All four seasons of the Emmy-winning superhero drama Heroes are now streaming on Netflix, and fans have described the series as “not at all ordinary,” drawing comparisons to X-Men.
Created by Tim Kring, the American superhero drama first aired in 2006. It is attracting a new wave of viewers nearly two decades on, particularly following the death of one of its lead cast members, Hayden Panettiere, who passed away last month at the age of 36. Panettiere portrayed cheerleader Claire Bennett, one of the show’s most pivotal characters.
What is Heroes about?
The show centres on everyday people from across the globe who suddenly discover they possess extraordinary superhuman powers, and whose lives become inextricably intertwined. It is crafted in a comic book-style narrative using multi-episode story arcs, or “volumes,” and became a pop-culture phenomenon during its original run.
The ensemble features eight characters, each with a different power. Claire Bennett is a high school cheerleader with the power of spontaneous regeneration; DL Hawkins can phase through matter; Isaac Mendez is an artist who can paint the future; Hiro Nakamura is an office worker who can bend and travel through space-time; LAPD Officer Matt Parkman has telepathy; Nathan Petrelli is an ambitious politician who can fly; his brother Peter is an in-home nurse who can absorb the powers of others when near them; and Niki Sanders has super strength.
Fan reviews and comparisons
One fan awarded the series 10 stars on IMDb, writing: “Heroes is similar to Marvel's X-Men, in that its characters discover they have different powers. But where X-Men is driven more by action and plot, Heroes is more character-driven.”
The same fan added: “But what separates 'Heroes' from most shows and movies is that each of our heroes are uniquely flawed. Claire, like most high school seniors, frequently forgets who her real friends are. DL is running from the law. Isaac is addicted to heroin, and can only see the future when he is high.”
Another viewer described the series as “addictive.” Blue Ray Authority said: “Naturally, with a title like 'Heroes' you have to have... villains! I'm happy to say that the show has a few of the vilest villains that I've seen on television... To say that 'Heroes' is addictive is an understatement. It's right up there with 'Lost' and 'Nip/Tuck' in terms of regular television shows that I watch on a weekly basis.”
All four seasons of Heroes are currently available to stream on Netflix.
