“Jericho” Better Than “Heroes?”
Time for one of those infrequent television posts.
I’ve been following “Jericho” — the CBS series about a small town in central Kansas after a series of nuclear explosions cuts off the rest of the world — and “Heroes” — the NBC series about an interconnected group of “new mutants” threatened by a pending nuclear detonation in New York City — since the season began.
Originally, I ate up “Heroes” like the best comic-book cake in the bakery, and tolerated “Jericho” because my wife liked it.
Lately, though, I’m flipping.
Now, I’m a huge comics fan — and when I knew “Heroes” was coming, I got pretty excited. I had my TIVO Season Pass all set up before the pilot aired. I wasn’t disappointed by the first few episodes, either, and really dug the cliffhanger episodes.
Then… I started to be able to predict things. Was I discovering a special ability myself? Would I be compelled to “watch the series… save Monday night for the network?” (Since unfortunately “Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip” isn’t gonna do that.) Nah… I’ve just read too many comic books, and “Heroes” follows comic book conventions so closely, they’ve started depending on comic book cliches. The cliffhangers are less shocking; the coincidences, contrived.
“Jericho,” on the other hand, I was apathetic toward, then intrigued… and now I’m engaged. Much slower than “Heroes,” and that’s all right, because it’s focused on character conflict and growth. People are changing for better and for worse, and characters are making choices that drive the plot, not the other way around. And maybe it says more about me than it does about these television shows, but I have yet to say, “Well, I saw that coming” watching an episode of “Jericho.”
It’s social science fiction, which is a pretty rare thing on television. When the plot twists come, I’m genuinely surprised because they make sense without feeling like mere shock value. I’m interested in the characters on “Jericho.” On “Heroes,” I’m not so concerned. I know New York will be saved. I don’t much care who lives or dies on the way to the season (series?) finale, because the characters are… pardon the blasphemy… too comic-booky!
Just one guy’s opinion, of course. Commence your attack runs..!
4 Responses to ““Jericho” Better Than “Heroes?””
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[...] Jericho Vs. Heroes - Who Wins? December 2nd, 2006 by amber Matthew Wayne Selznick may have a point, though I adore both shows. ?Jericho,? on the other hand, I was apathetic toward, then intrigued? and now I?m engaged. Much slower than ?Heroes,? and that?s all right, because it?s focused on character conflict and growth. People are changing for better and for worse, and characters are making choices that drive the plot, not the other way around. And maybe it says more about me than it does about these television shows, but I have yet to say, ?Well, I saw that coming? watching an episode of ?Jericho.? [...]
You’re absolutely correct with the “too comic-booky” characters on Heroes, but I think that’s why I like them so much. Jericho I’m invested in the characters and their relationships, and Heroes I watch because I love the idea of a comic book gone live-action. Otherwise I wouldn’t actually have sat through some of the comic-book to movies that were so disappointing.
Good point about the comic-booky stuff being the attraction… but you comment about comic book movies got me thinking… really the only comic book (let’s be accurate and say “super-hero”) movies I really wasn’t the slightest bit disappointed in or bothered by were the two Spider-Man flicks — because of the characters!
I’m an old Marvel fan from the early seventies, though, so I can’t help but require my soap opera to have a little super-hero action. ;-)
It’s JERICHO all the way for me. I swear that hour goes by like a minute, doesn’t it?? It’s like I’m on the edge of my seat the entire time.
I hope that more people will come to know how fun this show is when it comes back on Feb. 14th.
I hear things are really going to get wild!
BTW, love Johnston, Jake, Emily, Gail and Jonah.
Is Gray for real or what? What a jerk!
Can’t wait for new episodes!