V1: Ordinary People With Extraordinary Abilities

[Temporal Death]

The epic first volume (and season) of Heroes started with ordinary people all around the globe discovering they're something more than just the mundane stereotypes one would have normally penned them down to be.

Be it a caring twenty-something hospice with dreams of grandeur, a single mother losing herself in deeds to make ends meet, or even a mere office-worker wishing for his working hours to fly by quickly, Heroes took these people, normal people, people like us, and gave them a fitting superhuman ability.

Throw an ensemble of such characters into a well-woven, taut storyline, and you've got the first season of Heroes pulling in an average of 14.3 million viewers in the US, and instantly garnering a worldwide fan-following.

I think that this concept was what made Heroes the wonder this season was. These characters' normal day struggles were relateable to most of us, and watching them fight these day-to-day battles with superpowers made people stay true to it... in Season One, of course.

So what did you guys feel about this? Would you have liked to see more of it, or did you just watch it for the action and cool camera shots?

Note: Use this thread to discuss the characters in S1. Once we feel the need to expand on discussions on certain characters, I'll move them to their own new thread.

[David]

I liked almost everything about the first season storywise. It was a fantastic introduction to the show and I agree with you about the characters initial struggles being one of the main draws of the show. A couple of them weren't great or that exciting, but compared to what followed, I'm not going to complain too much.

Initially I did check the show out because of the fact that it was sort of sci-fi and it grabbed my attention from that, but I think it was the beginning of a different kind of sci-fi which shows like Heroes and Lost managed (to an extent) to pull off. It did go downhill fast though, I think that really late into the first season it started to loose its way and I know a lot of people lost interest after this season (I managed to get through season two which thankfully was only about 11 episodes long) and then the show was just lost its way.

But it's interesting going back now and thinking about the first season because it really was something special. It wasn't all about Sylar, Claire wasn't annoying, Hiro was actually comic relief ect it was as you said really well crafted and although the characters didn't meet until late on, I liked it much better that way. I loved the relationship between Claire and Zach and Issac was one of my favourites from the beginning, it was a shame when they killed him off. Everyone had something to do, which I think was an element they struggled with later on and I think once they all met each other the show was never really the same.

[Temporal Death]

I rewatched the second half of this season the other day and I didn't see it lacking in any manner, except, maybe, a few episodes like "Run" somewhere in the middle.

I honestly enjoyed the story here when Peter was the (unofficial) main character, and yet they managed to provide depth and screentime to the others, unlike the later seasons, where it was just the Sylar and Claire show.

I actually related with three of the male leads: Peter, Sylar and Isaac. I guess it was the whole "can't be understood/looking for a purpose" factor each of them had, and yeah... that was similar to what I was going through back then. And also, let's face it... they had cool powers.

I disagree about Isaac's death. I think it was necessary, as much as I liked him. It was foreshadowed ever since the third episode, when Hiro ports forth to November 8, and there wasn't much they could do with him after that. In the dream, Peter sees him pulling Simone away from the explosion, and since she too faced the same fate as him (albeit, unexpected yet well received on my part), I don't see what else he could do at Kirby Plaza. Throw paintbrushes at Sylar?

But he did in his own way help stop him by sending those comics out. And coming back to that dream, I guess it could be perceived as him trying to get the both of them out of the explosion's way, which he did: he was the one who shot her, he was the one who willingly gave up himself to Sylar. So neither of them ended up facing the events of Kirby Plaza. Hmm.

[JoshingAbout]

I absolutely loved the first Season. Genesis was amazing. It had amazing characters and a suspenseful inter-character plot that was brilliant.

It did have its downsides though.
I disliked how Matt and Ted's minds were set on the Company giving them powers ... when Matt clearly displayed Telepathy before the Haitian made him collapse, and then kidnapping him.

Hana Gitelman was amazing. I'd have ADORED more screen time for her.

I didn't understand exactly how the Company were going to make the Bomb happen - was Angela pulling the strings behind the scenes with her unknown power at the time?

The lack of powers used in climactic moments. "Five Years Gone" and "How To Stop An Exploding Man" are guilty of this. An awesome fight is about to happen and *poof*, the scenario is either blocked off from our vision or it's resolved. They really should have given us some juicey power-scenes.

It didn't explain how Sylar could survive bullets and a street lamp to the face from a super-strong Niki (my favourite part of that episode =P)

Don't get me wrong, I love Season One, it's just those points that bother me.

[Temporal Death]

Aug 4, 2010 5:01:34 GMT 1 JoshingAbout said:

I absolutely loved the first Season. Genesis was amazing. It had amazing characters and a suspenseful inter-character plot that was brilliant.

It did have its downsides though.
I disliked how Matt and Ted's minds were set on the Company giving them powers ... when Matt clearly displayed Telepathy before the Haitian made him collapse, and then kidnapping him.

Hana Gitelman was amazing. I'd have ADORED more screen time for her.

