| Genre | Serial drama, Science fiction |
| Created by | Tim Kring |
| Starring | David Anders, Kristen Bell, Santiago Cabrera, Jack Coleman, Tawny Cypress, Dana Davis, Noah Gray-Cabey, Greg Grunberg, Robert Knepper, Ali Larter, James Kyson Lee, Masi Oka, Hayden Panettiere, Adrian Pasdar, Zachary Quinto, Sendhil Ramamurthy, Dania Ramirez, Leonard Roberts, Cristine Rose, Milo Ventimiglia |
| Composer(s) | Wendy Melvoin, Lisa Coleman |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| Executive producer(s) | Tim Kring, Dennis Hammer, Allan Arkush, Greg Beeman |
| Editor(s) | Lori Motyer, Mike Ketelsen, Michael S. Murphy, Donn Aron, Scott Boyd, Kristopher Lease |
| Location(s) | Los Angeles |
| Cinematography | Nate Goodman, Charlie Lieberman, Edward J. Pei |
| Camera setup | Panavision |
| Original channel | NBC |
| Original run | September 25, 2006 – February 8, 2010 |
Heroes is an American science fiction fantasy television drama series created by Tim Kring that appeared on NBC for four seasons from September 25, 2006 though February 8, 2010. The series tells the stories of ordinary people who discover superhuman abilities, and how these abilities take effect in the characters' lives. The series emulates the aesthetic style and storytelling of American comic books, using short, multi-episode story arcs that build upon a larger, more encompassing arc. The series is produced by Tailwind Productions in association with Universal Media Studios, and it is filmed primarily in Los Angeles, California.
Four complete seasons aired, ending on February 8, 2010. The critically acclaimed first season's run of 23 episodes garnered an average of 14.3 million viewers in the United States, receiving the highest rating for an NBC drama premiere in five years. The second season of Heroes attracted an average of 13.1 million viewers in the U.S., and marked NBC's sole series among the top 20 ranked programs in total viewership for the 2007–2008 season. Heroes has garnered a number of awards and nominations, including Primetime Emmy awards, Golden Globes, People's Choice Awards and British Academy Television Awards.
A digital-internet extension of the series, Heroes 360 Experience, later rebranded as Heroes Evolutions, was created to explore the Heroes universe and provides insight into the show's mythology. Other official Heroes media include magazines, action figures, tie-in and interactive websites, a mobile game, a novel, clothing and other merchandise. In the fall of 2008, NBC Digital Entertainment released a series of online content for the summer, including more original web content, wireless iTV interactivity, graphic novels available for mobile viewing and webisodes.
NBC announced the show's cancellation on May 14, 2010, due to the high costs of production, diminished viewing and an increase in other programming. However, the network is looking into ways to conclude the storylines, which was confirmed by Kring in a message to its fans.
Synopsis
The plot of Heroes is designed to be similar to the stories of comic books with small story arcs built into the series' larger story arc plot. Each season of Heroes is designed to involve ordinary people who discover extraordinary super powers, and how these abilities take effect in the character's daily lives.
The first season, known as "Genesis", begins as a seemingly ordinary group of people gradually becomes aware that they have special abilities. Events illustrate their reactions to these powers, and how the discovery affects their personal and professional lives. At the same time, several ordinary individuals are investigating the origins and extent of these abilities. Mohinder continues his late father's research into the biological source of the change, while Noah represents a secret organization known only as "The Company". While coping with these new abilities, each of the characters is drawn, willingly or unwillingly, into the Company's conspiracy to control superpowered people and into a race to stop an explosion from destroying New York City.
Season two, known as "Generations" begins four months after the events of Kirby Plaza. The main plot arc of Generations deals with the Company and its research on the Shanti virus. This research is explored through the Company's founders, whose identities are revealed, as well as through the effects of various strains of the virus. The heroes ultimately come together in an attempt to stop the release of a deadly strain of the virus and avert a global pandemic.
The first part of season three was known as "Villains". Volume three began with the assassination attempt on Nathan, and explores its consequences. In addition, several villains escape from the confines of Level 5, and the Company attempts to recapture them. Arthur Petrelli (Robert Forster) heals from systemic nerve damage and aims to create a formula to give ordinary people abilities. The second part of season three, titled "Fugitives", involves what happens after Nathan fails to produce the formula. After the destruction of Primatech and Pinehearst, the heroes attempt to lead normal lives until Nathan initiates his plan to round up all people with abilities. Sylar kills Nathan in an intense duel; however, Matt is instructed to alter Sylar's mind to believe that he is Nathan.
