I mean, the writers' strike, I think, is the primary thing that made it seem cramped and unfocused, and they probably had awesome sweeping epic arcs in mind when they started, but the end product was...not as good as I hoped.
I think three things went wrong, actually:
- Writer's Strike rushed them and robbed them of the ability to change gears and pull things out at the end. Kring knew there were problems shortly into the run, but had no way to fix them.
- Bryan Fuller left to go do "Pushing Daisies." I really can't help but think that he was the guy who would look at a script or arc and say, "OK. What can we do to push this one step further?" Because that's what he's always done.
- Kring made a huge mistake at the outset, and tried to make season two basically a retread of season one -- people running around only tangentially connected, trying to uncover things about their past. And we were cool with them learning things about their past -- all for it, really! -- but what we WANTED along the way was main characters interacting. Sure, new characters were fine -- I loved me KB this season, and I actually liked Bob a lot. And they were even useful! But we still have major characters who've barely been on screen together, and when each major character get his or her own supporting cast, well ... it gets a bit much. Kring called it when he said we actually wanted some adrenaline at that point.
The interviews so far have been encouraging, and he sounds like he gets it. They're not so far gone they can't pull it out, but they've got to recognize their errors, first.
Bryan Fuller left to go do "Pushing Daisies." I really can't help but think that he was the guy who would look at a script or arc and say, "OK. What can we do to push this one step further?" Because that's what he's always done.
I'd completely forgotten about that. It probably also explains what happened to Claire this season, since I know she was his baby season 1, so to speak.
• Bryan Fuller left to go do "Pushing Daisies." I really can't help but think that he was the guy who would look at a script or arc and say, "OK. What can we do to push this one step further?" Because that's what he's always done.
Actually when you put it like that I'm a lot more at peace with the show's downturn, as I'd much rather have Pushing Daisies than a decent storyline for Claire.
Actually when you put it like that I'm a lot more at peace with the show's downturn, as I'd much rather have Pushing Daisies than a decent storyline for Claire.
Sure, and what seems to have happened is one problem fed another. Fuller leaves, so the guy who would have normally kept Kring on track was gone. Now, Kring's not bad, and has proven he can learn from his mistakes, but the strike robbed him and his staff of the time he'd need to step things up. It all seems to have come to a head all at once, with the results being a show that wasn't up to par with what the team had previously done.
Now, like I said, Kring's not dumb, and he's had some time to think about what went wrong and how he wants to fix it, and has been open and honest discussing that. I'm hoping the breathing room lets him get the show back on track.
I am in Matt's corner!
Until I just read all of this, I had forgotten how bad Heroes had gotten. Yoiks.
Until I just read all of this, I had forgotten how bad Heroes had gotten.
this. When I saw activity in the thread I got excited for news. Now I'm reminded of why I wasn't chomping at the bit for more Heroes anyway.
Yeah, there was a lot of bad in Heroes this past season. The gemelos aburridos brought enough suck for several seasons. But, there was enough good to remind me that even bad Heroes is better than 90% of other TV.
I liked KB even though her storyline didn't really go anywhere. And I liked Papa Goldfinger, thought he was a good villian (all the more so because he looks so milquetoast). Monica and the NO clan have the potential to be intersting (although again that potential was squandered this year). The actress who plays Monica is very likeable and she's got a hella cool power. And they have to have bigger plans for Nichelle Nichols than standing around her kitchen and looking sassy. Hiro's storyline annoyed me for almost the entire season, but the endgame kicked all kinds of ass and started to flesh out how we get from fluffy bunny Hiro to Future!Hiro. It was the year of the mama's with both Mama P and Sandra Bennet kicking tremendous amounts of boot-ay. HRG continued to pwn all he surveyed. Nikki died (even if it doesn't take, it was sweet, sweet satisfaction while it lasted) and Mohinder got a well deserved beat down. And then his ex-boyfriend came back and broke up his happy, happy domestic partnership. Nathan/Matt were the most unlikely dynamic duo ever. And I am shallow, so goddammit I LOVED me some nekkid Peter Petrelli!
Was it a let down from S1? Yeah. But I'm still psyched for it to come back. I have faith that they'll pull it together for S3.
Thanks for reminding me of the good, kat.
Was it a let down from S1? Yeah. But I'm still psyched for it to come back. I have faith that they'll pull it together for S3.
That's where I am. Mostly, there was nothing wrong with Season Two that a serious polish couldn't have fixed, and I have high hopes that season three will well-surpass it.
And also, I have to admit, I enjoy most of the performances, even when their story lines aren't all there.
