The Journeys of Speed

When Heroes first graced by television screen, I was fresh off season 23 of 24 and wanted something different for my Mondays at 8/7 central viewing slot. Sure, the show’s premise was straight out of X-Men (minus a wheelchair bound supergenius with the ability to, literally, mindfuck you). Sure, it was over-the-top. And, sure it was convoluted in the way that if you miss one episode, you’re almost certainly screwed (and not even the “Previously on Heroes” intro could save you). But, the show was written well, the characters were well-rounded, the bad guys were actually bad and evil–even though they still had some civility, and season one ended as it should have: a big bang that should have ended the series as well.
And then comes season two: a giant love-fest that, mercifully, ended after the writer’s strike.
And, then comes season three, which wasn’t as bad as season two (at least it got Marlo Stanfield working again). But, again, compared to season one, it was God-awful. Hiro was reduced to a child, literally and figuratively. Claire, the girl that can’t die, became even more of a moody, bitchy brat. Nathan Petrelli died and became Sylar in order to keep Sylar under wraps–and to keep him from eating more brains, or something. And all the while, we got about 30 new characters that ended up dying by the end of the season…I guess.
And, now we’re at (sigh) season four.
Tim Kring must have a rule that “no one that dies on this show really stays dead,” especially considering that we’ve seen Charlie die of a blood clot, Sylar, and possibly now being trapped in time forever. Plus, we have Niki and “triplets” (FTW?!) and the numerous Butterfly Effect type scenarios that destroy the world. That, and now, basically everyone has superpowers. Ando with his whole “I am LASERS” routine, Suresh with his alien/bug/zombie(?) thing last season, the recruits from last season, hell…Matt Parkman’s baby is probably the second coming of Jack Jack. (Incredibles fan, anyone?)
Yawn.
So, I’m watching Heroes–a show that was once the greatest thing on television for me–last night and fell asleep before the show was halfway over (and woke up on the clearly Michael Bay-influenced “Trauma,” but that’s another rant, entirely)
Yeah, it’s safe to say that Heroes is on pedestrian status now. Hell, even House, with its derivative plots–or Grey’s, with its shitshow of a plot this season–entice me more. Hopefully, that show V, that premieres tonight, can restore my faith in sci-fi on broadcast networks. But, considering it’s basically a reboot of an 80s franchise (does Hollywood have any original ideas anymore?), I may just pass on the premiere for a free showing of “The Fourth Kind.”
At least they both have aliens.