Heroes News

Well Heroes generates lots of news, so I've decided to put together a list of updates/spoilers to know about as the hiatus approaches and the end of "Villains".

A quick side note, there are two episodes coming up before the hiatus, the first is called "Our Father" and the second one's title is all over the place. I've seen it called Duel, Duality and War. To avoid confusion, I've used the date of when the episode will air as its title.

The biggest update, which I've only touched on in my previous blog, is the return of Bryan Fuller after the cancellation of Pushing Daisies. He's apparently signed a seven-figure deal with NBC Universal to work on Heroes and produce his own original series. Fuller will return to Heroes for Episode 20, which will happen sometime in mid-February. That's a long time to wait for the writer that brought us the fantastic episode "Company Man". It was a first season episode that did a great job of focusing on one character, but still incorporating other heroes and moving the story forward. It hasn't been revealed what position Fuller will fill on the show, and it's been said that he may only stick around until the end of season 3. Hopefully that changes, and he helps Heroes into season 4 (if it isn't cancelled by then).

Casting Updates:

First off, Zeljko Ivanek has been cast as the Hunter. He is set to appear in episode 14, and hang around for ten episodes and will very likely be hunting the "Fugitives" for who the new volume is named.

When does the next volume start on Heroes? Because "Villains" is turning the show into Heroezzz. (No offense, Tim Kring.) — Charles
Mickey: I hear you, Charles. At this point, I don't even care who is good and who is evil and/or how they got there; I'm just ready to move on. The next volume, titled "Fugitives" and said to be inspired by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, begins in January. It centers on a character called The Hunter (Damages Emmy winner Zeljko Ivanek) and, by all accounts, represents a reboot of the series. I, for one, will welcome it with a freakin' Fifth Avenue parade.

That quote is taken from here. That is interesting for a few reasons. Ivanek is an Emmy-winner, and a fantastic actor. The idea of someone hunting the Heroes, maybe for the government, could be well done. And most importantly, upcoming episode summaries have said that Ivanek will load a bunch of the Heroes on a transport plane, which will crash, killing many of them. Hopefully that will do away with many of the storylines that have developed into burdens. It has been said that Angela won't be on the plane, but Matt might be.

Dan Byrd, from Aliens in America, has been cast as "a dark and twisted kid who tells lies easily and has a cruel streak. Word is he'll be a possible apprentice to Sylar". Apparently he's on for three episodes. This could be an interesting addition, especially if taking someone under his wing will return Sylar to his previous form. He'll arrive in the "Fugitives" arc, and that fairly smart dude, Michael Ausiello over at EW.com, thinks that Byrd may be the Hunter's first quarry. We'll have to wait and see, I suppose.

Justin Baldoni, from Everwood, will take over the role of a SoCal surfer who works at a comic book store. Not really sure if we need another surfer, but I guess we'll have to see how that plays out.

Also, Monica Dawson, the muscle mimic (which is an awesome power) is said to be returning for the December 15th episode. I count that as a good thing, because we'll hopefully get an explanation as to why she's been gone for so long. However, I'm thinking she's back to die.

Upcoming Episodes:

Apparently Kring plans on keeping us sane over the hiatus:

And then, on the big finale on Dec. 15, we'll get a Heroes present to warm us up over the holidays. "If you stick with it, you will be rewarded, because you're not going to get put into a situation where answers never come," Kring promised. "There's a finite number of episodes here, and you know it going in. We've announced that 'Villains' will be 13 episodes long, and so you know by the end of episode 13 you're going to have seen the beginning, middle and end, ... like reading a novel. These same characters are in another novel that starts six weeks later."

Season 3, Episode 12 (December 8th)

HEROES BAND TOGETHER IN AN ATTEMPT TO PUT A STOP TO ARTHUR PETRELLI

Hoping to find a way to stop Arthur (guest star Robert Forster), Hiro (Masi Oka) and Claire (Hayden Panettiere) band together and travel back in time 16 years to when Kaito (guest star George Takei) gave baby Claire to H.R.G. (Jack Coleman). Meanwhile, Peter (Milo Ventimiglia) and the Haitian (guest star Jimmy Jean-Louis) team up to finish off Arthur Petrelli for good but are interrupted by Sylar (Zachary Quinto). Elsewhere, in the lab, Suresh (Sendhil Ramamurthy) has a major breakthrough with the formula that will likely change everything.

Jessalyn Gilsig, Ashley Crow, Tamlyn Tomita and Chad Faust guest stars.

