Full Version: Heroes - Nobody's Safe
That was a fun read, but the question marks all over made it really hard to read.
HERO WORSHIP
Viewers like who they see in NBC's breakout hit
By David Kronke
Television Critic
Success has turned "Heroes" creator Tim Kring into something of a softie. Initially, he intended to kill of characters helter-skelter, but as the show -- about far-flung ordinary people who discover they have bizarre super-powers and a global conspiracy enveloping them -- has been clicking so well, it's made his trigger finger not so itchy.
"I thought it'd be every few weeks one of these will go by the wayside, and it hasn't turned into that," Kring admits in his office, where a pipe collection and a bottle of red wine sits on his desk.
"It's a testament to the cast that everybody has popped in their roles so well that we have had a lot of trouble with the idea of killing people off. The audience has gotten used to them, so when and if they depart, it's going to be a much bigger deal."
"So, yes, I'm not taking as cavalierly the idea of playing the Grim Reaper as I thought I was going to."
Still, staff writer Jesse Alexander warns: "Absolutely, people will get killed off. The world of 'Heroes' is a dangerous one, and character that you love will take risks -- and sometimes those risks will get them killed."
Nobody's Safe
Even Masi Oka, the show's breakout star for his portrayal of Hiro, the exuberant Japanese office worker delighted by his ability to bend space-time continuum, says, "I don't think even Hiro's safe. It'd be sad; we grew a family with writers and cast and crew. But if it's best for the story, whatever happens, you go where the river takes you.
"Heroes" has rescued NBC from an otherwise dismal season with fanciful characters, myriad story lines -- many of the characters haven't even met one another yet -- and the ability to keep things hurtling along with spectacular action and revelations rather than frustrating viewers by withholding vital information or engaging in narrative wheel-spinning (unlike, say, 'Lost').
Kring says: "We made a real conscious effort to not disappoint the audience. I think a lot of the complaint of some of the other serialized shows is that you have to wait too long and wade through too many episodes before something really big happens. And we were sort of committed to the idea that if you watch this show, something's going to happen every week, and that was a commitment we wanted to make early on with the audience."
Plot not 'Lost'
Jack Coleman, who plays the sinister horned-rim-glasses-sporting character at the center of a conspiracy to thwart the "Heroes," says: "Without "Lost," none of this is possible. Multi-cultural, speaking different languages, huge ensemble cast, all over the globe -- they broke so many rules, it's an iconic show. But they painted themselves into some corners. Tim decided early on that the story has to pay off faster, that you can't introduce smoking guns then never address them. There's more happening in an episode of 'Heroes' than in almost any show I've ever seen."
Kring adds: "At first, there was a fear that we might not be able to keep that going, but very early on, before we even aired, we discovered that the story is not like a tank of gas that runs out. It's actually kind of the opposite -- the more twists and turns you have, the more plot reveals, the more story you actually generate by having these crazy reveals and twists and turns. It's the engine that drives the story, and so far we're having no trouble keeping the story going."
As Ali Larter, who plays Niki and Jessica, the conflicting flip sides of the same coin, puts it: "Tim wrote this as a response to how complicated the world has become. People turn on the news and every day it gets more and more intense and darker, and at some point, you want to watch television that isn't soaked in fantasy. Our show is based in reality, but it gives you the fantasy element. That's why people want to watch this show. I've never watched my work before, but I watch this show, and it makes me kind of dream -- and I love that about it."
'A crazy, crazy ride'
Still, Oka admits to being "absolutely" astonished by viewer reaction. "I knew we had something special, but here is a genre element to it," he says. "I knew we were servicing the genre folks well. I'm surprised how well the mainstream audiences have responded. "Every question we answer, we ask two more. It keeps the show going full-throttle."
"I can't wait to see what they do next," Oka says of the shows writers. "You think the story's going one way and all of a sudden -- boom! It goes another."
