BuzzSugar

Heroes Rundown Chapter Five: "Angels and Monsters"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:30:46 -0700

They love to keep it all in the family on Heroes these days, and this week's episode is no exception. This week we got some daddy-daughter issues, a little mother-son drama, and the appearance of yet another member of the Petrelli family (and a powerful one, at that). It's all about the fam, and in each family, there are "angels and monsters."

Also, I'm glad I wasn't taking a shot every time someone said "monster." Jeez, we get it. Anyway, wanna talk about Heroes? Well then, read more.

The episode starts out narrated by Nathan, which I think is an interesting choice: "I've been given a second chance. Touched by God, I gotta believe that he has a purpose for my life. . . So why am I filled with self-doubt, plagued by demons, real and imagined? . . . Am I an angel or a monster? A hero or a villain? And why can't I see the difference?" And there we have the theme for the night.
Linderman is super manipulative with all his talk about God, playing upon Nathan's recently renewed religious devotion: "God resides within, the answers will come." Sadly, it all kinda dissolves for Nathan when he finds out that God didn't exactly give him his powers - his mommy and her co-workers did.
Sometimes this show makes me laugh, like when Sylar readjusts his sickeningly broken neck. Peter, now all full of "the hunger" and rage, snaps Sylar's neck and then tries to open Angela's head before Sylar knocks him out.
Claire's birth mom, Meredith, sets off to find Claire who is on her mission. But at the end of the episode we see that Meredith is trapped in the puppet-filled house of one of the creepiest special people we've ever seen on the show: Eric Doyle, who controls her every movement. This power is so sinister and so upsetting to me.
Claire pays a visit to Stephen Canfield, a guy who creates vortexes that make people disappear. Claire is all sorts of accusatory at first, and Stephen is all suspicious, asking Claire if she's with a company called Pinehearst. Soon, Stephen explains to Claire that he didn't mean to kill a guy, and now his family won't see him, so, Claire tries to help him get in touch with his family. Just then, however, HRG and Sylar show up, Stephen freaks out and creates a vortex in the middle of the room before slipping out the door. After seeing a lot of pained expressions on Claire, HRG and Sylar's faces as they avoid getting sucked into the vortex, the vortex disappears.
At this other company (not to be confused with The Company), Pinehearst, Linderman instructs Daphne to recruit a few key special people, which Daphne does, but she ultimately tells Linderman she's not too keen on recruiting. He gives her one more to recruit: Matt Parkman. After this conversation, Daphne finds out that she can see Linderman but he's "not really there."
Hiro and Ando ask Adam Monroe for help. Adam calls Hiro a "Japanese Nazi." He brings the dynamic Japanese duo to a bar where he succeeds in getting Hiro knocked out and then makes a quick getaway - only to be kidnapped by Knox, the fear smeller. Hiro tells Knox and Daphne that he wants to join them, that he and Ando are "badasses." Knox doesn't think Ando's so necessary, however, and he hands Hiro a sword, saying, "You kill him? You are badass." Hiro says sadly that he "must make some sacrifices to save the world," and stabs Ando!
Mohinder's back makes me feel like vomiting, even while the rest of him is so wonderful to look at. When Maya discovers Mohinder's victims all covered up in slimy web-like crap and pinned to the wall (but not dead, apparently), she tries to help one of the people before Mohinder finds her and gives her a slime cocoon. It's so disgusting. How can someone so beautiful create something so gross? Anyway, at least now Maya's been silenced, so that should satisfy the Maya haters in the audience.

