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- DVD: Heroes (Season 3)
- Rating: Unrated
- Starring: Hayden Panettiere, Adrian Pasdar, Milo Ventimiglia, Masi Oka, Jack Coleman, Greg Grunberg, Zachary Quinto,
- Written By: Tim Kring
- Directed By: Various
- Distributor: Universal Home Entertainment
- Original Year of Release: 2009
- Extras: See Below
- Series: Heroes
Heroes Season Three DVD Review
Greatest TV DVD Set Ever?Just Maybe! By
Tim Janson
September 16, 2009
Milo Ventimiglia & Zachary Quinto of Heroes
© Universal Home Entertainment
After a lackluster season two, Heroes came back for season three with the unusual strategy of essentially giving fans two seasons in one. Season three (volumes 3 and 4 of the series) presented two distinctly diverse storylines.
The first half of the season might best be described as the “ Battle for the Formula”. That is the formula used to create people with abilities. On one side we have the revived Arthur Petrelli leading a group of villains including Mohinder Suresh, Tracy Strauss, Sylar, son Nathan, and new characters Flint Gordon Jr., Knox, and Daphne Millbrook. Opposing them are Peter Petrelli, Hiro, Ando, Matt Parkman, Claire, and HRG. It is revealed that the formula alone is not enough to give a person abilities but that a catalyst is needed, which is hidden inside one of the characters.
The first half of season three suffered from many of the same problems which plagued season three, namely disjointed plotlines, and too many characters. The future Peter Petrelli attempts to kill his brother and then future Claire attempts to kill future Peter. Most of this diabolically fragmented mess is quickly forgotten about and for the betterment of the show.
On the other hand, the second half of season three truly shined. Somewhat mirroring the events in Marvel Comics’ Civil War story, people with abilities are being hunted down by agents of the Department of Homeland Security, led by Danko, easily the best villain of the series. The captured heroes are imprisoned and their powers nullified. Again, a small group of heroes fights against the government agents while staying on the run. The other key plotlines of the second half are Sylar’s quest for his own origin as he tracks down his biological father. We also learn about the secret government facility disguised as a Summer camp who performed experiments on the kids with abilities back in the early 1960s.
The second half of the season helped to restore some of the waning interest in the show. The number of characters was reduced and concentrated on those who are the foundation of the show. Heroes might not have a very long shelf life as ratings are on the decline, but it heads into season four with momentum.
Extras
Wow! Now you want to talk about a super DVD, this is it. Maybe the most featured-packed DVD set of any TV on DVD set. First off, you get audio commentary on EVERY SINGLE episode! Every one! These feature various cast members along with the writers/producers/directors. We will run down the features by disc.
Disc 1
Deleted Scenes (11:15)
Featurette – “The Super Powers of Heroes” See how stunt coordinator Tim Gilbert makes each hero’s power look so real
Disc 2
Deleted Scenes (12:30)
Featurette – “Completing the Scene” Visual Effects Supervisor Eric Grenauder looks at the various special and visual effects in the show such as Tracy Strauss’ freezing ability.
Disc 3
Deleted Scenes (4:30)
Featurette – “The Prop Box” Propmaster James Clark takes viewers on a tour of the Heroes prop room so you can get an idea of just how many items they have to keep track of.
“Tim Sale Screen Art Gallery (1:20)
Disc 4
Deleted Scenes (1:15)
Alternate Stories – These are two short films that are set in the Heroes world. First there is “Going Postal” (10:00) about a mailman who possesses a sonic scream and is being hunted by the company. Better still is “Nowhere Man” (18:00) this short film features the character of Eric Doyle the “Puppet Master”. Here Doyle has fled into a Federal witness protection program and has a job as a temp in an office and keeps a video diary for Claire. Great short film!
Disc 5
Deleted Scenes (:21)
Featurette – “Genetics of a Scene” (20:32) This featurette looks at the development and production of four key scenes from season three including Sylar opening up Claire’s head and Daphne stealing the formula from Hiro
Featurette – “The Writer’s Forum” (13:30) Creator/Producer Tim Kring and writers Adam Armus and Aron Eli Coleite discuss season three.
Disc 6
Deleted scenes (4:45)
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Come to think of it, it's almost like they looked at the show 24 and borrowed there "formula". In 24 theres always 2 major threats. The first one which you think is the primary threat is neutralized in the first half of the season before it's revealed that there is actually a secondary threat lurking in the background. This show is just a mixed bag for me and I'm skeptical that they will ever find there groove. Like a zombie I'll keep tuning in with fingers crossed...