Season 3, Episode 13 (December 15th)

THE HEROES FIND THEMSELVES TEAMING UP AGAINST ONE ANOTHER AND THE GOOD, OR BAD, IN ALL OF THEM COMES TO THE SURFACE – ROBERT FORSTER, GEORGE TAKEI, BREA GRANT, Jessalyn Gilsig, JAMIE HECTOR AND BLAKE SHIELDS GUEST STAR - In the aftermath of the showdown against Arthur Petrelli, the Petrelli brothers (Adrian Pasdar and Milo Ventimiglia) find themselves battling against one another and Nathan makes a move that will have global repercussions. Meanwhile, Sylar (Zachary Quinto) holds Claire (Hayden Panettiere), H.R.G. (Jack Coleman), Meredith (guest star Jessalyn Gilsig) and Angela (Cristine Rose) hostage at Primatech and a face-off ensues. Elsewhere, Ando (James Kyson Lee), Matt (Greg Grunberg) and Daphne (guest star Brea Grant) continue their attempts rescue Hiro (Masi Oka) -- and Dr. Suresh (Sendhil Ramamurthy) may be their only hope. Ali Larter also stars. Ntare Mwine, David H. Lawrence XVII and Chad Faust also guest star.

Now those two summaries (coupled with the fact that Arthur doesn't appear in IMDB's casting list for the December 15th episode) definitely point to Arthur dying tomorrow. That a little strange to say the least, because he hasn't exactly done something huge yet. However, I don't really like him, so whatever. What really gets me is the major breakthrough with the formula and the global repercussions. All of that seemingly points to Nathan turning some (hopefully not too many) normal people into heroes. The fact that Chad Faust will appear in the next episode, and the two after that adds to that conclusion, and the addition of Dan Byrd and Justin Baldoni.

The upcoming showdown with Peter and Nathan hopefully means Peter gets his powers back. I think would be seriously awesome would be if Peter got his powers back and Sylar cut open Arthur's head and got his powers. That would be like an all-you-can-eat buffet for Sylar.

As a random aside, here's information on the guest stars listed. Tomita will be Ishi Nakamura (Hiro's sister), Chad Faust will be Scott (hopefully some kid who gets a power from Suresh's formula) and Gilsig and Crow will reprise their roles as Meredith and Sandra, respectively. David H. Lawrence XVII will be Eric Doyle (the creepy puppeteer guy) again, which is interesting for two reasons. One, there's been a lot of David Lawrence's, and two, his power and character were very interesting. He isn't listed for anymore episodes after that on IMDB, so it sounds like he's going to get murked. And Ntare Mwine is back as the African painter, Usutu. Either it's a flashback, or he's still alive.

Anyways, thanks to my first commenter, and anyone who has looked at the blog. I'm pretty sure something like only two people have looked at this blog, which is unfortunate. But, it's been fun to write, and hopefully viewers will start trickling in. Anyways, please comment (or heck, become a follower) on my blog and spread the word!

I'll see you tomorrow, when I review the next episode, "Our Father".

Dear Tim Kring

Dear Tim Kring,

I am writing you to thank you for stepping down and allowing me the opportunity to be become Heroes' show runner. I am very excited to do this, and I'm more than prepared to pour my heart and soul into this project that I believe can once again reach its peak. Thank you, and I'll say again that you are an inspiration to all of us, and a tremendous talent!

All the Best,

A View From My Couch!

(Below is an email I'd like you to forward to the creative staff involved in the show. Please do so without reading the following, as it is lengthy and would only bore you!)
______________________________________________________________________

When the champagne dries from the celebration party, the work will begin! Tim Kring's reign is over! The man who didn't know who Magneto was when he set out is mercifully gone! To all you involved in Heroes, hello! Your salvation has arrived! Not only will I return this show to its season-one-let's-do-a-spinoff-everyone-talk-about-this-show glory, I will exceed it! Though it is very probable Mr. Bryan Fuller will be joining us, Eclipse Part 2 has just aired to lukewarm reception and word is Fuller will not be able to join us for quite some time. My plan is to gain momentum going into the hiatus, then follow up with a fantastic finish when we return. It's a mid-season "reboot" without actually rebooting.

This success will be done by following my "insta-fixes", a list of solutions/guide-lines the show will follow until danger has passed.

1. Character Trimming. -

• Fixing of Hayden Panettiere situation. She has to be removed from the show (which could be difficult considering her abilities). I want to suggest her storyline needs fixing, because the viewers need their Heroes hotty, but she has gone past the point of no return. Your attempts to turn her into some badass has been an epic failure, and the scenes that are meant to be touching between Noah and her are fallen very short. This is unfortunate, considering Noah and Sandra are very good characters, and her disappearance would likely have to make Noah into a vengeful man and reduce Sandra to the weeping mum. This is a tricky situation that must be handled delicately, but this brief outline will hopefully help.
• Meredith's death. For serious. She doesn't do much for the show, and though that little escapade with the puppeteer was enjoyable, it isn't enough to keep her around. Alright, my writing friends? Get rid of her, pronto. (Flint, too. I don't think that needs an explanation)
  