HRG assures Claire, "You can trust me, Claire, I wouldn't send anybody to Level Five that doesn't belong there." Sylar, however, cannot trust him as HRG tries to force Stephen to make Sylar disappear. Instead, Stephen screams, "I won't be a monster!" and makes himself disappear. After this, of course, Sylar is none too pleased with HRG, saying that "to you, I'm nothing but a monster. He doesn't see our humanity Claire, he never will." HRG comforts a confused Claire who murmurs, "He's a monster." Just in case we were ever unclear about this whole monster/angel, hero/villain theme.
Nathan and Tracy go to Level Five, where Peter has been put in a coma by Angela. Angela tells them about Dr. Zimmerman, who was "instrumental in the company's development of synthetic abilities. We used the technology on a number of infants. You were one of them Tracy, as were your sisters Niki and Barbara. And you, Nathan. We gave you your ability, too." She admits to Tracy that what the company did to her in the name of science is wrong and they need to stop the people trying to get the formula. Nathan and Tracy leave Angela and plan to find Mohinder, who is, at that moment, busy wrapping Maya in a cocoon of webby stuff in the corner.
Angela sees a man who frightens her, saying, "Hello, Angela. You can see the future. I can't have that. It's too dangerous." Angela insists that he won't succeed, she'll stop him. He replies, "Don't be ridiculous. You won't even be able to move." Last we see of her, Angela sits motionless at her desk.
Later at Pinehearst, Maury Parkman (Matt's dad), goes to see Arthur Petrelli who is laid up in bed, apparently unable to speak. Maury has a mental conversation with Arthur, and we hear Maury's side: "The team is coming together nicely. . . We're building an army, just like you. . . Right. Whatever you say goes, Mr. Petrelli."

Arthur freaking Petrelli?! They saved the best for last in this episode. What do you think of these new developments?

Photos courtesy of NBC

Heroes Rundown Chapter Two: "The Butterfly Effect"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:30:45 -0700

Aaaand onto Chapter Two of the third volume of Heroes. After that first episode, we got another crazy, mysterious, information-overload episode (ooh, that rhymes) in "The Butterfly Effect." Ready to discuss, Heroes fans? Well, read more.

Some Stuff We Learned:

Claire doesn't feel pain anymore, which dismays her because she thinks it might mean she doesn't have a soul. Or something. So, she tries to make herself feel pain again ("What are you doing?!" "What does it look like I'm doing? Trying to get hit by a train!"). She thinks her power is lame and that she's "still just a victim." She wants Peter to teach her how to harness powers, but he refuses.
Angela Petrelli has a dream/vision: Bunch of people dead, Claire's severed head (gross), and someone dragging her body away so it can't, you know, reattach. Then there's a group of baddies - including Adam Monroe and Niki/Jessica/Gina/Tracy - and she awakes as Sylar comes up behind her.
Peter thinks he's saving the world. To which Angela has a retort: "You don't screw with time. It's called the butterfly effect. Step on a butterfly today, three years from now a million people are wiped out."

Mohinder is high on his new abilities (I mean, wouldn't you be?), from which he feels stronger, better, faster, etc. Everything's heightened. Including the creases in his insane six-pack. His newfound confidence has made him into quite the romancer. "It all came from you, Maya," he purrs. "From what's inside that. . . extraordinary body of yours." Before he literally rips off her clothes.
I'm so happy to see Elle again! However, she's having a really bad day. First, Sylar kills her father, Bob. Then Sylar tries to slice open her head (but she totally electrifies him!). And finally, with Bob gone, Angela Petrelli is in charge and she fires Elle ("We only kept you around this long at your father's insistence." Ouch!).
Hiro finds out the identity of the speedster: Daphne Millbrook. Hiro and Ando go to Daphne's apartment where she stashes all the things she steals, like the Mona Lisa. Ultimately, Hiro gets Daphne to carry a tracking device so he can find out where the other half of the formula is.
Niki is now "ice queen" Tracy Strauss, who works as some kind of adviser to Governor Malden. Tracy convinces the governor to appoint Nathan junior senator of New York . Then she works on convincing Nathan to accept the position. (Did anyone else notice Linderman totally checking out her butt as she leaves Nathan's hospital room? Gross!)
Linderman tries to convince Nathan that taking the junior senate position is "God's plan," but Nathan isn't so sure. We later find out that only Nathan can see Linderman.
Future Peter tells him that he's the one who shot Nathan and encourages him to make the right choices. Nathan tells Tracy he'd be honored to serve as junior senator of New York - but he wants her on his staff.
When a reporter digs up Niki's sexy past, she gets pissed off and turns him to ice. Wow, that power is so awesomely dramatic. Way better than ol' black eyed Maya.
The power grid shuts down at Level Five so all the inmates (including HRG, who has a little confrontation with Sylar) escape. Once out, the guy who contains the present-day Peter (Jesse) tries to contact Nathan to tell him not to trust future Peter. He then witnesses his former fellow inmates sinisterly wreaking havoc on the world (a woman is set on fire!). Sylar ends up imprisoned at Level Five once again.
I totally thought Mohinder was going to have a Hulk moment, right there in the mirror. But then, OMG WTF is growing on (and slimily coming off of) Mohinder's back?!
Parkman wakes up thinking he can hear a turtle's thoughts. Turns out it's an African guy with a keen sense of humor ("No service here. Should have gone with Sprint.") and an ability to see the future.
Claire wants to come with HRG on his hunt for all the villains, but instead HRG has brought Claire's real mother back so she can keep them all safe with her fiery fingers.
The episode ends with Angela telling Sylar she's his mother.

