Heroes is taking a break

TV Just noticed via my PVR's EPG -- Heroes is taking a break next week due to the Snooker World Championship. The knock on effect of which being that those of us who've been watching a week ahead on BBC Three might have to wait three weeks for the finale (assuming they follow the usual pattern of only showing it on BBC Two). I know that we've been spoilt so far in receiving the series only a week behind its US premiere, but this does remind me of the old days when you had to keep an eye on the schedule during the summer months in case you missed the random transmissions of Star Trek between football, rugby and oh yes, snooker.

It's a particular shame because the upturn in quality since Bryan Fuller returned as been marked and very pleasing and one of those rare occasion when a series can be seen to appreciably and positively change when a different mind is working behind the scenes.* There are the same characters, same settings, similar storyline, but the quality of the writing has improved, with a marked increase in philosophical depth to the text, more character dimension, more interesting shooting and editing and a return to the extraordinary images of the first series (though admittedly on what's obviously a smaller budget). I can't wait to see what he does when faced with plotting a whole new chapter instead of simply finishing off someone else's misfire.

* Previous examples include Michael Pillar taking over at Star Trek: The Next Generation in Season Three and the 'I can't believe it's not Sorkin' episodes of The West Wing by Deborah Cahn, Eli Attie and Peter Noah (from seasons six and seven). Though I still haven't forgiven any of them for what they did to Toby.