Heroes Season 3
After the slight misfire of season 2, its become the norm for Heroes to take a bit of a kicking.
Now I had the same problems as most people with season 2. Hiro’s character had most of what made him likable removed, the Claire/Flying Boy plotline was a bit dull, etc, etc. However with Season 3 I’ve generally felt Heroes has been back on form. Its a bit of a shame for me to be continually reading complaints about the show, while I think its improved a lot over last year.
While I’m still not completely sold on Sylar being revealed as a Petrelli, I’ve otherwise been really enjoying this year. Hiro’s been back on form, and teamed up with Ando where he belongs. A lot of the misfiring plots from season 2 have been forgotten, and the introduction of Arthur Petrelli as the new villain of the piece has been a big success.
I like the grey area with the Heroes being forced to side with the untrustworthy Angela against her even-worse husband. Sylar’s struggle against his nature has been interesting (although I’m hoping to see him renewed as Heroes’ number-one boogeyman by the end of the season) and the idea of flipping the characters in general has been interesting (I loved some of the Peter stuff earlier in the season).
There’s been some issues granted. Aside from the Sylar/Petrelli revelation, I’ve found Claire fairly annoying again this year. Her plotline about not wanting to sit on the sidelines hasn’t really worked for me, although I did enjoy the episode with her, and both her mothers being held captive by the puppet master guy. Mohinder also seems to be staying true to form by siding with the nearest available villain each year. Surely the guy should’ve figured out by now that he’s a lousy judge of character? (ok, I know he’s desperate, but then he’s the one who shot himself full of that experimental syrum)
Overall I’m loving the heck out of this season. Its just a pity that its taking such a kicking elsewhere.
Comments
Comment from Alan
Time December 2, 2008 at 14:32
Must dig out that column and see what it said.
There’s definitely some lessons been learned after season 2, although I’m interested to see what effect the recent sacking of two of the writers (including Jeph Loeb I believe) will have. Especially since I’ve been largely enjoying this season.
Comment from Pie Man 70
Time December 3, 2008 at 9:37
Sack Loeb from Heroes? How about stop him touching anything in teh Ultimate universe, Ever. Gods what he did to the Ultimates.
I heard the idea in season 2 was to start with mostly new characters, effectively saying that the stories of many of Season 1’s heroes were over and we’d see some new people. I’d have been interested to see what would happen if they stck to their guns, as part of me thinks the problem was that it was half hearted at best.
Comment from Alan
Time December 3, 2008 at 9:58
That was my understanding as well. That there would’ve been only a couple of characters to carry over each season. You can see it to an extent. Peter, Nathan, DL, Nikki and Micah’s stories at least could’ve been considered finished.
In some ways it might’ve been better. Nathan being killed in Peter’s explosion would’ve been a good way to wrap up his character, and it would’ve saved the show from having the huge cast (and thus budgetary problems) its now got.
Of course, most of the new characters in season 2 went down like lead balloons so its maybe not a bad thing they kept most of the originals.
Comment from Pie Man 70
Time December 3, 2008 at 15:03
You mean you weren’t captivated by those two crying people?
Comment from Alan
Time December 3, 2008 at 15:27
In fairness, that plotline picked up when they picked up the hitchhiking Sylar. That was more to do with watching Sylar play them though.
Instead it ended up being Mohinder who killed Maya. Who’d have thunk…
(Unless of course, she’s not actually dead in that cocoon)
Comment from Alan
Time December 6, 2008 at 0:00
And as it turned out, I completely forgot that she was alive and well, having had her powers removed by Arthur. Oops.
Comment from Pie Man 70
Time December 2, 2008 at 12:17
i’ve been quite enjoying it, but then I found season 2 ok, but I agree most of the criticisms have been addressed. Jayne Nelso did a pretty good column about it in SFX this month.
And yes, Mohinder shoudl now just say “I trust this guy, ok he’s clearly evil”