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Heroes: Season 2 [Blu-ray] | ![Heroes: Season 2 [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512%2B9db93BL._SL160_.jpg)
 enlarge | Actors: Jack Coleman, Sendhil Ramamurthy, Masi Oka, James Kyson Lee, Milo Ventimiglia
Studio: Universal Studios
Category: DVD
List Price: $69.98
Buy New: $34.99
You Save: $34.99 (50%)
New (32) Used (8) from $30.35
Rating:  25 reviews
Sales Rank: 2600
Format: Ac-3, Color, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: Blu-ray
Number Of Items: 4
Running Time: 482
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 7 x 5.7 x 1.2
MPN: MCABR61104964
UPC: 025195041508
EAN: 0025195041508
ASIN: B001B7CNX8
Release Date: August 26, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: 5 Star Seller!! Completely Brand New SET & Sealed- Official US Release, Region 1, Not an Import or Bootleg- Ships within 24 Hours- Excellent Customer Service, 100% Guaranteed- Buy with Confidence...
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Product Description
Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 08/26/2008 Rating: Nr
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| Customer Reviews: Read 20 more reviews...
Not bad on second viewing November 30, 2008
Although not the best season of Heroes, there is much to be gained from seeing season 2 again. Now that we have season 3, there are things going on that you can see building toward something. The Latin American twins are still no great characters but they do function to get Sylar back into the game.
Very clean transfer. Some interesting extras. For example, there is a documentary that looks like a history channel special about Takezo Kensei. The usual deleted scenes are interesting as far as how the story might have changed.
 A thundering disappointment after Season One November 23, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Not since Season Two of TWIN PEAKS has a good show fallen so sharply off in quality as HEROES in Season Two (and unfortunately, as of this day, Season Three). And never has a series so completely belied its name.
The fundamental problem with HEROES is that there are no heroes. There are people with super abilities, but no one acts especially heroic. There are no clearly demarcated good guys and no clearly delineated bad guys. Instead, characters are apparently good for a while and then apparently bad. In other words, the fundamental conception of the show is just a mess.
The problem with Season Two is twofold. First, it fails to build on the promise of Season One. The best long narrative shows of recent years (and HEROES apparently bills itself as a long narrative show) continuously and clearly moves the story alone. BATTLESTAR GALACTICA clearly and brilliantly tells a story. LOST (the draggy Season Two aside) tells a story. BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER clearly and inevitably told a series of stories. But even well into Season Three it isn't clear that HEROES has a story to tell. There are markers and signs that they think they have a story to tell, but things remain dark and murky. Watching the show in Season One I assumed that the show was showing how a group of people with remarkable abilities was going to come together, perhaps to team together for good. But at this point in the series no one seems to really be finding their way. Few have had epiphanies. No one is becoming truly heroic.
Frankly, at this point I don't have much hope for the show, though out of habit I've made myself keep up. One thin that truly great shows like BATTLESTAR GALATICA and LOST and BUFFY have in common is individual narratives of responsibility and redemption. Apart, possibly, for Sylar, we've had no such narratives in HEROES. Even Sylar might slip back to his evil, evil ways.
So the first major problem with HEROES in Season Two was the failure to move the story forward. Instead, they essentially did a reset and put thing back to where it was in Season One. All the work of Season One seemed for naught.
The second major problem is that too much of the season was spent on new characters, instead of developing the stories of established characters. I was happy to see Veronica Mars herself, Kristen Bell, join the show as the electrifying (literally) Elle, but there were simply too many new characters, several of them pretty unpleasant. We had a number of characters from Season One who were simply neglected to deal with the new characters.
I'm not sure that the show can be saved at this point. Sadly and tragically the show will certainly get some major help in the near future. ABC has stupidly canceled one of the finest shows on TV, PUSHING DAISIES. The only -- and I don't see this as much of a consolation prize given the loss of one of the most exhilarating shows in the history of TV -- upside to this abominable decision is that Bryan Fuller is now free to return to HEROES. Can Fuller turn the show around? One can only hope. Though Tim Kring insisted that all the writers worked on all episodes, I can't help but feel that it isn't an accident that Fuller was given writer's credit for what is hands down the best HEROES episode to date, "Company Man."
But if HEROES is to be saved, they first need to have the characters live up to the title, which at this point is more ironic than descriptive. Secondly, they need to force the story to start going somewhere.
Yes, the Blu-ray discs are spectacular. I have Season One is regular DVD and there is no question Season Two looks far superior in Blu-ray format. But clarity of picture and superior sound can't come close to matching a strong story. And that at this point HEROES continues to lack.
NBC is very slow to give up on shows. On ABC or CBS or FOX there is little question that HEROES would have been cancelled by now. The show's viewership is now less than half of what it was in Season One. If it doesn't improve soon and begin attracting back its old viewers, it has little chance for a Season Four.
Amazing image quality November 9, 2008
I got this as my first Blu-ray disc, I'm impress with the quality, and the content of the series, great extras, but I have been unable to remove the "Bonusview" tag on the corner[..], thanks!
