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

3. The Psychopathic Leader Of A Street Gang Of Specials (Ability: Emotional Manipulation)

First of all, allow me to clarify what I mean by "psychopathic" because there is a good deal of misconception out there with regards to the term. Someone clinically defined as a psychopath is someone bold, brash, very limited in their ability to control their impulses and with a severe disregard or lack of ability to empathise with another individual human being. Can this combination lead to criminal behaviour? Yes. Does it definitively? No. Some cope very well with their condition to avoid any harm, emotionally or physically, to others. The reason I have, however, placed it as a condition to this character is because of the chosen ability, the dramatic irony it proposes and the potential for a strong antagonist that it generates. In the past, Heroes, traditionally, preferred to craft its villains in a high-concept model; massively super-powered, elaborate and evil, such as Sylar or Arthur Petrelli. If these antagonists are doomed to be stricken without a reason for the audience to try and understand their plight, they must at least provide to be a cathartic obstacle for our protagonists to overcome- allowing them to grow and change into something else, the problem was Heroes' villains usually achieved neither. Enter a different kind of villain. Enter a character whose power isn't flashy; isn't loud or immediately, physically oppressive- such as ripping a guy's skull off- but instead soft and subtle, perhaps completely unseen; influencing those around him to do his bidding by controlling their emotions, the absolute dramatic apex of a character plagued with the unfortunate condition of psychopathy. On one hand, your potential for story is immense: controlling a diverse group of specials, each with abilities of their own, this character ultimately possesses great power, providing a huge obstacle for the protagonists of our story. On the other hand, you have potential for this character himself to grow, promoting the idea of redemption, tackling the issue of psychopathy itself; potentially proving to the viewing world that people are worthy of their compassion and need their support, rather than being categorised as dangers to society beyond help. If, at the core of this man, lies a child whose only wish is to figure out how to help someone, how to use his ability to improve their life, perhaps make it worth living, rather than the oppressive status quo circumstances have placed him into, you can achieve a powerful catharsis for this character- once again proposing the idea to the audience that nobody is beyond redemption. Or, should they take a tragic route and have him succumb to stereotypes of his condition, provide a sobering, harrowing message of warning about what assumptions and the pressures of unenlightened public opinion can do to a human being. The options are there with this one and it's those types of characters I would like to see.