Heroes: Thoughts on season 2

So yeah, I’m still watching Heroes. And yeah, it’s getting worse.
Like, it’s not bad or anything, don’t get me wrong. But I walked away from the Season 2 finale, which I just finished a few hours ago, and I’m still not really sure what the heck happened.

*Spoilers ahead*

Here’s my first big problem. Season One had a really clear cut tension. Peter was going nuclear and he was going to take New York City with him. That’s bad, man. Like really bad. We need to fix that. And that’s what the heroes did. All of them, even the bad guys were motivated in some respects by that one single goal. It made for dramatic, easy-to-follow television. And it made for a great finale.

Season Two, in my opinion, anyway, didn’t have that singular tension. Yeah, there’s something about a “virus” (it’s basically a nuke on steroids, threatening to take out the world, not just NYC), but it never really felt like this catastrophic pressing event. I mean really, couldn’t Hiro just have just teleported into the storage safe in episode one, stolen the virus and the problem would have been solved? Yeah, he totally could have. And that bugged the hell out of me.
Then there was the whole thing with people dropping dead and rising and dying and rising etc. etc. It was cool with Claire and all, but now it’s just getting out of hand. Nathan gets plugged in the finale and it’s supposed to be all dramatic, but I’m just sitting there thinking, ‘Oh neat so he’ll be back like 10 minutes into the season 3 premiere, right?’ (He totally is, by the way …). Don’t get me wrong, I love zombies and all, but dead is dead. Or at least it should be. (P.S. If you’re going to bring people back, why not D.L.? I’m not holding my breath …)
And what the heck was going on with Noah? The guy gets shot by Suresh for virtually no reason – other than to stage an epic slow-mo shooting scene – then rises from the dead (shocking, right?) and goes back to his family only to tell them he’s alive but they’ll never see him again. Uh, okay.
Why the heck would he do that? I thought his whole thing was protecting his family. Not putting them through unnecessary torture. Wouldn’t he want to not, you know, completely screw with their heads and put them all in harm’s way again?
And don’t give me that Bob was manipulating him crap. Bob sucks. Plain and simple.

Anyway, there were plenty of things I liked about Season 2. The story with Hiro and Kensai Takezo was fantastic. And I liked how Sylar was still a huge dick (now with 50% more Mommy issues!) even without his powers to back him up. I’m excited to see how he develops into season 3.
And the Maya girl was pretty. Like really pretty. Show more of her, please.

Books: Good reads …

Why I’ve just noticed something terribly amiss! I forgot (i.e. willfully neglected) last week’s Friday roundup!

So sorry! Here we go!

“The Art of the Dragon,” Sean McMullenFantasy and Science Fiction Aug/Sept 2009 – What begins with one of the best leads I’ve ever read: “I was there when the dragon appeared – and ate the Effiel Tower” just gets better as the story progresses. McMullen puts forth a remarkably original fantasy that manages to squeeze in a ton of insightful commentary about the nature of art and humanity. But it’s never hard-hitting, in fact, it’s remarkably clever and, at times, downright fun. I wasn’t huge on McMullen’s last story in F&SF, “The Spiral Briar,” but “The Art of the Dragon” is a keeper. Definitely earned it’s place as the lead off story in this month’s issue.

“Icarus Saved from the Skies,” Georges-Olivier Châteaureynaud - Fantasy and Science Fiction Aug/Sept 2009 – Ever wonder what you do if you sprouted wings? I know I did, at least as a kid. Châteaureynaud‘s fable cleverly deals with the question and rises at a surprising conclusion. Translated from the original French by Edward Gauvin. Recommended. For more Châteaureynaud, check out his collection, Le kiosque et le tilleul, The Pavilion and the Linden.

“The Others,” Lawrence C. ConnollyFantasy and Science Fiction Aug/Sept 2009 – At first I didn’t really know what to make of this story, but after a few days I’ve more or less come around. It’s good. And I liked it. For those not in the know, “The Others” continues the journey of the many incarnations of Cara Randall who this time is exploring a strange planet with intelligent life. The story is a direct sequel to “Daughters of Prime,” which first ran in July 2007 and can be viewed here.

