The NBC science fiction serial drama series Heroes follows the lives of people across the globe who possess various superhuman powers as they struggle to cope with their everyday lives and prevent foreseen disasters from occurring. The series premiered on American and Canadian television on September 25, 2006.[1] The first season, which finished 21st of 142 American primetime television programs in Nielsen ratings,[2] was released on DVD and HD DVD on August 28, 2007.[3] The second season ranked 21st of 220 in the ratings,[4] and was released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc on August 26, 2008 with the Blu-ray release of the first season.[5]
Within the seasons of Heroes are "volumes", which allow the writers to focus on shorter story arcs.[6] The first season comprises a single volume of 23 episodes called Genesis, which is also the title of the pilot episode. The second season was designed to contain three volumes called Generations, Exodus, and Villains. Exodus was scrapped due to viewer criticism[7] and the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike;[8] and Villains was carried over to the show's third season.[9] As a result, the second season consisted of only 11 episodes, 13 fewer than were originally ordered by NBC.[10] The third season comprised 25 episodes[11] that aired in two blocks generally without reruns.[12] The first 13 episodes of the season made up the third volume, Villains,[13] and the final 12 comprise the fourth volume, Fugitives.[14] The season premiered on September 22, 2008 in the United States on NBC and on Global in Canada, with a one-hour clip-show and two regular episodes.[15]Heroes wrapped up its fourth season which aired from September 21, 2009 to February 8, 2010. It consisted largely of a single volume entitled Redemption which had eighteen episodes. The final few minutes of the eighteenth episode was the beginning of a sixth volume entitled Brave New World. Although cast members had stated and speculated that there would be a fifth season, NBC announced on May 14, 2010 that the show was officially canceled, but was looking at plans to tie up some loose ends in either a mini-series or TV movie.[16]
Originally, the second season of Heroes was to be followed in April and May 2008 by six stand-alone episodes of a new series, Heroes: Origins.[17] The spin-off was intended as an alternative to a long mid-season hiatus, which led to a drop in ratings for Heroes in its first season.[18] The project, which was later planned to be 12 episodes, was indefinitely postponed due to a decline in viewership and the strike[19] and eventually cancelled to keep "the Heroes mothership as strong as possible," according to NBC co-chairman Ben Silverman.[20] A series of three webisodes collectively titled Going Postal became available exclusively online in July 2008.[21] Following the release of Going Postal, four more sets of webisodes were produced, entitled Heroes: Destiny,[22] The Recruit,[23] Hard Knox,[24] and Nowhere Man,[25][26] which stars David H. Lawrence as Eric Doyle. On September 28, 2009, a new set of Webisodes was released entitled Slow Burn[27] starring members of the Sullivan Bros. Carnival Lydia, Edgar and Samuel. Slow Burn was set up as a Web Exclusive for the promotion of Sprint Now; and to have each webisode released at the same time as the episodes of the main television series.
Contents |
Season | Volume | Episodes | Originally aired | DVD release date | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season premiere | Season finale | Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 | ||||
1 | Volume One: Genesis | 23 | September 25, 2006 | May 21, 2007 | August 28, 2007 | December 10, 2007 | September 19, 2007[28] | |
