After my antiTV rant, I started thinking of the exceptions. I’ve gotten hooked on Heroes. Despite having to deal with a central commentator whose academic and puritanical rigidity throws a horrible muffler over whatever is happening, there are some wonderful departures from the usual fare and some surprisingly courageous motifs; and a generous dollop of ambiguity intrudes from time to time to muddy the proceedings.
For those who haven’t seen the show, it follows a number of as of yet unconnected individuals (who have inexplicably developed powers) and who, it is hinted, might be the only possible salvation for a world hurtling toward doom. Of course, there are dark forces at work as well.
I like the fact that one character who paints the future can only do so, can only warn us of this impending doom, while on heroin. (Damp commentator man just can’t deal with any mention of drugs; not sure yet if he is supposed to be “our” voice or whether we are supposed to be privy to his shortcomings.) Then we have a girl who has found out that she is indestructable (she wakes up at one point, half eviscerated via her autopsy, imagine the ultimate in “oh my gawd” teenage exasperation), a woman (an internet sex worker) who’s “second manifestation” is a killer who saves her, and more. There is a Japanese worker who speaks no English who can teleport and change reality and then discovers his life is described in a comic book, thanks to the painter, and then can use the comic book of his life as a map to follow. And all through this there is a 7-like omnipotent serial killer lurking about. Its all kind of like Buffy meets X-Files.
Ultimately what I like the most about the writing is that every now and then we are given a little morsel that undermines what we have been shown. As if that on some level all these events, or at least some of them, are wish fullfillment fantasies and nothing more. Its a little uneven and doesn’t quite work as a real option given everything we’ve seen but it frays the fabric somewhat and engages the brain more than most of these sorts of shows. There is a lot that I haven’t quite been able to fit into the usual slots yet and I really like that.
And I finally caught up to the earlier Arcade Fire and love it.
