on Niki. However, I read today that, although Niki is gone, evil Jessica will be back. Enough with Ali Larter already. She’s hot, we get it, but that’s not enough reason to keep her duff character around, and take away Micah while you’re at it.
Generations ends, and Villains begins, with wooden face Sylar doing his ‘evil’ laugh and declaring ‘I’m back’. Gah! Bullet in the brain, bullet in the brain! Please!
Even after all this, I will still tune in when it returns, whenever that may be. So I guess I can’t hate it all that much.
I hated Sylar’s return of his powers as he summoned the can of spinach and the only thing that came into my mind is the Popeye’s theme song, “I’m strong to the finish ’cause I eats my spinach… I am Sylar the brain eating man. Toot, toot.”
Yeah, he’s about as scary as Popeye.