2 | Volume Two: Generations | 11 | September 24, 2007 | December 3, 2007 | August 26, 2008 | July 28, 2008[29] | October 1, 2008[30] | |
3 | Volume Three: Villains | 13 | September 22, 2008 | December 15, 2008 | September 1, 2009 | October 12, 2009[31] | September 2, 2009 | |
Volume Four: Fugitives | 12 | February 2, 2009 | April 27, 2009 | |||||
4 | Volume Five: Redemption | 18 | September 21, 2009 | February 8, 2010 | August 3, 2010[32] | October 4, 2010 | September 29, 2010[33] |
Volume One: Genesis | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
№ | # | Title | Directed by | Written by | U.S. viewers (millions)[A] |
Original air date | |
1 | 1 | "Genesis" | David Semel | Tim Kring | 14.10[34] | September 25, 2006 | |
2 | 2 | "Don't Look Back" | Allan Arkush | Tim Kring | 12.96[35] | October 2, 2006 | |
3 | 3 | "One Giant Leap" | Greg Beeman | Jeph Loeb | 13.34[36] | October 9, 2006 | |
4 | 4 | "Collision" | Ernest Dickerson | Bryan Fuller | 12.96[37] | October 16, 2006 | |
5 | 5 | "Hiros" | Paul Shapiro | Michael Green | 14.45[38] | October 23, 2006 | |
6 | 6 | "Better Halves" | Greg Beeman | Natalie Chaidez | 14.89[39] | October 30, 2006 | |
7 | 7 | "Nothing to Hide" | Donna Deitch | Jesse Alexander | 14.47[40] | November 6, 2006 | |
8 | 8 | "Seven Minutes to Midnight" | Paul Edwards | Tim Kring | 15.08[41] | November 13, 2006 | |
9 | 9 | "Homecoming" | Greg Beeman | Adam Armus & Kay Foster | 16.03[42] | November 20, 2006 | |
10 | 10 | "Six Months Ago" | Allan Arkush | Aron Eli Coleite | 15.56[43] | November 27, 2006 | |
11 | 11 | "Fallout" | John Badham | Joe Pokaski | 14.94[44] | December 4, 2006 | |
12 | 12 | "Godsend" | Paul Shapiro | Tim Kring | 14.90[45] | January 22, 2007 | |
13 | 13 | "The Fix" | Terrence O'Hara | Natalie Chaidez | 13.63[46] | January 29, 2007 | |
14 | 14 | "Distractions" | Jeannot Szwarc | Michael Green | 14.61[47] | February 5, 2007 | |
15 | 15 | "Run!" | Roxann Dawson | Adam Armus & Kay Foster | 14.68[48] | February 12, 2007 | |
16 | 16 | "Unexpected" | Greg Beeman | Jeph Loeb | 14.10[49] | February 19, 2007 | |
17 | 17 | "Company Man" | Allan Arkush | Bryan Fuller | 14.42[50] | February 25, 2007[B] | |
18 | 18 | "Parasite" | Kevin Bray | Christopher Zatta | 14.90[51] | March 4, 2007[B] | |
19 | 19 | ".07%" | Adam Kane | Chuck Kim | 11.96[52] | April 23, 2007 | |
20 | 20 | "Five Years Gone" | Paul Edwards | Joe Pokaski | 11.92[53] | April 30, 2007 | |
21 | 21 | "The Hard Part" | John Badham | Aron Eli Coleite | 10.40[54] | May 7, 2007 | |
22 | 22 | "Landslide" | Greg Beeman | Jesse Alexander | 11.54[55] | May 14, 2007 | |
23 | 23 | "How to Stop an Exploding Man" | Allan Arkush | Tim Kring | 13.48[56] | May 21, 2007 |
Volume Two: Generations | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
№ | # | Title | Directed by | Written by | U.S. viewers (millions)[A] |
Original air date | |
24 | 1 | "Four Months Later…" | Greg Beeman | Tim Kring | 16.97[57] | September 24, 2007 | |
25 | 2 | "Lizards" | Allan Arkush | Michael Green | 11.96[57] | October 1, 2007 | |
26 | 3 | "Kindred" | Paul Edwards | J.J. Philbin | 10.91[57] | October 8, 2007 | |
27 | 4 | "The Kindness of Strangers" | Adam Kane | Tim Kring | 11.41[57] | October 15, 2007 | |
28 | 5 | "Fight or Flight" | Lesli Glatter | Joy Blake & Melissa Blake | 9.44[57] | October 22, 2007 | |
29 | 6 | "The Line" | Jeannot Szwarc | Adam Armus & Kay Foster | 10.51[57] | October 29, 2007 | |
30 | 7 | "Out of Time" | Daniel Attias | Aron Eli Coleite | 9.88[57] | November 5, 2007 | |
31 | 8 | "Four Months Ago…" | Greg Beeman | Tim Kring | 11.16[57] | November 12, 2007 | |
32 | 9 | "Cautionary Tales" | Greg Yaitanes | Joe Pokaski | 10.81[57] | November 19, 2007 | |
33 | 10 | "Truth & Consequences" | Adam Kane | Jesse Alexander | 11.89[57] | November 26, 2007 | |
