A grown-up look at superheroes from a guy who never read comic books, “Heroes” was last seaon’s best new show. So get this. Before creating “Heroes,” Tim Kring’s claim to fame was the creation of “Crossing Jordan.” Kring wanted to make a more serialized show for a while now; successful high-continuity series like “24” and “Lost” gave Kring the opportunity, and we are lucky viewers for it.
If you’ve not seen “Heroes,” it’s like “X-Men” without the school. There’s somebody like Shadowcat who can “phase” through walls, somebody like Mystique who can assume any appearance, somebody like Forge who can manipulate machinery, somebody like Wolverine who can heal herself, somebody like Rogue who can absorb the superpowers of others, somebody like Angel who can fly, somebody like Nightcrawler who can teleport, somebody like Professor X who can read minds and somebody like Leech who can drain the superpowers of others. There’s even a guy named Gabe Grey (a.k.a. “Sylar”) who can move stuff with his brain, just like Jean Grey.
Kring, a masterly plotter, has engineered with this complex sci-fi extravaganza the finest streak of twists and cliffhangers in the history of television. Add to the mix writer-producer Bryan Fuller, creator of “Dead Like Me” “Wonderfalls” and “Pushing Daisies,” and we got one of the most watchable franchises on American airwaves.
Cheerleader Claire (invulnerable only on the outside) and her platonic buddy Zach turned out to be the most endearing couple on TV.
Sylar, who grew more powerful every time he ate superhero brain, is one of the scariest villains in filmed entertainment.
And if you seek the heart, look no further than bespectacled and murderous mutant-hunter Noah Bennet, a man willing to tamper with his own wife’s brain in the service of a ruthless employer’s shadowy agenda. The road this dark man travels, particular the turns he takes midway through the season in “Company Man,” sent tears rolling down a few faces, mine among them.
The season finale deservedly gets guff aplenty because 1) Sylar’s defeat was so devoid of imagination (mundane even) and 2) Nathan “sacrificing” himself to save Manhattan didn’t make a ton of sense because Peter also has the power of flight. Still, I even give the finale points for its intriguing return of Richard Roundtree.
Key extras unique to the HD-DVD version:
1) Most dramatically, only the HD version provides snazzy picture-in-picture video of the cast and creators giving their commentaries, which means HD-DVD purchasers get to find out that series writer-producer Natalie Chaidez, who scripted episodes “The Fix” and “Better Halves,” is hot. (The audio on the HD-DVD and DVD commentaries are identical.) The only season-one commentary not videotaped, apparently, was the one Kring provided for his oversized unaired pilot.
2) Only the HD version can be programmed to provide “Character Connections,” text screens that explain how all the dramatic personae know each other.
3) Only the HD version can be programmed for “Helix Revaled,” which leaps into play every time one of those helix symbols (like the one tattooed on Jessica’s shoulder) appears in an episode. And that helix turns up a lot.
4) Only the HD version can be programmed for “Artwork Presentation,” which brings into special high-def close-ups all of the illustrations comic-book artist Tim Sale created for the show.
Extras common to the DVD and HD-DVD versions:
* THE ORIGINAL UNAIRED PILOT (73:35) shows us some of the roads the series belatedly decided not to travel. Learn that Matt Parkman was going to use his superpower to hunt down a terrorist, only to discover that the terrorist he’s been hunting is actually his boyhood pal, a former foreign exchange student the Parkman family took in decades earlier. Discover also how Isaac Mendez’s heroin addiction originally caused him to dismember himself. See how shitty was the original Peter-Natham flying sequence that concluded the first episode. Find out that the original plan was not to make each hour one chapter; Kring originally intended to divide each hour-long episode into several “chapters.” Kring provides an audio commentary explaining why he made the changes.
* THE MAKING OF HEROES (9:59) reminds us that Mohinder was originally supposed to be 55 years old. At Comic Con 2006, an excited Ali Larter admits she’s astonished so many are so keen about a show that hasn’t yet aired. Discover that Chicago native Sendhil Ramamurthy’s “Heroes” accent is a sham.
