Anybody here watch Heroes?
I’m really on the fence about it this season. On the one hand, I really don’t like how they went supersonic with the pacing. Last season was slow and plodding. This season has truly moved at the speed of light, so much happening so quickly it’s hard to engage in anything.
But the one thing that has truly enraptured me (and this really does apply to more than just the TV show, I’m getting to that) and that’s the transition of hero to villain and villain to hero.
It’s a really interesting concept and probably the best way for this show to go this season. (If only they’d do it a little slower.)
I didn’t buy several of the transitions. Mohinder Suresh going from “normal scientist” to bug-creature is stupid and I didn’t care about it because I never liked Mohinder to begin with. Ditto Claire—her I do like, but sorry, even if she has reasons (and we saw those reasons starting last night) I just will never buy her as some bad-ass tough villain.
But there is one I have definitely bought into whole heartedly.
Syler.
Syler’s transition from really twisted, evil killer to this fabulous, funny, charming, “good guy” (though, of course, he is in no way entirely “good”) is the reason I’m still watching this show this season. He is fascinating to watch, primarily because of the actor portraying him. Can we really buy his transition? I dunno, but I’m enjoying the heck out of watching him paired up with “HRG” guy.
Anyway, the whole concept has interested me as a writer for a long time. Because I have long realized a very basic truth of storytelling: every villain is the hero of his own story. The most compelling villains are the ones who don’t see themselves as villains at all. They might be doing things the world sees as reprehensible and evil but, to them, they are perfectly acceptable or well-motivated. They have their own “code” and as long as they don’t cross their own lines, never see themselves as truly doing anything evil.
Hannibal Lechter is a fascinating character, an enduring one, for this reason. He has his own code. No, I did not like the end of Hannibal one little bit (the book) but I really do find him a wonderful, compelling villain who has lines even he won’t cross.
I have really tried to keep this in mind when writing the new romantic thrillers I’ve been working on. One, for instance is truly a psychopathic killer, but when he’s hired by someone who wants to see a child abused, he thinks about how “sick” the other guy is, that he’s no weirdo” like that one. He simply doesn’t see his own villainy, that’s a line in his own personal sandbox and he is almost self-righteous about not crossing it.
Interesting, no?
Anybody else really fascinated by the hero/villain dynamic? And anybody else watch Heroes? If so…what do you think?
Leslie Kelly used to say she wanted to be a doctor when she grew up, but then she discovered Nancy Drew books. Being a flashlight-under-the-covers-nose-in-book reader throughout her childhood, she couldn’t think of anything else she’d rather do as an adult than continue to lose herself in fictional stories. Her real life marriage of 20 years to the man of her dreams is a constant reinforcement that happily-ever-afters really can happen…and that they’re worth writing about. Living in Maryland, Leslie spends her non-writing time laughing a lot with the above-mentioned romance hero and their three daughters. Though an author of more than thirty sexy, contemporary comedies, she has recently branched out to write dark romantic suspense under the pseudonym Leslie Parrish.
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I am two episodes behind on Heroes right now, but plan on catching up soon. I love watching Sylar transform (and with a mother like that can you blame him for being evil to begin with- even if he didn’t know?) from villian to semi-good guy. I haven’t decided about the others yet. Mohinder I just may want to slap, although I think he is just as crazy in his own way.
I know in some of the mystery series I read that I enjoy seeing the bad guy draw his own line in the sand as to what is right and wrong and just wonder at how the human brain works.
Never did like Hannibal Lechter though. ick.
Can’t wait to see “Sylar” as Spock in the new Star Trek movie. The parts I saw this weekend were definately interesting.
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I’ve never watched Heroes. I do think there is nothing like a great villain and of course having an equally great hero to match goodness and evil on a grand scale.
Hannibal Lecter is just really, really creepy. I’ve never watched the entire movie, Silence of the Lambs. When he said that line about the fava beans and sucked his lips–YUCK and SUPER YUCK!! I guess I’m just too squeamish. The same goes for books too especially when they’re doing things like gluing a young girl’s lips together after raping and beating her multiple times like in one of Allison Brennan’s books. Yikes! That just totally creeps me out. Great writing from Allison but boy does it make me shudder.
Cher
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I do watch Heroes, although I missed last night’s episode. I agree that they need to slow things down this season. Too much too fast makes it really hard to keep up with right now.
I love Sylar and can’t wait to see what happens with his character. Still not sure if I can see Claire as a villian. I’ll have to watch, wait and see.
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I don’t watch “Heroes’, but like the others Hannibal Lector creeps me out. I guess I live in a challenging world and like to escape with happy stories, not creepy stories.
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Let me clarify, I don’t LIKE Hannibal Lechter…lolol! I just said he is a compelling character, and he is. He is not only creepy, he is horrific, but he’s also impossible to ignore.
