SYNOPSIS
Rejoin the epic phenomenon as Heroes: Season 2 arrives on Blu-ray! Watch the Emmy® nominated show and experience all the new and exciting twists of the astonishing series in this 4-disc set that includes all 11 Season Two episodes. Plus, see what could have been with exclusive bonus features that reveal the untold stories and an alternate ending to the season finale where the fate of humanity takes an ominous turn.
Large: Box Set
THE VIDEO
The second season of Heroes is Universal’s first-ever TV on Blu-ray title, and it’s being released simultaneously with season 1. The show is presented here in near stunning 1080p high definition widescreen (1.78:1) using the VC-1 encode. Discs 1 and 2 are BD-50 and discs 3 and 4 are BD-25.
Colors are vibrant and clean, and generally pop off the screen just enough. Video quality exhibits fine detail and sharpness, while definition is very strong most of the time. Compressions artifacts are not an issue, but there appears to be quite a lot of digital noise throughout and small instances of skin blemishes.
Contrast looks great, while dark tones and black levels are accurate. Night time scenes suffer a bit in quality, but all exterior scenes, especially those taking place on a sunny day, look incredibly detailed. These episodes look better than the broadcast HD video as there is no evidence of pixelation here.
THE AUDIO
Universal presents Heroes in a thunderous English DTS-HD 5.1 Surround Sound. The front speakers receive the majority of the sound action, yet the overall presentation is very solid as the surrounds are also active, dialogue is reproduced extremely well across the front, music and sound effects are superior, and bass action is strong.
Optional subtitles are available for English SDH, Spanish and French.
THE EXTRAS
Large: U-Control User Guide
Bonus material is presented in 1080i/p (featurettes) and 480i/p (deleted scenes) video and English 2.0 Dolby Digital audio.
Taking in all the content here, I was more impressed with the quality and quantity of bonus materials on the Season 1 set.
On a side note, the Blu-ray doesn’t include the “Season 3 Sneak Peek” featurette that’s available on the DVD edition. Whoops!
– DISC 1 – (BD-50)
Heroes: Season 2 – A New Beginning (HD, 14:38, VC-1) is an examination of the show’s evolution in its second season featuring cast and crew interviews and location/set footage. Among other things, Tim Kring speaks about the theme of “extraordinary people trying to live normal lives.”
Takezo Kensei: Sword Saint (HD, 23:49, VC-1) is a documentary on the character and myth featuring interviews with several people who specialize in his history.
Deleted Scenes (SD, 4:34, MPEG-2) are available for the episode Four Months Later. Only two scenes here; you won’t miss anything if you skip them.
Hero Connections - Network: A text-based screen with information on the characters and how they are connected (via family, past relationship and/or recent). It’s a neat idea, but not my cup of tea (I have to read now, no thanks).
My Scenes: Create bookmarks and collect your own show clips. To create a bookmark, press green on your remote control to add one to your favorites list. To create a clip, press green to mark the beginning and blue for the end.
U-Control: This interactive feature allows viewers to select pop-up video while an episode is playing. Viewers can choose between watching Picture-in-Picture content and examining Hero Connections (follow your favorite heroes).
Four Months Later PiP Video Commentary with Creator/Executive Producer Tim Kring, Co-Executive Producer Jeph Loeb and Star Jack Coleman.
Lizards PiP Video Commentary with Executive Producer Allan Arkush, Star Greg Grunberg and Co-Executive Producer Michael Green.
Kindred PiP Video Commentary with Episode Director Paul Edwards, Co-Executive Producer JJ Philbin and Star Zachary Quinto.
The Kindness of Strangers PiP Video Commentary with Creator/Executive Producer Tim Kring and Stars Dana Davis & Adrian Pasdar.
BD-Live Enabled Features: Get connected and download exclusive content, trailers and updates directly to your Blu-ray player or PS3. Register a profile and you're able to browse the content, which will be available for viewing and/or downloading on street date.
– DISC 2 – (BD-50)
Genetics of a Scene (HD, 23:14, VC-1) is a collection of four segments that depict the filming of a certain scene. Expect to see a combination of interviews, show clips, storyboard drawings and behind the scenes footage of the “action”.
Maya and Alejandro Run from the Police (4:59) plays interviews with Executive Producer/Director Greg Beeman explaining the scene, and Stars Shalim Ortiz and Dania Ramirez offer their thoughts.