• Matt and Daphne, gone. I don't know what you writers were thinking (and quite frankly your jobs could be in jeopardy). This is a relationship that has been developed even less than the preposterous Elle and Sylar bogus. Though we finally got an answer as to how Arthur could threaten her with "returning her to how she was" the rest of it was weak. What was meant to be an emotional scene when she hugged her dead was useless, because we're not emotionally attached, at all. Daphne has really restricted Matt, and unless he can be worked in (a new sort of Matt who uses those powers he came into in the end of the second season, a lot) in a positive way, he needs to get the boot as well.
• Assuming Arthur is dunzo by the end of this volume (fill me in with your reply) he definitely needs to go, as does Angela. I'm thinking maybe she kills Daphne, then Matt kills her with crazy mind powers? I'm just spitballing. Point is, she's gone.
• In a final act of trimming, the beautiful Maya must go. Mohinder abused her and tormented her, and she's still interested? Not a chance. Get rid of her. Just don't tell her I said to...because she's fairly attractive.
• Further removals. To make room for the new characters coming in with the Fugitives story arc, Tracy's tale with the doctor needs to be concluded quickly, and she needs to be killed or in some way removed. Monica (I hope the writers remember her?) has been cast for Duality, an upcoming episode, and her power and character are fairly interesting. I don't want her trimmed, but if she returns, it should be in small segments, and put her with Micah (unless he's off doing something important, I could see him making one or two jaunts of importance).
  
• That, by my count, would leave us with Nathan, Peter, the Haitian, Hiro, Ando, Noah, Mohinder and Sylar as main characters. This is excluding the Hunter and other characters that will enter during the Fugitives story arc. And, unless Mohinder can be quickly cured of his problems, he probably needs to go to. (I've just noticed that my condensed character list is lacking in females. Noah, Mohinder and the Haitian's futures don't look like they extend an awful distance. They could be replaced down the road by female-types.)

2. Ando and Hiro. First off, Ando needs his powers, and soon. James Kyson Lee has had to be on a show where everyone has powers, except for him, for too long. On top of adding to one of the better characters on the show, this would make the Ando and Hiro team-up much more excellent (the ten-year old thing has to be shedded, by the way). And it's time to start giving these two serious plot lines, instead of a silly "nemesis" like Daphne. Keep it comic (no pun intended) but give them something important to work with.

3. Upgrading the Haitian. This character's potential has barely been scratched. His powers are very intriguing, and by removing Angela, it'll give this character some much needed breathing space. Though I'm not asking you to make him a front and center character, he needs to be in the show more, and be made more important.

4. The Nathan and Peter showdown. I know it's coming. We've all seen it in the future episode synopses and that little scene in the jungle. It's the practical Senator versus the emotional hero. There's a lot of potential there, and I'm excited to see how that plays out. It's right in here that I could see Claire sticking around, if you guys wouldn't mind giving her good lines. She could slowly become the badass you desperately want her to be, and join Nathan's side against Peter. (I don't know how much of the rivalry we can take though. Every time I've gone to write Nathan's name in this Section 4, I've almost written Arthur. The similarites are there. Don't stretch this one out.)

5. The better and more anticipated Sylar versus Peter. This needs to come. In the upcoming episodes, Sylar needs to get more powers, the old fashioned way (forget his empathic mimcry thing, people are used to him cutting open heads) and perhaps up the pyscho factor with him. As well, Petey and Sylar need a legit battle. I'm talking an epic battle that people are discussing around the water cooler.

6. Acting. Or bad acting. The latter is something this show is plagued with. I'm instituing a rule, it shall be called Law E.M.M.Y. No actor will be cast if their acting abilities are equal to or less than that of a cardboard box.

7. Character flip-flopping. Enough of it. A character's character will henceforth not change in a matter of minutes. That is ludicrous, and has bogged down the great character that is Sylar.

8. Shortening seasons, a la Lost. They did it with that dynamite show over on ABC, it's time for us to shorten the seasons to ensure every episode is worth something.

9. Ted Sprague Effect. Simply put, moral situations like Ted's need to be done a few more times. That was a brilliant idea, with great implications. So many conflicts there, something of this nature (but not so blindingly obvious that everyone from Japan to Ottawa is saying "hey...they've done something like this before) must be done again.

For know, those are the resolutions I'm putting in place. With the shortened cast, Bryan Fuller (who made that exceptional "Company Man" episode, which focused in on one character, and was very action-packed) should be able to do wonders. And if you other writers can't, I'll be handing out pink slips. Another bonus of the condensed cast will be bringing in interesting characters for short periods of time (see #9).

Well that's all for now! I believe with these ideas in mind, this show will be back to top gear in no time!

Get to work!

A View From My Couch