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I have not watched Heroes. So–no ionput there.
But a true vilian who never sees himself as one is Mr. Dr. ? Glass in Unbreakable.
Here is a guy who keeps causing major catastrophes just to find a “super” guy, because he is so fragile.
Anyway, I am usually very suspicious when a villian turns hero. It never seems true unless there is a very compelling reason.
Have a good Tuesday!
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I watched Heroes the first season but didn’t stick with it. I’m not really a TV or movie junkie. I have a few shows that I religiously watch – even going online to catch a missed episode.
Leslie, I’m with you. Really bad guys with their own code of ethics is fascinating fodder for a reader and a writer. BBCA had a a limited series called “HEX”. Talk about tall, dark, sexy and evil – Azreal the fallen angel was just…DUUDE! Even he had regrets and lines in the sand despite the fact that he was pretty much evil incarnate.
I do have an assassin in one of my books who kills without blinking an eye but has an incredible sense of chivalry and honor. He was fun to write. And speaking of, time to get back to it. National Novel Writing Month is looming and I’m working to get my ducks in a row (aka research) so I can just
for thirty days. Have a great day, all!
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I am really having a hard time getting into Hero’s this season. I don’t know if it is moving to fast or what, it just seems hard to follow this time around. I have not watch last nights show yet, but have it recorded.
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Hereoes is becoming like Lost. You have to watch every episode or you are …. lost. I was thinking last night that I didn’t buy Suresh’s transformation and Claire is a bit weak. But Sylar? Oh my gosh. I can’t wait to see what happens next. Also, whats up with Peter? Why did he have to go bad?
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Okay, I have a totally off-topic question… :giggle: There is a great debate going on within my critique group and I said I was going to the experts.
In determining word counts, are publishers still using the 250 word/page count or are they moving to the computer word counts? Inquiring minds really, really want to know.
Thanks in advance for your help!!!
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Reminder to everyone to get your mammogram!
I just found out my next door neighbor has less than a year to live. She has been fighting breast cancer for quite some time.
The bad news just keeps on giving. It makes me want to go up, get in the bed and pull the covers over my head and stay there.
Cher
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I’ve never watched Heroes, so I have no opinion on the show or series.
Villian to hero, an interesting concept. Some of the books I’ve read have a villian that turns out to be a hero/good guy, he just seemed like a villian.
I’ve also never seen any movie with Hannibal Lechter, just the thought of it gives me chills.
Cher, I am so sorry to hear about your neighbor. :hug2:
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Sorry, I misunderstood…must be because I am tired….sorry.
Cher..sorry about your neighbor…I know how that is…my sil’s (who is more like a sister)’s mom has weeks left after her third (I think it is third) battle with breast cancer (and she is a great person). It’s just so sad. :hug2: :hug2: :hug2:
Go get your mammy-o-grams, everyone!
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Yikes Cher, so sorry to hear about your friend. A very good reminder!
And Alannah–I am writing strictly by computer word count now. Harlequin used to be 250 wpp, but my editor asked me a year or two ago to go just by words from now on. NAL never specified, so I’ve just been doing the same thing.
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Thanks, Leslie. That’s what I needed to know!
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Oh, Cher and Katie! I’m so sorry. :hug2: and :pray: to you both.
And the word count? Wow. Just out of curiosity, I computed 250 wpp on the novel I just submitted to Harlequin and came up with just over 50K while the Word counter made it just under 60K. That’s a big gap! I’ve always gone by the computer count, btw. I didn’t realize that some publishers might not.
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Cher, Katie, I’m SORRY!
Alannah, I’m not sure! I come in at apprx same page amount each book.
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Cher & Katie — I’m so sorry to hear about the special women in your lives with breast cancer. It’s horrible, and my prayers are with them!
Jodie — I always go by page count. With a Blaze I always aimed for about 220-240 pages, and with the bigger books I aim for 400 pages. I honestly don’t think either way is wrong — just another one of those “rules” for you to stress over! :giggle:
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Janelle – doesn’t it figure…one more rule!
It’s just one that I hadn’t spent a whole lot of time stressing over…yet! Someone else asked the question, then it began a great debate. I figured sooner or later I was going to need the answer, for sure, so I might as well go ahead and find out now.
Thanks Carly and Janelle! I’m passing the answers on….
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Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers.
I had a really good cry this evening and I feel better now. I’m going to be okay. :-)
Cher
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NAL and Pocket were both on computer word count. Harlequin is now as well. Even my local chapter switched to word count on our contest.
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LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Heroes. I love X-Men, too, so I knew I would like this show. It’s very different. Sylar–both the character and the actor that plays him–really freaks me out. I also like the direction they’re going this season, although I do agree that Mo’s metamorphosis into a fly? is not to my liking. I’m a big fan of Peter–bad or good.