All four seasons of the NBC superhero drama Heroes are now available to stream on Netflix, and fans are calling the show "addictive" and "not at all ordinary." The series, created by Tim Kring, originally premiered in 2006 but is drawing fresh audiences nearly two decades later, particularly following the recent death of lead cast member Hayden Panettiere.
The programme follows everyday people around the world who unexpectedly discover they possess remarkable superhuman powers, with their lives fundamentally interconnected. Panettiere, who died last month aged 36, played cheerleader Claire Bennett, one of the series' key figures.
Fans compare the show to X-Men
One enthusiast described the series as "not at all ordinary," drawing comparisons to X-Men. A fan who awarded the Emmy-winning series 10 stars on IMDb wrote: "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 show focuses on an ensemble of eight characters, each with a different ability. Claire Bennett is a high school cheerleader with spontaneous regeneration; DL Hawkins can phase through matter; Isaac Mendez is an artist who paints the future; Hiro Nakamura is an office worker who can bend space-time; LAPD Officer Matt Parkman has telepathy; Nathan Petrelli is a politician who can fly; his brother Peter is a nurse who absorbs others' powers; and Niki Sanders has super strength.
Why fans find it so compelling
One reviewer noted: "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 fan, Blue Ray Authority, called the show "addictive," adding: "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."
The series, crafted in a comic book-style format with multi-episode story arcs or "volumes," became a cultural sensation during its original broadcast. All four seasons of Heroes are currently streaming on Netflix.
