Best new show this season?

Pilot of the year? So far, "Heroes" was undoubtedly it. The movie-quality debut episode featured strong acting, inventive camerawork, atmospheric lighting and – in Clair Bennett’s intense fire walk – plenty of stuff getting “blowed up real good.”

"Heroes" is one of those rare shows poised to utilize TV’s greatest advantage over film – the ability to tell a truly epic story. Unlike with its film counterpart, the highly popular "X-Men" series, fans don’t have to wait two or three long years to find out what happens next – only seven days – and here, there should room here for deep characterization and action spectacle.


Plus, making comic books themselves part of the plot looks to be a smart decision, demonstrating the creators aren’t: A) Acting like they’re too good for their source material; or B) Pretending "Heroes" is completely original (which it isn’t). The pilot’s best tip of the hat to Hollywood’s current favorite cash cow? Masi Oka’s scenes in Japan, where he and a friend’s subtitled dialogue bounced around the
screen, skillfully dodging the on-screen action just like comic-book speech bubbles,.

Speaking of Oka, his performance was funny and heartfelt, making him (not to mention that sure-to-be-handy ability to bend time and space) an early standout. Also acquitting themselves well: Ali Larter, doing her best scared-out-of-my-mind since Death finally caught up with her in Final Destination 2, and “Boy Who Could (Possibly) Fly” Milo Ventimiglia, sinking his teeth into his first decent role since Jess on The CW’s “Gilmore Girls.” Looks like the third time’s a charm for this erstwhile bad-boy-turned-super-nurse.

The previews that capped the episode put to rest any fears (at least for this viewer) that the creators won’t be able to top such an impressive debut. Powerful heroes, deadly villains and a grand puzzle that fans of "Lost" and "The X-Files" should have a blast trying to put together – looks like we’ve finally got a reason to look forward to Mondays.