Heroes: Thoughts on being a Sophomore

I can't just discuss tonight's episode. No. At the moment, Heroes needs more than a snarky recap and a pretty picture of Milo. It needs... a mother's discipline.

See, Heroes is a cool show. I wouldn't exactly call it the smartest, or best written hour of entertainment, but in Season One, it was actually entertaining. It was different and unpredictable and full of cool characters and merging storylines. And it held my attention, kept me wanting, became Must See TV.

Then Hiro landed in feudal Japan and that girl started crying black tears.

Here's what makes Heroes tick: Plot twists, multiple stories and characters, entwined without their knowledge, pushing toward one, big agenda. Season One's agenda was clear from the beginning. Hell, we even got slogans for each phase of the plan. (Say it with me, Save the Cheerleader... save the world.)

Season two's direction was made clear ... last week. Somewhere around the SEVEN episode mark. There's a virus, it's gonna kill them all. The heroes have to fix it. Why did it take so long to get there?

I read a recent interview with Tim Kring (which made me hopeful), in which he owned up to several sophomore issues. Most importantly:

1. Late introduction of the season's purpose (plague wiping out civilization, gotta stop it). I seriously had no idea what the hell any of them were doing until last week. Storyline was/is all over the place. I mean, they mentioned the virus, but then with all the ancient warriors and brain boxes, it was hard to make it fit. And I'm still wondering on B story with the older generation being killed off (I'm suspecting by Adam).

2. The Seven Years in Tibet storyline, or whatever that crap was with Hiro living in his childhood storybook. The payoff with Takezo K./Adam turned out to be cool, but it could have been done sooner. Waaaaay sooner. Like, before there were ever Cherry Blossoms involved.

3. New characters. Seriously, I'm less interested in Maya, Alejandro and Monica than that infomercial where the guy screams about four types of kitchen cleaner. They Nikki and Paolo'd it with the first two, and Monica, poor thing... what's the point? Then there's West. Don't get me started. I mean ... what can I say? That kid totally goobs me out with his Peter Pan flying and dumbass dialogue.

That said, the newbies aren't ALL bad.

1. Elle. The four minutes of screen time Kristen Bell got in episode five, were the most entertaining of the season at that point, and shot her to immediate status as a character I'm actually interested in, want to figure out. And not because I'm already partial (which I am) and think she's fantastic (which she is), but because the character maintained the mystery of Season One. She has a purpose, she has secrets, she's got layers. To me, she's on par with Sylar in that way. Completely unpredictable and totally enthralling. LOVE how Bell is playing her, too. Sadistic little girl. Amazing.

2. Adam. Yes, the Japanese storyline was crap, but the twist - that he's immortal and because of Hiro's tampering, living in present day, carrying a 400 year old grudge and a sexy English accent - awesome. We all knew early in the season that David Anders been made a regular, which left me wondering HOW. Pretty cool payoff - plus, he has GOT to have some connection to Claire, right? (Note that everything I'm saying in this paragraph goes back to the reasons listed as what makes the show tick. Coincidence? I think not.)

As for plot this season, it's hard to comment because I've yet to see anything cohesive. And now I'm sad because it looks like things are about to shift gears (because Kring says he hears his audience!), just in time for an early season finale due to the WGA Strike.

Tonight's episode was probably the best of the season. Why? Oh, I don't know... because we finally found out about the characters we care for, Peter got his freakin' memory back and there was some payoff! And I won't lie, the preview for next week looks awesome. This beach-bound showdown with Mohinder and HRG and The Company. Exchanging Claire for Elle - all good things.

And only three left to give us some closure to a less than stellar, and incomplete season.

Damn you AMPTP!

Heroes: Season 2, Chapter 5

HEROES

Season 2, Chapter 5
Fight or Flight

A random snapshot and thoughts...

1. Riddle me this, Mohinder. Why the hell did you take Molly to The Company? Not your best move. And then, you're sent to investigate Monica? Wha...huh?

2. So, Matt's daddy is a freakin' weirdo. I mean, yikes! But was he giving us a little foreshadowing of Parkman's future? And why do they have the same power, or derivative thereof?

3. Peter - You're goobing me out.

4. What is with Scarface!Nathan? Huh? HUH?

5. So Nikki has the virus, turned herself in and is going to do it with Mohinder. Wait, was the last part not in the episode?

People/Things I'm bored with...

1. Monica. I really thought her power was going to be awesome catering. As a Food Network junkie, I'd prefer it.

2. Again, they weren't in the episode tonight, but seriously, I'm jumping on board with the, "Maya and her brother are the new Nikki/Paulo" train. Most exciting thing I've seen in regard to them was Sylar's promise to kill them in next week's preview.