Ascended Fanboys: Characters Who Say What the Audience Is Thinking

There’s a great piece on this over at io9. Touches on several great sci-fi shows from Lost to Battlestar Galactica and Firefly. Check it out above, but here’s a taste:

Viral Flashback: The most INTENSE video you’ll ever see

No more explanation is needed. From 1994′s Scanner Cop.

TV: Why I’ve been gone for three days …

The short answer? I’ve been watching Heroes. And I can’t stop.
It’s taken me roughly a week to tear through season one and I’m loving every minute of it.
While I’ve never really followed the show in the TV press, some of my friends who are fans tell me it takes a bit of a nosedive in season three, but I’m not too worried. Even if the show was only 10 percent as good as season one, I think I’d still be entertained.
Anyway, before I get back to watching Hiro travel through time and Peter kick everyone’s ass let me drop one quick short story recommendation:

“Three Leaves of Aloe” Rand B. Lee Fantasy and Science Fiction (Aug/Sept 2009) – Fun read about an Indian computer technician with a daughter who can’t stop getting in fights at school. The Vice Principal’s solution? Outfit the girl with an emotion inhibiting chip, but the simple task proves to be more dangerous than it seems when a relative recalls her troubled past with the technology …
The story touches on a lot of stuff – from Buddhist ideals of supernal recognition of nonexistence
to bullying – and does it all it a fun sci-fi package. Very enjoyable.

And now, I return to the television. I promise I’ll be back in better form next week!

Nerdgasm: Spock, Bilbo and one mind-blowing LP

From the Two Sides of Leonard Nimoy LP. Insanity. Utter insanity.

TV: Sci-Fi network to become "Syfy" tomorrow …

And after thinking about it, I’ve concluded it’s a good move for the network.
Yeah, it’s a PR grab, we get it. But that’s not really a bad thing, is it?
Currently, the Sci-Fi network is commonly known for two things – Battlestar Galactica and B-rate monster flicks. And of the two, only one still stands. Hint: it’s not Battlestar. And the misconception that the network airs nothing but crap (can’t anyone remember their good shows? Taken, Mystery Science Theater, etc.) isn’t really good for business.
Enter the “Syfy” brand. Billed as the hip, more-accessible side of science fiction, SyFy execs say the new station will now put more emphasis on well-written original programming filled with heavy doses of quirky humor.
Warehouse 13, a show about two Secret Service agents assigned to a fantastical factory in South Dakota, will be a perfect example of this, execs say. The series premiers tomorrow at 9/8c.
So let’s hope there’s something to this re-branding. With Caprica on the horizon and Stargate still running strong the network certainly has the tools to live up to their hipper billing.
Just one thing, don’t cancel all the B-movies, guys. I need something to watch at 3 a.m. on Fridays.

What are your hopes for the new station?

VACATION: Be Back on Sunday …

Hopefully you’ll make it through the weekend without losing a hand to an errant M-80. Sparklers only, kids. Have a happy Fourth everyone.

Billy Mays: Discovery Channel Marathon

Did you know Discovery is running an all day marathon tribute to Billy Mays? No? Well they are. And you should be watching. Why? Because, it’s Billy Mays, man.
The marathon culminates at 10 p.m. EST with the series finale of PITCHMEN. Be there. Wear blue.

Pitchmen co-host Anthony “Sully” Sullivan had the following to say:

There are no words to describe how I feel about the passing of my great friend and fellow Pitchman Billy Mays. I have a massive hole in my heart. My thoughts go out to his wife, Deborah, son Billy III, and his beautiful daughter, Elizabeth, his mom and dad and his whole family.

Billy and I have known each other for 15 years. We are the greatest of friends. He was the best at what he did — his uncompromising style coupled with his black beard, blue shirt and khaki pants will be embedded in my memory for all time. His uniqueness created an industry that I am proud to be a part of. We were literally joined at the hip for the past six months.

Discovery Channel’s “Pitchmen” was not only a wonderful experience, but also a great opportunity for Billy and I to let people into our world and see what an awesome guy he was in front of the cameras and show our friendship to the world.

There was a lot more to Billy as a person than Billy the Pitchman — he was a loving, caring family man with the heart and roar of a lion. He loved what he did and loved his fans. The overwhelming outpouring of support shows what an amazing individual Billy was.

I’m proud to have had him as a friend. I’ll miss him greatly and I’ll miss hearing him saying, “Hi Billy Mays here… Here’s how to order!”

RIP BILLY.