Random musings on Godsend
Heroes is back in all its twist-and-turn glory! While a few scenes could be tighter (read Greg Beeman's blog on this ep's production challenges), there was so much packed in overall that I desperately want to watch it again. And again. Sadly, real life beckons as we kick off our semi-annual sharing and strategic planning today. However, our weekly Heroes night begins at my place this Friday, so I just need to hang on a few days more before I can indulge - and catch up on everyone else's Heroes posts. Also, NBC has released new cast commentaries (sadly, US access only).
On evolution, creation and Asian calligraphy
I thought it utterly fascinating how both the title and the symbol (either the long F/S form or the short // marks) have multiple yet possibly related meanings. This really intrigued me, esp. since I'd read about Tim Kring's religious and humanistic approach, and the Heroes writing process back here.
I've always thought the symbol was some sort of genetic code marker, where the short form presumably indicates HRG and co's experimentation to expedite the natural evolutionary process, i.e. took "short cuts." In this ep, we find out that the symbol on the sword hilt (see below) also means god-given if you literally combine these two characters - 才 and 与!
In Japanese, 才与 (sai yo) means:
sai - genius, years old, cubic shaku
yo - bestow, participate in, give, award, impart, provide, cause, gift, godsend
* Thanks to this 9th Wonders post for the Kanji help.
In Chinese, 才与 (cai yu) means:
cai - ability / talent / endowment / gift / an expert
yu - and; with; to; for; give, grant OR take part in
Lastly, the ep is peppered with encounters between heroes and dialogue that relate to the involvement (or rejection) of God, in some fashion:
The conversation between Claire and the Haitian:
Haitian: It's not how my gift works.
Claire: Your gift. Is that what you call it?
Haitian: What do you call it?
Claire: My own personal ... freak show?
Haitian: What you can do, what I can do - that is God. Respect that calling.
The final monologue (?) between Niki/Jessica:
Niki: God, please help me.
Jessica: Who needs God when you've got me?
Then there's the ongoing theme of "fate," with certain heroes unexpectedly acting as a godsend to the other(s). In the first half of S1, we saw Hiro, Peter and Isaac collaborating to save Claire. Now, Mohinder embarks on his quest to find the people on the list; Claude meets Peter; Simone helps Nathan, who in turn provides the Linderman connection to Isaac, Hiro and Ando, and looks like he'll play a major role at the end (at least judging from Peter's dream sequence and from Nathan's ominous "I think I can help" remark). Also, according to this week's online comic here, Ted Sprague (Radioactive Man) and Hana Gittelman (Wireless Gal) also meet. BTW, see this early preview of Hana who will evidently appear in the next ep.
More streams of consciousness
On a lighter note, the writers (or actors) must be trawling the fan forums b/c they keep giving us these awesome Nathan/Peter moments! Love the extra connection with Linderman via the sword but that means after all the trouble, Hiro and Ando have to head back to Las Vegas - and in their Nissan Versa. Slightly off-topic, just how much did Nissan pay to saturate us with their product placement?! Also, Jack Coleman and Ali Larter pulled off some amazing "dual-personality" moments. Ali's scenes had a hint of Golum/Smeagol - and we finally confirm that she (Niki) has superhuman strength, though this still begs the question, "Who IS Jessica?"
What's next?
The Fix is up next - where we get to see George Takei as Hiro's dad (promo shot here).
NBC's official description:
OUTSIDE FORCES AND NEW FACES DRIVE THE "HEROES" INTO DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS -- GEORGE TAKEI ("STAR TREK"), CHRISTOPHER ECCLESTON ("DR. WHO") AND JESSALYN GILSIG ("NIP/TUCK") GUEST STAR -- Chased by unknown assailants, Hiro's (Masi Oka) search for the sword takes a turn when his father (guest star George Takei) appears. A cleaned up Issac (Santiago Cabrera) dedicates himself to stopping New York's destruction -- and Peter (Milo Ventimiglia). Claude (guest star Christopher Eccleston), an invisible man with a mysterious past, might have something to teach a would-be hero. D.L. (Leonard Roberts) struggles with new family responsibilities as Matt opens up to (Greg Grunberg) his wife Janice (guest star Lisa Lackey). H.R.G. (Jack Coleman) focuses on his murderous captive, Sylar (guest star Zachary Quinto). Meanwhile, after seeking out the Haitian (guest star Jimmy Jean-Louis), Claire (Hayden Panettiere) secretly embarks on a search for her true birth parents. While working to find those on "the list," Suresh (Sendhil Ramamurthy) receives a surprising visitor. Tawny Cypress, Noah Gray-Cabey, Ali Larter and Adrian Pasdar also star. Thomas Dekker, Jessalyn Gilsig and James Kyson Lee guest star.
