Chapter 37- “One of Us, One of Them” – Discussion Thread 9/29/08

[absonic93]

You don't even know how the storyline will play out and you're already complaining....

really, It's only 3 episodes in so how can people be making critical complaints? Sure you can nitpick about minor details but as far as the plot goes, we don't know enough yet to decide.

 

[SuperT]

As for a further explaination about how the powers work - Mohinder stated that flat out in the first episode, his father was wrong. It's not in the blood its in the adrenaline. It helps if you know how adrenaline works in conjunction with the brain and the blood:

When secreted into the bloodstream, it rapidly prepares the body for action in emergency situations. The hormone boosts the supply of oxygen and glucose to the brain and muscles, while suppressing other non-emergency bodily processes (digestion in particular).

It increases heart rate and stroke volume, dilates the pupils, and constricts arterioles in the skin and gastrointestinal tract while dilating arterioles in skeletal muscles. It elevates the blood sugar level by increasing catabolism of glycogen to glucose in the liver, and at the same time begins the breakdown of lipids in fat cells. Like some other stress hormones, epinephrine has a suppressive effect on the immune system.[5]

Although epinephrine does not have any psychoactive effects, stress or arousal also releases norepinephrine in the brain. Norepinephrine has similar actions in the body, but is also psychoactive.

The type of action in various cell types depends on their expression of adrenergic receptors

The adrenaline carries neurotransmitters, these neurotransmitters are what helps activate the powers. These neurotransmitters also help the brain control these powers once they are activated.

Mohinder was able to take these neurotransmitters, as he states "the building blocks" of these powers, and create a serum which injected in people, could give them powers. The only thing about that is, as evidenced by Mohinders reaction, you don't know how these neurotransmitters will react to people that don't have the powers.

Do the special people that have these powers, do their bodies already have certain changes in them that help sustain these powers? Or is Mohinders serum a very crude concotion lacking essential variables needed for it to be stable on a consistent basis?

 

[absonic93]

yay for science.

 

[Gilpesh]

You don't even know how the storyline will play out and you're already complaining....

I've already seen it done and better than this show seems to be doing. And Mohinder did 'scientific' research in five minutes and came up with a super juice to give powers in less time?

I'd give that storyline less guff if it wasn't just BAM, he figured something out about powers BAM, he can make people get powers BAM, he's injecting himself and getting powers BAM, it backfires on him....

At least on 4400, the scientist took a whole episode to figure out that promicin gives powers... then a whole season (maybe less, it was at least a few episodes and spread out) to figure out how to turn that promicin into a shot that would give powers. The story built up nice and slowly, like scientific research normally does.

Mohinder didn't give himself superpowers. He activated them. Everybody has the potential, few ever have it turned on. It's why Sylar is all about flipping on those switches in himself.

Um... poor explanation. They really stretched thin suspension of disbelief just to have a desolate future problem. Can't it just be there were loads of villains on level 5 and they get out and people learn of the powers and react as people will to super powers and try to kill them all?

Sure it sounds a lot like X-Men but that hasn't stopped the show from being good in season one and a few times in season two.

 

[Savage]

Um...I don't think it's a poor explanation. I just think you don't like it like you don't like that use of 10% of the brain rule the show has. It's well within the show's rules though. Yes there are plenty of things we'd LIKE them to do but we can't help what it is. We're not the writers.

 

[Gilpesh]

The only thing about that is, as evidenced by Mohinders reaction, you don't know how these neurotransmitters will react to people that don't have the powers.

Did he even bring that up as he was just suddenly turned into a kid saying, "YAY I get powers!" Because I would have given it more benefit of the doubt if that was actually addressed in the show and not needed to be assumed by fans.

Do the special people that have these powers, do their bodies already have certain changes in them that help sustain these powers? Or is Mohinders serum a very crude concotion lacking essential variables needed for it to be stable on a consistent basis?

That is what it seems to be going for. Especially with the future Hiro saw...

 

[Gilpesh]

Um...I don't think it's a poor explanation. I just think you don't like it like that use of 10% of the brain thing. It's well within the show's rules though. Yes there are plenty of things we'd LIKE them to do but we can't help what it is. We're not the writers.

The show at first suggested that:

1) These people are special as in genes special and had something extra in them

2) No other people without powers, weren't suddenly going to get them, because of the explanation in #1



Seriously. To me, and if only to other people, it sounds like when the show has to go the 10% use of the brain path for super powers... it's like saying that there's no such thing as gravity and the only reason things fall is because god makes them fall.

 

[Savage]

I think that's understandable but I've learned to accept purple planet eaters, other dimensions, and that radiation gives you superpowers in other superhero mediums so I guess my mind is open to it when it comes to the genre.

