Heroes: Episode 2.8 "Four Months Ago" Afterthoughts

TheEditor · 11-13-2007, 02:01 AM

The writers' strike is the best thing to ever happen to Heroes. While the first season invigorated fans with a promise of great storytelling, the second season has been a massive failure in that department. The first six episodes were an aimless mess, trying to juggle at least seven distinct and separate plots.

The brilliant seventh episode, “Out of Time,” finally unveiled the larger mystery of volume two, but it seemed awfully late in the game to be doing that. Then last night, the show destroyed that momentum by flashing back for a pointless adventure that didn't provide all that many answers. Now, with just three episodes left in this volume, it seems too late to actually start building up to anything. Hopefully the strike will allow the Heroes team to take a long, hard look at what went wrong this season and fix it for volume three.

To read the rest, click here.

gusgus · 11-13-2007, 09:48 AM

There's not much to Matt/Mohinder's, the Bennett's, and Sylar's backstories, so why the need to show us? There's nothing interesting in the fact that the Bennetts simply moved from Texas to California, so I don't need to be informed about their move because we already know why they moved. Same goes with Sylar. He was simply captured and put into confinement with Candace/Betty. And finally Matt and Mohinder were already teaming up in season one, so what else needed to be mentioned? I actually appreciated seeing the Twins' backstory because it helped me sympathize with their plight. Same goes with Niki's story. What is strange is how Nathan was healed simply by Adam's blood. Could this be the start of the virus??

gusgus · 11-13-2007, 09:52 AM

Oh, and I don't think there's a hidden story of how Sylar escaped. I think he just simply walked and the rest was coincidence/fate/destiny whatever you want to call it. Isn't that what would be considered sticking to Occam's Razor?

chapablo · 11-13-2007, 10:06 AM

I agree, I don't believe there was a need to cover or reveal anything about the characters not mentioned in "4 months ago", other than maybe a quick flyover montage: The Bennets packing their things (thought their house burned down), Sylar being taken by Candace; Parkman healing from his injuries and Molly by his side Mohinder. We saw Hiro right away at the beginning of the season, so we know what's happening with himI personally liked it, but it did try to flesh out characters that maybe did not need it. Elle could have been treated like Eden (S.1): She works for the company, and that's all you need to know. Want a backstory? read the graphic novels. I preferred to think of her as an 'agent'... and a clingy one at that

amerigirl · 11-13-2007, 10:16 AM

Bah Humbug! Maybe you need to find another show. I thought this and the last episode were the best two. I agree with "gusgus". I found the show very entertaining. I like the fact that it doesn't focus on the same people every week.

TheEditor · 11-13-2007, 10:35 AM

But how did Candace track down Sylar, and why didn't any of the other Heroes look for him? If it was part of the Company, why take him all the way to Mexico? Even if it did happen that way, at least it was a question. Why bring DL back to life only to kill him again? Just to re-fracture Niki's brain and reset her completely to where she was at the start of season 1? The Bennets, yeah, I could take or leave, though it would've been nice to see Mohinder, Parkman and HRG figuring out the plan, and letting us know how involved the Haitian was. Speaking of him, how did he go from working with Elle to living in Haiti with the virus? I'm not hating on this episode just for fun, but watching it was like looking into the Upright Citizen's Brigade's Bucket of Truth. "DON'T YOU THINK I KNOW THAT ALREADY!"

DaddyRabbit28 · 11-13-2007, 10:35 AM

I agree with the editor. It was a 'alright' show last night. I didnt think they was goin 2 spend the WHOLE episode on the '4 months back' thing. BUT, they did n still left a couple questions unanswered. I must say, it was a downer following last weeks exciting episode.... BY far the best of the season. N i am a HUGE fan of Heroes. But i must say, 4 the most part, it hasnt been what i thought it would be. BUT, without a doubt, im tuned in every week. I hope the last 3 wks live up 2 the billing...

enyaj40 · 11-13-2007, 10:50 AM

last night was terrible. and in addition to the 15 main characters and the ones not mentioned in opening credits, we can jessica and gina to the list because keeping track of nikki is a challenge. i'm tired of nichelle nichols being a fleeting character, too.

gusgus · 11-13-2007, 10:56 AM

I thought Candace said that she dragged him into the sewer after he got stabbed. So perhaps she was following along (albeit hidden) with last season's "mega" fight between the Heroes and Sylar. The other Heroes didn't look for him because they *thought* he was dead. Now about them not realizing the body was missing is a different story. Perhaps they were occupied in dealing with the cops and the ambulance that they just never checked back with Sylar. The Heroes on occasion do stupid things we viewers can't understand. Who wouldn't want to go to Mexico after being stabbed? VACAY!!!! I think having DL die next to Niki showed how desperate she is to fix herself. She looked extremely traumatized when he was shot. I have yet to figure out The Haitian's involvement with the Heroes. In my opinion, that's something I don't want to know because it'll be waaaaay too confusing. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

TheEditor · 11-13-2007, 11:12 AM

FYI, my fellow Heroes fans, we just confirmed that tomorrow I'll get the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Jack Coleman, so we'll get that up tomorrow afternoon. If you have any specific questions you'd like me to ask the man who plays HRG, let me know and I'll try to work them in.

