Kung fu fighting in a sensible beige sedan.
October 17th 2006 14:28
I have a new tv obsession called Heros. This show is in one word... amazing. It's kind of like Xmen, but you meet the people as they're realizing their powers, not knowing what exactly is going on. They don't know why they are like this, and are coming together from all over the world.
My favorite character in the show is Hiro. Hiro is a little nobody cubicle worker from Japan. He's a little chubby, he wears glasses that he obsessively pushes up his squat nose, and he has the nerdiest haircut in the history of Tv-dom. He looks NOTHING like a Hero. He is obsessed with American science fiction, Star Wars, Star Trek and the like. When we first met him, he was sure he could stop the space time continuem and teleport. We don't know what makes him think this, but we see him sitting in his cubicle, the sound of clicking all around him from his fellow Japanese drones, eyes squinched shut, red with concentration, facing his clock, willing it to stop or at least slow down, or something. He makes the second hand click back once! He did it! He turned back time.
Of course this sets off a whole motion of events, yadda, yadda, yadda, yackity smackity, watch it yourself.
Anyway, in last nights episode, he comes back from time to talk to one of the other characters. He is now looking... for lack of a better phrase.. fine as hell for an asian dude, wearing a black ninja like suit, with a sword strapped to his back. Gone are his sensible white button down shirt, and anti wrinkle pants. Gone are the glasses and the pasty complexion, and thank you baby Jesus, gone is that haircut. He is know sporting a very kick ass ponytail, and be still my beating heart, he has a soul patch. I am a sucker for a soul patch. Oh and he now speaks flawless english without a hint of an accent. In present time he can't speak a lick of english.
I watched the show and didn't give much thought to the change in Hiro. It wasn't until I started to watch another movie, Thank you for Smoking, that the contrast in the two Hiros struck me. In the movie, there is a man who, to quote his assitant "really loves asian shit" His office is ensconced in rich golds, and reds, with murals on the wall, fountains, and rich fabrics.
This made me stop and think about how Asians have two polar extremes when it comes to their stereotypes. On one hand, they make you think of the colors red, yellow, purple and black. They're about zen, and honor. We want to be them when they kick ass on the movie screen with their martial arts. They are the epitome of aloofness, yet underneath burns a passion so hot, it would burn you.
Then on the other hand, they're khaki pants and starched white shirts. They bring to mind the colors tan, beige, off white, and navy blue. We see them bee bopping around in their four door beige Toyota Camrys. They're the nerds, the smarties, the ones who can do quantum physics in their sleep. They bumble around with bad accents. We see them on Tv, the modern day Jerry Lewis.
They're the only culture I think that has moved on from their pasts in one respect but, yet they still hang on to the past more so than most. I know it's unfair to lump them all together, but hey I can do that, being half asian myself. It's just a weird mind set that we have of them in general. One half samurai sword, one half calculator. One side fire red, the other soothing beige. Maybe that's what makes them so interesting? This Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde thing they got going on.
I don't know what it is, but I can't wait to ride along with Hiro for the rest of the season. Even if it is in a sensible sedan.
My favorite character in the show is Hiro. Hiro is a little nobody cubicle worker from Japan. He's a little chubby, he wears glasses that he obsessively pushes up his squat nose, and he has the nerdiest haircut in the history of Tv-dom. He looks NOTHING like a Hero. He is obsessed with American science fiction, Star Wars, Star Trek and the like. When we first met him, he was sure he could stop the space time continuem and teleport. We don't know what makes him think this, but we see him sitting in his cubicle, the sound of clicking all around him from his fellow Japanese drones, eyes squinched shut, red with concentration, facing his clock, willing it to stop or at least slow down, or something. He makes the second hand click back once! He did it! He turned back time.
Of course this sets off a whole motion of events, yadda, yadda, yadda, yackity smackity, watch it yourself.
Anyway, in last nights episode, he comes back from time to talk to one of the other characters. He is now looking... for lack of a better phrase.. fine as hell for an asian dude, wearing a black ninja like suit, with a sword strapped to his back. Gone are his sensible white button down shirt, and anti wrinkle pants. Gone are the glasses and the pasty complexion, and thank you baby Jesus, gone is that haircut. He is know sporting a very kick ass ponytail, and be still my beating heart, he has a soul patch. I am a sucker for a soul patch. Oh and he now speaks flawless english without a hint of an accent. In present time he can't speak a lick of english.
I watched the show and didn't give much thought to the change in Hiro. It wasn't until I started to watch another movie, Thank you for Smoking, that the contrast in the two Hiros struck me. In the movie, there is a man who, to quote his assitant "really loves asian shit" His office is ensconced in rich golds, and reds, with murals on the wall, fountains, and rich fabrics.
This made me stop and think about how Asians have two polar extremes when it comes to their stereotypes. On one hand, they make you think of the colors red, yellow, purple and black. They're about zen, and honor. We want to be them when they kick ass on the movie screen with their martial arts. They are the epitome of aloofness, yet underneath burns a passion so hot, it would burn you.
Then on the other hand, they're khaki pants and starched white shirts. They bring to mind the colors tan, beige, off white, and navy blue. We see them bee bopping around in their four door beige Toyota Camrys. They're the nerds, the smarties, the ones who can do quantum physics in their sleep. They bumble around with bad accents. We see them on Tv, the modern day Jerry Lewis.
They're the only culture I think that has moved on from their pasts in one respect but, yet they still hang on to the past more so than most. I know it's unfair to lump them all together, but hey I can do that, being half asian myself. It's just a weird mind set that we have of them in general. One half samurai sword, one half calculator. One side fire red, the other soothing beige. Maybe that's what makes them so interesting? This Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde thing they got going on.
I don't know what it is, but I can't wait to ride along with Hiro for the rest of the season. Even if it is in a sensible sedan.
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Summer Banks
Romance Writers
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Anonymous
"Everbody was kung fu fighting, those cats were fast as lightnening"
Comment by Adele
Lost Fanatic
Day Break TV
Lots of people are liking Heroes. Between your review and Aaron's, I think I'm going to TiVo this one.
Comment by Jen
I watch heros as well, I really like it in a odd sort of way.