 

[SuperT]

The show at first suggested that:

1) These people are special as in genes special and had something extra in them

The thing is, that still holds true. These people got their powers the old fashion way - they evolved. Normal people don't have powers for a reason, their bodies weren't ready or created to contain them just yet.

Everyone has the potential for powers, but some peoples bodies are never ready for that next leap in evolution since, going all the way back to season one, these powers are evolution based.

These people were special in season one and thereafter, but happens when that changes?! Most of these people have been living in secrecy, making sure no one ever finds out about them, but happens when that's turned on it's head? What happens when the extraordinary becomes the ordinary? Total chaos!

Through the mission of preventing this serum from getting out to the market, our Heroes are going to cause what they had been trying so hard to mantain - secrecy. They may stop the serum, but what happens once they're all found out?

 

[Gilpesh]

I think that's understandable but I've learned to accept purple planet eaters, other dimensions, and that radiation gives you superpowers in other superhero mediums so I guess my mind is open to it when it comes to the genre.

My gripe is that the show tried to act a little more down to earth about that. As in, it's slightly plausible the way super powers happen on the show. Then they pull the "oh, it's just the old fashion 10% excuse".

It's like people exploding when being thrown out into space... it's been disproven and luckily some sci-fi has stopped doing it.

The thing is, that still holds true. These people got their powers the old fashion way - they evolved. Normal people don't have powers for a reason, their bodies weren't ready or created to contain them just yet.

Everyone has the potential for powers, but some peoples bodies are never ready for that next leap in evolution since, going all the way back to season one, these powers are evolution based.

Yeah, like I said... that sounds better than magic serum provides super powers. At least the magic serum worked in the 4400 because that was the only thing that changed to give people powers.

But, I really hope they do that, keep it as evolution and not magic juice.

These people were special in season one and thereafter, but happens when that changes?! Most of these people have been living in secrecy, making sure no one ever finds out about them, but happens when that's turned on it's head? What happens when the extraordinary becomes the ordinary? Total chaos!

Through the mission of preventing this serum from getting out to the market, our Heroes are going to cause what they had been trying so hard to mantain - secrecy. They may stop the serum, but what happens once they're all found out?

I am just saying... this power serum looks to be a crap storyline just to lead to a storyline which would be interesting. But there were other ways to get to that storyline, like the villains getting out and everyone seeing that people have powers.

 

[SuperT]

The whole fighting the escaped villains isn't a strong enough storyline on it's own to sustain the first thirteen episodes of this half of the season.

It would seem too much like Smallville and other shows "Villain of the Week" formula.

 

[Gilpesh]

It would, but it wouldn't just be a VOTW formula. Instead of just letting the entire bank thing fall flat on its face... news could have gotten out about powers and in such a negative way that leads to a slow build of the people's response to the Heroes over the episodes which also have some VOTW, but also the formula story (which if it is about giving powers is a so much better way to come up with a serum) which introduces a rival company and etc...

I forgot what I was saying... but basically they could have done a completely different story with Mohinder and let the villains story be a little more important than some news reporters saying that someone had a flamethrower. And it would also avoid VOTW formula because a lot of other things are happening also which builds on the public knowing about them story.

 

[shadowdog]

I'm sure eveyone think the story that they made up in their heads is better than the one on TV, but that's not the story the writers thought up. If you don't like the story line, don't watch the show. It's such a waste of time and energy to constantly b***h about something, especially because you know you're going to keep watching it! Watching and b****ing, watch, b****, watch, b****, etc, etc, etc...
(that was a general 'you' for all of you who love to complain SO fricken much about this show.)

 

[Gilpesh]

Yes... let's not talk about the show that was great and had even better potential... that it just threw away.

 

[SuperT]

And that's just your opinion....

I think the show is great, loads better story then last season.

 

[Ion Kenshin]

i personally am comfortable with the way the show is going so far...i have very little complaints if any i say just take it in stride and enjoy whats going on...if u cant then stop watching its really not that hard to do im sure that there are plenty of other things to watch at 9pm on monday.

 

[absonic93]

yeah you can watch a bunch of stars no one has ever heard of dance!

Heroes is an awesome show, and I can't wait to see what happens next. Seriously, like KenshinAstrain said, just stop watching it if it's that bad for you. The show isn't meant to be like any comic book we've read, it's a new approach so don't group it with the traditional brand of superheroes.

 

[SuperT]

Hey, no need to be so defensive, Gil is just stating his opinions. lol

 

[absonic93]

Did my comment come across as mean? my bad. I just hate seeing criticism about shows. TV has lots of shows, pick the one right for you (this has been an NBC public service announcement. Now you know......)

lol, that's just a pet peeve of mine that can never change *Sigh*