Heroes and Antiheroes (Flying Congressmen and Cranky Doctors)
I started out not really loving NBC's "Heroes" -- the first episode struck me as really uneven, with that horrible voiceover, the terrible science, the bad dialogue, etc. But I have to say that by the Midseason finale ("Fallout") of last week, I've done a total 180 on this show, and now I freaking love it.
The voiceovers? Still annoying. But the show itself rocks. The performances are superb, the writing's vastly improved, and the show just looks and feels terrific on every level, from the pseudo-comic-book titles (especially the seamless way they melt into the background), to the clever editing, and the seamless (and often wonderfully low-key) effects. The cast -- right down to HRG guy -- is terrific, and just about as pretty as you'll find anywhere.
I know exactly the moment it happened for me, too -- this conversion into total "Heroes" worship: When snarky lawyer Nathan Petrelli faced two attackers -- and then shot into the sky to escape (complete with vapor trail and sonic boom), yeah, I was this show's bitch. It was one of the coolest things I'd ever seen on TV.
My only request? Come on, show people, give us some more girls to root for. As it is, you killed another major female character (poor pixie-ish, oddly creepy Eden, who went out like a hero at the last moment -- just when I'd really started to like her), and on a show with a plethora of hunky guys, but precious few females. I mean, I like the character of Claire the cheerleader (and Hayden Panetierre is wonderful), but, please, give us girls some more heroines to root for. And psycho Nikki/Jessica still isn't quite a "hero" in my book.
Meanwhile, speaking of heroes, this week's antihero, House, found himself at a new low, and I gotta say, I was right there with him. Low, I mean. This was a hard episode to watch, for a lot of reasons.
Because, look, while I love me some House (and some Hugh Laurie, rocking the cranky doctor stubble as always), I wanted to kill him in this episode. Seriously. When House walks into the room of a man who has just died, horribly, of cancer, and begins to belittle the guy in front of his grieving wife... and then dares to try to steal his meds? The woman reacted quietly and politely, but me, I would have cheerfully throttled him.
I normally love House so much I'd happily forgive him just about anything (and usually do), but in this case... gah. I have never hated him more. I sat where that woman did not six months ago, next to the body of my wonderful stepfather, Gene, and there is nothing harder in this world. To imagine some guy interrupting that moment, that final goodbye, with a bunch of jerky comments and sarcasm (and a complete disregard for the grief and horror of such a moment), well, I would have punched House if it'd been me. And then again, just for good measure. Belittling a dead man and his wife -- and then stealing his oxycodone? House deserves whatever Tritter does to him (although Hugh Laurie was amazing in that scene, and I loved the quiet look of anguish and shame as House left the room -- he did seem to recognize he'd gone too far).
Still, it was a great episode, and I couldn't believe the last moment, when Tritter smilingly turned House down after he actually agreed to the deal. Dammit, David Morse, I adore you, but this role's just written a little too cardboard-villainy for my taste. Still, I'm dying to see what happens next when the show comes back in January. And I'm hyperventilating at waiting six weeks to see what the next "Heroes" might bring.
But wow, talk about creative inspiration -- so this week I've created several more "House" designs (a few more "Cranky Doctor Groupie" variations that people seem to like so much, and most of them utilizing the subtly diffused "glow" that you see in the TV titles), and subtly trying some new graphical stuff. I had fun, for instance, incorporating some little tiny hearts falling from a medical bottle along with the pills... (and this being House, I included a few black hearts, hee). I also worked up a bunch of fun "Heroes" gear this week in honor of "Fallout," including a Burnt Toast Diner line that I'm totally in love with. (Too bad poor Eden will never get the chance to stop there now...)
The voiceovers? Still annoying. But the show itself rocks. The performances are superb, the writing's vastly improved, and the show just looks and feels terrific on every level, from the pseudo-comic-book titles (especially the seamless way they melt into the background), to the clever editing, and the seamless (and often wonderfully low-key) effects. The cast -- right down to HRG guy -- is terrific, and just about as pretty as you'll find anywhere.
I know exactly the moment it happened for me, too -- this conversion into total "Heroes" worship: When snarky lawyer Nathan Petrelli faced two attackers -- and then shot into the sky to escape (complete with vapor trail and sonic boom), yeah, I was this show's bitch. It was one of the coolest things I'd ever seen on TV.
My only request? Come on, show people, give us some more girls to root for. As it is, you killed another major female character (poor pixie-ish, oddly creepy Eden, who went out like a hero at the last moment -- just when I'd really started to like her), and on a show with a plethora of hunky guys, but precious few females. I mean, I like the character of Claire the cheerleader (and Hayden Panetierre is wonderful), but, please, give us girls some more heroines to root for. And psycho Nikki/Jessica still isn't quite a "hero" in my book.
Meanwhile, speaking of heroes, this week's antihero, House, found himself at a new low, and I gotta say, I was right there with him. Low, I mean. This was a hard episode to watch, for a lot of reasons.
Because, look, while I love me some House (and some Hugh Laurie, rocking the cranky doctor stubble as always), I wanted to kill him in this episode. Seriously. When House walks into the room of a man who has just died, horribly, of cancer, and begins to belittle the guy in front of his grieving wife... and then dares to try to steal his meds? The woman reacted quietly and politely, but me, I would have cheerfully throttled him.
I normally love House so much I'd happily forgive him just about anything (and usually do), but in this case... gah. I have never hated him more. I sat where that woman did not six months ago, next to the body of my wonderful stepfather, Gene, and there is nothing harder in this world. To imagine some guy interrupting that moment, that final goodbye, with a bunch of jerky comments and sarcasm (and a complete disregard for the grief and horror of such a moment), well, I would have punched House if it'd been me. And then again, just for good measure. Belittling a dead man and his wife -- and then stealing his oxycodone? House deserves whatever Tritter does to him (although Hugh Laurie was amazing in that scene, and I loved the quiet look of anguish and shame as House left the room -- he did seem to recognize he'd gone too far).
Still, it was a great episode, and I couldn't believe the last moment, when Tritter smilingly turned House down after he actually agreed to the deal. Dammit, David Morse, I adore you, but this role's just written a little too cardboard-villainy for my taste. Still, I'm dying to see what happens next when the show comes back in January. And I'm hyperventilating at waiting six weeks to see what the next "Heroes" might bring.
But wow, talk about creative inspiration -- so this week I've created several more "House" designs (a few more "Cranky Doctor Groupie" variations that people seem to like so much, and most of them utilizing the subtly diffused "glow" that you see in the TV titles), and subtly trying some new graphical stuff. I had fun, for instance, incorporating some little tiny hearts falling from a medical bottle along with the pills... (and this being House, I included a few black hearts, hee). I also worked up a bunch of fun "Heroes" gear this week in honor of "Fallout," including a Burnt Toast Diner line that I'm totally in love with. (Too bad poor Eden will never get the chance to stop there now...)
