The new superhero-themed television show Heroes is generating a fair bit of buzz among comic book fans. Some like it, some don’t.
Among the usual complaints though, about the pacing, dialogue and characterization (not to mention a mis-attributed issue number), one particular point stands out for me.
(Links may contain minor spoilers)
Point:
Lis Riba makes an unpleasant realization following the pilot of Heroes in her post Aww hell…
Excerpt:
Then I thought about Heroes, the new NBC series I enjoyed so much.
Of the ensemble characters they’ve introduced so far, the featured women are (1) a high-school cheerleader (in uniform for most of her scenes), (2) a webcam porn star (who’s also a single mother), and (3) a girlfriend who’s also a concerned daughter.
Meanwhile, the men include: a nurse, a politician, a professor/taxi driver, an artist and an officeworker.
Notice any differences?
Counterpoint:
Claire at Seelight has posted a general defense of Heroes that does not refute Ms. Riba’s point, but does bring it into a slightly different perspective:
Excerpt
But some of the superpowers seem designed to complicate or subvert the stereotypes of the xtrs. The cheerleader is the strong, unbreakable one (not that we haven’t seen that before); the victimized stripper is the vicious killer; the male nurse can fly (maybe). Basically, there hasn’t been enough time spent on xtrization to make any definitive statements about stereotypes yet. Wait and see.
It’s an interesting issue and one that could and will, I hope, end up explored in depth.
October 5th, 2006 at 7:49 am
Despite using the worst abbreviation ever seen in print – who the fuck first converted ‘character’ to ‘x’ and what are they allergic to so I can send them a box of it – I think Claire probably has the right end of the stick on this one.
I find it really hard to see the writers skewing the demographic of their characters the way Lis Riba has quite accurately broken it down if it wasn’t for a very specific thematic reason.
Like how originally in Smallville Lana and Chloe embodied different elements of the comicbook Lois character.
Admittedly I haven’t watched the second ep yet -I tend to watch the weeks tv in one solid block usually on Sunday – but can’t wait to see how the wait and see begins to work with how the characters powers push against their personalities.
October 5th, 2006 at 8:44 am
would it kill NBC to put a black person on the show?
October 5th, 2006 at 9:50 am
There are black people on the show.
October 5th, 2006 at 11:37 am
There are black people on the show.
What you should have said is why is the only black man on the show of course a prisoner!
October 5th, 2006 at 2:03 pm
Nice catch, Lisa. The two arguments together are where I am right now with Heroes. I agree with arguments disappointed in the roles of the characters but my mind was intially intrigued that, as the powers were distributed, the agressive powers were given to women while they guys got passive powers usualy reserved for a team’s “female guy” — namely telepathy, flight and precognition. Right now, powers-wise, the two women are different sides of the Wolverine coin, one being a violent beserker (so it seems) and the other being the one you can’t hurt for long.
It’s too early to judge, I think, but it’s good to have the discussion since, hopefully, some of these observations might reach the producers’ ear.
October 5th, 2006 at 2:04 pm
Gah! Sorry, Melissa! I got mixed up since I was going to respond to a post from Lisa in the other tab. Aaauugh!
October 5th, 2006 at 5:34 pm
What I saw was the X-Men plus Aurora/Jean Marie from Alpha Flight. The thing that is fascinating me is the villian. I will not speak clearly because some mentioned not having yet watched the second episode, but if I am right a serial killer + a patient zero + a parent equals the danger. I think that they are making it really neat that Hiro did what he did with his powers because I thought teleportation and time travel were not as he was describing. They foreshadowed the end of teh show.
As for Clarie and Nikki, it is early. The first season of Smallville disgusted me, now I can enjoy watching it. I just hope NBC lets it run.
October 9th, 2006 at 9:06 pm
Thanks for the comments guys.
And I’ll forgive you, Lyle. This time.