(no subject)
The general obnoxiousness of advertising is highlighted by the relative quality of Michael's Chariots of Fire.
Over fall break, in the solitude of my empty suite, I watched Heroes. (, clearly) Universe construction! The show is somehow less polished and deft than, say, Lost, but it is much more resonant and climactic, because we get to see characters do things that have been built up as important choices, established. In Lost it seems like we never get to see characters standing for something, there's never a "OK, I've got the gun and nothing more happens until someone explains things to me" and by extension the audience. Too much mystery! No, mystery is fine--too little explanation.
Heroes, though! Heroes built around the principle of however many dozen characters converging on one spot. It gives us tortured ambiguously good characters, it gives everyone a moment that we can believe in. This more than offsets the silliness of a few lines/situations, or the absolutely retarded pop evolutionary psychology claptrap.
So I'm going to run through the interesting characters, starting with:
Mohinder Suresh
Mr. "Abrupt segue into emotional conflict about my father." Has a great voice, and I liked how his character took on an Indian accent when he was driving a taxi. Seriously, though, it was like he had a sign saying "Father issues" that he was required, by his contract, to pull out in every scene.
Jessica/Nikki
Honestly her segments got tiring. Always building up to her conflict with herself, which is cool, you know; her big moment, Jessica choosing Nikki's choice, was meaningful. But how wearisome to hear "Things are going to get better for us, Micah, [canned single parent talk]!" from whichever parent was currently in possession.
Sylar
A rather engaging take on the psychopathic killer. Proof positive that telekinesis is power #1. Sure, it can be trumped with mind control, it's not invulnerable, but it's so freakin cool.
Claire
Whoever thought up "Save the cheerleader, save the world" is either brilliant or idiotic. I can't say for sure. It's so mundane!; but it works so well! Peter's "Are you the cheerleader?", like saving her was just a checkbox on his to-do list.
And her boyfriend is soooo slick. Telekinesis might be the most bad-ass power, but flying is pretty much the most romantic.
Simone
A bit character. Didn't miss her much, but I liked how the fight between Isaac and Peter cost them both something dear.
Peter
I liked him better with his emo hair. And he's a neat character, trying to find his way forward. I think his power is fascinating, too, because it's so dangerous a plot device.
He's effectively a god. Sylar shouldn't be able to beat him, right, because any power Sylar has, Peter grabs, too. But when anyone has that much power, it breaks the universe. So Peter is shipped off mysteriously in the second season.
Isaac
Just plain cool. Gives the show a very important feel. His fulfillment in death is quite powerful, too. "Finally get to be a hero" loses points for inanity, I suppose.
Hiro
I like the way the Asian cultures closest to Western influence are brought in this show. Hiro is a stereotypical excited Asian paired with a straight man accomplice. And his "Save the cheerleader" train time-stop for Peter may rank among the more awesome scenes of television history. His "Great Scott!" upon talking to himself had me laughing for hours; it's a wonder they waited so long to make a BTTF reference, which was perfect, it made it so much better.
Matt Parkman
Honestly, I just like watching him work with someone who knows he's reading their mind. The potential is limitless! I like that he's getting more powers, becoming a more generic psychic. Like a pokemon.
The Haitian
I love that he's The Haitian and not Some Quiet Black Guy.
In general I like the show. My favorite episode, I think, is the Future Went Horribly Wrong. Neat to see where the cards lay, even though the presence of time travel threatens to make plots waver uncontrollably.
--
So I'm turning 21 very soon. Some would say in 30 minutes, but I was born in Colorado, which makes it 2 hours, thirty minutes... but if we're going to split hairs that finely, might as well wait until 3 or 4 in the afternoon CO time, 5 or 6.
It's odd, turning 21 seems so much more... surprising, than turning 20, leaving the teens. Something in it bespeaks ascendancy. Tomorrow I'll be adult, who I am; no longer can I be measured in potential; it matters now more what I do precisely in the present. We see future in children; how long will they grow before we see the present? And then how long until the past is staring back at us?
Whatever; something in me says "I am" as I reach the final marker of youth.