Heroes (NBC television show)
From Superhero Wiki Encyclopedia
 Home Books Clothing DVDs Posters Toys Video Games |
Boards Comic Book News Comic Conventions Clips and Trailers |
Gallery Features Link to us Online Comic Books |
Resources Store Superhero Wiki Wallpaper |
Contents |
Synopsis
The plot of Heroes is designed to be similar to the stories of comic books with small story arcs built into the series' overall large story arc plot. Each season of Heroes is designed to involve ordinary people who discover extraordinary powers, and how these abilities take effect in the character's lives. Season 2 was originally going to comprise three volumes, however due to the writer's strike, the season was redesigned to only encompass one volume called "Generations".Originally Volume 3 was going to be called "Exodus", and Volume 4 was going to be called "Villains." As a result of the writers' strike, Volume 3 was changed to "Villains" and moved into season three. The "Exodus" story arc, which was originally designed to be a story arc reflecting the effects of the release of strain 138 of the Shanti virus, was canceled. Scenes from the volume two finale "Powerless", were reshot to reflect the cancellation of the "Exodus" volume, and to tie-up all the loose plot storylines of "Generations."
Season one
Isaac's painting of Manhattan's destruction in "Genesis" - the following episode, set five weeks in the future, depicts the same explosion, and the painting forms the basis of the primary story arc of the first season. Isaac's painting of Manhattan's destruction in "Genesis" - the following episode, set five weeks in the future, depicts the same explosion, and the painting forms the basis of the primary story arc of the first season.
Season one began in the United States on the NBC network and in Canada on Global on September 23, 2006 and featured 23 episodes. Season one consisted of Volume One, known as "Genesis". The series went on hiatus twice; first from December 4, 2006 to January 22, 2007, and again from March 5 to April 23, 2007, with the season finale airing on May 21, 2007. The first season began to air in the UK on February 19, 2007. The season initially broadcasted only on Sci Fi UK. On July 25, 2007 the complete first season was repeated on BBC Two, with one or two episodes airing every Wednesday night until December 5, 2008. Within the series, the season took place from October 2, 2006 to November 8, 2006.
Volume One: Genesis
The volume begins as a seemingly ordinary group of people gradually become aware that they have special abilities. Events illustrate their reactions to these powers, and how the discovery affects their personal and professional lives. At the same time, several ordinary individuals are investigating the origins and extent of these abilities. Mohinder Suresh, a geneticist, continues his late father's research into the biological source of the change, while Noah Bennet represents a secret organization known only as the "Company".
While coping, each of the characters is drawn—willingly or not—into the Company's conspiracy to control superpowered people, and into a race to stop an explosion from destroying New York City, which would kill millions of its inhabitants. Throughout the season, the predatory stalkings of the serial killer Sylar and continued manipulations from casino-owner and mobster Mr. Linderman affect the characters directly and indirectly. Several characters' individual stories culminated in a climactic meeting of the characters at Kirby Plaza in New York. These stories included Peter Petrelli's abilities, Nathan's campaign for Congress, Claire Bennet's search for her biological parents, Hiro Nakamura's adventurous journeys, Niki Sanders' multiple personalities, and Isaac Mendez's precognitive visions.
Season two
Season two began in the United States on the NBC network and in Canada on Global on September 24, 2007 but featured only 11 out of the planned 24 episodes, due to the WGA writers' strike. The show aired on Mondays at 9:00pm and consisted of the second volume in the series, titled "Generations", taking place during March 2007. Season two ended with its finale on December 3, 2007. Season 2 aired in the UK on the BBC Two network on Thursdays at 9:00pm, from April 24, 2008, until July 3, 2008.
Volume Two: Generations
Volume two begins four months after the events of Kirby Plaza. Peter Petrelli, Matt Parkman, Nathan Petrelli, and Sylar have all survived the events of the season one finale, and are trying to return to ordinary lives despite their extraordinary abilities, with the exception of Sylar, who is on a quest to regain the use of his abilities. The main plot arc of "Generations" deals with the Company and its research on the Shanti virus. This research is explored through the Company's founders, whose identities are revealed, as well as through the effects of various strains of the virus on The Haitian, Niki Sanders, Sylar, and others. An amnesiac Peter Petrelli observes the potential devastation of the virus in a future New York City. The "heroes" ultimately come together in an attempt to stop the release of a deadly strain of the virus and avert a global pandemic.
Interwoven with the main plot are several secondary plots. These include Nathan Petrelli's recovery following the events at Kirby Plaza; the journey of new characters Maya and Alejandro from Honduras to the United States, and their interaction with a powerless Sylar; Claire and Noah Bennet and their family adapting to a new life in southern California; Claire's relationship with her boyfriend West; Monica Dawson discovering her powers in New Orleans, with the help of her cousin Micah; Matt Parkman's reunion with his estranged father, leading to discovery of new abilities; the Company's manipulation of Mohinder Suresh; Ando Masahashi trying to piece together what happened to Hiro Nakamura; and Hiro's journey to Feudal Japan, where he meets his childhood hero, Takezo Kensei.
Webseries: Season One: Going Postal
On July 14, 2008, the first Heroes web series, "Going Postal," was released. The trilogy of online-only videos introduces us to Echo DeMille, a seemingly ordinary mailman with an extraordinary ability. The three-part series is written and directed by the same creative team behind the main show. Part one, "A Nifty Trick," premiered Monday, July 14, 2008. Two new webisodes were released on the following two Mondays, for a total of three episodes.
Season three
Season three will open with a three-hour episode, set to air Monday, September 22, 2008 on the NBC network in the US and on Global in Canada. Season 3 will premiere in the UK on BBC Two on September 25 at 9:00pm.
Volume Three: Villains
The premiere of the third volume, "Villains", will be preceded by a one-hour clip show of the past two seasons. "Villains" was originally designed to be included within the second season; however, due to the writers' strike, the volume was carried over into season three. The lead-in to "Villains" showed Sylar regaining his lost powers, shown as the final scene of the "Generations" finale.
Tim Kring has claimed that the new volume will bring a cadre of villains to the show, hence the title. On December 5, 2007, at the Jules Verne Film Festival Adventure, Tim Kring showed a video-preview of volume three. According to an interview with Allan Arkush, filming for season three began on May 1, 2008. On May 9, 2008, a season three promo clip was released with hints at possible "inner villains" within the heroes. The promo stated, "In every hero there could be a villain," before plastering the words "hero" and "villain" over the face of every major character. Finally, at the featured Heroes panel, the entire first hour of the first episode of the Villains arc was shown.
In July NBC began airing a teaser for season three featuring Noah Bennet talking to Claire stating, "This was before you were even born, I was finding these people and locking them away so that they couldn't hurt anybody. Now a dozen of them have escaped, and they will kill...and they will terrorize...and they will cause...unimaginable destruction to the world...they're villains, Claire," while a montage of clips play. Zachary Quinto, who plays Sylar, has stated that the Villains story arc will last for thirteen episodes.
At the San Diego Comic-Con 2008, the booth for Heroes displayed two separate looping tracks of two people in completely white rooms. One strained against his restraints, while the other paced around the room.[citation needed] In addition, Kring screened the first part of the season opening episode of the "Villains" arc, entitled "The Second Coming", which was shown in its entirety at Comic-Con and received a positive response from fans.
Volume Four: Fugitives
The name of Volume Four was revealed by Heroes creator Tim Kring at the 2008 Edinburgh TV Festival. "Fugitives" will make up the last 12 episodes of Season 3.