The Half-Season Weirdorama - still hope for Season Three November 9, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Shows such as Heroes, Prison Break, Lost are, to a significant degree, reflections of how many of us perceive the world around us during these uncertain and unsettled times:
- larger portions of our lives are influenced or even controlled by high-level entities or organizations who now have the means to implement their agendas
- things are almost never what they seem because hidden forces are at work
- only very few insiders completely understand and control and set the agendas for these all-controlling entities
- we should consider ourselves lucky if we can figure out the who's and the how's that change our world but we may never get to know the why's
- these hidden and mysterious 'powers that be' plot, plan and act globally
Heroes is a near-perfect reflection or expression for our current fears and paranoias and watching it could therapeutically help vindicate and validate them. Heroes reveals that there's a number of humans possessing near-supernatural powers who live secret lives while appearing as normal, ordinary people to the rest of the world. We are 'in the know' now, rigyht? But, wait, these poor gifted souls have no idea where those powers came from and, up until Season One started, they were hardly aware of each other's existence. And this is only the beginning. What we are watching unfold is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma - to borrow someone else's words. Someone or something appears to be working secretly to find all these gifted individuals and 'cure' them of their powers but... there's their parents' generation who seem to have their own agenda and there's some organization or maybe one specific individual up to no good (as we understand 'good') and, apparently, working diligently toward the near-extermination of the human species. Or... will we ever know what that REAL agenda is?
The first season was about getting to know the many 'gifted' characters and preventing a small human nuke from erasing the city of New York. There were lots of stories to be told and, by the time it was over, we learned to know and to care about some of the 'heroes'. Season Two was meant to look one onion-layer deeper into their origins and give us a glimpse of what lays underneath while the human species was about to experience mass near-extinction without realizing it. Sadly, the season had to be cut in half and the makers had to do quite a lot of behind the scenes patching, including a complete 180 of the 'extinction' part to save the plot. What we are left and get to watch is a largely unconvincing picture of our heroes trying to live normal lives and trying to understand their purpose while, of course, making sure that the world doesn't end. What we really get to see, and it is so in part because of the abbreviated season, is a not so compelling story often punctuated with heavy accents of weirdness. Add to this the series makers attempts to introduce AND take sides (and occasionally perform summary artistic justice) on some very specific elements from 'real life' - Katrina, the illegal immigration controversy - and we are presented with a mixture that's compelling enough to watch, even though I did have my occasional and unplanned naps while watching, and makes me want to give Heroes a chance to redeem themselves on Season Three.
I understand the problem the writers' strike posed and we should all be forgiving of some flaws in the plot but, and this may be good advice for the ongoing Season Three, perhaps the makers of this overall good show should be careful not to slip into weirdness for weirdness sake. I noticed a tendency of turning 'the cheerleader' into something that begins to resemble more that old 'bearded lady'. The increasingly frequent killing and 'miraculous' reviving of some of the main characters should be avoided or the overall balance may be disturbed and this entire effort could turn into some form of weirdorama.
Technically speaking, the show continues to be first-class. Clearly, gifted professionals were at work putting Heroes together. The acting is consistently good and the characters we knew from Season One do not disappoint. The jury is still out on the couple of new additions but, it seems, the makers are pretty good at killing those who prove themselves not to be up to the standards.
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The Blu-ray edition has a couple of gee-whiz features bundled together under something called U-control, I believe. It's not a lot of control but, at the push of a button, a little picture-in-picture windows open in the lower-right area of the screen and you can see and hear the director, producer and the various actors chat about what's taking place on the main screen at the time. From time to time, little post-it notes can be made to appear on the screen, providing information on specific characters. The 'control' part is quite limited. The picture-in-picture window, for example, is in a fixed location and of a fixed size. The post-it notes can be made to appear on the screen, when available but they disappear whenever they disappear and they can't be brought back by the viewer and the viewer can't make a specific post-it to appear at any given time.
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There are a couple of interesting extras. The story of Takezo Kensei is very well done and is providing some useful background that helps understand what Hiro's quest appears to be about. Another 'news report' on the mysterious inventor of the Internet does not seem to be directly related with the events shown on Season Two so, I assume, it was meant as a Season Three teaser.
Oh, and one more weird detail. There seems to be no good reason for this to be a 4-disk set. The first 8 of 11 episodes AND lots of extra are packaged on the first 2 disks. Then... Disk 3 has only 2 episodes and Disk 4 has one episode plus of few more minutes of 'extras'. Was this done so that it could justify a higher retail price?
Overall, I am granting this show 4 stars because I am rounding up the 3.5 I feel it truly deserves and I am rounding the star count up because I hope for a great Season Three rebound which may be happening as I am writing this review but I won't know it until the next 'season' bundle is released next year because I don't watch these shows on TV.
 Blu-Ray Remains the Best Way to Watch Heroes (Truly Underrated!) November 5, 2008
Season Two, regardless of the writer's strike, remains high quality entertainment. Like many others, I was hesitant going in. What with all the excessive negative feedback. Not that this Season wasn't without its fair share of flaws, but most of which was rather minor compared to it's newfound strengths.
