Comments on: Heroes 4×17 “The Wall” review http://www.lowerdecks.com/2010/02/02/heroes-4x17-the-wall-review/ Where everyday fans of science fiction, fantasy and horror gather to discuss their favorite television shows, movies and comics. Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:16:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Waterloo http://www.lowerdecks.com/2010/02/02/heroes-4x17-the-wall-review/comment-page-1/#comment-11751 Waterloo Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:06:26 +0000 http://www.lowerdecks.com/?p=2679#comment-11751 Considering that Mohinder was in all of what, three episodes this season, I doubt it could reasonably be argued that the writers were pandering toward the Mohinder crowd. If anything, they were throwing us a bone. I still don't see that the show's problem is that it doesn't want to stray from the familiar, because this season in its efforts to recall to mind the first season continually demonstrated just how radically far the series has gone. I will continue to argue for the positive opinion of Sylar, because that's basically what the writers have done since the first season. This is literally the first year he's even gotten to play extensively with the regulars... Considering that Mohinder was in all of what, three episodes this season, I doubt it could reasonably be argued that the writers were pandering toward the Mohinder crowd. If anything, they were throwing us a bone. I still don’t see that the show’s problem is that it doesn’t want to stray from the familiar, because this season in its efforts to recall to mind the first season continually demonstrated just how radically far the series has gone. I will continue to argue for the positive opinion of Sylar, because that’s basically what the writers have done since the first season. This is literally the first year he’s even gotten to play extensively with the regulars…

]]> By: Quinn http://www.lowerdecks.com/2010/02/02/heroes-4x17-the-wall-review/comment-page-1/#comment-10977 Quinn Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:28:26 +0000 http://www.lowerdecks.com/?p=2679#comment-10977 Well, this is becoming tradition, but it's one I like. I'm sure I'm not alone in the idea that I respect your opinion on Heroes, even when I disagree with it, and I assure you that your ideas make me look at the show differently. I still think the main problem isn't the writing...it's that the writers are afraid to "color outside the lines" if you will. They're afraid that if they do something too outlandish (like killing off a major character), they're going to lose some of the few fans they have left. For example, if you kill of Mohinder, you lose the precious few Mohinder fans that are watching the show solely for him. And I think that's a bit sad and ridiculous, but that's not why I'm here. A correction, first - Sylar committed murder this season when he was tormenting Parkman. After he'd taken over Matt's body, Sylar killed that man who pulled over to the side of the road to help with their car trouble. It was also under the veil of a murder threats that Parkman decided to try the "suicide by cop" attempt. Secondly, I don't really have a huge problem with the sudden revelation that HRG had a family before Sandra. After all, there's virtually nothing in the show that discounts it. As far as we know about HRG's history, he's always been with the Company (although reading through Heroes' wikipedia section, I think we've seen him recruited before, slightly different, but I was reading on my cell phone, so I could've missed something...or the site was misinformed) so this is new territory. And it's not like it counteracts the character, either. It makes sense in a sort of "A History of Violence" way. I think the problem is that the seeds were never there for this kind of revelation. With certain revelations on LOST, there were clues along the way before the final admission. With Heroes, it might have been planned...but with no proof, it might as well have been decided in the writers' room as the script was being written. "Hey! Let's introduce a new Petrelli family member!" or "Hey! Let's introduce a first-wife for Noah!" With nothing to back it up, it reeks of revisionist history, and I think that's what turns fans off. Not that it's a continuity error...just that it feels like it comes out of nowhere. It's like with Lauren...if she'd ever been mentioned before, her first apperance would be met with "wow!" instead of "who?" Just like with Jacob on LOST...referred to simply as "him" in season two...even intra-season references built up excitement about finally meeting this person. If the first wife had been mentioned, even earlier in the year, it would've meant a bit more to finally learn about her. But since it's thrust upon us like it was with Claire, we get some of the same reaction. Outside of that, I think it was another nice episode. I can actually buy the idea that Sylar is sorry (although, like Peter, I don't think what he's done is forgiveable) and I can see him working towards redemption. But it's something that must be earned, IMO, not something that can be given to him just because he was lonely. And, as usual, I thought the Samuel stuff was great. Well, this is becoming tradition, but it’s one I like. I’m sure I’m not alone in the idea that I respect your opinion on Heroes, even when I disagree with it, and I assure you that your ideas make me look at the show differently. I still think the main problem isn’t the writing…it’s that the writers are afraid to “color outside the lines” if you will. They’re afraid that if they do something too outlandish (like killing off a major character), they’re going to lose some of the few fans they have left. For example, if you kill of Mohinder, you lose the precious few Mohinder fans that are watching the show solely for him.

And I think that’s a bit sad and ridiculous, but that’s not why I’m here.

A correction, first – Sylar committed murder this season when he was tormenting Parkman. After he’d taken over Matt’s body, Sylar killed that man who pulled over to the side of the road to help with their car trouble. It was also under the veil of a murder threats that Parkman decided to try the “suicide by cop” attempt.

Secondly, I don’t really have a huge problem with the sudden revelation that HRG had a family before Sandra. After all, there’s virtually nothing in the show that discounts it. As far as we know about HRG’s history, he’s always been with the Company (although reading through Heroes’ wikipedia section, I think we’ve seen him recruited before, slightly different, but I was reading on my cell phone, so I could’ve missed something…or the site was misinformed) so this is new territory.

And it’s not like it counteracts the character, either. It makes sense in a sort of “A History of Violence” way.

I think the problem is that the seeds were never there for this kind of revelation. With certain revelations on LOST, there were clues along the way before the final admission. With Heroes, it might have been planned…but with no proof, it might as well have been decided in the writers’ room as the script was being written.

“Hey! Let’s introduce a new Petrelli family member!” or “Hey! Let’s introduce a first-wife for Noah!”

With nothing to back it up, it reeks of revisionist history, and I think that’s what turns fans off. Not that it’s a continuity error…just that it feels like it comes out of nowhere. It’s like with Lauren…if she’d ever been mentioned before, her first apperance would be met with “wow!” instead of “who?” Just like with Jacob on LOST…referred to simply as “him” in season two…even intra-season references built up excitement about finally meeting this person.

If the first wife had been mentioned, even earlier in the year, it would’ve meant a bit more to finally learn about her. But since it’s thrust upon us like it was with Claire, we get some of the same reaction.

Outside of that, I think it was another nice episode. I can actually buy the idea that Sylar is sorry (although, like Peter, I don’t think what he’s done is forgiveable) and I can see him working towards redemption. But it’s something that must be earned, IMO, not something that can be given to him just because he was lonely.

And, as usual, I thought the Samuel stuff was great.

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