3. Ando. *yawn*

4. The really bad accents in Ireland.

5. Micah and his super reasoning skills. What kid would have made that association about Monica, with or without the comic book? I know, I know... he's a genius. Fine, I'll give it to him... but right now, that whole family is taxing my attention span.

Things I want...

1. And Elle/Sylar face off. (It makes me a little giddy that KB and Zach are such cute friends offscreen, great chemistry already - so I can only imagine how well they'd play off one another ONscreen.)

2. Sark in present day. Feudal Japan has to go.

3. Bear to stop flying around with Peter Pan. (Not in this episode, but just weighing on my mind.)

Best in show...

Oh, Kristen, how I love you. I mean, your electricity looked totally fake, but that has nothing to do with your skills. And sure, the dialogue lacks that snappy, quippy, super smart quality us Veronica Mars fans are so used to (and missing terribly), but again, you're working with the words you're given. It's the facial expressions, the voice - so much played in so few scenes. Loved the switch from merciless vixen, "I killed him, what's the big deal?" to petulant and childlike (total voice change and everything), "What if I promise not to..." All the interviews I've read and seen were totally true. I saw the loose canon, loving her power and the pain, alongside the girl who's trying to please, to get the job done. Kristen Bell, hero and girl genius. Layers, people, it's about layers! Cannot wait to see what Elle gives us next. And I'm wondering, just a little bit, if Veronica is already on your trail.

P.S. Who's your daddy? No. Really. Who's your daddy... the one on the phone?

A smattering...

Last night was the Season 2 Premiere of Brothers and Sisters. You know how I am about the Walkers - LOVE them (though, sadly, they've been slightly eclipsed by the Taylors over on FNL). Poor Nora spent much of the summer alone, save for black sheep, Rebecca - her dead husband's love child, who's now living in Kitty's old room. Confused? Heh. Somehow it works for the kooky clan - and I'll always give Rebecca the benefit of the doubt because I feel certain one day she'll go back to Ephram. Oops, is that the wrong show? Anywho, a few questions/comments:

1. I feel bad for Kitty. Are we going to start every season on her cursed birthday?
2. Since when did Joe want a divorce?? He's the one that screwed up and got kicked out. Now he's the one who wants to end it? Um...
3. I see some bumps in the road for Tommy and Julia.
4. I wonder if Kitty and Robert will actually get married... and will he get elected? That would be interesting... and strange. Can you imagine the Walkers in the White House?!
5. A shocking lack of Justin! Bring him home now!

--

Still liking Chuck. It's just super cute - or am I confusing the show with Zachary Levi? Nah. It's a fun show... and I'm especially excited about the casting news/photos released recently. Cutie-patootie Rachel Bilson is headed to Buy More. Not sure who she's playing (Is it possible she's the ex-girlfriend Bryce stole?) or when her arc begins, but I love me some R Bils. Plus, who knows... Zach is cute and very Adam Brody/Seth Cohen-ish... and we know she likes the type. How cute would the two of them be?

Number one reason of the night to watch Chuck? Shout outs to other awesome shows! Chuck's brain is set off by an image and amongst the flashing pictures we hear him say, "Flight 815 was shot down..."

Looks like the Chuck peeps are LOST fans. Solidarity, baby.

--

Claire cut off her toe. And watched it grow back. Gross. And seriously... West is obviously flying in the sky, look up. Mr. Muggles sees him, but you don't? I see some angsty, teenage, "we're so different, no one understands us," bonding ahead. Wonder if West takes Bear on a magic carpet ride next week... Claire's about to enter a whole new world. /Cheesy Disney jokes. On a side note, I sort of love that Bear uses her powers at home (the ring in the water) and that Mom's "in it" and not still being brainwashed.

The guy that was beating Peter up, when he was tied to the chair, where have I seen him before? It's making me batty. I wonder if the Irish thugs will give Peter his life box next week. (I'm sorry, but NBC needs to stop with The Box promo. It's just sad in comparison to, "Save the Cheerleader.") It can't be that simple... plus he was making out with cute bar maid sister... hey, if I were him, I'd want to stay in Ireland, too, so I say, work whatever angle you have to for some time on European soil. (And as cute as he and Hayden are, all the talk of him hooking up with Claire, totally grosses me out.) And in the words of Hubby, who Blackberry Messaged me during the ep, "Milo looks ripped. Heeeeeey."

Still sort of bored with the Takezo K. story... save the visuals on David Anders, whom it appears, is of the same power family as Bear. Warriors and Cheerleaders unite!

The Haitian returns. The virus returns. Mohinder keeps handing out blood to cure people - that can't be good, I'm just sayin'.

Creepiest new hero? Maya. What the HELL is she doing?

That preview for next week better not be faking me out, AGAIN. As in, Sylar better be back. And bring on episode 5 already... I'm ready for some Kristen Bell!

