We Don't Need Another "Heroes"

Everyone who was alive at the time recalls exactly where they were when they heard Kennedy was shot.  For this generation, the same could be said for the events of 9/11.  It’s harder, however, to pinpoint the exact moment when hit show Heroes lost its momentum.  Since its return on NBC last month, viewership is down almost 30%…that after a stiff fall last season (albeit a shortened one because of the writer’s strike) ended after a mish-mash of convoluted story lines and a plethora of characters who seemed to blend into one another.  Even writer-creator Tim Kring admitted last season went “off track” but promised fans all would be remedied this season.

He lied.

Since its debut, viewers are left scratching their heads, as they try to follow the travails of about 20 characters — some who have developed “evil twins,” like Peter Petrelli (portrayed by Milo Ventimiglia), while others seem to vanish completely, like Nikki Sanders (played by Ali Larter) for episodes at a time.

Episodes play out like scripts were thrown into a blender, as the show constantly cuts back and forth between past/present/future.  At one point, in season one, it seemed the world’s fate was in the hands of “Hiro Nakamura” (played by Masi Oka); at this stage of the game, it’s anybody’s guess.

Part of the problem was Kring’s insistence of adding characters while blurring motivations and the line between good and evil.  At one point, Jack Coleman’s “Noah Bennet” appeared to be the leader of the bad guys…then it seemed he put on a white hat for awhile.  This season, it’s dark grey — partly cloudy with a chance of showers.

Heroes started with such incredible promise and intrigue, launching the careers of many cast members like Hayden Panettiere, Milo, and Zachary Quinto (who will be playing “Spock” in the new Star Trek feature franchise).  Within a handful of episodes, the show quickly became an “instant classic,” with an immediate renewal by NBC.  Clearly looking to cash in, there was talk of spin-offs and features.

Sci-fi fans are typically insatiably loyal, but lately, tuning in on Monday night feels more like returning to the crime scene.  What happened to season one?  Who’s responsible for killing Heroes?  Maybe we need the team CSI orLaw & Order to find the culprit.

Hopefully, NBC is on the case, for they have the most to lose if this season ends with a fizzle.  It takes a lot to make a hit these days, and nobody knows that better than the network who created “Must See TV” (which quickly turned into “Must Flee TV”).

In order to save Heroes, story lines need to be simplified while multiple character arcs streamlined.  At its worst, Heroes should play out like a night time soap with superpowers.  Keep the good guys good and the bad guys bad.  Oh — and it’s amazing what a little love triangle can do for ratings and fans alike.

Next, rather than create more Heroes, concentrate on the ones you’ve got. There’s a reason The Fantastic Four wasn’t called “The Mediocre Seven.”  There’s plenty to go around here already, and unless you’re dealing with contract disputes, keep the revolving door to a minimum.

The show is infinitely saveable, but the time is now to act fast.  Otherwise, the world will come to an end…but rather than going with a BANG, it’ll come with a pffft.