My Heroes

I confess I didn’t watch Heroes for much of its first season. I had previously watched a show called the 4400 on the USA Network, and Heroes appeared to be a pretty close clone of it (although the whole “superheroes are real” thing wasn’t that original when the 4400 did it, either).

I do, however, pride myself on being able to read the pulse of the Internet, and the Internet was practically yelling at me to start watching the show. Many online people whose taste had previously squared with my own were fanatically endorsing it, and the very-reliable evaluators at Television Without Pity were practically falling all over themselves to rate it highly. So I gave it a chance.

While there are some wasted subplots (I’m looking at you, Nikki. Or was it Jessica?) and occasional bits of sub-par acting (Nessica? Jekki?), the writing and production values of the show were just about the best on television last season. And individual moments of the show were staggeringly powerful. I found myself amazed at how the subtexts of HRG (Horn-rimmed guy) and his adopted daughter Claire evolved beyond the simple “don’t trust the bad man” plot that appeared to be set up in the first episode. Sylar also succeeds in inspiring pit-of-your-stomach dread that seems completely out of the proportion to the relatively geeky guy playing the role (the future Mr. Spock, as if the point weren’t made). And I do believe it was the only non-sports show to make me involuntarily yell in shock and surprise this entire season (President Petrelli meets and greets Claire: ask for it by name).

[Update: Boy, season 2 stunk. I hereby place the show on probation. The appropriate authorities have been notified.]