The world doesn’t need ‘Heroes’

KARACHI: Four seasons after “Heroes” debuted, the show has come to an end.

The American television drama series was created by Tim Kring and premiered on NBC on September 25, 2006. NBC announced the show’s cancellation on Friday, May 14. “Heroes” debuted in 2006 and quickly became one of the most popular series on television. It inspired online components, books and merchandising and had its writers constantly busy with its twisting narrative.

The show impressed its audiences with its gripping storyline and mind-blowing graphics; it compelled Doug Elfman of the Chicago Sun- Times newspaper to say, “The show’s super strengths are its well-developed filmmaking, smooth pacing and a perfect cast. It views like the first hour of a fun, thoughtful movie.” However, after its first season “Heroes” began to lose track and audiences saw many new characters being introduced, being killed frequently and then being resurrected. Narrative threads were started but then abandoned mid-way.

Some blamed this on Kring and his busy schedule while some thought that it was impossible for “Heroes” to live up to the level it achieved in its first season. The show has received a number of awards and nominations including the Emmy awards, Golden Globes, People’s Choice Awards and British Academy Television Awards. Additionally, the cast of “Heroes” was named in Time magazine’s 2006 Person of the Year issue.

However, the show began losing viewers with every season; at its peak in season one “Heroes” had over 16 million viewers while recent episodes have had less than six million tuning in. Ordinarily, this would have made NBC cancel the show earlier but the network was going through a difficult time and “Heroes” had higher ratings than many of the other shows on the television network.

Ali Larter, who played Tracy Strauss, gave a statement in April 2010 saying, “I think we’re coming back ... for another season. I think, but I’m not sure. ... I hope that we have the chance to sort of wrap up those storylines for all the fans of it.” However, the show’s fourth and final season came to a close on February 8, 2010 and showed Claire Bennet (Hayden Panettiere) revealing the existence of people with special abilities to the world by falling off a Ferris Wheel, hitting the ground and healing.

She tells a group of reporters and photographer that “My name is Claire Bennet; this is attempt number ... I guess I’ve kinda lost count.” “Heroes” still has many fans who will be sad to see it end and especially to see the show end so abruptly. However, “Heroes” fans have one more thing to look forward to as NBC has said that its looking for ways to wrap up the storylines with either a mini-series or a movie and to give the series the ending it deserves.

To fill the “Heroes” slot NBC plans to introduce new programming including “The Cape”, a much talked about superhero saga. But will this new show fill the void that “Heroes” leaves behind? Only time will tell...

Published  in the Express Tribune, May 17th, 2010.