The Anatomy of the Cherry Blossom/Sword Fight Scenes (7:04) offers an interview with Executive Producer/Director Allan Arkush, who says that day they had at least 65 or 70 set-ups!
Exploding Man (4:25) finds another interview with Greg Beeman explaining the scene and what they needed to do; effectively, lots of green screen filming!
The Loft (6:45) sees the return of Allan Arkush who explains the scene as he takes the viewer on a behind the scenes tour of the set. Also includes a 6-second interview clip with Zachary Quinto (!)
The Drucker Files (HD, 8:32, VC-1) is a faux newscast from Global News Interactive (also made up). I guess this report ties into one of the episodes? I don’t know, but what I do know is everyone should skip this extra at all costs; it’s just not interesting or worth anyone’s time.
Deleted Scenes (SD, 18:15, MPEG-2) are available for all episodes: Fight or Flight (5 scenes, 6:46), The Line (3 scenes, 5:05), Out of Time (2 scenes, 2:41), and Four Months Ago (3 scenes, 3:42).
Hero Connections - Network: Updated information as the character stories progress.
My Scenes: Create bookmarks and collect your own show clips.
U-Control: Choose between Picture-in-Picture and Hero Connections.
Fight or Flight PiP Video Commentary with Executive Producer Greg Beeman and Star Greg Grunberg.
The Line PiP Video Commentary with Co-Executive Producers Adam Armus & Kay Foster and Star Jack Coleman.
Out of Time PiP Video Commentary with Episode Director Daniel Attias and Star Masi Oka.
Four Months Ago PiP Video Commentary with Executive Producer Greg Beeman and Star Milo Ventimiglia.
– DISC 3 – (BD-25)
Tim Sale Gallery of Screen Art (HD, 2:01, VC-1) is a brief clip of familiar artwork featuring several characters.
Deleted Scenes (SD, 1:25, MPEG-2) are available for the episode Cautionary Tales. Only two scenes here; the second one is worth checking out (a conversation between Parkman and the little girl).
Hero Connections - Network: Updated information as the character stories progress
My Scenes: Create bookmarks and collect your own show clips.
U-Control: Choose between Picture-in-Picture and Hero Connections.
Cautionary Tales PiP Video Commentary with Episode Director Greg Yaitanes and Stars Kristen Bell & Ashley Crow.
Truth & Consequences PiP Video Commentary with Episode Director Adam Kane and Star Stephen Tobolowsky.
– DISC 4 – (BD-25)
Generations Alternate Ending (HD, 17:58, VC-1) is a bit different in terms of the final outcome. You should see it for yourself. For example, what if the virus was released? (Features some temp VFX as the effects were never fully completed as well as storyboard drawings of scenes that were never shot.)
Inside the Alternate Ending of Generations (HD, 10:58, VC-1) offers some interesting anecdotes on the missing footage that audiences never got to see until now with the alternate ending (scenes that would’ve made up parts of episodes #211-213). Tim Kring, Jeph Loeb and Writer Jesse Alexander sit down for an interview where they explain what you've just seen, and more.
Untold Stories (HD, 12:13, VC-1) is a collection of five scene “acts” from the episode that never was (#212). This is worth checking out, so I’m not going to spoil anything, except to say Sylar is going back to his roots. The last scene (#213) is pretty wild and even includes a (flashing) spoiler warning! (I stopped watching after it came up; there were 8 seconds left to go.)
NBC.com Featurettes (SD, 3:46, MPEG-2) break down into three (pointless) segments.
Hotel Corinthian Explosion is exactly that; takes place in Las Vegas. (Skippable.)
Maya Y Alejandro Viral Video is amateur filmed footage of dead bodies found in a forest area, likely victims of Maya’s (unintentional) killing spree. Not sure what is said here as it’s all in Spanish.
Nathan and Peter Brooklyn Cam is a CG shot of the exploding man sequence but from the point of view of the other side of the island.
Hero Connections - Network: Updated information as the character stories progress.
My Scenes: Create bookmarks and collect your own show clips.
U-Control: Choose between Picture-in-Picture and Hero Connections.
Powerless PiP Video Commentary with Executive Producer Allan Arkush and Composers Lisa Coleman & Wendy Melvoin
This rounds out the bonus material of Heroes – Season 2
FINAL THOUGHT
The second season of Heroes somewhat declines in quality, specifically the storytelling aspect. Despite a few hiccups, it’s still an entertaining show overall. This Blu-ray release offers magnificent video quality and a solid audio presentation, as well as a good collection of bonus materials.