* THE SPECIAL EFFECTS (8:43) reminds us of Masi Oka’s digital-effects background, and how it helped him communicate with the “Heroes” effects staff.
* THE STUNTS (10:21) reveals that renaissance man Masi Oka has a black belt in Kendo. We also learn that “Heroes” regulars generally like to do their own stunts but are frequently prohibited by those insuring the production.
* PROFILE OF ARTIST TIM SALE (11:25) reveals that the veteran comic-book artist is color-blind, and that others have to add the color to Isaac’s “paintings.” Sale wonders aloud how heroin-addict Isaac can afford his sprawling New York loft.
* THE SCORE (8:57) shows how series composer/musicians Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman are holding up a quarter-century after they backed Prince on “1999.”
* COMMENTARIES:
. 1.0: Unaired original pilot. Creator/showrunner Tim Kring.
. 1.12: “Godsend.” Jack Coleman, Leonard Roberts and Sendhil Ramamurthy.
. 1.13: “The Fix.” Hayden Panettiere, Greg Grunberg and writer Natalie Chaidez.
. 1.14: “Distractions.” Milo Ventimiglia and Zach Quinto.
. 1.15: “Run!” Greg Grunberg and Kevin Chamberlin (Aron Malsky).
. 1.16: “Unexpected.” Zach Quinto, Sendhil Ramamurthy and director Greg Beeman.
. 1.17: “Company Man.” Jack Coleman, writer Bryan Fuller and director Allan Arkush.
. 1.18 “Parasite.” Jimmy-Jean Louis (The Haitian), writer Chris Zatta and director Allan Arkush.
. 1.19 “.07.” Writer Chet Kim, showrunner’s assistant Tim Keppler and producer’s assistant Andrew Chambliss.
. 1.20 “Five Years Gone.” Jack Coleman, Greg Grunberg and Sendhil Ramamurthy.
. 1.21 “The Hard Part.” James Kyson Lee, Noah Gray-Cabey and stunt coordinator Ian Quinn.
. 1.22 “Landslide.” Masi Oka, George Takei and Matthew Armstrong (Ted Sprague).
. 1.23 “How To Stop An Exploding Man.” Creator/showrunner Tim Kring, producer Dennis Hammer and director Allan Arkush.
* DELETED SCENES:
1.1 “Genesis”
. D.L. Escapes From His Cell
. Meant For Something Special
. Simone’s Breaking Point
. The Only Way Out
. DL’s Promise
. The Terrorist
. Time’s Up
. Micah Saves His Dad
(Interesting deletions from “Genesis” include D.L.’s slow discovery of his superpower and his vow to kill Nathan Petrelli!)
1.2 “Don’t Look Back”
. A Spark Ignites
. Niki’s Mistake
. Behind Niki’s Garage Door
. Blood on the Map
(“Don’t Look Back” deletions feature Niki (not Jessica) stalking a government employee with a croquet mallet.)
1.3 “One Giant Leap”
. Hiro’s Book of Revelations
. Niki Confronts Her Mother-In-Law
1.4 “Collision”
. The You That Ain’t You
. Micah’s Plea
1.6 “Hiros”
. Claire’s Miracle
. Stranger In Our Own Home
. Brody’s Cheer
1.7 “Nothing To Hide”
. Matt’s Voices
. Tough Love
. Nathan’s Paternity Suit
. You Can’t Tell Anyone
. Stakeout
. Claire The Freak
. Jessica Gets Her Gun
. Lyle’s Secret
(Several well-crafted scenes here deal with Claire’s brother Kyle deciding what to do with the new knowledge of his sister’s superpower. In the end it’s revealed that Claire wasn’t the only kid Noah Bennet adopted.)
