DVD Pick of the Week - Heroes: Season 1
Heroes: Season 1
Probably every other DVD pick you’re going to read this week is for the first season of NBC’s runaway hit, Heroes. And it’s usually my MO to try and bring you a taste of titles that might otherwise be overlooked, or of a more cultish credibility. Well, one thing’s for certain, though – the cult following that Tim Kring’s superhero origin epic has obtained in just one season is pretty staggering. And I have one message that most of the other recommendations you’re going to read are probably going to overlook – don’t believe the backlash.
What happens in year two to our group of emerging supers remains to be seen – and I’ll be honest, NBC’s miniseries spinoff Heroes: Origins does smack a bit of over-franchising – but for a freshman undertaking, the first 22 episodes of Heroes is a captivating puzzle full of fresh spins on classic hero archetypes. From Hayden Panetierre’s indestructible cheerleader to Adrian Pasdar’s reluctantly airborne senatorial candidate, the series starts at a slow pace but quickly builds into a terrific study of what happens when ordinary folk wake up one day with extraordinary powers. (Only Masi Oka’s time-bending Hiro, by far the series’ most beloved character, has any clue what to do with his gift… and that’s kick some fuckin’ ass. Or at least try really hard.)
Amongst fanboy circles there’s a lot of animosity toward the show, some of it completely misdirected (What’s with the complaints about the effects? – no, it doesn’t look like Spider-Man 3, but NBC is clearly diverting all their available budget to where it counts); others, like the criticisms about this year’s big reveals bearing an uncomfortable similarity to Alan Moore’s landmark Watchmen, harder to deny. Yet this early in the game, I’m finding it difficult to come down too hard on a show which has delivered more thrills per hour than the last two years of Lost combined. (Although I’ll give the Lost its due, that season finale was pretty outstanding.)
Do grab the Heroes box set and get caught up before the September 24 premiere of season two, when it’s time to avoid that sophomore slump; the S1 box includes an unaired cut of the pilot, tons of featurettes, 50 (!) deleted and extended scenes and more.
Also recommended this week: Masters of Horror: Season 1; The Odd Couple: Season 2; Samurai Jack: Season 4; Year of the Dog
-— Nicole Campos