Photo courtesy of NBC

Heroes Rundown Chapter One: "The Second Coming"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:30:26 -0700

Am I alone in thinking this premiere was kickass? I feel like they upped the comedy factor and threw us some crazy new developments. It was thrilling and gruesome and surprising and funny. . . My faith in Heroes is fully restored. I'm not sure I needed both this episode and the one that came after it; I forgot how much they pack into each episode. After two of them my brain was starting to overload. So, here we can discuss the first of the two episodes, "The Second Coming," in which I think the best part was at the end (see: the end of this post after the jump). A post about "The Butterfly Effect" will follow this one.

After the jump you'll find spoilers, so now that you're warned, read more.

Because the two-hour premiere was so full of craziness, I'm trying to keep it all straight. Here is my attempt to identify some of the key points from this episode. . .

So, a future Peter shot his brother, Nathan. The Peter of today is inhabiting the body of another man, trapped on Level Five (where HRG is still being kept!).
Peter transports Matt Parkman to the desert, where he wakes up with a scorpion on his face.
Nathan dies from the bullet wounds - but is then revived (and totally made me jump when he suddenly sat up in bed) by Linderman, who is. . . also not dead.
Joining the list of not-dead people is Niki - er, now called Tracy - who did not, in fact, die in a blazing building.
Hiro discovers (from a DVD he was not supposed to watch) that his deceased father (hooray, Kaito Nakamura!) designated Hiro to be the "sentinel of a dangerous secret." Hiro then finds the secret (in a safe he was not supposed to open), and it's half of a formula, on which, apparently, the fate of the world depends. Kaito explains that if this secret gets out, there's only one hope, "a chosen one among you who carries the purity of blood, the 'light' to safeguard against the darkness."
Hiro promptly loses this half-formula to a brand-new hero: a "speedster" who grabs the formula from Hiro and then punches him in the face. Dismayed, Hiro teleports to the future, where the city is in alarm mode as what appears to be the apocalypse descends. Future Hiro and future Ando are arguing about the formula when Ando electrifies Hiro! You guys, Ando gets a power (in a theoretical future unless Hiro stops him)!

The scenes with Claire and Sylar are, in my opinion, just the right combination of campy horror/thriller and comedy (not unlike a real horror movie). Claire walking backwards into the kitchen holding a knife? Come on! Anyway, Sylar finds a file folder of special people, "a whole shopping list of abilities," before he manages to carve off the top part of Claire's skull (OMG ew) to access her. . . special abilities lobe? I dunno.
Best line of the night goes to Sylar, in response to Claire's question about eating brains: "Eat your brain? Claire, that's disgusting." Sylar then imparts some intriguing information, "You're different, you're special, and I could never kill you, even if I wanted to. You can never die. . . And now, I guess, neither can I." Yipes!
Nathan has had a kind of spiritual awakening, now spouting things about God's message ("we are all connected"), and other platitudes like, "Only together can we be the stewards of our own destiny," and "We could be angels, all here to do God's bidding." Finally, we have a new little mantra, evolving away from cheerleaders: "Save ourselves, save the world."
Linderman is only too eager to agree with Nathan, gently telling him, "It seems you and I are meant for great things, Nathan. Great things, indeed."
Mohinder determines from Maya that the abilities "are produced by adrenaline." He then manages to isolate whatever this is into a serum that can actually give someone powers (this seemed remarkably easy, but I'm cool with that). Thus, Mohinder injects himself! Mohinder has powers! I love this new development. The person studying superheroes. . . becomes one of them. He's like the good alternative to Sylar, in some ways.