Season four comprised volume five, "Redemption" and takes place six weeks after the events of season three. The heroes try to return to their normal lives, Peter returns to his job as a paramedic, while Claire attends college. Sylar's acquired abilities begin to manifest as Nathan struggles to maintain his identity and Sylar's consciousness, trapped in Matt Parkman's mind, taunts him and seeks out his body. A carnival group is introduced, led by Samuel, who tries to recruit more people with abilities into his carnival family in hopes of creating a community for these people where they are welcome to be open with their abilities and respected by outsiders. In the series finale, "Brave New World", Claire reveals the existence of people with special abilities to a group of reporters and photographers.
Production
Conception
Heroes began development early in 2006, when Tim Kring, creator of NBC's Crossing Jordan, came up with the show's concept. Kring wanted to create a "large ensemble saga" that would connect with the audience. He began thinking about how big, scary and complicated he felt the world is, and wanted to create a character-driven series about people who could do something about it. Kring felt that a cop or medical drama did not have characters that were big enough to save the world. He came up with the thought of superheroes; ordinary people who would discover extraordinary abilities, while still rooted in the real world and in reality. Casting directors Jason La Padura and Natalie Hart brought forth a cast of new faces such as Milo Ventimiglia who described the pilot as a "character drama about everyday people with a heightened reality." A heightened reality that was brought to light through the work of production designer Ruth Ammon. Kring wanted the series to have touchstones that involved the characters and the world they lived in.
Before he began putting his ideas together, he spoke with Lost executive producer Damon Lindelof, with whom he had worked for three years on Crossing Jordan. Kring credits Lindelof for giving him ideas on how to pitch the series to the network and advice on the lessons he (Lindelof) learned about working on a serialized drama. The two still speak and support each other's projects. When Kring pitched the idea for Heroes to the NBC network, he described the network's reaction as "excited...very supportive." He comments that he has been partners with NBC for some time based on his six year run as showrunner for Crossing Jordan. When he pitched the pilot, he described every detail, including the cliffhanger ending. When NBC executives asked him what was going to happen next, Kring responded, "Well, you’ll just have to wait and find out." After the project was greenlit, a special 73-minute version of the pilot was first screened to a large audience at the 2006 Comic Con in San Diego. It was initially reported that this unaired pilot would not be released, however it was included on the first season DVD set.
Heroes: Origins
On May 14, 2007, NBC announced that it would air a six-episode Heroes spin-off called Heroes: Origins during the 2007–2008 season. The show was to introduce a new character each week, and viewers were to select which one would stay for the following season of the regular series. The show was supposed to air after the completion of the second season of Heroes in April 2008; however, on October 31, 2007, it was reported that Origins had been postponed because of the Writers Guild of America strike. Tim Kring stated in an interview that the first episode of Origins was to reveal the secrets and meanings behind the Helix symbol. However, because of the WGA Strike, Kring commented that the secret will have to be revealed down the line. Kring revealed that he was to write the first episode of Origins, and that John August had been hired to write another episode. Director Kevin Smith, a fan of Heroes, was set to write and direct an episode for the spin-off, as were Eli Roth and Michael Dougherty. On April 3, 2008, a day after NBC announced its 2008–2009 primetime schedule, Ben Silverman confirmed Origins' cancellation.
Mythology
Heroes includes some mysterious fictional recurring elements that have been ascribed to science fiction or supernatural phenomena. Tim Kring and the creators of the series refer to these fictional elements as part of the mythology of the series. Kring confirmed that although the show has a unique mythology, he does not want to sink too deeply into it. Rather, Kring has used volumes to wrap up ongoing plot lines instead of carrying storylines over long periods of time as in Lost. Among the show's mythological elements are the Company, the legend of Takezo Kensei, paintings of the future, superpowers and their origins, the Shanti virus, 9th Wonders! comic book and numerous other elements and mythological themes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroes_(TV_series)
2000s American television series | 2006 American television series debuts | 2010s American television series | 2010 American television series endings | American science fiction television series | Dyslexia in fiction | English-language television series | Fantasy television series | Heroes (TV series) | NBC network shows | Post-apocalyptic television series | Serial drama television series | Superhero television programs | Television series by NBC Universal Television
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