Similarly stunned is Hayden Panettiere, who plays the seemingly indestructible cheerleader Claire, who was at the center of the popular "Save the cheerleader/Save the world" story line.
"I still don't get it," she says. "I'm, like, caught in the middle of this craziness. I don't think you ever really expect that kind of success. It's been a ride -- It's been a crazy, crazy ride so far, and it's just getting started."
Viewers like who they see in NBC's breakout hit
By David Kronke
Television Critic
Success has turned "Heroes" creator Tim Kring into something of a softie. Initially, he intended to kill of characters helter-skelter, but as the show -- about far-flung ordinary people who discover they have bizarre super-powers and a global conspiracy enveloping them -- has been clicking so well, it's made his trigger finger not so itchy.
"I thought it'd be every few weeks one of these will go by the wayside, and it hasn't turned into that," Kring admits in his office, where a pipe collection and a bottle of red wine sits on his desk.
"It's a testament to the cast that everybody has popped in their roles so well that we have had a lot of trouble with the idea of killing people off. The audience has gotten used to them, so when and if they depart, it's going to be a much bigger deal."
"So, yes, I'm not taking as cavalierly the idea of playing the Grim Reaper as I thought I was going to."
Still, staff writer Jesse Alexander warns: "Absolutely, people will get killed off. The world of 'Heroes' is a dangerous one, and character that you love will take risks -- and sometimes those risks will get them killed."
Nobody's Safe
Even Masi Oka, the show's breakout star for his portrayal of Hiro, the exuberant Japanese office worker delighted by his ability to bend space-time continuum, says, "I don't think even Hiro's safe. It'd be sad; we grew a family with writers and cast and crew. But if it's best for the story, whatever happens, you go where the river takes you.
"Heroes" has rescued NBC from an otherwise dismal season with fanciful characters, myriad story lines -- many of the characters haven't even met one another yet -- and the ability to keep things hurtling along with spectacular action and revelations rather than frustrating viewers by withholding vital information or engaging in narrative wheel-spinning (unlike, say, 'Lost').
Kring says: "We made a real conscious effort to not disappoint the audience. I think a lot of the complaint of some of the other serialized shows is that you have to wait too long and wade through too many episodes before something really big happens. And we were sort of committed to the idea that if you watch this show, something's going to happen every week, and that was a commitment we wanted to make early on with the audience."
Plot not 'Lost'
Jack Coleman, who plays the sinister horned-rim-glasses-sporting character at the center of a conspiracy to thwart the "Heroes," says: "Without "Lost," none of this is possible. Multi-cultural, speaking different languages, huge ensemble cast, all over the globe -- they broke so many rules, it's an iconic show. But they painted themselves into some corners. Tim decided early on that the story has to pay off faster, that you can't introduce smoking guns then never address them. There's more happening in an episode of 'Heroes' than in almost any show I've ever seen."
Kring adds: "At first, there was a fear that we might not be able to keep that going, but very early on, before we even aired, we discovered that the story is not like a tank of gas that runs out. It's actually kind of the opposite -- the more twists and turns you have, the more plot reveals, the more story you actually generate by having these crazy reveals and twists and turns. It's the engine that drives the story, and so far we're having no trouble keeping the story going."
As Ali Larter, who plays Niki and Jessica, the conflicting flip sides of the same coin, puts it: "Tim wrote this as a response to how complicated the world has become. People turn on the news and every day it gets more and more intense and darker, and at some point, you want to watch television that isn't soaked in fantasy. Our show is based in reality, but it gives you the fantasy element. That's why people want to watch this show. I've never watched my work before, but I watch this show, and it makes me kind of dream -- and I love that about it."
'A crazy, crazy ride'
Still, Oka admits to being "absolutely" astonished by viewer reaction. "I knew we had something special, but here is a genre element to it," he says. "I knew we were servicing the genre folks well. I'm surprised how well the mainstream audiences have responded. "Every question we answer, we ask two more. It keeps the show going full-throttle."