For those coming hot off the heels of Season One, hoping for more of the same but with tons of new characters, you're met halfway. Several of the new characters are surprisingly well developed and have gone on to become some of my favorite characters: Alejandro, Elle, Maya, and Monica. However, due to the considerably shortened length, many of the returning characters feel far too alien. Not enough screen time perhaps? For this very reason, many of the present struggles can be hard to relate to. More often than not, you feel as if Nathan and pals could've used that extra time. Maybe introduce a few more conflicts, and then you would have some excellent character development. No matter. Due to the writer's strike, none of which was possible. Still, going in, it was nice knowing many of these problems. Helped to appreciate more of the talents at work behind these scenes.
Now, the strengths. As mentioned earlier, the new characters are a breath of fresh air. Each trial shows something new; something special. That something is what really shines through, reminding you of just why you started watching Heroes in the first place. Probably the best aspect Season 2 has going for it. Granted, these stories still have a few problems here and there, but, for the most part, they are pulled off exceptionally well. There is a downside, however. If you find you are unable to relate with even but one character, the first several episodes will become laborious. In the case this happens, hold out. Try to find something worth liking, because the payoff that comes next is infinitely more rewarding. Seriously, you will hate yourself forever if you miss the return of "The Company Man."
Recall for a second, about halfway through the first season of Heroes the special effects extravaganza known as "The Company Man" struck a chord with audiences everywhere, changing the face of dramas forever. Well, I never thought I would be able to say this, but it seems lightning has struck twice. Cautionary Tales comes out of left field; full of raw, emotional, power that has quickly become one of my favorite episodes ever. Even better than Company Man. This is the episode I will remember Season 2 for for years to come. The Bennet family strikes again! Hopefully Season 3 can achieve much of the same success found here in this episode, but with the way the Petrelli war seems to be playing out this may be the last time the Bennets will be able to answer the call. This is one episode you cannot afford to miss!
After so much amazing you must be tired out, right? I know it's hard to imagine anything better than Cautionary Tales, but stick around. The final two episodes will wrap up the season remarkably well, answering several questions teased at since the very beginning. Some might even wonder why they didn't bother to mix parts of the ending in with the beginning. Could've helped remove some of the alienating aspects of the opening. While I agree with part of that statement, some parts are better left as is. For example, a lot of Nathan's character development this season was based around not knowing what had occurred to his brother. This made for some relatively deep psychological undertones that helped make him the standout this season. Of course, there were other parts. Like Matt Parkman raising Molly. Those made for some truly emotional scenes.
Despite Season 2's shortcomings, I have become increasingly fond of how much they were able to accomplish in just eleven episodes. A very well rounded eleven episodes I might add. Regardless, some attention must be given to some of its downfalls. First off, Hiro, Kensei, and Yaeko's storyline dragged on for far too long. The arc should have only taken two or three episodes at most. Not enough went on to warrant its appearance in the first seven episodes. On top of that, the romance was hardly convincing. Next, Adam Monroe should have been introduced much earlier, along with Peter's escape sequence. In turn, exposing Elle a bit earlier to the audience. All of this would have went a long way into making the season feel more dynamic.
A few other concerns include Elle's nature, did not seem quite as sadistic as they were trying to make her out to be, and Nikki. Granted, they were able to establish a bit of a connection later in the season, but I just felt not enough was covered to make us believe they were as important as their screen time suggested. Loose cannons if you will. Then again, the implications they leave have proven to be far more interesting.
Finally, there is but one last concern that need be raised: the lack of metaphors. Truly disheartening. Where's the cockroach? Where's the Nikki versus Jessica (Candice)? I miss them. I remember seeing Mr. Cockroach once. Can't remember past that. Will have to see again. Maybe I missed them.
In the end, I was pleasantly surprised by this season. Couldn't be happier, given the circumstances. The Blu-Ray itself is astonishing. Nice use of grain; accents the drama unfolding on screen. Rich colors decorate the world, capturing all the vibrant details from every corner of the Earth. I cannot say enough good things about the Picture Quality, let alone the Audio. Owning this season on Blu-Ray makes it that much better. Of course, you should start with the beginning, if you haven't already. Don't worry, you'll be caught up in no time. It only took me four weeks: including both seasons. Yes, I do have a job and am attending classes. Don't ask me how I did it. Just prepare to sign your life away. Once you see Heroes, you won't be able to think about anything else.
This is one of my most cherished Blu-Rays, along with Season 1. It doesn't get better than this. Both seasons come highly recommended.
Best Actor in a Leading Role: Adrian Pasdar (Nathan Petrelli)
Honorable Mentions: Jack Coleman (Noah Bennet) and Greg Grunberg (Matt Parkman)
Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Zachary Quinto (Sylar)
Honorable Mentions: David Anders (Adam Monroe) and Shalim Ortiz (Alejandro Herrera)
Best Actress in a Leading Role: Hayden Panettiere (Claire Bennet)
Honorable Mention: Dania Ramirez (Maya Herrera)
Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Cristine Rose (Angela Petrelli)
Honorable Mentions: Kristen Bell (Elle Bishop) and Ali Larter (Nikki Sanders)
Episodes to Watch For: Four Months Later, Fight or Flight, Out of Time, Four Months Ago, Cautionary Tales, and Powerless
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