34 | 11 | "Powerless" | Allan Arkush | Jeph Loeb | 11.06[57] | December 3, 2007 |
Volume Three: Villains | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
№ | # | Title | Directed by | Written by | U.S. viewers (millions)[A] |
Original air date | |
35 | 1 | "The Second Coming" | Allan Arkush | Tim Kring | 10.09[58] | September 22, 2008 | |
36 | 2 | "The Butterfly Effect" | Greg Beeman | Tim Kring | 10.09[58] | September 22, 2008 | |
37 | 3 | "One of Us, One of Them" | Sergio Mimica-Gezzan | Joe Pokaski | 9.50[59] | September 29, 2008 | |
38 | 4 | "I Am Become Death" | David Von Ancken | Aron Eli Coleite | 8.20[60] | October 6, 2008 | |
39 | 5 | "Angels and Monsters" | Anthony Hemingway | Adam Armus & Kay Foster | 8.75[61] | October 13, 2008 | |
40 | 6 | "Dying of the Light" | Daniel Attias | Chuck Kim & Christopher Zatta | 8.51[62] | October 20, 2008 | |
41 | 7 | "Eris Quod Sum" | Jeannot Szwarc | Jesse Alexander | 8.19[63] | October 27, 2008 | |
42 | 8 | "Villains" | Allan Arkush | Rob Fresco | 7.85[64] | November 10, 2008 | |
43 | 9 | "It's Coming" | Greg Yaitanes | Tim Kring | 7.65[65] | November 17, 2008 | |
44 | 10 | "The Eclipse: Part 1" | Greg Beeman | Aron Eli Coleite & Joe Pokaski | 7.51[66] | November 24, 2008 | |
45 | 11 | "The Eclipse: Part 2" | Holly Dale | Aron Eli Coleite & Joe Pokaski | 8.00[67] | December 1, 2008 | |
46 | 12 | "Our Father" | Jeannot Szwarc | Adam Armus & Kay Foster | 7.72[68] | December 8, 2008 | |
47 | 13 | "Dual" | Greg Beeman | Jeph Loeb | 7.87[69] | December 15, 2008 | |
Volume Four: Fugitives | |||||||
48 | 14 | "A Clear and Present Danger" | Greg Yaitanes | Tim Kring | 8.55[70] | February 2, 2009 | |
49 | 15 | "Trust and Blood" | Allan Arkush | Mark Verheiden | 7.90[71] | February 9, 2009 | |
50 | 16 | "Building 26" | Sergio Mimica-Gezzan | Rob Fresco | 7.74[72] | February 16, 2009 | |
51 | 17 | "Cold Wars" | Seith Mann | Christopher Zatta, Joe Pokaski & Aron Eli Coleite | 7.07[73] | February 23, 2009 | |
52 | 18 | "Exposed" | Eric Laneuville | Adam Armus & Kay Foster | 7.15[74] | March 2, 2009 | |
53 | 19 | "Shades of Gray" | Greg Beeman | Oliver Grigsby | 6.70[75] | March 9, 2009 | |
54 | 20 | "Cold Snap" | Greg Yaitanes | Bryan Fuller | 6.47[76] | March 23, 2009 | |
55 | 21 | "Into Asylum" | Jim Chory | Joe Pokaski | 6.42[77] | March 30, 2009 | |
56 | 22 | "Turn and Face the Strange" | Jeannot Szwarc | Rob Fresco & Mark Verheiden | 6.11[78] | April 6, 2009 | |
57 | 23 | "1961" | Adam Kane | Aron Eli Coleite | 6.83[79] | April 13, 2009 | |
58 | 24 | "I Am Sylar" | Allan Arkush | Adam Armus & Kay Foster | 6.46[80] | April 20, 2009 | |
59 | 25 | "An Invisible Thread" | Greg Beeman | Tim Kring | 6.47[81] | April 27, 2009 |
Volume Five: Redemption | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
# | # | Title | Directed by | Written by | U.S. viewers (millions)[A] |
Original air date | |
60 | 1 | "Orientation" | David Straiton & Ed Bianchi |
Tim Kring, Adam Armus & Kay Foster | 6.02 / 5.77[82] | September 21, 2009 | |
Double-length episode. Claire starts as a freshman in college, but cannot fully leave her old life behind. Peter returns to his job as a paramedic, saving people with the help of Mohinder's abilities. Hiro and Ando have started a "Dial a Hero" business, but Hiro is not in control of his power and believes himself to be dying. Angela is worried about Nathan, who is starting to display Sylar's abilities. Samuel, Lydia and Edgar use their abilities to find other Heroes. Tracy continues to hunt down former Building 26 employees, including Noah and Danko. Sylar's consciousness manifests itself inside Matt's mind. | |||||||
61 | 2 | "Ink" | Roxann Dawson | Aron Eli Coleite | 5.82[83] | September 28, 2009 | |
