How to Fix 'Heroes'

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Apparently the most recent episode of "Heroes," in addition to the whole season, has left a bad taste in a lot of critics' mouths.

Maureen Ryan of the Chicago Tribune is kissing the series goodbye. And she's listed a number of other writers who are frustrated with the show.

I agree with the notion that the alternate futures seem more interesting than the real present, and the latest trip to one of them is probably a trip too many. Creator Tim Kring & Co. should do something about that.

In fact, there's probably a lot of things that they should look to do to make the series better. I was willing to cut them some slack before, either because they were a freshman show coming out of nowhere to be a sensation, or because they had a writers' strike looming. I still think the show's one of the most interesting on TV. But I do feel like there's too many plot holes and loose ends, and yes, questions that remain unanswered.

So here's my list of top 10 things I would do if I had the superpower to make Tim Kring and NBC do my bidding. In no particular order:

1. Neuter Hiro, Sylar and Peter

Realistically, there's not much that these characters can't do. Which opens up a question any time one of them is on-screen. For instance, in the Oct. 6 episode, it makes little sense that Peter and Sylar had trouble with a strong guy, a speedster and a woman who can regenerate. Peter can stop time. Sylar can use telekinesis to hold them all in place. They could teleport out of the area.

Similarly, any mistake Hiro makes could hypothetically be fixed by going back in time.

Now that Sylar has Claire's power, he is, according to the show, unkillable.

Where's the fun in seeing those kinds of characters interact? Which brings me to:

2. Develop Characters and Play to Actors' Strengths

One of the strengths of the show as originally conceived was that it was as much about the individuals as it was about them having cool powers. Yet somewhere along the line, that's gone by the wayside some.

There haven't been many scenes this season, for example, with Nathan and any members of his actual family. Somewhere amid all this action, it would be nice if Nathan and Angela or Peter got together and discussed all of what they've been through. Just take Nathan: "I learned I can fly. I almost signed on to a plot that would leave New York City a smoking crater. I almost died. I miraculously healed. I lost my family. I gave up my life's ambition to be a representative. I almost died again. I got miraculously healed again. I miraculously got appointed to the Senate. I'm talking to the version of Linderman that apparently no one else can see. And now I've found someone who's an identical twin of a woman I've had a fling with."

By contrast, I'm sorry, but Hayden Panettiere can't play a tough, embittered girl to save her life.

3. Idiot-Proof All Plots

Too often, I find myself asking, "Why would a reasonable person do this?"

For instance: Why would Mohinder inject himself with an untested serum when anything could go wrong? Particularly when he goes to some random dock to do it, instead of a controlled environment? The answer, of course, is to provide a convenient opportunity for random thugs to hassle him and then get taken down by his newfound Spider-man like powers. But there's no in-story reason.

Why would Future Peter shoot Nathan, rather than simply go back to some point in time prior to the big speech and explain to him, "If you out us superpowered people, bad things will happen"?

Why would he further go on to put Peter -- in all places -- in the body of a villain imprisoned in Level 5 and Parkman somewhere randomly in Africa? Obviously, the plot wants them to be there.

If someone were to try hard enough, you could "fanwank" an explanation for these and the various other elements of bizarre behavior on the show. But the point is that you shouldn't have to fanwank anything. The writers should not force you to actively suspend disbelief beyond certain basic concepts.

4. Mix in Standalone Episodes

One of the problems with season-long arcs is that it can seem incredibly slow getting from point A to point B, and it asks a lot for a viewer to stick with it all the way.

Few shows pull them off well over the course of 24-episode seasons. Those that do generally have individual episodes that have beginnings, middles and ends of their own.

I think it would behoove "Heroes" to go that route from time to time. Instead of gradually building up the threat level about the season's Big Bad (the exploding man, the virus, the power-granting serum), have an episode that provides a little more immediate gratification.

As Maureen said, probably the best episode of "Heroes" was "Company Man," which looked at the evolution of H.R.G. Part of the reason that worked so well is that it was focused and delivered a complete package.

In fact, I would consider for next season going arc-less.

5. Revisit Some Plots and Questions

I think the "Heroes" writers should rewatch the first two seasons of the show as objectively as they can and think of all the characters and ideas that have gone by the wayside. Just to name a few, we have lost Matt's wife and FBI partner, Peter's girlfriend Caitlin. We haven't delved into what the "S" symbol means or who exactly saved Sylar back at the end of Season 1 or what became of Matt's dad. There are probably dozens of others things that have been dropped unceremoniously.

