The short answer: probably not. The longer answer: he’s going to give it his best shot and if anyone could do it, it would be Knepper, but still probably not. The really long answer? The following:
Everyone knows that Heroes is floundering. The writers, the producers, the actors and, most importantly, the audience. The showrunners have been working overtime trying to convince us that the show will return to its former glory. You know how you can tell? Because this year’s Comic Con panel featured no less than 6 cast members: Adrian Pasdar (Nathan Petrelli), Hayden Panettiere (Claire Bennett), Jack Coleman (Noah Bennett, aka HRG), Zachary Quinto (Sylar), Masi Oka (Hiro) and Milo Ventimiglia (Peter Petrelli). Now, I have limited experience with Comic Con, but it’s been my observation that rarely do that many principal actors show up to a Con panel, particularly going into the forth season of a show. What’s that I smell? Fear? You’re darn right.
I wrote an article a while ago with some suggestions to fix Heroes and I stick by each and every one of them. News broke recently that Robert Knepper, most recently known for his deliciously evil portrayal of T-Bag on Prison Break, who was originally hired as a recurring character, has been bumped up to a full cast member. Then a trailer for Season 4 was released (you can view it below).
I watched this promo with a great deal of hope. Hope that I would be excited about the show, hope that I would start giving a damn again. I have to admit, I was disappointed. This promo isn’t doing it for me. I don’t know if there just wasn’t enough action or I’ve just become so ambivalent about this show that I simply don’t care anymore. And that’s so wrong, because I desperately want to care.
The only thing I did like was Robert Knepper. I love Knepper. I loved him on Prison Break and I love him in this promo. As I said to our sitemaster Jon early today: “Some people have charisma. And some people have creepy charisma. Robert Knepper has creepy charisma”. In fact, if they want to have five or six episodes that consist of nothing but Knepper giving speeches about the mating rituals of frogs, I really couldn’t care less, because I always sit up and listen when he’s on the screen. I’m actually afraid of meeting him in real life, because I feel like he would be a really nice guy but I would still be creeped out by him no matter what he did.
Can we all agree that one reason Heroes has been sucking lately is the lack of a convincing villain? What’s the point of having a bunch of people with superpowers if they don’t have something evil to fight against? Please don’t misunderstand me, I love Zachary Quinto (especially in Star Trek) and Sylar used to be super-creepy, but lately he’s just been pissing me off. I didn’t really like the whole “Sylar’s a Petrelli….oh, wait, he’s really not” and the identity crisis thing from last season. In the immortal words of Buffy Summers: “I like my men how I like my evil: EVIL!” Villains shouldn’t waiver on their villainy, it’s just wussy. And if they do, there’s a better way of doing it.
For example, let’s reference Knepper again in Prison Break. T-Bag was a psycho pedophile. He had no conscience. For one moment, however, he actually faltered in his evil ways and let his innocent former girlfriend and her family go free instead of holding them hostage anymore. But that one act of charity didn’t diminish the fact that the man was a bastard. Sylar, unfortunately, has become a parody of himself and it’s not working any longer. The long list of villains who came after him have been disappointing (Adam and Arthur Petrelli, for example). Perhaps the one exception was Danko, because the guy who played him is a great actor, but even that didn’t live up to its full potential.
The point of all this is that Knepper has the acting chops to become a truly evil villain in Season 4. He has the ability to unite the heroes against a common villain. As Jon said: “Even if there’s weak writing, Knepper will deliver”. But is it enough?
Apparently next season will feature an internal struggle for Nathan/Sylar and Claire will experiment with lesbianism. Um...yay? Tracy/Nikki/whatever-her-name-is still has nothing real to do and they’re just wasting Ali Larter, which is a shame. And it would appear that Hiro may be traveling back in time again. *Sigh* I’m not touching that one.
I say this every season: I’m going to give Heroes one more chance. This time, however, I really mean it. I’m going to have high hopes that Knepper will deliver (he will) and that he’ll be able to lift this veil of antipathy that I have towards the show (marginal possibility). Honestly? I think he’s going to try his hardest and I’ll likely say that he was the best thing that ever happened to Season 4, but I don’t know if this show can be saved or whether it’s simply too far gone.
I like Robert Knepper. He even managed to break the creepy typecasting with his role on Carnivale, and I think he's one of the best actors currently on the television circuit, along with much of the Lost alumni.
But as for Heroes, I agree that for the past two years it's been floundering. Well, for volumes 2 amp; 3 at least. Generations and Villains were basically self-indulgences of the writers, but after a while they figured out that you can't transport complex comic-book style storylines into a television show — the two are completely different mediums.