Samuel attempts to manipulate Peter into filling his brother's position at the carnival. While facing the consequences of this, Peter meets a reluctant new hero. Claire tries to adjust to college life and the revelation of her ability. Sylar uses Matt's ability against him in a bid to return to his body. | |||||||
62 | 3 | "Acceptance" | Christopher Misiano | Bryan Fuller | 5.41[84] | October 5, 2009 | |
Hiro distracts himself by helping others, and in the process learns to accept his own situation. Angela helps Nathan remember his past, but instead uncovers a long-buried secret. Tracy seeks out her old job but wants to do more to help people. Noah begins to drift back to his old life. | |||||||
63 | 4 | "Hysterical Blindness" | SJ Clarkson | Joe Pokaski | 5.64[85] | October 12, 2009 | |
Sylar wakes up with no memories. Claire discovers that there is more to her new roommate than what she already knows. Peter helps Emma to better understand her ability. Samuel seeks out a new member to the carnival family. | |||||||
64 | 5 | "Tabula Rasa" | Jim Chory | Rob Fresco | 5.67[86] | October 19, 2009 | |
Sylar starts his journey to rediscover himself with the help of Samuel. Hiro shows Emma how to accept her ability and the possibilities it brings. Peter enlists Noah's help in finding a healer to save Hiro. | |||||||
65 | 6 | "Strange Attractors" | Tucker Gates | Juan Carlos Coto | 5.86[87] | October 26, 2009 | |
Matt looks for a way to get rid of Sylar after he learns to take control of his body. Noah enlists the help of Tracy in order to help free Jeremy from the police. Claire is concerned that someone wants to eliminate Gretchen during a treasure hunt for their sorority. | |||||||
66 | 7 | "Once Upon a Time in Texas" | Nate Goodman | Aron Eli Coleite & Aury Wallington | 6.18[88] | November 2, 2009 | |
Hiro travels three years into the past to save Charlie's life from the hands of Sylar, only to have things complicated by Samuel's presence. Meanwhile something from Noah's past is revealed. | |||||||
67 | 8 | "Shadowboxing" | Jim Chory | Misha Green & Joe Pokaski | 5.35[89] | November 9, 2009 | |
Though Peter's new ability is helpful in his job, it is trying on him until he uses it to help Emma. Claire learns that the sorority rush attack happened because of something her father did. Sylar's battle to control Matt's body moves into dangerous territory. | |||||||
68 | 9 | "Brother's Keeper" | Bryan Spicer | Rob Fresco & Mark Verheiden | 5.07[90] | November 16, 2009 | |
Mohinder discovered something shocking on an old film reel nine weeks ago. Hiro travels back in time to retrieve that film for Samuel. Tracy begins to lose control of her ability. Nathan and Peter go to Matt, only to discover the truth about Sylar. | |||||||
69 | 10 | "Thanksgiving" | Seith Mann | Adam Armus & Kay Foster | 5.17[91] | November 23, 2009 | |
Three Thanksgiving dinners. The Petrellis: Nathan and Peter confront Angela about the truth with disastrous consequences. The Bennets: a dinner full of drama between Claire and Noah. The Carnival Folk: Hiro travels back in time with Lydia to discover the truth about Joseph's death while Samuel learns of the full potential of his ability. | |||||||
70 | 11 | "The Fifth Stage" | Kevin Dowling | Tim Kring | 5.90[92] | November 30, 2009 | |
Claire travels to the carnival and finds an open invitation. Noah confesses the truth to Lauren about their past relationship. Peter uses the Haitian's ability to get rid of Sylar and bring back Nathan, but must deal with an unexpected choice by Nathan. | |||||||
71 | 12 | "Upon This Rock" | Ron Underwood | Juan Carlos Coto | 5.30[93] | January 4, 2010 | |
Claire searches for answers as she is suspicious of Samuel's true motives. Samuel seeks out Emma in hopes she can help him find someone. Hiro seeks out Ando for his assistance on a new mission but has trouble communicating his intentions. | |||||||