6. Separate the Wheat From the Chaff

It's a noble experiment having an ensemble show with a whole host of characters. But the fact is that too often "Heroes" doesn't juggle them very well.

Most of the time, I think the show would be better off if it dramatically reduced the roles of about half the characters. In particular, I would love to see less of Niki/Tracy and Mohinder.

At the same time, there needs to be the flexibility to increase the prominence of characters who become interesting. The Haitian and Angela Petrelli, for example, are much more interesting to watch than many of the headliners. H.R.G. grew from a secondary character to someone central to the show.

7. Avoid Stereotypes

Call me PC, but it bugs me that the women on the show tend to be victims, insane or bitches or some combination of the above. It bothers me that the weakest characters on the show tend to be the minority ones (Hiro and Ando excepted).

8. Explore the Moral and Social Dimension of People With Powers

It seemed like they were going to do this last season with the idea of Monica becoming St. Joan. Being able to read minds or run superfast or fly would bring with it a lot of temptations. Throw a few of them in the way of the characters.

9. Bring Back Some of the Humor and Joy

There have been, it seems to me, relatively few laughs on the show of late. Few moments where someone exults like Hiro, "I did it!" or remarks like H.R.G. that something is cool. The whole purpose of the show, as Kring originally explained it, was to counteract some of the gloom, cynicism and doom that came with Sept. 11. I think it should go back to that purpose again.

10. Chart Your Own Course

Each of the three seasons have had homages to classic comic book series. The first was patterned after "Watchmen," the second after the "X-Men" storyline about the Legacy Virus, and, although I didn't originally realize it, this current one mirrors "Kingdom Come," a graphic novel about the proliferation of superpowered people causing Armageddon.

It sort of defeats the purpose of showing what would happen if people had superpowers in the real world if you're just going to parrot comic book themes.

Source - MSN

After reading this article I'm glad I'm not the only one severely disappointed with the current season of Heroes. The things the author of the article points out are things I've come to talk about every monday night while watching.

I agree with most of what was written except I actually like Nikki/Tracy's characters. I think that right now Ali Larter's character is one of the most interesting on the show to watch and I like where her back-story is going.

What do you peeps think?

[Gavin001]

When i watch i tend not to think to much in to it and just seat back and just enjoy it! You could prob do a list like that up for any major show like Prison Break etc... I think these guys are doing a good job for giving us 45mins of great entertainment on a weekly basis

[Brandon]

My dad and I had talked about this last week. When they wrote the first season, they were only expecting it to be one season long. Since it was so popular, they almost had to do a second season, and by that time, it was too late.

[SMELTN]

pretty good post actually. I have to agree the future parts are the best parts of the entire show now.

While at first when Sylar went "good" I was ****ed off, and a bit skeptic, it is a good twist. What ****ed me off the most was the fact that they actually allowed him to get to Claire. I mean... WHY? Did they do it to finally try and put the whole save the cheerleader save the world thing behind them to move on? Or did they just do it because? I don't think it was the best choice, and they are paying for it now.

The one good thing about the show is, what has been done, can ALWAYS be undone..They have a free "get out of jail pass". Remember this is about Heroes, so they can always have Hero or Peter or someone, go back in time and change it.. So if people complain enough, and people stop watching the show because of something that happened, they could always go back and change it so people are happy again.

[Rappy Veteran]

Its a tv show :)

[+Gary7 Subscriber²]

The only way to fix it would be to cancel it. The first season was OK, but it has turned into garbage.

[Pretend]

Brilliant Reaction Rappy. Just what I was thinking, sure it has it's flaws, what kind of tv show doesn't. It's just entertainment!

[+Steve B Subscriber²]

After reading the article I can agree. However, the issue is that the person is looking too much into it. You aren't supposed to do that. Just sit, relax and have fun watching the show. Being over analytical ruins it.

[shakey_snake]

Get a new cast.

These characters were only intended for one season. They are boring now.

[Pretend]

Some are but some are still awesome (for now).

[spacer]

After reading the article I can agree. However, the issue is that the person is looking too much into it. You aren't supposed to do that. Just sit, relax and have fun watching the show. Being over analytical ruins it.