The US (NBC) and Canada (Global) trailers:
Lastly, remember those Heroes TV Guide Covers coming out on the Jan 29 issue? Check out this online gag reel of their photoshoot and a transcript of the cover story by fuskeez. Spoiler warning.
On evolution, creation and Asian calligraphy
I thought it utterly fascinating how both the title and the symbol (either the long F/S form or the short // marks) have multiple yet possibly related meanings. This really intrigued me, esp. since I'd read about Tim Kring's religious and humanistic approach, and the Heroes writing process back here.
I've always thought the symbol was some sort of genetic code marker, where the short form presumably indicates HRG and co's experimentation to expedite the natural evolutionary process, i.e. took "short cuts." In this ep, we find out that the symbol on the sword hilt (see below) also means god-given if you literally combine these two characters - 才 and 与!
In Japanese, 才与 (sai yo) means:
sai - genius, years old, cubic shaku
yo - bestow, participate in, give, award, impart, provide, cause, gift, godsend
* Thanks to this 9th Wonders post for the Kanji help.
In Chinese, 才与 (cai yu) means:
cai - ability / talent / endowment / gift / an expert
yu - and; with; to; for; give, grant OR take part in
Lastly, the ep is peppered with encounters between heroes and dialogue that relate to the involvement (or rejection) of God, in some fashion:
The conversation between Claire and the Haitian:
Haitian: It's not how my gift works.
Claire: Your gift. Is that what you call it?
Haitian: What do you call it?
Claire: My own personal ... freak show?
Haitian: What you can do, what I can do - that is God. Respect that calling.
The final monologue (?) between Niki/Jessica:
Niki: God, please help me.
Jessica: Who needs God when you've got me?
Then there's the ongoing theme of "fate," with certain heroes unexpectedly acting as a godsend to the other(s). In the first half of S1, we saw Hiro, Peter and Isaac collaborating to save Claire. Now, Mohinder embarks on his quest to find the people on the list; Claude meets Peter; Simone helps Nathan, who in turn provides the Linderman connection to Isaac, Hiro and Ando, and looks like he'll play a major role at the end (at least judging from Peter's dream sequence and from Nathan's ominous "I think I can help" remark). Also, according to this week's online comic here, Ted Sprague (Radioactive Man) and Hana Gittelman (Wireless Gal) also meet. BTW, see this early preview of Hana who will evidently appear in the next ep.
More streams of consciousness
On a lighter note, the writers (or actors) must be trawling the fan forums b/c they keep giving us these awesome Nathan/Peter moments! Love the extra connection with Linderman via the sword but that means after all the trouble, Hiro and Ando have to head back to Las Vegas - and in their Nissan Versa. Slightly off-topic, just how much did Nissan pay to saturate us with their product placement?! Also, Jack Coleman and Ali Larter pulled off some amazing "dual-personality" moments. Ali's scenes had a hint of Golum/Smeagol - and we finally confirm that she (Niki) has superhuman strength, though this still begs the question, "Who IS Jessica?"
What's next?
The Fix is up next - where we get to see George Takei as Hiro's dad (promo shot here).
NBC's official description:
OUTSIDE FORCES AND NEW FACES DRIVE THE "HEROES" INTO DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS -- GEORGE TAKEI ("STAR TREK"), CHRISTOPHER ECCLESTON ("DR. WHO") AND JESSALYN GILSIG ("NIP/TUCK") GUEST STAR -- Chased by unknown assailants, Hiro's (Masi Oka) search for the sword takes a turn when his father (guest star George Takei) appears. A cleaned up Issac (Santiago Cabrera) dedicates himself to stopping New York's destruction -- and Peter (Milo Ventimiglia). Claude (guest star Christopher Eccleston), an invisible man with a mysterious past, might have something to teach a would-be hero. D.L. (Leonard Roberts) struggles with new family responsibilities as Matt opens up to (Greg Grunberg) his wife Janice (guest star Lisa Lackey). H.R.G. (Jack Coleman) focuses on his murderous captive, Sylar (guest star Zachary Quinto). Meanwhile, after seeking out the Haitian (guest star Jimmy Jean-Louis), Claire (Hayden Panettiere) secretly embarks on a search for her true birth parents. While working to find those on "the list," Suresh (Sendhil Ramamurthy) receives a surprising visitor. Tawny Cypress, Noah Gray-Cabey, Ali Larter and Adrian Pasdar also star. Thomas Dekker, Jessalyn Gilsig and James Kyson Lee guest star.
The US (NBC) and Canada (Global) trailers:
Lastly, remember those Heroes TV Guide Covers coming out on the Jan 29 issue? Check out this online gag reel of their photoshoot and a transcript of the cover story by fuskeez. Spoiler warning.