Heroes
Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4
Heroes Season 1- 
Overview
First HalfEpisode 1: Genesis |
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Second HalfEpisode 12: Godsend |
Brief Review
This smart sci-fi spin on the superhero genre is well written, superbly paced and maintains the right level of tension and suspense right up until the last episode. There are slight hints of influences from Marvel comics, in particular X-Men, but the difference in setting and characters is enough to keep the series fresh. The only sour point on this excellent beginning to Heroes is the Niki/Jessica plotline that sadly isn't up to scratch.
Full Review
Heroes smashed onto the scene back in 2006 and as the first season got underway it didn't feel like any other first season. The confidence and maturity shown through the new spin on the superhero genre was both familiar and strangely new. The idea of focusing on character emotions and how real people would deal with having super powers is well done and smartly written.
The story is complex and each character has their own journey throughout this season with all arriving at the same place at the tense climax revolving around an atomic bomb exploding and destroying New York. Each character effortlessly intertwines with one another in seemingly random encounters but as the story progresses, these encounters become more frequent and closer linked with destiny and fate.
The villain of the series is a man named Sylar who has the ability to "see how things work", in other words, steal people's abilities. His character is acted brilliantly and the actor that portrays him, Zachary Quinto, steals the show with a well rounded villain that not only has a motive but is deliciously evil in carrying it out. My only gripe with his character is the lack of emotional depth as 'goody-goody' Gabriel Grey but maybe that's just me. Overall the series works a lot better with Sylar involved.
The rest of the characters are good and their scenes are enjoyable to watch although the Niki/Jessica story is both unncessarily gory, graphic and dark compared to the rest of the cast's scenes. This contrast feels out of place in this otherwise excellent series and bogs down the overall quality of the intertwined stories. Although the storyline does coexist with other heroes, it feels forced rather than flowing naturally which is a shame.
The flash forwards are excellently done and the contrast in heroes from the present and a look at the possible future of the characters is both fascinating and intriguing to watch. The episode 'Five Years Gone' is one of my favourites and hints at a possible storyline in the future where heroes are forced into hiding following the explosion that destroys New York.
The powers themselves are very well handled and the diverse range of powers can only be rivalled by X-Men. The powers aren't overdone and the special effects are effortlessly handled with each looking extremely realistic. Not only are the special effects well handled, the music and sound design is top notch throughout and helps the episodes to flow well.
Overall, Heroes Season 1 is an excellent introduction to a smart series oozing in potential for a fantastic and unique spin on the superhero genre dealing more with the emotional depth of the characters than simply 'being' a superhero. The smart spin is well handled and deservedly well received. After an explosive start, Heroes looks set to continue to trend through the seasons to come. The only downside is the disjointed Niki/Jessica storyline that would have been better scrapped. A must buy nonetheless though!