Summary
- Heroes: Eclipsed must bring back original fan-favorite characters for a successful reboot.
- Have a clear end goal, like the original show, to keep the focus and direction clear.
- Avoid too many plot twists and character personality shifts to maintain a cohesive storyline.
Heroes is getting a new reboot series almost 20 years after the original began, but to avoid the earlier shows' fate, there are some things that need to be corrected. Heroes was first released in 2006, and it gained significant success from early on. The show enjoyed high ratings and awards, but over the course of the following seasons, the popularity sharply fell, and the series was canceled after its fourth season.
Then, in 2015, the spin-off series, Heroes Reborn, was released in an effort to further expand the story. However, the series failed to gather a sizable audience, and it was canceled after just one season. From the original's height of popularity, to the sinking ship that the series became, there was a lot of potential in the Heroes' universe that can hopefully be realized in the upcoming reboot, Heroes: Eclipsed (via Variety). But in order to guarantee success, the show should look at earlier mistakes and improve on them going forward.
Every Season Of Heroes, Ranked Worst To Best
Heroes had a rollercoaster run with major highs and devastating lows, but overall, the show remains a cult classic that is well worth a rewatch.10 Heroes: Eclipsed Must Bring Back The Fan-Favorite Original Characters
Fan Favorites First
Milo Ventimiglia as Peter Petrelli, and Zachary Quinto as Sylar were at the heart of the series.
One of the absolute best aspects of the original show was the incredible cast. Milo Ventimiglia as Peter Petrelli, and Zachary Quinto as Sylar were at the heart of the series, and their impressive talents have gone on to make them huge celebrities, appearing in feature films and sensational shows ever since. Joining them, characters like the cheerleader, Claire Bennet, the scientist Mohinder Suresh, and the time-traveler, Hiro Nakamura, made the show endlessly engaging and exciting with a variety of personalities.
While Heroes Reborn brought back some central characters, others were missing, and their absence was sorely felt. Chloe was killed off-screen, while Peter and Sylar were said to be on the run. If Heroes: Eclipsed plans to keep the Reborn series as canon, it should make some major changes to how this story was told. The original characters were a huge part of the show, and every effort should be made to get the cast back together.
Heroes: 10 Plot Twists That Nobody Saw Coming
Heroes was a show that often succeeded when it stunned the viewers, which it did with these memorable but unexpected plot twists.9 Have A Clear End Goal
Chart a Clear Course with a Defined Goal
Another huge benefit to the original show, and its first few seasons, was the presence of a clear and singular goal. While powered people were appearing around the world, and a dangerous murderer was on the loose, the heroes were being brought together by Isaac Mendez's prophetic artwork. From his visions, the explosion in New York was made known, as well as some pivotal events leading up to it.
Early on, the show established the possibility of Claire Bennet being killed, and the impact that would have on the future. The mantra "save the cheerleader, save the world," became a mission statement for the series. While numerous events played out, this clear direction that promised to bring the heroes together and stop a disaster was a clear focus. The new show should have a similar vision, possibly even using that old call to adventure as a way to set up stopping Claire's death from happening.
8 Heroes Must Return Its Focus To The Character Drama
Rekindle the Power of Character Drama
As established in the previous two points, the characters make the show what it is. For a new spin-off to be a success, it must return to its roots, and keep the character drama and relationships central to the story. Dynamics between Nathan and his brother Peter, Claire and her secretive father Noah Bennet, and Hiro and his best friend Ando were pivotal to the show's success. All of these characters become more defined through their conflicts and confrontations.
As the seasons went on, characters came and went, and the focus got blurred as more new characters were introduced with minimally defined stories. The characters being mysterious is not a problem, as was shown by having characters like Sylar, Noah and Angela all harbor huge secrets, but there is a difference between mystery and a lack of development. The new show should ensure that the characters have plenty of chances to shine and interact as they follow their individual arcs.
Heroes: Recasting The Main Characters Today
The series Heroes was a hit with fans thanks to its ensemble of superpowered characters, but who would fill these roles if the show was made today?7 Avoid Too Many Plot Twists
Less is More
A good plot twist can make for a brilliant and captivating story. However, a poorly executed twist, or an abundance of small twists can add up to more annoyance than excitement. In every new season of the original Heroes show, the series appeared to make drastic changes, from the overall story of the season, to the major players involved.
The first season featured an ominous threat of an explosion, which changed to the threat of the Shanti Virus in season 2, and then it turned to threats like the government, and Samuel Sullivan and his circus in the final seasons. Each season should have a clear focus, but it's also worthwhile to create a larger overarching narrative, and have each season fit into that grand plan. Otherwise, it just feels like the show is constantly transforming until it's beyond recognition.