And then there's the ending when they set the words to William Butler Yeats's poem, "The Second Coming," to a montage of images wrapping up the episode: "Turning and turning in the widening gyre/ The falcon cannot hear the falconer;/ Things fall apart; the center cannot hold;/ Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world. . .Surely some revelation is at hand;/ Surely the Second Coming is at hand./ The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out/ When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi/ Troubles my sight. . ."

I thought that was pretty freakin' cool.

Photos courtesy of NBC

Tim Kring, Zachary Quinto Talk Heroes Vol. 3

BuzzSugar — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:30:31 -0700

OK, Heroes fans, we're officially in countdown mode for the premiere of the third "volume," "Villains." I took part in a conference call recently with Heroes creator Tim Kring (who is so lovely and smart in interviews, as I've now gotten to experience twice) and the guy who brings creepy Sylar into our living rooms every week, Zachary Quinto.

The two shed some light on what was lost - and what was gained - from the hiatus caused by the writers strike, and what their take is on the Heroes fandom out there, which we all three witnessed at the show's panel at Comic-Con. Quinto also talked about what it's like to play Sylar while Kring touched on his thoughts about the show's parallels to The X-Men. It's all below, so check it out.

The writers strike clearly created an interruption in the show, but were there any advantages to taking that break?
Tim Kring: Yes, obviously the break was very difficult for so many people. . . but the silver lining was it allowed us a little bit of a break from the creative day-to-day of the show that had been pretty relentless for two years. And so, you know, with any creative endeavor you absolutely need some time away to reassess and to think about what to do next and to sort of assess what you’ve done well, and what you want to improve on.

There's more after the break, though tread carefully if you're not up to speed on the series. Otherwise, read more.

What was lost due to the writers strike? Will the virus storyline will come back, and will we find out what happened to Caitlin, for example?
Tim: The virus story was really the casualty of the strike. We re-jiggered literally the last couple minutes of that volume when we knew the strike was imminent and changed the ending so that that virus never broke out. The second volume of Season Two was going to be an outbreak story that would last eight episodes and it was all avoided by Peter Petrelli catching this vile of a virus and so it did not break, and therefore, did not get out into the community. And so, three episodes into that volume we would have found out what happened to Caitlin, and as a result of the writers strike that has been sort of a lost part of the mythology of the show that may never return.

Tim, during the second volume you introduced the group of 12, and then Hiro's dad said there were eight of them left, and then Matt said that they were all dead. Are we going to see any more of the group of 12, or are they all dead?
Tim: You actually will see more, you will see a few of them. The second volume of the show was called "Generations" and explored the idea that there was a whole series of people who came before our characters. . . it’s basically the idea of the sins of the parents had been visited upon their children. And we will see that some of those people survive in very interesting and curious ways in Volume Three.

Zachary, you come at this character very quietly with a lot of menace. Has your theater training helped you with this role?
Zachary Quinto: I feel like my training allows me to have a little bit more of an oversight and understand where a character lives in my body and understand where a character lives in my voice. So, for me that training gave me a really great basis from which to work and I continue to learn about the technique and the tools that are necessary to work in television and film.

The audience is clearly meant to identify with Sylar even though he's a villain. Are you going to continue to make him even more sympathetic? Is he going to get friends or maybe even go so far as a love interest?
Tim: To be really honest, that is sort of a quest with this character, to continue to play off of the duality of good and evil which I think has been at the core of a lot of characters in the show and will certainly become more and more thematic in the show, in this volume, "Villains." So yeah, we are going places this particular volume with Sylar that will, I think, cause the audience to be really torn as to how they feel about this guy. They know he is capable of tremendous evil and yet he has a kind of depth of pathos that makes you question your own sense of what's right and wrong.

