Heroes - season one - general comments

[lathany]

This won't be nearly as long as the season two write-up because I've already done the episodes, but I wanted to write a few things about the season as a whole, including the state of play at the end.

I think that season one is one of my best seasons of any TV show ever (perhaps the best), and hope that latter seasons don't dent that feeling. I've watched it through at least four times now and still find it engrossing.

Spoilers in lists
Things I loved most about it

• The abilities - In particular that they kept me guessing about precisely what Peter's was for ages.
• Time travel - They tied it up properly.
• Consistency - There's the odd mistake, but it's one of the most consistent seasons I've ever seen.
• Mix and match Heroes - Nathan/Hiro, Peter/Claire and Bennet/Matt - none were obvious from the start but these pairings stood out.
• Guest stars - Christopher Eccleston and George Takai both in great roles.
• Plot twists - OK, this was a big deal for the writers, but they pulled off twists in every episode.
• Stunts - These were massively rewatchable.
• Music - This worked and gave the show a very unique feel.

Less good things

• The ending - See previous review.
• Niki/DL/Micah - This suffered the most on a rewatch, because there was no longer the element of wondering if Jessica would do something surprising.
• Sylar's survival - Again, see previous review of the last episode.

Sylar's powers (definite): How things work, telekinesis, ice, hearing, nuclear, painting the future, turning metal to liquid.
Sylar's powers (maybe): Memory, suggestion.

Peter's powers (shown): Flying, precognition, painting the future, reading minds, regenerating, invisibility, telekinesis, time stop.
Peter's powers (possible/stood in the vicinity of): Suggestion, phasing, super-strength, locating people, electronics, (plus all Sylar's others).

Fates of the main characters

• Ando - in Japan.
• Claire - Going back to her family with Noah.
• DL (uncertain) - shot by Linderman.
• Hiro - now in the past (and in the second series - Generations).
• Isaac - dead, killed by Sylar.
• Matt (uncertain) - shot by Sylar.
• Micah - with his mother.
• Mohinder - alive with Molly and possibly still in the employment of the Company.
• Nathan (uncertain) - last seen flying off with the exploding man.
• Niki - reunited with Micah, but DL may die.
• Noah Bennet - Going back to his family with Claire.
• Peter (uncertain) - explodes in the sky.
• Simone - dead, accidentally shot by Isaac.
• Sylar (uncertain) - beaten up by Niki and Peter then stabbed by Hiro.

Live side-character Heroes: Hannah (electronic waves), Claude Rains (invisibility), Candice (illusions), Angela Petrelli (unknown), Indian boy (manipulate dreams), Molly (location), Meredith (fire), The Haitian (ability suppression and memory-wipe), Hiro's father (?).
Dead side-character Heroes: Dale (hearing), Brian David (telekinesis), Zane Taylor (turning metal to liquid), Molly's parents(?) (Ice?), Charlie (memory), Eden (suggestion), Linderman (healing), Ted (nuclear), Charles Deveaux (? - possibly seeing through other abilities).

Favourite episodes
1: 0.07% - For the Matt/Bennet sequence that I still love.
2: Homecoming - Because the cheerleader really got saved (as opposed to the explosion which wasn't stopped).
3: Five Years Gone - Not least because it tied in with the early time-travelling Hiro.
4: Genesis - In particular I loved the set-up of the Petrelli family and Peter's leap of faith at the end which turns into demonstrating that it is Nathan who can fly.
5: Unexpected - Because it was. Also it's great to see any episode where a hero finally gets to grips with what they can do.

Episodes written by Tim Kring (for info)

• Genesis
• Don't Look Back
• Seven Minutes to Midnight
• Godsend
• How to Stop an Exploding Man

All in all, a really excellent season.