Talk 'Heroes': Dec. 8 episode

At this point, it seems like poor Zach Quinto is carrying Heroes all by himself.

Sylar was certainly the highlight of last night's installment -- and yes, part of me can't believe I'm still watching this show, but I'm determined to see how it all ends.

I used to love HRG, but he has been relegated to a minute or two per episode, if we're lucky. Hiro had a glorious first season, but it has been rough for him ever since, and memory loss rarely improves a character. This week, Claire seemed more confused than anyone about her place in the whole story, and the Hulk-esque left us scratching our heads.

Critics have had positive things to say so far, though:

- IGN calls it "a tight little episode."

- Zap2It says "scenes involving Hiro and his mother had a dramatic heft that the show has sorely lacked this fall."

- E! praises "the fabulous tag team of Matt, Daphne and Ando," which sort of baffles me, because those kids put me to sleep.

Anyway, what did you think? What did you enjoy/not enjoy about the episode? What does Heroes have to do to win you back? Once again, if you missed last night's ep, catch up online.

Let's talk 'Heroes': Dec. 1 episode

I don't mean to sound all Seinfeld-ian here, but seriously, what's the deal with Heroes?

Is this show intentionally trying to alienate viewers? Why do characters behave a certain way in one episode and then do a complete 180 the next week? Why won't anyone stay dead? Why do some of these storylines sound like they were invented by fourth graders during recess?

The eclipse arc, Hiro's boyish mind -- what's the point of it all? And come on, what was up with last night's final scene between Sylar and Elle?

I just don't get it. My confusion and sadness are transforming into rage. Each week I watch with hope only to be greatly disappointed.

Here are a few morning-after reactions:

- TVGuide.com says, "These same stories by and large could have been told without the loss of powers, so why even go there. We've still yet to get any real explanation as to why the eclipse triggers these powers (and why these eclipses are happening so often), and the whole things reeks of a plot device meant to drum up drama that the stories themselves are not."

- EW.com has lots to criticize, especially scenes with Claire and Sylar/Gabriel. "If you're not going to put your characters in real jeopardy, don't even head down that road. Because it's cheap and a waste of time."

- On a humorous note, Zap2It points out that Heroes depicted the "longest total solar eclipse ever." The writer also notes that "It's come to the point where I just feel kind of bad for Greg Grunberg and Brea Grant, saddled as they are with a supposed love story that's based on Parkman's spirit walk and nothing else."

Feel free to vent/share your thoughts/etc. in the comments. If you missed the episode, you can watch it on Hulu.

'It's coming' on 'Heroes' ... but what is 'it'?

Yesterday I forgot to write about Heroes.

I mean, I know I have a lot going on with the move and everything, but that should tell you something about how much this series has changed in less than three seasons: Even though I sat through Monday's episode, the whole thing vanished from my mind less than 24 hours later.

"What have they done to Hiro and Sylar?" asks this post on io9. "Why does Sylar get to be the new force of great justice in this show, while Hiro is consigned to the role of cutey clown?"

I have to agree, at least on the Hiro point -- watching the formerly complex character reduced to a 10-year-old was just excruciating, and I hope it doesn't last. On the other hand, I didn't mind seeing Sylar go head-to-head with Kristen Bell; at least those two have chemistry and the acting skills to keep me tuned in. (Says EW's Marc Bernardin: "Finally, the producers had given Kristen Bell something to do besides pout and smirk.")

Monday's ratings were down 300,000 viewers from last week. We may have learned about the "catalyst," but is that enough?

Feel free to share your thoughts about the ep in the comments, and catch up on Hulu. Is the season beginning to come together for you, or is it falling to pieces? Which characters can save the show ... and which need to be sucked into a vortex, never to return?

'Heroes': Is it getting better?

I know a lot of you have stopped watching Heroes.

It's understandable: The show has developed so many problems we could spend the rest of the day listing them, from an overflow of characters to weak storylines to irritating/confusing time-jumping.

I, too, have lost patience with the series, and I didn't even watch this week's episode until last night. That's saying a lot, considering Heroes and Lost used to be my top two must-see shows.

What do the ratings say? It's not good news: This week the drama had its lowest rating to date, finishing behind Dancing with the Stars and Samantha Who?. But I thought the episode was an improvement over previous weeks, and I'm still not giving up completely.

This week Heroes tried to provide some answers, so at least the time-jumping had a purpose. The super-annoying characters -- Maya, Tracy/Niki/whatever -- were nowhere to be found. Could it be back on the right track?