1.8 “Seven Minutes To Midnight”
. Appearances Can Be Deceiving
. Eden’s New Life
. Matt and Janice Reminisce
1.9 “Homecoming”
. The Battle For Claire
1.10 “Six Months Ago”
. Dad Is Dead
. Jessica Taking Care of Business
1.11 “Fallout”
. Mohinder’s Discovery
1.12 “Godsend”
. Claire’s Media Moment
1.13 “The Fix”
. The Dishonest Plummer
1.14 “Distractions”
. A Shock To The System
1.15 “Run!”
. Mr. Bennet’s Phone Calls
. Janice Panics
. The Haitian’s Talent
1.17 “Company Man”
. Generation Gap
. The Cover Up
. Thompson’s Mandate
(In one scene Matt is troubled to learn that Claire has never heard of “The Twilight Zone.”
1.18 “Parasite”
. Lonely Wolf
1.19 “.07%”
. Linderman’s Missing Sword
1.20 “Five Years Gone”
. Old Friends
1.22 “Landslide”
. Marty, That’s An Order
NBC’s small-town West Texas soap “Friday Night Lights” shoots in Austin, this site’s HQ, and one of its major recurring characters is an obnoxious guy in a wheelchair named “Herc.”
Hey now.
If you haven’t seen the show, it’s a serial about a small-town Texas football team, the Dillon Panthers, which took the state pennant last year and may again this year. It’s a little like “One Tree Hill,” only good.
I’ve watched all 22 episodes of “Lights” and I’m here to tell you it’s plenty diverting. Its title theme is one amazing piece of music. The series’ showrunner, writer-producer Jason Katims, is a big talent who worked on one of my all-time favorite TV shows, “My So-Called Life,” before he graduated to create two more of my all-time favorites: “Relativity” and the TV version of “Roswell.”
Extras include:
* “BEHIND THE LIGHTS” (22:33) appears to have been shot as the first season finale was filmed. Learn that New York-born Kyle Chandler talks with a Texas accent off camera. Learn that the “Lights” pilot was the first acting job ever for Scott Porter (Jason Street). Learn that the show’s dizzying documentary-like visual style means the actors never have to “hit their marks.” Learn that Brad Leland, who plays car dealer Buddy Garrity, is a Lubbock native who once played in Texas Stadium, where the show shot its first-season finale. Learn that no one was sure the Dillon Panthers would win the state championship or not until the finale’s script was being written.
* DELETED SCENES. There are loads, but they don’t have fancy titles like the ones on the “Heroes” disc so I will list here the per-episode running time of the deleted footage;
. 1.2 “Eyes Wide Open” (6:34) (Some interesting stuff here with Maggie Wheeler as a boozy English teacher.)
. 1.3 “Wind Sprints” (1:34)
. 1.4 “Who’s Your Daddy” (5:59)
. 1.5 “Git ‘Er Done” (4:41)
. 1.7 “Homecoming” (2:34)
. 1.8 “Crossing The Line” (4:46)
. 1.9 “Full Hearts” (5:36)
. 1.10 “It’s Different For Girls” (2:43)
. 1.11 “Nevermind” (4:11) (Lots of amusing material with Tim Riggins and his new tutor Landry Clark. Their discussion regarding “Of Mice and Men” is a highlight.)
. 1.12 “What To Do While You’re Waiting” (2:03)
. 1.13 “Little Girl I Want To Marry You” (1:02)
. 1.14 “Upping The Ante” (1:07)
. 1.15 “Blinders” (6:08)
. 1.16 “Black Eyes and Broken Hearts” (2:37)
. 1.17 “I Think We Should Have Sex” (2:24)
. 1.19 “Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes” (1:00)
. 1.20 “Mud Bowl” (1:43)
. 1.21 “Best Laid Plans” (5:13)
. 1.22 “State” (2:11) (Contains a hilarious -- improvised? -- scene involving Lyla’s cell phone.)
Note please that the set is super-cheap (only $19.99 on Amazon) and comes with a money-back guarantee.
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