Heroes, Wednesday 9pm & 9.40pm, BBC2

Posted by Helen Jennings

Preview rating:
Americans do it better. It’s just true. Alias, Lost, 24, Six Feet Under,
The X Files, Twin Peaks, Angel (stop me, I’m on a roll) – when it comes to dark and moody drama, they’ve got it licked. And Heroes is set to be the next brooding series from across the pond to have us Brits hooked.

Tonight it makes its UK terrestrial debut with a double bill introducing us to a disparate set of characters who have all become aware of their super-human powers. Peter, a hospice nurse, attempts to convince his politician brother that he can fly. A high school cheerleader called Claire learns she is indestructible and can heal herself. Niki, a Las Vegas stripper, discovers that her mirror image has a life of its own. The artist Isaac believes he can paint the future. Matt, an LA cop, can hear other people’s thoughts. And Hiro, a computer programmer from Japan, can stop time through sheer willpower alone.

It all sounds a bit Power Rangers – but these characters don’t suddenly don multi-coloured lycra suits and start flying around in formation. Instead, each choppy, comic strip-style scene builds to draw you in to an apocalyptic atmosphere of malcontent in which our unlikely heroes begin to realise they, of course, are destined to save mankind from an impending catastrophe and all manner of evil.

The BBC has already acquired the rights to the second series, with seven in total planned plus spin-off series, so it looks like Heroes is going to be big. Real big. Tina Turner was wrong, then: we DO need another hero.

Comments

[Dave Stopher]

I believe that this is one of the best series around. It is very addictive like LOST!

[Karen Davis]

I have seen the first series on the Sci Fi Channel and I can say that heroes is definitely worth a look. Especially with Christopher Eccleston's cameo role for two or three episodes. Gripping stuff!

[MD]

This is seriously fascinating stuff. I loved it, can't wait to see the next episode.