They weren't the brightest lightbulbs in the room. But then again, the Haitian does make them forget... so it makes sense.

Stana Katic is amazing, and yeah, they should have thrown in more of her in the second season instead of wasting time on stuff like Hiro's past nonsense.

I didn't understand exactly how the Company were going to make the Bomb happen - was Angela pulling the strings behind the scenes with her unknown power at the time?

Do elaborate. I think this part was pretty clear.
Peter with Ted's power >> BOOM! >> Peter regenerates.

Or so she tells Nathan in the S1 finale (IIRC).

The lack of powers used in climactic moments. "Five Years Gone" and "How To Stop An Exploding Man" are guilty of this. An awesome fight is about to happen and *poof*, the scenario is either blocked off from our vision or it's resolved. They really should have given us some juicey power-scenes.

I agree, I would have loved to see the fight scene between Peter and Sylar in 5YG (heck, the VFX back then were awesome), but I think the exclusion of that scene was mainly to conserve momentum and focus on the main issue at hand--Hiro, the main reason we were getting a glimpse into the future in the first place. The reason he got there was so that he could get back and try and fix it, and I believe they executed that well.

It didn't explain how Sylar could survive bullets and a street lamp to the face from a super-strong Niki (my favourite part of that episode =P)

Don't get me wrong, I love Season One, it's just those points that bother me.

Sylar has shown signs of enhanced endurance earlier in the season. He survived the fall from the stadium in "Homecoming" and there was another incident... I can't recall it at the moment. That probably explains the parking meter thing. I guess it was put there for a coolness factor, 'cause I remembered when it happened, I cheered.

Kirbly Plaza (as well as the scenes preceding it) had quite a show of powers. I don't get why people were so disappointed with the finale, I think it panned out quite well. It was after this season that suckage began; slowly at first, and then a steep dip into Kringshit.

Anyway, when was he hit by bullets? That was Matt, who shot at him, and then had those very bullets TK'd against him.

[JoshingAbout]

In the graphic novels of Heroes Hana Gitelman's story is unfortunately wrapped up. I'd have killed for that story to be a part of Season One, as "we need to kill the satellites watching us" was kind of forgotten about when Hana parted ways from Ted, Matt and Noah and they went to destroy 'The Walker System'.

I didn't explain it very well, but what I meant was, how did the company know the bomb was going to happen? How did they know that Peter would get Ted's power and even BE in New York to be the bomb, considering there were possibilities of Peter not being in the city - such as him leaving for Odessa. Was it all Angela's doing with her prophetic dreams, which we didn't know about at the time?

In one episode, Sylar has - (I think her name is Audrey? The blonde police officer that Matt works with because of his Telepathy) - Audrey's own gun up to her head using his Telekinesis, and I'm sure Matt comes in and shoots him, and Sylar somehow escapes.

I liked the Finale of Genesis, but I wanted a bit more 'oomph' if you get me =P

[Temporal Death]

Aug 5, 2010 1:18:33 GMT 1 JoshingAbout said:

I didn't explain it very well, but what I meant was, how did the company know the bomb was going to happen? How did they know that Peter would get Ted's power and even BE in New York to be the bomb, considering there were possibilities of Peter not being in the city - such as him leaving for Odessa. Was it all Angela's doing with her prophetic dreams, which we didn't know about at the time?

Angela's quite a manipulative bitch, and back then it was that aspect of hers which made me believe she possessed a power similar to Eden's. She (as well as Linderman) orchestrated the plan since the very beginning. Linderman even goes so far as to saying that he was the reason DL and Niki met and fell in love, to produce Micah, who was a key player of his in this master plan. And then there are always the Mendez paintings, which Linderman says in ".07%":

People think I collect art. What I really collect are lives fixed in paint. The perfect moment capturing an entire existence, made immortal. A monster's fight to survive, and live to kill again. A mother willing to fracture her own soul to protect her child. A youth's struggle for innocence, despite life's cruelty. The double-edged lies needed to sustain a double-edged life. A wondering hero's pure joy at success — and his darkest hour, when all the world seems lost. All perfect moments frozen in time. Alone, each tells a single story. Together, they can tell the future.

And she tried her best to keep them in (and out) of town at the time of the bomb, but failed when it came to the latter.

In one episode, Sylar has - (I think her name is Audrey? The blonde police officer that Matt works with because of his Telepathy) - Audrey's own gun up to her head using his Telekinesis, and I'm sure Matt comes in and shoots him, and Sylar somehow escapes.

Uhm, yeah. That one I don't have an explanation for. But perhaps he used TK in some way to stop the bullets just before they penetrated him.

I liked the Finale of Genesis, but I wanted a bit more 'oomph' if you get me =P

Well as I said in my previous post, I don't. So do elaborate.

[croatia]

One of the best first seasons in the history of television. Most of the series after the pilot suck, but Heroes sucked after the whole first season...

