Heroes - Run

 Now this is more like it! Run is a proper fun episode and it feels like the series has climbed back onto the horse. This episode is so good Matt and Nikki two characters whose storylines were collapsing under the weight of boredom together and it works! Its taken them forever to get Matt away from the police force and now they have he's already been put in interesting positions whilst also being able to use his powers in the field.

Nathan Petrelli and the stuff with Claire is also engaging while the stuff with Mrs Bennet is very worrying indeed. As well as this we get a brilliant arc set up with Mohinder and Syler that is proper panto yelling good - if you weren't yelling at Mohinder to look in the kitchen you're watching this show wrong. On top of all this after treading water for two episodes Hiro & Ando are back to doing fun stuff with a storyline that feels like good farce. Closing things off we get another fun cliff hanger as Nikki is given a new target in the shape of Nathan. Brilliant stuff and the show needs to be more like this and less like the previous few episodes 8.5/10.

Heroes - The Fix and Distractions

 Due to time issues just a few notes on these episodes:

Heroes is a show that has left an impact felt in shows today, however one of the main lessons that has been learnt is editing and season length. This is not a 20+ episode a season show and should be done in ten or thirteen episodes if their not doing a monster of the week format that lends itself to the format. The pace is killing the show and some storylines have been spinning for weeks.

The narration is getting worse with each episode.

Christopher Eccleston is a tough watch, as far as I know its the first thing he did after Doctor Who and he looks like he's had the weight of the world on his shoulders. His hyper performance is reminiscent of Sylvestor Mccoy losing it while sat on the table in the Silver Nemesis documentary. Also notable is the fact Chris has a bit of the Braun Strowmans about him which was widely rumoured during his time at Cardiff.

Hiro and Ando's story should have been done in one episode, its cute but feels like the writer is writing down at us.

Noah and Syler have been booked perfectly so far, we get some 50/50 booking these episodes but its good booking and raises both to main even level.

Matts storyline is a mess, if the producers didn't want to explore what happens when a rank and file cop gets powers don't give them powers. 

Nikki, Jessica, D.L. and Micah is dead in the water, its dead there is no life to it and it needs to be put against the wall and given a blindfold and cigar.

Isaac and the thought and effort that goes into the paintings is the best thing about these episodes. When we eventually reach the events he paints there is still a surprise or two to be had.

Claires storyline comes across well and we get another guest actor who would go on to reach fame in Glee. The cliffhanger to "Distractions" with the Nathan Petrelli popping up unexpectedly is good 

In short these episodes are largely unwatchable with some of televisions worst bad habits with the odd good thing to remind you why you're watching. 1/10 and needs to improve.

Heroes - Godsend

"First episode done and its time for my thoughts on Heroes - Genesis,

Its a strange watch in 2020, these days we're used to super powered antics on streaming services and in the cinema but back in 2006 we were still two years away from the Robert Downey Jnr and Jon Favreau kicking the MCU into life. The big shows of the day from my POV were Lost and a newly returned Doctor Who so super hero wise we're in uncharted terri..."

* KNOCK KNOCK *

"Hello?"

"Hi Umb0g0, its me Claire Bennet. I better take over this weeks review as due to an administrative mix up you've had your memory wiped..."

"Are you sure? I'm pretty sure thats not meant to happen to later in the season around about the time the second arc of the season begins and we get some good character episodes."

"Yes you mentioned that in the latest review as well as how it takes some of the characters between two and six episodes to get from location to location when my dad turns up all over America in the same episode." 

"Jolly good, I hope I mention Mrs Petrelli saying she's going to get the best Doctor available and then Christopher Eccleston popping up later in the episode."

"You did, you said this was another good episode improved by various characters crossing paths and being repositioned for the next with a new purpose. Also that Linderman is popping up everywhere and proving to be a very interesting off screen character."

"Brilliant, lets give it 8/10 and get my memory unwiped for the next episode."

Heroes - Fallout

We're still in the aftermath from events two episodes ago but after last weeks side step this is the episode with the titular fallout. Various characters find their status quo shifted and motivations are set up for the next story arc. There is a sense of change in this episode as various characters yet to properly cross paths finally meet. Most of the characters find themselves in Texas this episode due to the events of "Homecoming" and it helps the production feel consistent. Sadly some second tier characters are written out of the show but with the increased presence of Syler and Bennets team this is understandable.

The major moments of the episode are the Haitian making a stand that will affect Claires relationship with her father and the cliffhanger which leaves us with questions about Peter. This is a strong episode, this is the traditional "slow issue" after a major cross over, a time to reflect and aim for a new direction. That said there is a lot going on and I'm very sorry to see the death of Eden who is the definition of a character that had legs. 9/10

The Thing What Went Bump in the Night!!!!

 * BUMP *

 * BUMP *

 * BUMP *

 * BUMP *

 * BUMP *

* COCK A DOODLE DOO *

THE END

Heroes - Six Months Ago

This is an absolutely beautiful episode based around the idea that Hiro goes back into the past six months instead of one day. As Hiro tries to save Charlies life we get various snipets of what other characters were up to at the time and how some of them came to be in the situation we found them in six months time. This is Zachery Quintos as we see the origins of Syler and the hand Chandra Suresh has in setting him on his path albeit inadvertently. 

This episode would go on to create a trope in Superhero shows where we would get an episode set earlier in the season from a characters point of view. Its easy to forget how influential this show is. On top of that this is perhaps the best directed episode thus far - even Nathans flight is handled well! This is both a technical and narrative home run. It gets a 10/10 from me.

Heroes - Homecoming

 Here we are nine episodes in and since this show is going with the comic motif we get the end of the first arc. This is such a good episode as everything thats been built up through Isaacs pictures come to fruition with regards to Claire. There are quite a few twists and turns with some good writing, last episode Hiro was written out of the rescue attempt and this leaves Peter as the only would be rescuer on hand with powers - but his are dependant on others! Its a good build up to the homecoming sequence with lots of character fluff with Claire and her school friends. Theres also some good stuff bubbling under with other plots which gives us things to look forward to in future episodes. Mohinder in particular coming to the decision to return, encounter with the dream child and finding of the list may have been the main plot in most other episodes.

We get to see a painting of Isaacs at the start of the episode that looks like Peter is going to die and its quite good how he gets out of the situation in the end. Syler though looks brilliant, he's so overpowered and it looks like nobody can be a match for him. As the arc ends we get to see repercussions of acts taken as early as episode one and one characters fate is badly telegraphed but fitting. There is so much going on in this episode that is set up for future events that I'm sat here typing this up wanting to see the next episode already. We have so many questions at this point; Is Hiro going to save Charlie? Whats going to happen to Peter? What is Bennet going to do with Sylar? What is Mohinder going to do with the list? Who will win in the ongoing D.L Vs Jessica debacle?

We have had a fantastic arc and we move forward onto our second arc in high spirits.