Heroes: The story so far
After falling behind around 2x03, I'm finally all caught up on Heroes and can offer at least some thoughts on the second season.
I must admit I've been expecting something to be done about the munchkinisation of both Peter and Sylar, and the way it was done makes sense. Sylar's more creepy when he's on the hunt than when he's using the arsenal of powers he'd built up, and Peter didn't quite mature rapidly enough to grow into his. I think the writers saw the way they wrote themselves into a corner there, especially with Peter - what's the use of a varied cast if he can just walk past each one and become a team-in-one? For good storytelling, powers need checks, otherwise it's just boring when the uber-powerful character takes out every danger with a snap of his fingers.
In Season One, I had three dis-favourite characters - Sylar, Mohinder and (to a lesser extent) Matt. The reshuffle works very well for me, especially with Matt and Mohinder's little family - their dynamic is wonderfully homosocial in ways that make me want to explore the influence of their cultural backgrounds on it. While India's not very big on males being emotional, the impression I get from films and novels is that they acknowledge the existence of those emotions more than the average Western male, and Matt's social history also makes him more prone to second-guessing himself and others. I think it might be part of the reason they get on so well.
Bennetts: While I was a great fan of Claire in the last season, I'm now impatient for her storyline to stop being so walking-cheerleader-cliche. I didn't mind it last time because she was in the non-stereotypical position of the popular one, but outsider-conquers-new-school is way overdone. Oh, and I'm a member of the anti-West fanclub, but since he's clearly evil, I'm hoping for a satisfying splatting by the end.
(And I remain ambivalent about Bennett and the Haitian. I liked the father-daughter dynamic, but right now I'm not sure I quite get what Bennett's after. I think he's losing himself in the chase, not wanting to admit he's petrified of the picture of his death.)
Japanese contingent: Wah! They killed Sulu! Okay, they needed a big splashy death and George Takei was magnificent in the screentime he got, but still. Overall, I like it (even David Anders, who's doing a very decent job of Japanese mannerisms like proper bowing etc), but I have one big objection - where the hell is Kimiko? Since Ando obviously got a promotion and is allowed to gallivate all over and requisition scientists, I would like a scene of Kimiko granting him the authority to do that. Since she's now running the company and everything.
DL & co: I know I'm not the only one who adores Monica - she's kickass and a female trickster, which is rare, and her dynamic with Micah is wonderful. I'm also impressed by the lack of racial stereotyping there - for once the writers are quite careful not to step over into voodoo territory so far. I am very curious about Nichelle Nichols' character as well. And I'm very pissed off that they killed DL. I liked DL. Not even a death scene? Lame, dear writers, lame.
Petrellis: Whoa. Nathan looks hot with his hair longer and once the beard's off. Kind of a little like Ethan Freeman. I also remain curious about Angela's storyline. Peter's, I can't watch because NO. Those are NOT Cork accents. Or Cork people if you want to be precise. If they'd just made it Belfast, it'd fit better. A tiny bit, mind you.
Overall, I'm enjoying the show, though on a more storytelling-nitpicking level than the sheer squee of early Season One. And I still want Isaac to be back. He and Elle could have snarky drop-dead-gorgeous babies together.
I must admit I've been expecting something to be done about the munchkinisation of both Peter and Sylar, and the way it was done makes sense. Sylar's more creepy when he's on the hunt than when he's using the arsenal of powers he'd built up, and Peter didn't quite mature rapidly enough to grow into his. I think the writers saw the way they wrote themselves into a corner there, especially with Peter - what's the use of a varied cast if he can just walk past each one and become a team-in-one? For good storytelling, powers need checks, otherwise it's just boring when the uber-powerful character takes out every danger with a snap of his fingers.
In Season One, I had three dis-favourite characters - Sylar, Mohinder and (to a lesser extent) Matt. The reshuffle works very well for me, especially with Matt and Mohinder's little family - their dynamic is wonderfully homosocial in ways that make me want to explore the influence of their cultural backgrounds on it. While India's not very big on males being emotional, the impression I get from films and novels is that they acknowledge the existence of those emotions more than the average Western male, and Matt's social history also makes him more prone to second-guessing himself and others. I think it might be part of the reason they get on so well.
Bennetts: While I was a great fan of Claire in the last season, I'm now impatient for her storyline to stop being so walking-cheerleader-cliche. I didn't mind it last time because she was in the non-stereotypical position of the popular one, but outsider-conquers-new-school is way overdone. Oh, and I'm a member of the anti-West fanclub, but since he's clearly evil, I'm hoping for a satisfying splatting by the end.
(And I remain ambivalent about Bennett and the Haitian. I liked the father-daughter dynamic, but right now I'm not sure I quite get what Bennett's after. I think he's losing himself in the chase, not wanting to admit he's petrified of the picture of his death.)
Japanese contingent: Wah! They killed Sulu! Okay, they needed a big splashy death and George Takei was magnificent in the screentime he got, but still. Overall, I like it (even David Anders, who's doing a very decent job of Japanese mannerisms like proper bowing etc), but I have one big objection - where the hell is Kimiko? Since Ando obviously got a promotion and is allowed to gallivate all over and requisition scientists, I would like a scene of Kimiko granting him the authority to do that. Since she's now running the company and everything.
DL & co: I know I'm not the only one who adores Monica - she's kickass and a female trickster, which is rare, and her dynamic with Micah is wonderful. I'm also impressed by the lack of racial stereotyping there - for once the writers are quite careful not to step over into voodoo territory so far. I am very curious about Nichelle Nichols' character as well. And I'm very pissed off that they killed DL. I liked DL. Not even a death scene? Lame, dear writers, lame.
Petrellis: Whoa. Nathan looks hot with his hair longer and once the beard's off. Kind of a little like Ethan Freeman. I also remain curious about Angela's storyline. Peter's, I can't watch because NO. Those are NOT Cork accents. Or Cork people if you want to be precise. If they'd just made it Belfast, it'd fit better. A tiny bit, mind you.
Overall, I'm enjoying the show, though on a more storytelling-nitpicking level than the sheer squee of early Season One. And I still want Isaac to be back. He and Elle could have snarky drop-dead-gorgeous babies together.