[astral martin]

Well, as of last night, I have officially lost my Heroes virginity. And I gotta say, I was quite impressed. I'm not really one for sci-fi, but the first two episodes were airing on G4 and I said why not. As stated in the first post, the series had an awesome ensemble cast that really drew me in. I honestly couldn't find one favorite character, but there were quite a few who really caught me attention.

Niki. She was great. Loved her character's story, though I hope to go deeper into her past, assuming I stay with the series. I actually love her power. just so I'm clear, whenever she's pissed, she turns into her alter ego in the mirror, right? And Mica was all right. Didn't see much of him, but I saw his soon to be powers via Wiki some time ago, which seemed fitting seeing as how much of a child prodigy he was. Anytime I see her alter ego, I sorta grin to myself.

Peter and Nathan. Loved their relationship. Another plus with the show: establishing relationships with the characters and their connections to one another. Sort of a love/hate kind of thing, whereas with their mom, she's just pretty much picking favorites, which I kinda liked. Peter's somewhat prophetic dreams with him flying were great, and the signature "extraordinary" line in the taxi made me smile. And when they were both in the air was shot confusingly. It made it seem as if they were just losing control in the air. Granted that's pretty much what happened, it was sort of shot funny.

Hiro always had me laughing to some degree, especially when he said "what's up". I'm taking Japanese in high school, so I was actually paying attention to some of his nihongo lines. I was sorta confused with his powers: so he could pop up anywhere in the world and not be noticed? All those people in Time Square and not one saw him just appear from thin air? And when he time traveled, he went back to just before he time traveled?

Claire was all right as well. Her power was all right. When she jumped off that railing and lived, and her hand in that garbage disposal was cool. I don't know what happened; last night, it was awesome. now it seems...bleh. I guess now I realize that she's pretty much invincible, and that's pretty boring to me. But her father as HRG (Horn Rimmed Glasses, correct?) was a needed twist and the fact that he stole her tapes was pretty sneaky. did anyone else actually LOL when the football player tackled her? Just me? Okay. And what's with the jealous bitch of a cheerleader stealing Claire's save? I actually thought said football player had stolen her tape and tackled he on purpose to see if she really was invincible.

Who else? Mohinder. Waiting to see if he has any abilities of his own. I actually saw him as the protagonist. A man trying to finish what his father started with his research on superhumans, the very humans in the story, made it come off as if he was watching them, or studying them. Oh yeah, Nora Zhetner with a gun...(See Grey's Anatomy's "Sanctuary" for irony). Great acting by him, by the way.

Isaac. By far my favorite power. With the painting and the 9th Wonders and the addiction. Loved it all. I loved how the camera did a bird's eye view of his giant painting to show what's to come. I'm actually hoping it get somewhat expanded to not just seeing the future through art, but it was pretty cool to say the least.

But one question I have to ask: They already had their powers before the eclipse? Claire jumping off the railing and living, Hiro with the clock (I saw it as a faulty clock and thought it was a coincidence), and with Isaac with the painting of the firetruck, and Niki and her alter ego. Thia all happened before the eclipse. I missed the first minute of it, again!, so if it happened in that minute, then all right. It just Kinda confused me. But awesome show. I'm actually dreading it going downhill as everyone says.

[Temporal Death]

Martin, I'm not going to comment about the characters as I'll probably spoil you.
But about the Eclipse, yes, they had their powers way before that. A whole lot happened, with their powers, way before the Eclipse.

As for Hiro, it's Space-Time Manipulation. That allows him to teleport anywhere (space) and at to any time. I think the explanation for him popping into Times Square is that people buzzing past there are already too occupied to give a crap about some Asian guy screaming Japanese.

By the way, Season One is all uphill. Season Two is when they start to dip, but I thought it was okay. Season Three, do-not-watch. Would love to hear your thoughts on the rest of the series though. I'll reply to the important questions/points.

[astral martin]

But about the Eclipse, yes, they had their powers way before that. A whole lot happened, with their powers, way before the Eclipse.

Oh, okay. So was the eclipse of any significance? I mean, if they already had their powers to begin with, what did the eclipse represent? Is that where other people receive their powers? If the answer might spoil future storylines, just say so.

And yes, I'm pretty sure I have a new late night watch. I'll have to stay tuned.

[Temporal Death]

Sept 28, 2010 23:11:02 GMT 1 astral martin said:

But about the Eclipse, yes, they had their powers way before that. A whole lot happened, with their powers, way before the Eclipse.

Oh, okay. So was the eclipse of any significance? I mean, if they already had their powers to begin with, what did the eclipse represent? Is that where other people receive their powers? If the answer might spoil future storylines, just say so.

And yes, I'm pretty sure I have a new late night watch. I'll have to stay tuned.

Continuity errors surround this whole thing. I'll discuss this with you once you get to S3 and we have a "WTF" chat. Just remember to throw it into the right forum/thread.