The super-powered mutants on 'Heroes' may finally have found two adversaries harder to beat than Sylar: Audience apathy, and the NBC suits. According to a report at sci-fi fansite Airlock Alpha, dipping ratings have made the show's cancellation all but inevitable, and NBC executives are reportedly asking the show's writers to tie up all narrative loose ends at the end of this season.No doubt this news will lead to much rejoicing in the fanboy-o-sphere (already, the geekerati at io9 are citing the Airlock Alpha report as "good news"). Yes, the show once seemed smart and full of promise, but three indifferent seasons later, even die-hard fans are just waiting for the tired saga to play itself out. But if the end really is near, how should 'Heroes' end? Read on for some suggestions.
NBC has yet to confirm or deny the Airlock Alpha report. Even so, given the show's current ratings (down 23 percent from this time last year), the network's refusal to pick up a fifth season of 'Heroes' wouldn't be much of a shocker. "I don't think this should surprise anybody," Airlock Alpha quotes an unnamed NBC insider as saying. "The writing has been on the wall for some time."
The notion that closure could be in sight for 'Heroes' might be good for both its fans and writers; consider, for instance, how much the writing on 'Lost' sharpened once ABC and that show's creators announced a fixed endpoint for the series. "There isn't much happening with this show in terms of audience," Airlock Alpha's source said of 'Heroes,' "and giving it a 'final chapter' feel is something the network is considering to help allow the show to go out with a bang,"
If 'Heroes' writers really want to bring the show to a fan-pleasing conclusion, here are some of the things they ought to do:
1. Kill Mohinder. He's everybody's most-hated character anyway.
2. Kill Parkman. The doughy mind-reader is dullsville.
3. Kill Sylar, once and for all. Granted, he's harder to eradicate than Michael Myers or swine flu. The heroes will have to chop him into tiny pieces and send them all into the 'Superman II' "phantom zone."
4. Let Claire come out as a lesbian. Because who doesn't love lesbian cheerleaders? And doesn't the world deserve an indestructible lesbian superheroine?
5. Kill Mohinder again. Just to be sure.
6. Reveal that the whole comic-book saga is a dream in the mind of Hurley from 'Lost.'
Reader Comments (13)
Isa at 7:09PM on Oct 30th 2009
Untrue. Die hard Heroes fans are still watching the show both live, and on DVR. Whoever said ratings are going down really needs to look at he most recent numbers from Nielson. After a low around episode 3 of this season, ratings are, in reality, starting to IMPROVE. It has been slow, but it is consistent.
Airlock Alpha's source also said that the show would end in May. As one of the writers points out, anyone who really knew anything about the show would also know that this season is scheduled to end in January, just before the Olympics.
As for the writing being on the wall: the writing has steadily improved since Volume 4 (second half, third season). The actors are pleased, the fans are thrilled, even the critics who once delighted in bashing the show are starting to take note of its good qualities again.
Fred Wildman at 11:17AM on Nov 4th 2009
The show should end. It is one of the worst !!!
Jackie at 7:33PM on Oct 30th 2009
Love Heros never miss it. It is about the only thing on NBC worth watching. They lost medium and now Heros. NBC may as well go off the air now.
CJ at 10:20PM on Oct 30th 2009
With the exception of killing Sylar those are sme of the worst ideas ever. The only way this show should end is with an epic battle involving Sylar, Peter and Hiro. That battle should conclude with Sylar's head rolling across the floor.
carolyn at 10:47PM on Oct 30th 2009
i love heroes' i will be sad when and if it goes bye bye. i would love to see sylar become good and for nathan to have not died like in dallas a dream. and hiro to charlie cause he saves her this time around. claire to go both ways maybe.
Shangrila72 at 11:42PM on Oct 30th 2009
Wow...all this fuss over Airlock saying a friend of a friend of a friend whose hairdresser knows somebody who works as a cashier at the NBC commissary told him Heroes is being canceled? I'll believe it if I read it from Ausiello, TV by the Numbers or another credible source. Until then I'm calling BS on this.
ronald at 1:05AM on Nov 1st 2009
where do you read comments from people responding to them cant find anything in here
Greg at 2:16AM on Nov 1st 2009
I lost interest in season 2 when the writing became self-indulgent and unfocused. Suddenly everybody, even kids, were bursting with super-powers, providing too many characters and not enough substance. It's sad, the first season was terrific.
Carol Braun at 7:59AM on Nov 4th 2009
I love heroes.I can't believe anybody could think the story line is dead.
James at 11:14PM on Nov 4th 2009
Spoiler for anyone who hasn't watched the latest show.
In regards to the list its funny because mohinder hasn't been on the show and is now shown to be dead.