Save Veronica, Save the World!

Heroes was always a good show, but now,
I think it's moved onto greatness!

Interview with KB about the Heroes gig and turning down LOST!

13 Episodes! I think I love Tim Kring.
(Veronica could SO kick Sylar's ass!)

Veronica Mars: 3x19, 3x20

Veronica Mars

3x19
Weevils Wobble, But They Don't Go Down
&
3x20
The Bitch is Back
SERIES/SEASON 3 FINALE

Genius.

Kristen Bell is a TV goddess and the network shutting her down is really pissing me off. I loved every second "the bitch" was back and found myself thinking what an amazing season 4 we could have. Not a season set four years in the future, but one that picked up where we left off tonight. Jake Kane, people! Jake Kane was back and Veronica was in charge!

Instead, she walked off in the rain... completely unhappy, with nothing resolved.

I seriously think network television needs to rethink its renewal policy. Upfronts should be earlier in the season, giving creators, cast, crew, etc., time to round things out if they discover they won't be returning... if for no other reason than the fans and the people watching, waiting, following the action, getting attached to characters and storyline.

And all I had were questions...
What happened when the list was exposed? Do we see Weevil return to his old ways? Who won the sheriff's race? What happened to Keith? How was Veronica's internship? What about The Castle? The threats from its members?

Nevermind the completely shallow Logan and Veronica lover in me. Yeah, we got a smile and a glimmer of hope at the end... but how do they get back to something? And we knew months ago that Piz had a new show, so how did he exit Neptune? What about Mac? What about Wallace? What about Dick? How do you stop an exploding man... wait, wrong show. Seriously, HOW am I supposed to be okay with this?

Things that stood out tonight:

1. Dick's multiple personalities. From Dickster to crying in 60 seconds. I so love him for it. And seriously, he quoted The Office. This is one of life's great tragedies: we're canceling shows that quote The Office...? And how did I not see that Dick and Michael Scott are one in the same person?

2. Logan, Piz and Veronica at the beach. Awkwaaaard.

3. Weevil!

4. Logan channeling a little Aaron Echolls. At least he apologized to Piz.

5. Veronica. The Bitch was back and taking it on. Intelligent, cool and funny to boot.

I could say more, but it'll just depress me.

I need quotes to make me happy.

Veronica: She has the right to remain famished. (cracks up at herself)

Dick: Who you talkin’ to?
Logan: Parker.
Dick: Park ‘er? I don’t even know her.

Dick: This new wetsuit’s like a cheap motel. No ballroom.

Mac: I feel so bad for Wallace. He needs more thrust. (Dick laughs)
Logan: Don’t say it.
Dick: That’s what she said.

Veronica: I guess you’re all asking yourself why I called this meeting. What? That’s comedy gold.

Piz: I guess he was pissed about that thing that happened at the beach. I think he still likes you.

Veronica: Dick, get out here.
Dick: (in a small voice) What’s up, V?
Veronica: If you had to bet?
Dick: Look, from a guy’s perspective, the video just made your stock go up. You looked great. Enthusiasm? Always a plus.
Veronica: It’s like, you’re this giant, jackass piñata, begging for someone to be the candy out of you.

Veronica: After all these years, do you not instinctively fear me? Maybe you should write yourself a note.

Veronica: You are going to be sooo popular in hell.

So, Tuesday night used to be cool...

Tuesday will never look this good again.
(More later, when I can process without anger.)

She's a Marshmallow.

VERONICA MARS IS BACK TONIGHT!!!

And so I don't waste valuable space in the Episode Blog later on, let me take a moment now, to gush about how much I love Kristen Bell. Me and a pal of mine have decided she's our friend. We don't know her, per se, but yeah... we like to think someday we will. (She's like Reese Witherspoon in that way.) Girls love her, guys love her... she's sassy and funny and waaaay too likeable for her own good, so you can't help but say, "what the hell..." and resign yourself to the fact that as long as Kristen's around, you'll be a fan.

I know for a fact, my husband is on that train.

Like spoilers?

I do. A lot. It's a bit of a problem.

Thankfully, Kristin, at E! Online just came out with her LOSTAPALOOZA '07 info. Lots of goodies, but nothing too spoilery. Enough to whet your appetite for what's to come.

Did someone say rumble?

E! also posted the results of the "Save One Show Campaign" that's done every year.

It seems Veronica Mars was on top until the last minute, when Gilmore Girls fans went haywire voting and sent it into top position. *sigh*

As a fan of both shows, can I just say... I voted for Veronica. I LOVE the Gilmores. I do. But it's hit it's peak. Let it go, people... let it rest. Veronica, however, is one of the most underrated shows on television. And if you aren't watching it, you should be!
--
And now I must watch The Office again.

Shun.