So he will expand his relationships then?
Tim: Oh absolutely. Yes, absolutely. He'll have a series of very human relationships in this volume alone.

Watching Heroes fans watch the premiere at Comic-Con this year was almost like watching a spectator sport. How much attention do you pay to what fans are saying and does it affect what you do on the show?
Tim: I would love to be able to say yes, it does affect us. But the truth is. . . that when we premiere on September 22, we will be I think just starting to shoot Episode 13, which is the finale of the volume. We're so far ahead that there really is nothing that we can do about it. . . We have to use our own sort of internal critics to let us know where we’re going. And we very often have made course changes midway through when we've looked at episodes internally and tried to feel what the audience would feel.

A lot of your fans at Comic-Con had concerns that in the latest volume there were a lot of parallels to X-Men. Could you talk about that?
Tim: I kind of can't because I don't really know anything about X-Men and I have no real knowledge of it, I don't read X-Men comics. So I'm not really familiar with it. And, you know, from my standpoint there’s clearly a kind of reinvention of the wheel that happens in this kind of storytelling when you’re dealing with really archetypical storytelling of good and evil, and characters that have powers. I don't know that there's any way to avoid things that have been done before. So to the extent there are similarities, it's not by design. It's just by telling an archetypical story that has characters facing big epic battles between good and evil, and trying to live normal lives at the same time.

So you never saw any of the X-Men films?
Tim: I saw the third one. . . Or was it the second one? I saw it on DVD about a year ago. . . It's certainly the same general arena of superpowers. But I didn’t think that it felt much like Heroes.

Kring photo source
Heroes photo courtesy of NBC

First Episode of Heroes Season Three Screened at Comic-Con

BuzzSugar — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:15:03 -0700

And I got to see it! The Comic-Con started off with executive producer Jeph Loeb profusely thanking all the loyal fans and all the Comic-Con attendees from a couple years ago for getting the word out about Heroes. The whole cast came onstage, followed by Tim Kring whose wrist was handcuffed to a metal briefcase, which he referred to as "a big giant thank you to all of you." The cheering was deafening (I should add that there were some die-hard fans who had camped out overnight to be first in the convention center for this panel; the crowd was enthusiastic, to put it mildly) as Kring pulled out a DVD which he said contained the whole first episode of the next season.

And I don't think I was too influenced by all the intense excitement generated by thousands of Heroes fans when I say that I was really impressed with the season premiere. The writing is just better, the pacing is exciting without being way too much stuff at a time, and there aren't like, 64 new heroes. I was sometimes frustrated with the last season, for various reasons, and this episode totally wiped the slate clean. In fact, I have a newly bolstered respect for Heroes. I really think they'll deliver an awesome season, if the premiere is any indication.

I won't reveal anything specific about the plot but if you want a tiny taste of what we got to see this morning, read more.

The episode is way funnier than I remember the show being, though it hasn't totally devolved into camp. There's also a ton of horror movie moments that are both gruesome and satisfying.
We find out who shot Nathan pretty early on.
Mohinder makes a groundbreaking scientific discovery that changes everything in his life. He mentions Molly briefly (just to explain where she is), but his story right now is mostly intertwined with Maya's (you know, black eyes when angry, etc.).
Hiro is feeling a little lost at the beginning, like he is a man without a quest. He grapples with the issue of what his destiny is now. Soon, however, his becomes one of the most exciting stories of them all. We also meet a new hero through his story.
Several characters that were presumed gone for good make reappearances, of some sort.
One of the characters has a major spiritual awakening.
Old characters (yeah - plural!) who didn't have powers now do.
There's a new twist on the "save the cheerleader, save the world" mantra.

It was awesome. It was like a spectator sport, but the sport was just watching Heroes. There was even wild cheering for Mr. Muggles, which made me happy. Suffice to say, I look forward to September.