Tonights' "Heroes" episode was a direct attack on the bush admin (spoilers inside)

[milkyway]

Heroes are genetic mutants, each with a special power. This episode takes place almost entirely 5 years in the future. An explosion caused by one of these special people has decimated New York, and now "the world has become a dark place" as the government is using people's fears of these mutants to write new laws and expand its powers for the safety of the people. The government "has made us choose sides" (you're either with us or against us). The Heroes are regarded as terrorists, and Homeland Security is rounding up these special people and imprisoning them. On the anniversary of the explosion, the President speaks from a Ground Zero-like location in NYC. And it turns out the President in this episode is not actually the flawed but generally decent (and reluctant Hero) Nathan, but instead the evil mutant Sylar.

This was easily the best episode yet, and the not-subtle critique of the bush admin was a new turn in the series. I wonder if this was always part of the scriptwriter's plan, or if the sinking-yet-further approval ratings of bush made the writers feel safe in going after them.

[rosesaylavee]

1. Yeah, we were all laughing about the Sylar

twist... was Sylar * or Darth Cheney? We were evenly divided. The shot of the future president at the memorial service in the blown out shell of a NYC building sure looked like Chimpy though, didn't it?

B**sh = evil mutant. It all makes sense now to me. :7

[Wheezy]

3. I think way too highly of Sylar...

...to compare him to * or Cheney.

Of course I hate Sylar. But he's fucking smart, clever, and believable.

Something the top two in real US are sorely lacking.

That said, I noticed the echoing comparison and did a silent cheer.

:)

[rosesaylavee]

4. So you are advocating Sylar for 2008?

You are obviously a paid operative!

:7

[ComerPerro]

2. eh, I don't know about that. I just thought it was a ripoff of X-Men

[Sanctified]

8. Agreed...

While watching it my wife was all, "Wow that is original." and I was like just watch X-Men.

[tomreedtoon]

5. Haven't seen the episode yet, but damn, I love Heroes!

The thing is, of course, the same plot line has been used in a lot of comic books like Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and Alan Moore's Watchmen and the X-Men story line "Days of Future Past." You could even trace it to the very brief, interesting Potterstown sequence in It's a Wonderful Life.

But of course, Heroes has an edge; for people who no longer read comic books (which means people who no longer read, period) the show has characters they have learned to love over a season, played by terrific non-star actors, who must face this terrible situation.

I can't wait until I get home and check the Tivo. You guys have me drooling.

[MadBadger]

6. Speaking of direct attacks of the Bush Amdin in TV shows

Surprisingly as I saw in a screening for my television class, The second season of 24 and its finale had a very big anti-bush message (though i doubt that was the intentions).

[global1]

9. Then There's Always 'Boston Legal' Which Every Week Takes.....

shots at *Co.

[Pachamama]

7. I totally agree....it was an interesting episode showing the contrast to what kind of things we see

and hear now and the way fear is used to manipulate us....It also shows you how confusing and dangerous it can be in figuring out who to trust....

[milkyway]

10. kick.

[drbtg1]

11. Here's a "Heroes" tidbit DUers might like.

Then again, maybe not. Hard to tell around here sometimes.

Anyway, Adrian Pasdar, who plays Nathan Petrelli, is married to Natalie "ashamed of Bush" Maines of the Dixie Chicks.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0664499/bio

[AspenRose]

12. And his birthday was yesterday, too...just like mine!

I knew he was cool for a reason ;-)