Evolutionary Themes in NBC's Heroes

Last season, "Heroes" exploded. The highly anticipated, NBC original drama brought together a group of unassuming, highly intelligent, extremely dominate characters to bring us into a world of superhuman concepts. This season, "Heroes" continues to titillate our minds and force us to expand our ever evolving perception of humankind.

Some viewers may simply find this highly conceptual show to be merely mind-candy requiring very little thought (like Monday Night Football or the latest reality TV show), but as the show premieres many lingering questions take root. The main question for this viewer is - How do the Heroes assume their powers?

The opening monologue states that our Heroes were brought together by destiny. If this is the case does that mean that their capabilities are indisputable, not reliant upon one single common denominator other than simply being part of the chosen ones? But from last season we see that there were concrete ways in which certain characters acquired their powers. Some were born with their talents, others obtained them through extraction of DNA and lastly, some were able to attain them through absorption.

During season 1, Peter Petrelli (Milo Ventimiglia) struggled with his emerging powers - how they came to be and how to control them. This was an ailment slightly different from his other hero peers. While Claire (Hayden Panettiere), Nathan (Adrian Pasdar) and Niki (Ali Larter) awkwardly discovered their phenomenal talents, they had an inbred understanding of them, unlike the two opposing characters - Peter and Sylar (Zachary J. Quinto).

Both Peter and Syler could take on other Heroes powers, but each did so in a very different way. Syler could only do so by taking DNA from the person, resulting in their death. Peter acquired these same powers, by mere association. In addition, Sylar was never portrayed as a descendant from someone who possessed these abnormal tendencies. Or is that a secret to be revealed later this season? Could he have been part of a line of genetically, predisposed villains? Will this season of Heroes answer these questions? Will Mohinder (Sendhil Ramamurthy), the devout scientist, finally break the code?

If Mohinder cannot solve the evolutionary code, perhaps the writers will clue us in just a little as Season 2 explores the parentage of many of the Heroes. Tim Kring, Creator of the NBC drama, stated in a recent interview that there will be several themes this season one of which will deal with the ". . . the sins of the parents being visited on the children."

Confused yet? I hope not. "Heroes" is a highly viewable show that not only seeks to entertain yet challenges the viewer to think outside the box and explore the potential for humankind's evolution. Do we evolve merely from DNA or do we have the ability to absorb energy from others and advance mankind? Or is our own greatness simply predestined by some unknown entity?