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11-13-2007, 02:01 AM	#1
TheEditor Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,051,191	The writers' strike is the best thing to ever happen to Heroes. While the first season invigorated fans with a promise of great storytelling, the second season has been a massive failure in that department. The first six episodes were an aimless mess, trying to juggle at least seven distinct and separate plots. The brilliant seventh episode, “Out of Time,” finally unveiled the larger mystery of volume two, but it seemed awfully late in the game to be doing that. Then last night, the show destroyed that momentum by flashing back for a pointless adventure that didn't provide all that many answers. Now, with just three episodes left in this volume, it seems too late to actually start building up to anything. Hopefully the strike will allow the Heroes team to take a long, hard look at what went wrong this season and fix it for volume three. To read the rest, click here.

11-13-2007, 09:48 AM	#2
gusgus Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 233	There's not much to Matt/Mohinder's, the Bennett's, and Sylar's backstories, so why the need to show us? There's nothing interesting in the fact that the Bennetts simply moved from Texas to California, so I don't need to be informed about their move because we already know why they moved. Same goes with Sylar. He was simply captured and put into confinement with Candace/Betty. And finally Matt and Mohinder were already teaming up in season one, so what else needed to be mentioned? I actually appreciated seeing the Twins' backstory because it helped me sympathize with their plight. Same goes with Niki's story. What is strange is how Nathan was healed simply by Adam's blood. Could this be the start of the virus??

11-13-2007, 09:52 AM	#3
gusgus Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 233	Oh, and I don't think there's a hidden story of how Sylar escaped. I think he just simply walked and the rest was coincidence/fate/destiny whatever you want to call it. Isn't that what would be considered sticking to Occam's Razor?

11-13-2007, 10:06 AM	#4
chapablo Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 20	I agree, I don't believe there was a need to cover or reveal anything about the characters not mentioned in "4 months ago", other than maybe a quick flyover montage: The Bennets packing their things (thought their house burned down), Sylar being taken by Candace; Parkman healing from his injuries and Molly by his side Mohinder. We saw Hiro right away at the beginning of the season, so we know what's happening with himI personally liked it, but it did try to flesh out characters that maybe did not need it. Elle could have been treated like Eden (S.1): She works for the company, and that's all you need to know. Want a backstory? read the graphic novels. I preferred to think of her as an 'agent'... and a clingy one at that

11-13-2007, 10:16 AM	#5
amerigirl Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 4	Bah Humbug! Maybe you need to find another show. I thought this and the last episode were the best two. I agree with "gusgus". I found the show very entertaining. I like the fact that it doesn't focus on the same people every week.

11-13-2007, 10:35 AM	#6
TheEditor Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,051,191	But how did Candace track down Sylar, and why didn't any of the other Heroes look for him? If it was part of the Company, why take him all the way to Mexico? Even if it did happen that way, at least it was a question. Why bring DL back to life only to kill him again? Just to re-fracture Niki's brain and reset her completely to where she was at the start of season 1? The Bennets, yeah, I could take or leave, though it would've been nice to see Mohinder, Parkman and HRG figuring out the plan, and letting us know how involved the Haitian was. Speaking of him, how did he go from working with Elle to living in Haiti with the virus? I'm not hating on this episode just for fun, but watching it was like looking into the Upright Citizen's Brigade's Bucket of Truth. "DON'T YOU THINK I KNOW THAT ALREADY!"

11-13-2007, 10:35 AM	#7
DaddyRabbit28 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2	I agree with the editor. It was a 'alright' show last night. I didnt think they was goin 2 spend the WHOLE episode on the '4 months back' thing. BUT, they did n still left a couple questions unanswered. I must say, it was a downer following last weeks exciting episode.... BY far the best of the season. N i am a HUGE fan of Heroes. But i must say, 4 the most part, it hasnt been what i thought it would be. BUT, without a doubt, im tuned in every week. I hope the last 3 wks live up 2 the billing...

11-13-2007, 10:50 AM	#8
enyaj40 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 92	last night was terrible. and in addition to the 15 main characters and the ones not mentioned in opening credits, we can jessica and gina to the list because keeping track of nikki is a challenge. i'm tired of nichelle nichols being a fleeting character, too.

11-13-2007, 10:56 AM	#9
gusgus Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 233	I thought Candace said that she dragged him into the sewer after he got stabbed. So perhaps she was following along (albeit hidden) with last season's "mega" fight between the Heroes and Sylar. The other Heroes didn't look for him because they thought he was dead. Now about them not realizing the body was missing is a different story. Perhaps they were occupied in dealing with the cops and the ambulance that they just never checked back with Sylar. The Heroes on occasion do stupid things we viewers can't understand. Who wouldn't want to go to Mexico after being stabbed? VACAY!!!! I think having DL die next to Niki showed how desperate she is to fix herself. She looked extremely traumatized when he was shot. I have yet to figure out The Haitian's involvement with the Heroes. In my opinion, that's something I don't want to know because it'll be waaaaay too confusing. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

11-13-2007, 11:12 AM	#10
TheEditor Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,051,191	FYI, my fellow Heroes fans, we just confirmed that tomorrow I'll get the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Jack Coleman, so we'll get that up tomorrow afternoon. If you have any specific questions you'd like me to ask the man who plays HRG, let me know and I'll try to work them in.