Heroes recap of episode 204: The Kindness of Strangers
by Racialicious guest contributor David Zhou
The introduction this season of new characters of color has become increasingly of interest in the discussion about race on Heroes. In this Monday’s episode, we have learned more about the Honduran siblings trying to immigrate illegally into the States. As strikingly, we see in this episode for the first time a family of hurricane survivors in New Orleans. All of these characters continue to carry the burdens of expectation and typecasting in their roles. Here is just a taste of this week’s racial undertones.
Siblings Alejandro and Maya are still trying to escape the apparent lawlessness of Central America-slash-Mexico, as portrayed oh-so-accurately with palm trees, sand, and run-down neighborhoods. Throughout much of the hour, the siblings drive up to the border in a very standout, product-placed Nissan Rogue, intended to be visually discordant against the backdrop of the depicted third-world. As they drive, they meet a stranger (the baddest villain of last season, but that’s not important here). Maya translates as Alejandro warns her in Spanish.
When we talk about stereotypes on television, all accusations can be legitimate if there are no other characters to defy the claims portrayed. Here, Maya and Alejandro are the only Hispanic characters on the show, (the one last season suffered a bad heroin addiction and was killed off) and, hence, qualities embedded in their characters can become statements about entire groups of people. So in this episode, some things were clear: Maya’s constant references to God and miracles, presumably as a Catholic and their constant struggle to illegally cross the border into the States… well, what does that say about Hispanics?
There were many questionable parts to this episode other than this ride through Mexico. We see for the first time this week a family in post-Katrina New Orleans, relatives with whom a mixed-race child named Micah from last season is staying. As the child adapts to his evidently strange, new cultural surroundings, he has to put up with a hostile boy who splashes water on his face and mocks him for his different, “whiter” accent. Along with the du-rag-wearing criminal that attempts to rob a store at the end of the episode, it’s hard to miss the obvious stereotypes of confrontational black males.
The situations introduced by this new household raises larger themes and concerns about the city of New Orleans - depicted as a place of poverty, failed healing, and broken dreams. Monica, the daughter of the family, has apparently stepped up as the breadwinner of the household, or as the mean boy puts it, “in charge because someone died and made [her] that way.” Her struggles with career advancement and hope are raised as a focus. As she sings “I Will Survive” in the store where she works, she is discouraged by a white friend and co-worker before ultimately being turned down for promotion by, conveniently, a black manager. Monica says, “It’s not right. One storm comes rolling through here and blows away my whole life: my mother, my college education, my dreams.” For wanting what she does, