Lately, the web’s been buzzing about the rumored major character death to occur on NBC’s Heroes. Even though now many sources are ‘confirming’ the identity of character to bite the big one (again), it seems too late as the character will die (again, again) after the show already has.
I’ve been rewatching Heroes and outside of a couple of episodes last season, this show never truly recovered from what had to be one of the most disappointing season finales ever in season I. Nikki Finke (as well as E!) is reporting that Adrian Pasdar (Nathan Petrelli ) has been let go by the show. Ultimately true or not, it’s (sadly) rather irrelevant as I think Heroes gambled that the success they had with basic serial superhero comic book storytelling adapted to the screen would apply with all elements–including the inevitable lack of truth ‘death’. Not to mention recycling its on stories (again, ala comics). Unless you’re Lost and have consistently kickass writing and a unique mythology to fall back on, dead has to be dead.
For myself, while I certainly understand she became a bit of a cash cow and probably the most identifiable/marketable person on the show, I always thought that the whole first season ‘Save the Cheerleader, Save the World” bit should have ended with Hayden’s truth dead, setting up a new tone for the second season. If that occurred, you could never trust Heroes (a great quality in an 1-hour drama) and the show would have the element of cost in it.
I guess the saddest part is that even if this was a false leaked rumor to stir up interest, I just think it’s too late. You don’t hit people to make them care–you hit them while they care.