And then Bryan Fuller came back and all seemed bright. Volume 4 didn't actually suck. I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. I enjoyed it enough to want to watch Volume 5. But then Fuller left…so I'm not quite sure where Volume 5 will be of Volume 1 quality, or more like Vol. 3. I hope that it's the former, because I used to really, really like Heroes. After Vol. 4, I hope that I can again.
I like Robert Knepper. He even managed to break the creepy typecasting with his role on Carnivale, and I think he’s one of the best actors currently on the television circuit, along with much of the Lost alumni.
But as for Heroes, I agree that for the past two years it’s been floundering. Well, for volumes 2 amp; 3 at least. Generations and Villains were basically self-indulgences of the writers, but after a while they figured out that you can’t transport complex comic-book style storylines into a television show — the two are completely different mediums.
And then Bryan Fuller came back and all seemed bright. Volume 4 didn’t actually suck. I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. I enjoyed it enough to want to watch Volume 5. But then Fuller left…so I’m not quite sure where Volume 5 will be of Volume 1 quality, or more like Vol. 3. I hope that it’s the former, because I used to really, really like Heroes. After Vol. 4, I hope that I can again.
FYI: Heroes always brings a full cast to Comic Con.nbsp; Their presence this year was, in fact, scaled down, as all the regulars were not there.nbsp; They brought a full cast in 2007 and 2008.nbsp; It's just the way they do things, and has nothing to do with fear.nbsp; And I'm not sure what promo you were watching, because the promo they showed at Comic Con certainly got me pumped up for season 4.nbsp; And as for not being a good character?nbsp; Couldn't disagree more.nbsp; I know people have problems with him, but I, for one, am mesmerized every time he is on the screen (this is in no small part due to the fact that Zachary Quinto is an excellent actor).nbsp; As far as Robert Knepper is concerned, couldn't agree with you more :-)nbsp; Definitely excited about him joining Heroes.
FYI: Heroes always brings a full cast to Comic Con.nbsp; Their presence this year was, in fact, scaled down, as all the regulars were not there.nbsp; They brought a full cast in 2007 and 2008.nbsp; It’s just the way they do things, and has nothing to do with fear.nbsp; And I’m not sure what promo you were watching, because the promo they showed at Comic Con certainly got me pumped up for season 4.nbsp; And as for not being a good character?nbsp; Couldn’t disagree more.nbsp; I know people have problems with him, but I, for one, am mesmerized every time he is on the screen (this is in no small part due to the fact that Zachary Quinto is an excellent actor).nbsp; As far as Robert Knepper is concerned, couldn’t agree with you more :-)nbsp; Definitely excited about him joining Heroes.
I stand corrected if Heroes generally brings the full cast to Comic Con, but that doesn't really change my impression that the show is trying VERY hard to reinvigorate and reinvent itself because it's very much aware of the dip in ratings.nbsp; And I think Quinto is a terrific actor too, I just think that the writers aren't giving him much to work with for Sylar anymore and he's just doing the best he can.
I stand corrected if Heroes generally brings the full cast to Comic Con, but that doesn’t really change my impression that the show is trying VERY hard to reinvigorate and reinvent itself because it’s very much aware of the dip in ratings.nbsp; And I think Quinto is a terrific actor too, I just think that the writers aren’t giving him much to work with for Sylar anymore and he’s just doing the best he can.
"Can we all agree that one reason Heroes has been sucking lately is the lack of a convincing villain?nbsp; Whatrsquo;s the point of having a bunch of people with superpowers if they donrsquo;t have something evil to fight against?"
I disagree. While the villains certainly haven't been up to par, I'd say it is far more greivous that our Heroes never act heroic. Especially in Volume Four, they absolutely iadored/i picking up guns, pointing them at Danko/whoever they felt like (looking at you, Parkman) and then backing off, dropping the gun, fleeing. How many times did that happen?! Do these people have powers or not? Why don't they ever use them to fight evil?
The only person who actively uses powers is Tracy. And she's turned into more of an anti-hero. Claire loves jumping off things for the heck of it (more in the new season! whoopi!), Parkman ONE TIME experimented with his brain power of making up pretend scenarios, the list goes on.
Why do these people have powers, anyways?
I try to like Heroes, I really do. I'll give the new season 3, maybe 4 episodes to convince me. We'll see.
“Can we all agree that one reason Heroes has been sucking lately is the lack of a convincing villain?nbsp; Whatrsquo;s the point of having a bunch of people with superpowers if they donrsquo;t have something evil to fight against?”
