If you were asked about the cult/sci-fi TV you were excited about seeing in 2010, I imagine, like me, names like Doctor Who, Ashes to Ashes and Being Human would be high on the list (maybe even Lost for those who are still keeping up. But I can’t think Heroes or Survivors would have made it, at least not without prompting.
Heroes has been back with us for a couple of weeks now, and after the mostly-bad-with-odd-flashes-of-amazing disappointments of series two and three, series four (scheduled in a very bizarre slot that suggests BBC Two might be a little ashamed of it) has a lot of ground to make up. The question is whether it is delivering or not. Of course, it’s too early to tell how the rest of the series will pan out on the strength of two episodes alone, but the signs are that it’s going to be frustrating again. Much as series two and three were generally pretty poor, both had the odd good scene or storyline that kept me watching against my better judgement and it looks like this new series may just be the same. I am still frustrated at the inability of the rather dull main characters to die, and the likelihood that the new, potentially interesting characters they’ve been introducing will probably become imprisoned/murdered within the first six episodes while Peter Petrelli, Hiro Nakamura and Matt Parkman still hang around being furniture. Yet I see promise in some of the storylines. Well, the weird fairground people one, and the new deaf lady, anyway. I am disappointed at the lack of Angela Petrelli firece time so far, mind. Heroes is like a bad drug. I know I should quit, but something keeps drawing me back. Check on me in a couple of months’ time to see if I am regretting continuing my bad habit…
As for the other returning show, Survivors, the lengthy gap between series probably didn’t do the series any favours in terms of people being excited over its return. However, it maintains the loveable BBC One Drama blend of hysteria, melodrama, silliness, fun and genuine darkness we’ve all grown to love in shows like Holby City and Waterloo Road. As silly as it is, though, it’s still more gripping than Heroes and there is always the added possibility that one of the characters might actually die in this show (please let it be Greg thanks). Whether the series has much momentum to be a long-running serial is doubtful, but for now, the journey into our dystopian, disease-ridden, Netto-stand-off future seems rather more appealing than the thought of smug American tortured superheroes agonising about saving the world.
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Heroes is dire. But for some reason I keep watching too!