My son and I have been watching season one of Heroes. We've knocked out 8 or so episodes during this last week. A romp of a show with almost as many cliffhangers as 24. Of course I feel manipulated but will allow such manipulations for pleasure and some time with my son for at least one season--not sure I can do more than that. The voice-over philosophical statements on agency, evolution, and ontology seem too serious considering the plot, but maybe I need to watch more episodes to find the meat underneath the action-packed veneer . . . not holding my breath.
More episodes will be watched as my son is begging me to watch two a day. Yesterday he watched one without me--how could he? He was reprimanded and made to watch the episode again while guiding me through it so we could ff through the slow parts (i.e. about 3 and half minutes).
With a fair amount of violence, gore, and tension (several squeamish demures while wondering, "can they show that on tv?") Tim Kring, the creator, made a brilliant move incorporating the Japanese odd couple who travel to
Note to self: must figure out a way to discuss and watch Heroes episodes when I teach Middlebrow's scifi course next year. Certain to boost my evaluation scores.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Heroes: Pleasurable manipulation
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4 comments:
MB started watching this without me, and I don't think I have the energy to invest in yet another TV show. But I'm sure you can find a way to work it into your class and I'm sure the students will love it!!
I like how "Heroes" displays a real true-to-form comic book sensibility, and never takes itself too seriously. So many comic adaptations have tried to go overly dramatic in my opinion (e.g. Batman). Maybe it is because it is TV, and that lends itself to less drama and more melodrama. I duno.
I agree about the gore. Some of the violence on that show, like the living room brain surgery scene, I wonder how that gets on prime time? Its seriously gross. I wonder if kids should watch that. I don't have kids though, so what do I know...
TV episodes = better evaluations? Oh my god. How did I not *know* this.
I am glad you and Seth are watching Heroes together. I've only seen parts of the show a few times, but it seemed very intriguing. I hope you guys are having a happy Thanksgiving.
Love, Mom
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