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NBC’s hit ‘Heroes’ puts humanity over special effects and clobber fests • Back?

What does it take to be a hero?

With due respect to Superman and Spider-Man, the answer rarely is so obvious. Several of television’s newest characters are proving the point in “Heroes,” the NBC fantasy-drama series that has bestowed special powers on unlikely recipients.

(The show has performed so well, the network recently picked it up for a full season.)

Not all of the characters have crossed paths yet, but they have a common destiny as they struggle to get used to their respective gifts. It’s one of the show’s charms that the characters are so earthbound, facing everyday dilemmas that are complicated by the unique talents they’ve suddenly found they possess.

Peter (Milo Ventimiglia, “The Bedford Diaries”) is an imaginative young empath experiencing the same sensation of flying as his politician brother, Nathan (Adrian Pasdar, “Mysterious Ways”). Niki (Ali Larter, “Final Destination”) is a Las Vegas stripper and single mother prone to blackouts, during which her mirror image gets tough with enemies sent by loan sharks.

Tokyo computer whiz Hiro (cast standout Masi Oka) can alter time through sheer will. Teenage cheerleader Claire (Hayden Panettiere, “Raising Helen”) has a body that literally can’t be hurt. Los Angeles police officer Matt (Greg Grunberg, “Alias”) has telepathic abilities.

Larter is pleased to be playing one of the “Heroes” struggling with her gifts.

“Why I was attracted to playing this is that (as the characters), we’re trying to understand what’s happening to us,” she said. “It’s not that all of a sudden we know what our powers are, so it’s all internalized. We’re trying to get our kids to school and deal with all these things that are happening in our lives, while this is growing inside of us. We’re not in total control of it yet, so I think it’s that exploration that is going to be really interesting.”

“Heroes” creator Tim Kring hinted that the new powers might not necessarily be used for others’ benefit.

“The truth is, evil is sometimes within us,” he said. “If you can walk through walls and you’re inclined to do good, you may save somebody. If you’re inclined to do something evil, you may walk through a wall and rob a bank. I think we can expect that some villains will arise, people who have developed these abilities.”

And sometimes the heroes won’t have the abilities they initially think they do. Ventimiglia said his alter ego “physically feels people’s true emotions and true potential in life. Where Peter was the guy thinking, ‘Everything is happening to me,’ his close relationship is actually telling his brother his own ability. You start to wonder, ‘Well, what happens when Peter comes into contact with other people? Is he going to ultimately take on their powers, or (just) think he has those powers?’ I think he has this faith, this belief he can do it.”

Source: IGN