An Open Letter to the Writers of “Heroes”

Dear Tim Kring (and other writers/creators):

Last night I watched the third season premiere of Heroes on NBC.  I forwent the first hour of the three hour spectacular because (a) I’ve already seen every episode up to this point and didn’t require a recap or ads for the DVD boxed sets; and (b) How I Met Your Mother was on.  Much funnier. Not as funny as watching Greg Grunberg sprinting in pursuit of an assassin, but close.

Remember the golden days of Heroes two years ago? Remember when we saw people with very unique, different powers? There was a guy who could fly. One who could absorb anything she read photographically. A guy who could become invisible.  A cute little kid who could manipulate computers. The kid’s dad — a guy who could walk through walls. And, my favorite, an artist who could paint the future. The premise was brilliant.

I’ve never been a fan of someone whose power is to accumulate or dissipate the powers of others, but I can totally understand the need for this within the Heroes universe. It certainly helps the notion of superhero vs. supervillain.  I’ll even let the notion of a serum slide.

But lately? It just feels like the latter batches of heroes are all the same.  In the past two seasons I’ve been introduced to characters who can:

* fly. I mean — a different guy who can fly. Same power as Nathan Petrelli.
* run really, really, really fast.
* make flames shoot out of their hands
* make radiation shoot out of their hands
* make lightning bolts shoot out of their hands
* make a freeze-ray shoot out of their hands.

Even your animated series contest has two heroes in the running with pretty familiar talents: one who can slow down or speed up time, and one who can instantly predict all outcomes (which, I suppose, is more of a time manipulation as well).

With all due respect — is this show really going to turn into the X-Men episode by episode? Should we look for a character who can control anything magnetic? Will there be a high-maintenance actress who can control the weather at will? Do these new characters really have to have such powers with a huge magnitude? And are we going to see any more heroes just trying to live their normal lives in faraway places? Or will you be catering more towards the audience which falls into the MSM* demographic?

I’ve come up with a few ideas for new characters for Heroes: just a brief, verbal character sketch of each.  I submit them for your review. Hopefully we can work together to make the show a true monument of what it once was.

Yours,

Shiny

_____

* MSM = Mo’ Sweaty Mohinder