72 | 13 | "Let It Bleed" | Jeannot Szwarc | Jim Martin | 4.57[93] | January 4, 2010 | |
Peter has trouble coping with Nathan's death as Claire tries to console him. Sylar returns to the Carnival to kill Samuel, only to discover something unexpected. Edgar and Noah team up to find a way of bringing down Samuel. | |||||||
73 | 14 | "Close to You" | Roxann Dawson | Rob Fresco | 4.71[94] | January 11, 2010 | |
Hiro and Ando travel to Florida to rescue Mohinder from a mental institution. Noah seeks out Matt to help him with a lead on dealing with Samuel. Peter learns about a horrifying potential future event involving Emma. | |||||||
74 | 15 | "Pass/Fail" | Michael Nankin | Oliver Grigsby | 3.93[95] | January 18, 2010 | |
Hiro falls into a tumor-induced hallucination in which he goes on trial for his life for changing the past. Sylar confronts Claire in hope that she will help him figure out the truth behind his problems. Samuel tries to woo his old love Vanessa with disastrous consequences. | |||||||
75 | 16 | "The Art of Deception" | SJ Clarkson | Mark Verheiden & Misha Green | 4.29[96] | January 25, 2010 | |
Peter pursues a way of keeping his dream of Emma from coming true. Sylar seeks out Matt in hopes Matt will help remove his powers. Claire tries to negotiate the surrender of Samuel to Noah. Peter enters Sylar's mind. | |||||||
76 | 17 | "The Wall" | Allan Arkush | Adam Armus & Kay Foster | 4.40[97] | February 1, 2010 | |
Peter tries to help Sylar free himself from his own nightmare. Samuel tries to convince Claire to join his family by revealing dark secrets from Noah's past to her. Lauren confronts Samuel at the carnival. Samuel makes preparations for their final "performance" in New York. | |||||||
77 | 18 | "Brave New World" | Adam Kane | Tim Kring | 4.41[98] | February 8, 2010 | |
Samuel's ultimate plan takes effect as Emma is forced into using her abilities to help him kill thousands of people, only to have an unlikely pair of heroes come to her rescue. Noah seeks Claire's forgiveness as they work to escape from their underground prison. Hiro comes to acceptance over his past decisions as he is reunited with his long lost love and seeks to avert disaster. Claire shows the world the truth they may not be ready for. |
All webisodes were written and directed by Yule Caise and Jim Martin and produced by Retrofit Films.
# | Title[99] | Release date |
---|---|---|
1 | "A Nifty Trick"[C] | July 14, 2008 |
Two men from the Company confront mail carrier Echo De Mille who discovers his ability to manipulate sound. Echo severely injures one of them in self-defense. | ||
2 | "The House Guest" | July 21, 2008 |
Echo goes home to protect his girlfriend Gina, but a superpowered man from the Company—the "Constrictor", whom Echo had met earlier—arrives for another showdown with Echo. | ||
3 | "Let's Talk" | July 28, 2008 |
Echo sends Gina away and confronts those who are targeting him, but things do not go as he had expected.[100] |
All webisodes were written by Adam Armus and Kay Foster and directed by Eagle Egilsson.
# | Title[22] | Release date |
---|---|---|
1 | "Let Us Pray" | November 10, 2008 |
Santiago discovers his abilities. | ||
2 | "Intervention" | November 17, 2008 |
Believing his powers are divine, Santiago uses them to help people. But when a woman betrays him, he is captured by a secret organization. | ||
3 | "Capture" | November 24, 2008 |
Santiago's captors have a mission for him that he can't refuse. | ||
4 | "Escape" | December 1, 2008 |
Santiago finds freedom in the sanctuary of family. |
All webisodes were written by Timm Keppler and Jim Martin, directed by Rob Hardy and produced by Retrofit Films.