"I can't wait to see what they do next," Oka says of the shows writers. "You think the story's going one way and all of a sudden -- boom! It goes another."
Similarly stunned is Hayden Panettiere, who plays the seemingly indestructible cheerleader Claire, who was at the center of the popular "Save the cheerleader/Save the world" story line.
"I still don't get it," she says. "I'm, like, caught in the middle of this craziness. I don't think you ever really expect that kind of success. It's been a ride -- It's been a crazy, crazy ride so far, and it's just getting started."
QUOTE (pirategrillz @ Jan 16 2007, 03:15 PM) 
That was a fun read, but the question marks all over made it really hard to read.
yeah, I noticed that after I posted it. I had pasted the article and all those question marks replaced quotation marks. Whew!
no matter what they creators or cast members say, i think the "main" three -- Peter, Claire, and Hiro -- are as safe as safe can be
that said, my own opinion is that they could kill off ALL three, and i'd still keep watching
that said, my own opinion is that they could kill off ALL three, and i'd still keep watching
when they kill hiro Ill stop watching
Same here.
The day Kring gives the go ahead to kill off Hiro and that awesome ability, his a** is mine.
The day Kring gives the go ahead to kill off Hiro and that awesome ability, his a** is mine.
QUOTE (isitmondayyet? @ Jan 16 2007, 08:13 PM)
no matter what they creators or cast members say, i think the "main" three -- Peter, Claire, and Hiro -- are as safe as safe can be
that said, my own opinion is that they could kill off ALL three, and i'd still keep watching
that said, my own opinion is that they could kill off ALL three, and i'd still keep watching
lol, i still would too... i was just tryin to get my point across...
it'd be funny if one episode they were like: hiro, peter & claire died in a car wreck, with no connection to the storyline..lol
QUOTE (englewood @ Jan 16 2007, 07:59 PM)
lol, i still would too... i was just tryin to get my point across...
it'd be funny if one episode they were like: hiro, peter & claire died in a car wreck, with no connection to the storyline..lol
it'd be funny if one episode they were like: hiro, peter & claire died in a car wreck, with no connection to the storyline..lol
lmao
*Next week on Heroes..
Peter, Claire and Hiro take a ride..*
what a great concept for an episode
QUOTE (isitmondayyet? @ Jan 16 2007, 05:13 PM)
no matter what they creators or cast members say, i think the "main" three -- Peter, Claire, and Hiro -- are as safe as safe can be
that said, my own opinion is that they could kill off ALL three, and i'd still keep watching
that said, my own opinion is that they could kill off ALL three, and i'd still keep watching
I can't stop watching it now. I'm addicted, I would still watch it, but I would cry everytime they metiond Hiro and Peter
And I don't think we have to worry about Clair dying any time soon 
QUOTE (englewood @ Jan 16 2007, 07:32 PM)
when they kill hiro Ill stop watching
Let's hope soooooooooooon!
QUOTE (isitmondayyet? @ Jan 16 2007, 08:13 PM)
no matter what they creators or cast members say, i think the "main" three -- Peter, Claire, and Hiro -- are as safe as safe can be
that said, my own opinion is that they could kill off ALL three, and i'd still keep watching
that said, my own opinion is that they could kill off ALL three, and i'd still keep watching
Hitroll is "never" the "main" three. He is only considered that because he's become popular.
His storyline is weak, full of fillers. The casino gambling, going back to save a girl he falls in love have NOTHING to do with the "save the cheerleader, save the world" plot at all.
And his quest to find the sword will be from ep 12-18, talking about stretching 7 episodes for that!
QUOTE (englewood @ Jan 16 2007, 06:32 PM)
when they kill hiro Ill stop watching
Ditto..but we should have at least 5 years of "Hiro safety" thanks to his visit from future Hiro (from 5 years in our future).
Hiro's not going to be killed off..he draws in too much of the Trekkie-geek audience..way too popular!
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