Comic Book Resources: Lying in the Gutters – A Look at NBC’s new series “Heroes”

I have to say that I am looking forward to this series, the previews look really good. You can see video clips of it here: http://www.nbc.com/NBC_First_Look/Heroes

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NBC’S HEROES

So
last week, I get a DVD through the post from an American broadcaster
called NBC. The pilot episode to something called “Heroes.”

This is NBC’s new
superhero TV series starting this autumn in the US, so probably in the
UK in January or February. Or June if the BBC gets it.

The
pilot, which is in an unready-for-broadcast state (though looks more
ready than most British sci-fi shows) opens with the following
scrolling text:

“In recent days, a seemingly random group of individuals has emerged with what can only be described as ‘special abilities.’

“Although unaware of it
now, these individuals will not only save the world, but change it
forever. This transformation from ordinary to extraordinary will not
occur overnight. Every story has a beginning.

“Volume One of their epic tale begins here…”

It’s not often a TV
show basically says right off you’re going to have to devote five years
of your life to watching this. And when they do, they end up getting
cancelled after series two. Yes, “Carnivale,” I’m looking at you.

The
show is created by Tim Kring, who seems to have been around the US TV
writing circuit, and created something called “Crossing Jordan” which
I’ve never seen and, from the description. I have no desire to. He also
wrote “Teenwolf, Too.” It wasn’t looking good.

After the chapter
title, “In His Own Image,” placed as part of the scenery like
“Teachers,” we start to meet the cast, each with their separate,
separated stories. A congressman candidate’s brother jumps off a
tenement building, and it was all a dream. And now thinks he can fly
and see the future. An Indian teacher whose father has died in
mysterious circumstances and whose research into super people across
the world is being bagged and tagged by American agents. A webcam
stripper in Vegas with an alternate personality who does bad things and
a brilliant young child being chased by the mob. A Texan bridge jumper
who keeps trying to kill herself unsuccessfully, with her nerdish
cameraman. A Japanese geek who can warp space and time while making
references to “X-Men” #143 when trying to teleport into the ladies. A
drug addled clairvoyant painter who paints of an apocalypse to come. As
you do. Oh and there is a solar eclipse.

I quite liked it. And I
really wasn’t expecting to. It’s not all twenty year olds playing high
schoolers, which makes a change. It’s international. The characters are
rough, and don’t fit into all the usual stereotypes. They even play
around with the idea of what a “hero” means, and the motivations behind
that. There are some links between the people, common interests or
people. Presumably as the show continues, we will discover more links
that will draw them together. But right now it’s beautifully disjointed
- as are many of the people whose lives we follow.

Superpowers
are hidden, revealed more like “Unbreakable.” And it doesn’t have the
action tone I’d expect from the likes of “24″ or “Lost.” It’s more like
the background stories to “Lost.” It reminds me of “Short Cuts.” A bit.
But with superpowers. It’s also leagues ahead of “The 4400,” “Mutant X”
and “Smallville.” It’s a bit more… grown up really. No pop culture
cracks, the dialogue is less stylised – I mean it’s not “The Wire.” Few
things are. There are a few clichés that stick out and the ending twist
was as predictable as me using the word “hell” in the next paragraph.

But I’d watch the
second episode. Hell, I’ll probably download it from some nefarious
source before Sky One or Five get a chance to show it in the UK.