Heroes: Out of Time...

[fajrdrako]

Heroes this week: the same title as a Torchwood episode. At least they steal from the best. And of course, both stories involved time travel.

My Comments:

1. Hiro's story was much more interesting this time, because it went somewhere. I wondered how it could be that Hiro had so little chemistry with the woman he loved, compared to all the feeling and energy of the scene of his reunion with Ando. Is it just that James Kyson Lee is a much better actor than Eriko Tamura, who played Yaeko? I loved it that Kensei turned out to be Adam and here he is in the 21st century. He still isn't very interesting, but at least his plot has taken a turn for the better. I find the actor playing him very bland. I hope he gets better.
   
   Mind you, every time they call him "Adam" I think of Methos.



2. The "Peter in 2008" plot reminded me both of Children of Men and 28 Days Later. Someone should tell Peter that if you suddenly find yourself in the middle of a big city street in a post-holocaust situation, you shouldn't shout to try to find people: that brings out the zombies. That boy just doesn't watch the right movies.
   
   He didn't stay in Montreal very long.
   
   The room he went to - was that the room in Odessa?
   
   I predicted Caitlin would die this episode, but she didn't. Instead she got locked up. Cool.
   
   Loved the scene between Angela and Peter, where he regained his memory.



3. Loved the scene where Nathan was told that Peter was alive. The way his face lit up. I'm coming to love this new and improved Nathan.



4. Niki/Jessica, however, was as unappealing as ever, though her role in the plot - when deluded by Morrie - was fun.



5. I continue to greatly enjoy Morrie, who has the most delightfully innocuous name of any villain I've come across. I particulary love his scenes with Matt, and the scene in the Room of the Horrible Wallpaper.



6. No Monica? No Maya? Good.



7. Mohinder is as much an idiot as ever. Playing both sides against the middle? He's so pretty, and so good, I want to love him, but his naivete - or is it self-righteousness? - makes me impatient.



8. I almost forgot to mention Claire, which says something about how my attitude to her has changed. I really dislike West now - can't she see how pushy he is? (I hated guys like that when I was a teen. Still do, but I handle it better.) I liked the scene of her waking up and texting West. I liked the 'Popsicle' scene with her father. Love Mr. Bennet these days.



9. Shirtless Peter. Wet shirtless Peter in shower scene. I'm just pointing it out.

My current state of affairs on Heroes:
Favourite character: Peter Petrelli
Unexpected new favourite: Nathan Petrelli
Favourite villain: Morrie. Love his powers. (But Candice still has my favourite power.)
Favourite setting: The rooftop. Still. Montreal was great, but blink and you miss it. (Why was Peter there, anyway? Was it a trap? A portal? A nexus? A rift?)
Best prop: Kensei's burned helmet.
Hokiest line straight out of 1960s comics: Kensei's vow of revenge against Hiro, destroying everything he loves. A better actor might have made something of it.
Best moment: (1) Peter uses his power. (2) Peter remembers his mother. (3) See point 9 above.

Comments

[star-momma.livejournal.com]

Kensei has potential... I haven't given up on that. Iiked Yaeko more in this ep than previously. Ah well. I'm still not sad seeing her go. Hiro had more chemistry with Kensei (otherwise known as Adam) than with her. And more with Ando than anyone. Despite my slashy proclivities, this does not mean I see them as a couple - I just think they have great chemistry!

Peter should watch out for the zombies. And be less dumb. My boyfriends thought was that perhaps Angela's power has to do with memory and she sparked Peter recalling her. Interesting... And Nathan is really cool this season. I like it. Don't miss Irish. Just don't care at all about her. I cared more about Simone, and that's not saying much. I just want Claude back. *He'd* fix Peter.

While Matt's confrontation with his dad was a bit cliche at times, it was also good. Morrie's interesting, and hopefully not out of commission permanently. Mohinder makes my soul cry. I want so much for him to be as interesting and intelligent as he is beautiful. No joy so far.

Loved Claire's stuff once her dad got home. I wanna see Bennet scare the crap out of West. Y'know, more directly - a la his scene with the manager at the copy store. I want to see that very badly.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yaeko might have been terrific, but wasn't. It's funny about Hiro and Ando - they have such a spark together, but so very unsexual. It's terrific. It shows what Masi Oka can do when working with good actors.

Actually, one of the interesting things about the show is that the most interesting and intense relationships are all nonsexual - Angela and her sons, Bennet and Claire, Nathan and Peter, Hiro and Ando... The only really vivid relationship that's also sexual is Nathan and Niki. And Niki isn't so interesting with anyone else.

Yes, I think Angela's touch makes things happen to people's minds.... Caitlin can stay locked up for all I'm concerned. I liked Simone better, too.