While I agree with your statement, there is a difference between suspending disbelief and having plot techniques be so obvious and jarring that it detracts from the whole experience. The author makes mention of this, and I agree with him.

[Neil]

Meh, should of been one season and the bomb should of gone off, everyone would of been WTF???

[Mathachew Veteran]

I don't think this guy is being over analytical. Yeah, I want to enjoy it, but how can you when things don't even remotely make sense or are reaching? There are many valid points in this article. I don't think Heroes will recover it's original fame from season one if they continue on their pattern.

[Rappy Veteran]

After reading the article I can agree. However, the issue is that the person is looking too much into it. You aren't supposed to do that. Just sit, relax and have fun watching the show. Being over analytical ruins it.

Yeah if you start reading to much into the show then you aren't really watching it for what it is. I like to sit down watch the show and then think thats awesome or thats bad to be honest if you don't like it theres an off button on your remote control for a reason.

[Mayhem]

agree, seeing heroes or another tv show/movie basically analyzing it ruins any show/movie

is almost comparable to like going to a movie and in the back seat having a kid speaking the entire movie to his friend about the scene their seeing, certainly almost everyone had one of those at least in a movie cinema ...

it ruins everything, to the ppl speaking bad about heroes for this issues, simply try to see the show and have fun with it, at least this season they seem to have a good story, many powers and many twists on the story, appositive of the Season 2 that were all the same and boring speeches

[sundayx Veteran]

I agree period.

[Mathachew Veteran]

But, you guys are failing to see that it's hard to just "sit back and enjoy it" when there are obvious issues.

Let's have Batman punch a hole in a guy's head with his pinky. No no, don't argue the problems with this notion, just accept it and enjoy the ride.... you can't with something that ridiculous.

[+Mystic MVC]

When i watch i tend not to think to much in to it and just seat back and just enjoy it! You could prob do a list like that up for any major show like Prison Break etc... I think these guys are doing a good job for giving us 45mins of great entertainment on a weekly basis

I agree. I like at the storyline but try not to over analyze every little detail. Writers need to work a couple kinks but they aren't writing for the super absorbed, analyze every freaking tiny detail, they might as well alienate the normal viewer then.

[episode]

My dad and I had talked about this last week. When they wrote the first season, they were only expecting it to be one season long. Since it was so popular, they almost had to do a second season, and by that time, it was too late.

No. They were expecting to change all the characters to new ones (with new actors) every 'volume'. Because Hayden and Milo and Masi were so popular, they dropped that idea.

pretty good post actually. I have to agree the future parts are the best parts of the entire show now.

While at first when Sylar went "good" I was ****ed off, and a bit skeptic, it is a good twist. What ****ed me off the most was the fact that they actually allowed him to get to Claire. I mean... WHY? Did they do it to finally try and put the whole save the cheerleader save the world thing behind them to move on? Or did they just do it because? I don't think it was the best choice, and they are paying for it now.

You missed the point of that whole thing. 'Future Hiro' was wrong with the message 'save the cheerleader, save the world'. He assumed that Sylar was the bomb, which he never was. Peter was always the bomb. The thing that saved the world was Nathan not letting it happen and flying Peter away.

[Weld_El_7aj]

in my case, i still like the show, maybe because i don't take it too seriously, it's true there are so many holes in the story but this happens in almost all shows.

the only point i agree with is to change the cast because some of theme are getting my nerves! (ex: Claire, peter & hiro/ando) but never Sylar/Gabriel less now that i know his power side effect nyam nyam

[vip]

Well, I've only seen like 5 episodes in between seasons ... so I can't judge, SO I decided to put season 1 and 2 on my netflix queue ... so then maybe I can see what you're talking about.

[gigapixels Veteran]

I wasn't aware that Heroes needed fixing :s

Seems as great as ever to me.

[MissPhoeb]

Articles on how to "fix" Heroes have been a favorite subject lately. The one I just read (as opposed to the one the week before that, and the week before that, and the week before that...) was the one on televisionwithoutpity.com. (here) But they all seem to boil down to the same things: stop adding new characters, let the dead die, and find some way to handicap Sylar/Peter/Hiro. They seem like valid criticisms to me, but is it too late to really criticise this season? Are we just going to have to write it off and hope for better next year?

[_kane81]

seems good to me, dont like, dont watch it! Pretty simple really!

[Kami-]

Its a tv show :)

I concur :)