Heroes - Series 1 - HD DVD Version Details

[Highly rated reviewer]

No more heroes anymore.......but then again

Heroes is a bit of a slow burner. The numerous plot strands and inter-connection between the characters take some time to reveal themselves. But as they do the plot becomes more intriguing , the characters more fascinating and three dimensional .And by working on the premise that super-heroes, or more pertinently people with extraordinary powers are just regular individuals the narrative avoids the slam bang mythologizing that normally comes with the genre and invests the production with a viable human drama element but without any of the pitfalls that normally brings. In other words it’s sort of soap with bells on and apocalyptic edge . Its a big hit because it really works.

The plot also works because it doesn’t stay American -centric . The numerous heroes though ostensibly American also come from Japan, Haiti, and England while another major character is Indian. This gives the narrative a pan-global feel (Even if the entire series was shot in Los Angles but had portions centred in Japan and India, not to mention New York , Texas , Las Vegas and Montana) The central theme of decent human beings trying to do what is for the best despite overwhelming odds and internecine attempts to interpolate them is hardly original but the collective angle is wonderfully explored and realised.

The plot has numerous individuals finding out they have super-powers( it’s maybe a touch hysterical to call some of them super-powers but I’ll stick with it) and their attempts to come to terms with this. The myriad plot strands and characters intertwine in a torturously labyrinthine manner until their paths all diverge for some cataclysmic showdown. The main characters are:Claire Bennet (Hayden Panettiere), a high school cheerleader formerly of Odessa, Texas, now living in Costa Verde, California, who has a regenerative ability. She is Noah Bennet's adopted daughter, as well as Nathan Petrelli's biological daughter.

Noah Bennet (Jack Coleman), more commonly referred to as 'Mr. Bennet' or 'the Man in Horn-Rimmed Glasses (H.R.G.)', initially worked for the Primatech Paper Company, which is actually a cover operation for an organization that investigates people with superhuman abilities

Simone Deveaux (Tawny Cypress), an art dealer and gallery owner who has a relationship with Isaac Mendez but then develops feelings for Peter Petrelli who is looking after her infirm father played by “Shaft“ Richard Roundtree.

D.L. Hawkins (Leonard Roberts) , a former construction worker and gang leader with the power to alter his physical tangibility and pass through solid objects. He is Niki's husband and Micah's father.

Ando Masahashi (James Kyson Lee) Hiro Nakamura's friend, co-worker, and travelling companion. He has no known superhuman abilities.

Isaac Mendez (Santiago Cabrera) , an artist living in New York who can paint future events during precognitive trances. He also writes and draws a comic book called 9th Wonders! which has also been shown to depict the future.

Hiro Nakamura (Masi Oka), a programmer from Osaka with the ability to manipulate the space-time continuum. He is convinced that he is a hero, and with other 'special persons', he can change the future.

Matt Parkman (Greg Grunberg) a former Los Angeles police officer with the ability to hear other people's thoughts, though his powers are developing further, such as his ability to control people's actions.

Nathan Petrelli (Adrian Pasdar),, New York Congressional candidate with the ability of self-propelled flight.

Peter Petrelli (Milo Ventimiglia) Nathans brother, a former hospice nurse with the ability to absorb the powers of others he has been near and recall them.

Micah Sanders (Noah Gray-Cabey), a child prodigy and technopath, he has the ability to 'talk' to electrical devices, giving him control of machines and electronic devices. He is D.L. and Niki's son.

Niki Sanders (Ali Larter), a former internet stripper from Las Vegas who exhibits superhuman strength and a multiple personality disorder one of whom goes by the name of Jessica, the name of her dead sister.

Mohinder Suresh (Sendhil Ramamurthy), a professor of genetics from India who travels to New York to investigate the death of his father, Chandra. Through his investigations, he comes into contact with people his father listed as possessing superhuman abilities. Mohinder's blood contains antibodies against a virus which only infects people with special abilities.

The Haitian ( Jimmy Jean Louis) who has the ability to rob people of their memories. Works in conjunction with Mr Bennet.

Ted Sprauge(Matthew John Armstrong) is an itinerant drifter on the run from the “Company” who gives off high levels of radiation and can cause devasting fires.

Sylar (Zachary Quinto) real name Gabriel Gray, a former watchmaker with an intuitive understanding of how things work. He is a serial killer with extraordinary eyebrows who seeks out superhuman individuals, killing them in order to take their powers. Sylar has multiple acquired abilities. Sylar takes his alias from the brand name of a watch company.

There are memorable cameo roles for Christopher Eccleston as Claude a hero with powers of invisibility. His role is badly underwritten serving only as a device to spur Peter Petrelli on, but he brings some welcome humour and energy to the narrative. Malcolm McDowell as the mysterious Mr Linderman is suitably sinister and “Sulu “ from “Star Trek” George Takei plays Hiro,s father with implacability. Eric Roberts appears late in the plot as Thompson a baleful company enforcer.

The productions design, casting and performances are all first rate and the numerous extras on The DVD (Which also includes lots of deleted scenes) explain the process and the writers motivations well. The show duplicates comic books in its main story arcs and the minor character arcs and over twenty three episodes I feel too much time was spent on torturous postulating and semi-soap elements. Did we really need to know about Matt Parkman’s marital problems for instance , though some will undoubtedly feel this is one of the shows most appealing elements. I found it frustrating. And was I the only one who found the series conclusion a little disappointing ?After all the build up I sort of expected soemthing more but maybe the ending had to be low- key in order to mirror the aesthetics of its characters?

For all it,s bluster about destiny and honour Heroes is at heart a story about good people wanting to do the right thing. People who when put in a situation that could cost millions of lives try their uttermost to prevent that happening . Only these have amazing powers to help them achieve that end. Very few amongst us could,nt find something to empathise with there.

BRILLIANT!

Simply brilliant series, im a big fan of 24 and lost and had always thought about watching this but never got round to it and boy was i missing out.

Starts abit slow but once it gets going its fantastic, brilliant cast and characters, exceptional story and script, very good effects and you get very deeply into this emotionally.

Superb in every way.