Writer: Drew Pearce
Director: Ben Gregor
Cast: Nicholas Burns (Alex/The Hotness), Claire Keelan (Sarah/Electroclash), Patrick Baladi (Devlin/Excelsor), James Lance (Don/Timebomb), Rebekah Staton (Jenny/She-Force), Mark Heap (Lightkiller), Jim Howick (Simon/Thundermonkey) & Steve Spiers (Norse Dave)
Director: Ben Gregor
Cast: Nicholas Burns (Alex/The Hotness), Claire Keelan (Sarah/Electroclash), Patrick Baladi (Devlin/Excelsor), James Lance (Don/Timebomb), Rebekah Staton (Jenny/She-Force), Mark Heap (Lightkiller), Jim Howick (Simon/Thundermonkey) & Steve Spiers (Norse Dave)
I don't think we'll ever get a "eureka!" moment with this sitcom (when everything clicks and it provides a constant stream of laughs for 30-minutes), but there's enough to wryly chuckle over. This episode benefits from only dividing into three separate stories -- so only one disappoints, and the remaining two make the most of No Heroics' most appealing characters: Don/Timebomb (James Lance) and Jenny/She-Force (Rebekah Staton).Sarah/Electroclash (Claire Keelan) and Alex/The Hotness (Nicholas Burns) are lumbered with the worst story, as they basically hang out together at The Fortress pub and try not to argue. It was interesting to get some insight on their failed relationship, but the venom being spat their way by the egotistical Devlin/Excelsor (Patrick Baladi) is just becoming tiresome now. It doesn't help that we're never shown Devlin in action as a superhero, so his constant belittling of Alex just irritates me. From what we've actually seen, Alex is the one with a cool superpower, and Devlin's just a vociferous bully.
Jenny has a nice enough story (well, more an extended scene), where she goes to the Superoffenders Unit to see her ex-boyfriend -- a supervillain she was forced to arrest called Light Killer (Spaced's Mark Heap). Heap is his usual twitchy self, given the episodes best lines and an amusingly meager power -- to turn off lights. Rebekah Staton should really get more to do, as she actually has a character with warmth and vulnerability. The aching cynicism of everyone else can be good for a few giggles, but No Heroics lacks characters you can genuinely like -- or even love-to-hate. Jenny fills that gap well, and I'd like to see more of her.
If it wasn't for Heap's mesmeric presence, Don would probably have the best subplot. Here, the dour sex-obsessive finally leaves The Fortress' confines and finds work as a bodyguard for a foulmouthed, homophobic boy prince from the Middle East. His scenes mostly take place in the back of a limo, brushing off the youngster's obscenities and using his 60-second precognition to protect the royal from assassination attempts. Quite a fun scenario, made memorable by the confident performance from the young actor playing the prince.
Overall, my thoughts remain the same about No Heroics: it has its moments, but it's ultimately too drab to make you laugh. It's not too shabby for an ITV2 sitcom of limited appeal and budget, but episodes generally breeze by and fail to spark.
9 October 2008
ITV2, 10.30pm
