DVD Reviews

Heroes: Season Four – DVD Review

By Jeff Swindoll Aug 18, 2010, 16:51 GMT

Experience all the intrigue and suspense of Heroes: Season 4 in this 5-disc set that includes all 18 gripping episodes from the fourth season\'s volume, Redemption. As the Heroes mourn fallen friends and face dangerous new foes, prepare for a wild ride - filled with shocking twists and turns - through an ominous funhouse that culminates in a Brave New World. Then step right up and explore hours of exclusive, ...more

To quote David Bowie, “Though nothing will drive them away.”  Well, except plummeting ratings.  Heroes had a good first season, but from there on out it was a law of diminishing returns. 

There may have been some good bits here and there but NBC finally was exposed to the ratings kryptonite that put the series in the grave.  

Heroes, if you don’t know, concerns a group of everyday people who find that they have superpowers.  After the events of Season Three, Claire (Hayden Pantettiere) goes off to college and Peter (Milo Ventimiglia) returns to his job as a paramedic.  Hiro (Masi Oka) and Ando (James Kyson Lee) have started a “dial-a-hero” business, but Hiro has noticed a lack of control in his powers and thinks the worst. 

Matt (Greg Grunberg) discovers that he’s closer to Sylar (Zachary Quinto) than he wants to be.  The circus is also coming to town in the traveling carnival of Samuel Sullivan (Robert Knepper), who runs it as a haven for heroes but may have some sinister plans in mind for them.  

Heroes began with such promise and with many things petered out and ended with a whimper.  The show began was the new critical and fan darling, but the writer’s strike (as with many quality shows) caused the show to derail and it never recovered.  It came as now surprise when NBC announced that the fourth season would be the final one.  This season really does no favors for itself as it starts to get boring. 

Shows that have so many characters always are stretched thin as the writers try to find ways to give everyone a chance to shine.  However, Heroes paints itself into too many corners and takes boneheaded ways out.  Oftentimes repeating themselves, stretching premises, or redoing plotlines. 

It does feature some fine actors, Quinto and Oka are a stand outs, but when you start to yell at the screen at the stupid things they do or groan with annoyance at stories then you know that the show needs to be put down. 

Genre fans are notoriously fickle and picky, but when you see a team take a promising show and premise and does little with it you have to scratch your head.  This season does have a moment or two, but in the end it’s too little too late. 

So we bid farewell to our Heroes, but at least we have the great first season and a moment or two elsewhere to remind us of the good times.  

Heroes is presented in widescreen (1.78:1) and is enhanced for 16x9 televisions.  Several episodes feature commentaries: “Once Upon a Time in Texas” features creator Tim Kring, director Nate Goodman, and director of photography Charlie Lieberman, “Shadowboxing” has producers Adam Armus and Kay Foster plus Greg Grunberg, “The Fifth Stage” has Kring and actor Adrian Pasdar, and “Brave New World” has Kring and Robert Knepper. 

You also get 45 minutes of deleted scenes, the 21 minute “Decontructing Sylar” about the titular villain, the 5 minute “Milo Speaks” where the actor discusses his character, a 2 minute design gallery, the 10 minute “Heroes Revolution” about how the show used new media (like the interweb), and the 40 minute “Genetics of a Scene” showing how a scene came together.  

Heroes started strong, but quickly lost its footing until it limped into the grave.  It seemed like the writers lost their confidence and quickly began using scripting tricks or repeating themselves.  Things some fans saw through.

Completionists who haven’t given up on the show should add it to their collections.  If you must, there are some nice special features to be found.

Visit the DVD database for more information.