Common Sense Media Review
By Joyce Slaton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
A war on evil continues in adequate drama reboot.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Heroes Reborn
What's the Story?
HEROES REBORN picks up after one of the original Heroes characters came clean to the world about her superpowers. Her admission inspired thousands of other Evos -- "evolved humans" -- to come out. Threatened, non-Evos fought back, and Evos began facing discrimination. Then a massive terrorist attack was launched in Odessa, Texas; Evos were blamed and now are being persecuted. Luke and Joanne Collins (Zachary Levi and Judi Shekoni) lost their son in the attack, and now they're attempting to wipe out all Evos. Meanwhile, Illinois high schooler Tommy Clarke (Robbie Kay) can teleport people and objects, but he just wants to pass for a normal student. In Japan, Miko Otomo (Kiki Sukezane) mysteriously finds herself living a real-life computer game. In Los Angeles, Carlos Gutierrez (Ryan Guzman) is El Vengador, a masked underground hero who protects Evos and ferries them to safety in Canada via an underground railroad. And in Austin, Texas, Noah "HRG" Bennet (Jack Coleman) built a new life after the Odessa disaster and has forgotten what he once knew -- but operatives from his shadowy ex-employer Renautas won't let him move on.
Is It Any Good?
This creditable reboot eschews catchphrases (remember "Save the cheerleader"?) for tense drama that resonates with modern viewers. The response to a terrorist attack is relatable, and retaining Coleman as Noah Bennet is a smart move that helps old viewers anchor themselves but doesn't demand new viewers be conversant with Heroes mythology. Certainly the freshest new character is Miko, whose journey into a real-life video game has interesting consequences. However, the show suffers from its many plot lines -- just as viewers grasp the importance of what's just happened to one character, we're on to another -- and additionally has sci-fi-no-questions-answered syndrome, in which one character asks another for a simple explanation and hears some variation on "There's no time!" We like it anyway, but all viewers may not.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why shows in which characters suddenly have superhuman powers are popular. What types of dramatic possibilities does this setup hold? Why do people like to fantasize about being more than human?
Are viewers supposed to relate to, empathize with, or dislike the "Evos" in Heroes Reborn? How can you tell?
Heroes Reborn often tells the audience the date and location of scenes with text overlays. Would you be able to tell where you are without these overlays? Is it helpful or distracting?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 24, 2015
- Cast : Zachary Levi , Ryan Guzman , Jack Coleman
- Network : NBC
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 20, 2019
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