HEROES: losing its coolness?

You might have noticed that I haven’t written anything so far about season two of Heroes. Here’s why: I’ve been sooooo disappointed. This series, which captivated me last year, seems to have already lost its oomph. Nothing is happening! Cheerleader Claire is in California, still amazed at her regenerative powers and mooning for a new boyfriend. Hiro is stuck in the Wayback Machine, and I keep wishing Ando was there with him; at least we’d have some fun dialogue. Peter’s lost his memory and is hanging out with thugs who have really sad Irish accents. Last week, Nathan shaved off his beard, which provided that episode’s only real excitement. I understand that this particular story arc — Volume 2 — probably has only two or three episodes left before we move elsewhere. So c’mon, gang, let’s get rolling!

Kristen Bell, who so enchanted me as Veronica Mars for three years, makes her first-ever appearance this evening as Elle, a new "hero" who might be not-so-nice. I’m hoping she kicks this series back into high gear.