What did you think? Do you have hope for the season? Could Angela Petrelli save us all? Feel free to share your thoughts, though warn us if you post a spoiler about an upcoming episode.

Also, if you missed the ep, watch it on Hulu.

In related news, Heroes has launched an online spin-off series that features yet a new hero (yes, another one) created by fans. Go here to start watching.

Let's talk 'Heroes': Oct. 27 episode

OK, a few of you have been panicking that it's Tuesday and I still haven't posted a Heroes discussion! Readers seem to be divided on where this season is going, so I'm eager to hear your thoughts.

Is the show on the right track yet? How can it be saved? Is Kristen Bell helping on hurting matters? If you could kill any character, who would it be?

Share your thoughts, though remember to warn us if you post a spoiler about an upcoming episode. If you missed it, you can catch up on Hulu or NBC.com. (I prefer Hulu, but NBC has commentary.)

My reaction? To be honest, I wish my superpower was that I could watch a Heroes episode in 30 seconds flat. This show has become a little too tedious. However, I'm determined to see it through ... I really want Ando to come out of it OK.

What has happened to 'Heroes'?

Are you not loving Heroes as much as you used to?

You're not alone.

Here's a first look at the new cover of Entertainment Weekly, which addresses the series' slump. "Now the cheerleader, the world and the series need to be saved," it reads. "But is it too late?"

Here's a link to the article, which recommends five ways to fix the show "in crisis." It suggests that some of the heroes need to be retired, because the drama is now just overrun with them. Also, it says some of the plot twists have become ridiculous (I can't argue there) and suggests the producers set an end date, similar to what happened with Lost.

Even if all of these things happened, I wonder if it might be too late for this show to return to its former glory. Sure, a lot of us are still watching, but many viewers have turned away for good. If only we were all like Hiro, we could squint our eyes and pretend the last two seasons hadn't happened at all.

Let's talk 'Heroes': Oct. 20 episode

Truth be told, I haven't had time to watch last night's Heroes, and I might not get to it until late tonight. But I've received some e-mails about it (no spoilers, please!), so let's go ahead and launch a discussion thread.

If you missed it, join me in watching it on Hulu. (Eventually, you'll be able to watch it on NBC.com with commentary.)

We're six episodes into the season, so by now some of you may have abandoned the series or are back on track after last year's meandering second year. How do you think the show could be improved? Is it headed in the right direction?

Remember: If you post info about an upcoming episode, warn us first!

Let's talk 'Heroes': Oct. 13 episode

While Heroes' season premiere showed promise, I must admit I'm losing enthusiasm for this series. I thought last night's episode was pretty tough to get through, despite a guest appearance by Robert Forster and the return of the mighty HRG/Sylar team.

However, you may disagree: What do you think of the new, menacing Peter? How about the revelations concerning Nathan Petrelli's past? What the heck was Hiro thinking in that final scene? What's happening to the increasingly Fly-like Mohinder (and how does Jeff Goldblum feel about it)?

Talk about all of these things and more in the comments, though warn us if you post a spoiler about an upcoming episode. You can watch the ep on several sites, including Hulu and NBC.com.

Let's talk 'Heroes': Oct. 6 episode

"So, uh, you can fly?"

This week offered a particularly dark installment of Heroes, despite a waffle-making Sylar. Do you like where the third season is headed? Let's discuss it in the comments, though remember to warn us if you post a spoiler about an upcoming episode.

Some things to think about:

What do you think of the frequent jumping between present and future? Do you care about Tracy Strauss more or less than Niki Sanders? What the heck is Mohinder Suresh becoming? Did you like what Hiro uncovered in the final scene, or were you hoping for something else?

If you missed the episode, you can watch it on NBC.com or Hulu.

Let's talk 'Heroes': Sept. 29 episode

Last night we saw a different side of Sylar ... sort of. Hiro and Ando continued their chase, and Claire spent some quality time with family. Parkman has been banished to the desert. As for Niki Sanders/Tracy Strauss, we're still not sure what exactly is going on with her/them.

What did you think of the episode? Are you impressed with Heroes' third season so far? Where is this "Villains" volume headed? Who's the most dangerous baddie of the bunch?

Leave your thoughts below, and warn us if you post a spoiler about an upcoming episode. NBC.com and Hulu have already posted last night's ep if you missed it.