# | Title[23] | Release date |
---|---|---|
1 | "Private Mills" | December 15, 2008 |
Rachel Mills survives the Pinehearst explosion. | ||
2 | "It Was Nothing" | December 22, 2008 |
The squad of marines inject themselves with the serum. | ||
3 | "We Do What We Have To Do" | December 29, 2008 |
Angela has a question that haunts Rachel: why did she kill the man she wanted to save? | ||
4 | "Day of Reckoning" | January 5, 2009 |
Angela asks about Rachel's mother's death and where Rachel was found after the Pinehearst incident. Rachel relives escaping from Pinehearst, but denies being special. | ||
5 | "The Truth Within" | January 12, 2009 |
Rachel is released, armed with a newfound power. | ||
6 | "The Whole Story" | January 20, 2009 |
The entire five-part epic of super-soldier Rachel Mills, who survived the explosion of Pinehearst. |
All webisodes were written by Rob Fresco and directed by Allan Arkush.
# | Title[101] | Release date |
---|---|---|
1 | "Choices" | December 22, 2008 |
Matt Parkman wants street thug Knox to go straight, but it's not so easy. | ||
2 | "Get Straight" | December 22, 2008 |
Matt Parkman tries to convince Knox to leave gang life, while Knox's crew watches from a distance. | ||
3 | "Fear" | December 29, 2008 |
Knox's crew leader tries to kill Knox, and Knox finds his abilities to feed off fear and kills the crew leader. | ||
4 | "The Main Man Now" | December 29, 2008 |
Knox's crew gets a new boss. |
All webisodes were written by Timm Keppler, produced and directed by Chris Hanada and Tanner Kling of Retrofit Films.
# | Title[102] | Release date |
---|---|---|
1 | "Puppet Master" | April 20, 2009 |
With a new identity from Claire, Puppetmaster Eric Doyle tries to settle into a new life by working at Copy Kingdom. | ||
2 | "Statement of Character" | April 27, 2009 |
Doyle's self-control is shattered by his boss. | ||
3 | "Pulling the Strings" | May 4, 2009 |
With his prospects for a normal life fading, Doyle takes matters into his own hands. | ||
4 | "A New Beginning" | May 11, 2009 |
The Puppetmaster ties up loose ends. | ||
5 | "The Whole Story" | May 29, 2009 |
The entire 4 part story. |
All webisodes were directed by Chris Hanada and Tanner Kling of Retrofit Films.
# | Title[27] | Writer(s) | Release date |
---|---|---|---|
1 | "Part 1" | Jim Martin | September 28, 2009 |
Edgar takes a big risk for Lydia as she reveals a big secret. | |||
2 | "Part 2" | Zach Craley | October 5, 2009 |
Lydia reaches out to her daughter who reveals she too has a secret. Samuel becomes suspicious. | |||
3 | "Part 3" | Harrison Wilcox | October 12, 2009 |
Lydia's daughter is in trouble - and so is Edgar. | |||
4 | "Part 4" | Foz McDermott | October 19, 2009 |
Samuel discovers Lydia has a daughter. Lydia receives an unexpected visitor. | |||
5 | "Part 5" | Jim Martin | October 26, 2009 |
Lydia talks with her daughter Amanda about her arrival. Amanda shows Caleb her ability. | |||
6 | "Part 6" | Jim Martin | November 3, 2009 |
Amanda seeks out Samuel with Caleb's help while Lydia seeks out Amanda with Edgar's help. | |||
7 | "Part 7" | Zach Craley | November 9, 2009 |
As Samuel and Amanda spend some time together, Lydia and Edgar plot to get her back. | |||
8 | "Part 8" | Foz McDermott | November 16, 2009 |
Samuel Introduces Amanda to the rest of the carnival crew and welcomes her into the family. | |||
9 | "Part 9" | Oliver Grigsby | November 23, 2009 |
Sent by Samuel to take Amanda from her mother, Caleb pays a terrible price. | |||
10 | "Part 10" | Oliver Grigsby | November 30, 2009 |
Samuel's plans to separate Amanda from her mother fails, but Amanda chooses to stay anyway. |
|