5 New Characters We'd Like To See When Heroes Returns

4. A Famous, Celebrity Singer Who Can Seduce People With Her Voice (Ability: Seduction)

One approach writers often take when crafting a character is to look for issues that are relevant in the current media, that would, thus, generate publicity. Articles like this one or columns in magazines and newspapers that can use the example of this character to discuss the issue at hand, thus bringing hits to their web-page (or eyeballs to their printed words), whilst also exposing the TV show to its regular readers. Mutually beneficial promotion. The image of the 'ideal woman' has been hotly debated for several years now, various generations of feminist movements continuing to rally against the "Hollywood" image of a woman (slim, traditionally beautiful, often with a good-sized bust) in favour of promoting the every-day woman who might not possess the rare genetic gift of traditional beauty. "Real women have curves!" became a popular slogan of this movement a few years back, failing to realise it segregates naturally slim girls (as supposedly not "real") equally as much as the mainstream media might have done to themselves. A culmination of this issue came several years back when Susan Boyle won the British reality TV show Britain's Got Talent, stirring up world-wide support in favour of her success due to her vocal talent, in spite of not fitting the traditional image of female celebrity. Since then, however, regular service has been resumed; the Hollywood industry, along with such brands as Victoria's Secret and Vogue continuing to be guided by a predominantly male persuasion, continuing to favour females in a supporting role, especially with regards to television. I ask you who was the last female lead on US TV continuously depicted as dominant over their male counterparts? Alias? Buffy? It's been some time and whilst issues such as the LGBT movement and religious doctrine continue to receive mainstream exposure on our screens, the issue of gender inequality in the media industry has been lost in the wind. Here you have potential for a character who can play upon both these issues. The traditional image of seduction from a female celebrity singer tends to come from their look. Shakira releases a music video featuring her and Rihanna dressed provocatively lying on one another and it hits 40 million YouTube videos in barely two days. Whilst feminist movements can continue to protest against such bias, it's difficult to argue with the numbers- people turn out in their droves to see the sexuality of a beautiful woman on display, making it logically difficult for any production company to attempt anything otherwise. With Heroes, you can play on the supernatural element of the ability with a character whom, alike Susan Boyle, does not fit the traditional image of a pop superstar but manages to seduce her audience the same with the power of her voice and voice alone. Suddenly, you're tapping into not one but two relevant issues in society and at the same time have the capability for some beautiful set-plays (one off scenes or sequences in an episode or film, irrelevant to advancing the plot, there for aesthetics alone). As for character drama and conflict? Play on the issue at hand. Ask the questions, what would a woman do with that kind of power? What should she do? Would you support her for doing it? In the end, does she deserve to fall?