Milo Ventimiglia in "Heroes"
courtesy of NBC
“Heroes” (NBC)

“Heroes” is an NBC TV series that started out strong, got weakened by the writers strike, and has never fully recovered. In the first season of the show the “Save the cheerleader” slogan became a phrase America latched on to with gusto. But now in the third season no one cares as much about the cheerleader or any other character.

This year it is all about the “heroes” being rounded up and imprisoned. This effort is headed up by Nathan Petrelli (Adrian Pasdar). Even though he also has a “power” he wants all the others with “powers” to be taken into custody for their own good. Noah Bennet (Jack Coleman) who is working with him has gotten a “free pass” for his adopted daughter Claire (Hayden Panettierre). Claire, aka the cheerleader, is the natural daughter of Nathan.

Leading the charge against them is Nathan’s brother Peter (Milo Ventimiglia). He has the ability to absorb anyone’s power just by touching them, but then that power replaces whatever power he currently has.

The most evil person in the series is Sylar (Zachary Quinto). Most of the people killed off on the series have been killed by him. He has unlimited powers and uses them all to do bad things. 

Also in the series is Hiro (Masi Oka). He was a central character in the first two seasons but this year he has been lying low. Maybe that is for the best as his adventures in olden times (don’t ask) were one of the low points of the show. 

There are a variety of other characters in the panoply of adventurers, and two major ones are supposed to get killed off this year. That’s good because the cast is way too big. As it is now you get a smattering of one character and then a smattering of another. 

One of my favorite actors in the cast is Ali Larter. She is now playing someone named Niki, but at one time it seems she was playing someone else. I think I blinked and missed her transformation.

There is still some fun in watching this show but the entertainment value is seeping out with each new episode. It just all seems too slap happy and no one seems to be in charge. The actors are still good, and so is the action, but the plot is just unraveling at the speed of sound.

If you are a “Heroes” fan you had better watch while you can. At the rate it is losing popularity there may not be a Season 4.

“Heroes” airs on NBC, Monday nights at 9.
 

 

 

 

 

©2009 Jackie K. Cooper

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