I disagree. While the villains certainly haven’t been up to par, I’d say it is far more greivous that our Heroes never act heroic. Especially in Volume Four, they absolutely iadored/i picking up guns, pointing them at Danko/whoever they felt like (looking at you, Parkman) and then backing off, dropping the gun, fleeing. How many times did that happen?! Do these people have powers or not? Why don’t they ever use them to fight evil?
The only person who actively uses powers is Tracy. And she’s turned into more of an anti-hero. Claire loves jumping off things for the heck of it (more in the new season! whoopi!), Parkman ONE TIME experimented with his brain power of making up pretend scenarios, the list goes on.
Why do these people have powers, anyways?
I try to like Heroes, I really do. I’ll give the new season 3, maybe 4 episodes to convince me. We’ll see.
I don't know what other shows do at Comic Con but I do know that Heroes does have a history of bringing the full cast.nbsp; It is the only show I have followed closely enough to know this about.nbsp; The show may be trying "hard." but how is that bad for the fans.nbsp; The trailer looked good to me and I definitely plan to follow the show this fall.nbsp; I have enjoyed the previous seasons too; although I do think the writers' strike did interfere with the story line that season.
The first season caught my attention with the premise of the characters striving to save humanity.nbsp; The characters were not just their "powers" they were human beings struggling to control those powers and use them for good.nbsp; Then when Sylar appeared, I thought he was the most interesting villain ever!nbsp; I like the fact that he is not one dimensional.nbsp; The whole dichotomynbsp;of good versus evil exists in Sylar and that's interesting!
Anyway most of TV bores me to death.nbsp; I especially hate most of the reality shows so PLEASE, PLEASE GIVE HEROES A BREAK.nbsp; I'm not saying this is our version of Shakespeare but there actually seems to be a point of view and some intelligence behind it.nbsp; Leave it alone.
I don’t know what other shows do at Comic Con but I do know that Heroes does have a history of bringing the full cast.nbsp; It is the only show I have followed closely enough to know this about.nbsp; The show may be trying “hard.” but how is that bad for the fans.nbsp; The trailer looked good to me and I definitely plan to follow the show this fall.nbsp; I have enjoyed the previous seasons too; although I do think the writers’ strike did interfere with the story line that season.
The first season caught my attention with the premise of the characters striving to save humanity.nbsp; The characters were not just their “powers” they were human beings struggling to control those powers and use them for good.nbsp; Then when Sylar appeared, I thought he was the most interesting villain ever!nbsp; I like the fact that he is not one dimensional.nbsp; The whole dichotomynbsp;of good versus evil exists in Sylar and that’s interesting!
Anyway most of TV bores me to death.nbsp; I especially hate most of the reality shows so PLEASE, PLEASE GIVE HEROES A BREAK.nbsp; I’m not saying this is our version of Shakespeare but there actually seems to be a point of view and some intelligence behind it.nbsp; Leave it alone.
Stupid! This show is still the best on television. I'm a loyal viewer and this season seems like it's heading in the right direction. The show might not be as good as before because the first season set high standards, but compared to the horrible storyline in Smallville season 7 this shows incredible. And don't you know this shows about ordinary people doing extrodanary things. They need to go back to there normal lives. Sooner or later the show will change a bit but it's still quit new so give it time
Stupid! This show is still the best on television. I’m a loyal viewer and this season seems like it’s heading in the right direction. The show might not be as good as before because the first season set high standards, but compared to the horrible storyline in Smallville season 7 this shows incredible. And don’t you know this shows about ordinary people doing extrodanary things. They need to go back to there normal lives. Sooner or later the show will change a bit but it’s still quit new so give it time
I agree with you Jenny, I too have no patience for reality television.nbsp; And I REALLY REALLY hope that Heroes can go back to its former glory because I truly loved the show when it first came out and am hoping for a return to greatness.nbsp; Fingers crossed!
I agree with you Jenny, I too have no patience for reality television.nbsp; And I REALLY REALLY hope that Heroes can go back to its former glory because I truly loved the show when it first came out and am hoping for a return to greatness.nbsp; Fingers crossed!
It's sad that a show by the name of "Heroes" is in need of saving in the first place.
It’s sad that a show by the name of “Heroes” is in need of saving in the first place.
I would like to offer the following:if you think a "villain" should be evil for the sake of evil, you are definitively an idiot.No villain in human history ever did wrong without believing that it was the right thing to do. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE believes in their heart that they are actually good, and that if everyone else just took the time to try to understand the villain's point of view, they would convert.But, seriously– if you think evil overlords should just be evil, there were plenty of crappy movies made in the eighties that should suit you perfectly.