And yes, bring back Claude! I still hope to see Claude again. Sadly, with the writer's strike, I fear they aren't even talking to Ecceleston about a return to the show.

Mohinder makes my soul cry. I want so much for him to be as interesting and intelligent as he is beautiful. No joy so far.

With such a beautiful voice, you'd think he'd say something worth listening to. Doesn't he know or care that he just betrayed his friends?

I wanna see Bennet scare the crap out of West.

Oooh, yes! That would make West more interesting. As it is, he's good at making a fast escape, but a confrontation is bound to happen one of these days. Poor West.

[mommimus-prime.livejournal.com]

You always seem to summarize my reactions to the episodes so much better than I can. I have to say that when Hiro blew up the building and Kensei with it, I was thinking but he's immortal. Little did I know.

And TV Guide today (next week's issue) said that Claude would remain invisible to viewers for the foreseeable future. That's prestrike info so, yeah, we won't be seeing him.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

You always seem to summarize my reactions to the episodes so much better than I can.

What a nice thing to say.

I have to say that when Hiro blew up the building and Kensei with it, I was thinking but he's immortal.

Yes. A few times I had to remind myself that I wasn't watching Highlander. There was even an episode in which Duncan lived in feudal Japan.

TV Guide today (next week's issue) said that Claude would remain invisible to viewers for the foreseeable future.

Grump. My favourite character. I still amuse myself by pretending Claude's in scenes he isn't, just watching the action and staying out of it.

Under the circumstances, Eccleston could do his part long distance, by telephone.

[raissad.livejournal.com]

and the scene in the Room of the Horrible Wallpaper

Check out director Greg Beeman's blog for this ep. He devotes a whole section to the look of that room, a retro homage.

http://gregbeeman.blogspot.com/

Mohinder is as much an idiot as ever.

Putting aside his betrayal of Bennet (which sucks out loud), there's another general issue. If you're operating as a double agent in any context, you never, ever, ever, ever tell the people you're double agenting against about it to their faces if you want a long life. Jesus Christ! The man makes my head ache.

I don't know why I'm shocked, though. Mohinder is the same guy who put one over on Sylar and then allowed Sylar time to monologue his way out of a perfectly good curare trap. *head desk*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

What a great blog! I love his line: That’s something I love about this show. You can be in the middle of, say, a props meeting and suddenly a metaphysical debate breaks out.

They're so fannish. It's like debating where "Days of Future Past" comes in on the X-Men alternate-universe timelines. Such fun!

Putting aside his betrayal of Bennet (which sucks out loud),

Well, yes. First he delives Molly to Bob. Then he turns coat entirely. Mohinder! Can a person trust him with anything? I'm beginning to think not.

If you're operating as a double agent in any context, you never, ever, ever, ever tell the people you're double agenting against about it to their faces if you want a long life.

Which is why his action was stupid as well as dishnourable. And pretty much ruins any tactical effectivity he might have with either side of the fence. He didn't even need to take a stand at this point, though I suppose a general impulse to messy suicide can happen at any time.

Mohinder is the same guy who put one over on Sylar and then allowed Sylar time to monologue his way out of a perfectly good curare trap. *head desk*

Mohinder is frustrating to me. His beautiful looks and his beautiful voice keep seducing me into believing he really is good, that he really does have some brains and backbone, that he really isn't just a combination of victim-in-waiting and incipient train wreck. Then over and over again he does stupidly senseless things and proves me wrong.

Kring's Mea Culpa (EW)

[raissad.livejournal.com]

The man has come to his senses:
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20158840,00.html

Re: Kring's Mea Culpa (EW)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Very interesting - I guess it's easier for them to see the pattern of the shows in retrospect, than when they're at the writing stage?

[imaginarytiff.livejournal.com]

Unexpected new favourite: Nathan Petrelli

Same here! Such a huge turnaround from last season, when he mostly repulsed me.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes, me too. I'm not sure I can analyze the difference - perhaps it's that he has dropped the 'politician' aura. Perhaps it's that he's less under his mother's influence. Perhaps it's that the plot does not involved his (apparent or real) double-dealing with regards to criminals and the FBI, fixed politics, and adultery. Whatever it is, it's great!

[imaginarytiff.livejournal.com]

All of the above, I'd say. And on a shallow note, he's suddenly looking much more appealing, too. I approve!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

he's suddenly looking much more appealing, too

Oooh, yes! No complaint there!

Hayden Panettiere Fights To Save Whales

[raissad.livejournal.com]

Check this out; it's more dramatic than most of S2 so far:
http://www.tvguide.com/news/heroes-hayden-activism/071109-05

Re: Hayden Panettiere Fights To Save Whales

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Good for her!