With Heroes‘ fifth volume, “Redemption”, set to start shooting next week, the cast has been accommodating a few additions, including a new villain and a new roommate for college-bound Claire (Hayden Panettiere). Thumbs up for a new villain, but a college roommate? Great! Because the whole going-to-college storyline worked so well for Claire last season [sarcasm].
Robert Knepper, best known as bad guy “T-Bag” from Fox’s Prison Break, will continue his villainous streak as Samuel on Heroes; Madeline Zima (a.k.a. the conniving “Mia Lewis” from Showtime’s Californication), will appear in a multi-episode arc as Claire’s edgy, outsider college roommate, Gretchen.
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Knepper’s Samuel will be a “Jim Jones type–charismatic but evil, with a twisted sense of humor–who will veer into the lives of all heroes.” He’s been referred to as the “Carnival Barker,” which peaks my interest beyond the solid casting choice – but then again it is Heroes, so that character/storyline could end up falling flat. Knepper is currently signed-on for at least six episodes of the shortened fourth season.
As far as Zima: No doubt she’ll be toning down the language (and other naughty aspects) of her sexually precocious counterpart on Californication, but hopefully she’ll help progress Claire’s character when the high school cheerleader [re]starts college in Washington D.C.
Judging by the preview at the end of last season, “Redemption” will likely follow our favorite Heroes trying to go back to their normal lives after the turmoil of “Fugitives”. Is it me, or do they always seem to “go back to normal life” after the turmoil of a previous arc? That kind of mundane storytelling got “Fugitives“ off to a lackluster start, IMO, and though the season picked up at the end, chances of holding that pace in order to hit-the-ground-running with “Redemption” are slim.
Even with the additions of Robert Knepper and Madeline Zima, is there reason to suspect Heroes: Redemption will be better than any of the previous volumes?
Source: Hollywood Reporter & Twitter
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19 Comments
Well I can speak for others, but I can say after Fugitives I’m finally interested in Heroes again. Villains was a terrible story arc, but Fugitives was great and got better and better with each episode with a fantastic season finale. I think if they keep up the good work this next season can be fantastic.
I have to say that I’m not a big fan of Heroes any more. Half-way through “Villains” I lost interest. I am however a fan of Knepper, finding his role as “T-Bag” in Prison Break both realistic and also very creepy, and I’m glad to see him getting a new character role so quickly. It is a shame that he got another role as a villain however, I think now he’ll be forever pegged as the bad-guy, although he plays it extremely well.
Heroes jumped the shark a long time ago. I don’t watch that anymore.
I still have faith! I really need peter to be at full strength soon for me to keep that faith though. Every magneto needs a professor x. You cant have a superpowered villain and no equal counterpart.
From a cinematographer’s stand point, I really liked some of the episodes later on in Fugitives (cold snap for one). I was not a fan of the finale and was disappointed in the number of continuity breakers, but I guess they needed to do at least that much to try and jump start the next season. THAT is my optimism speaking. I have hopes, not high, but definite hopes that this show will bounce back.
I don’t watch Heroes anymore but I’m glad Knepper landed there ,,, !!!
He’ll definitely add some class to that show…
I’ll watch it but I’m not puttung up much hope for season 5.
Incidentally – a good friend of mine – Ray Park (Snake Eyes, Darth Maul, Toad) – has also been cast as a knife throwing ’special’ with abilities.
Just to inform…
Ray Park? Cool.
Agree on Knepper. Loved him as TBag. Would be great to see him do something different, but he does bad guys so well. Even that small bit in Goodnight and Goodluck.
I really enjoyed the Fugitives, if the finale irritated me a lot. For me it’s about time they had a new villain. Just improve the writing, which there had been signs of happening.
I’m surprised that two of you didn’t like the finale I thought it was by far the best episode of the last two years. I thought it was brilliant especially what they did with Nathan and Sylar.
Hmmmm, I guess I’m too much of a Trek-nerd because the only thing I remember Knepper in was TNG, as Wyatt, Troi’s fiance.
@Daniel
I enjoyed that finale. I’m interested in seeing what they will do now since Nathan is gone and Sylar thinks he’s Nathan.
Exactly I think they created such an interesting story point and I think the actors on this show are fantastic especially Nathan and Sylar and it will be interesting to see how those actors handle this role.
I wanted to add that the only thing that sucks is it means at some point the show will have to get rid of one of them so we will for sure lose an actor.
I did’t like the last season of Heroes or the final episode. I felt it was unbalanced. Evil all seeing government agency, unstoppable ego maniac super villan with no counter part or even group that could compete.
Oh dont forget the Austin Powers Dr. Doom lets keep the super heroes alive so they can escape, over and over again.
The last two Season sucked.
Maybe they will cast better, not filling comic book geeks with model caliber guys with six packs.
sorry for the spelling, I am typing on my phone.
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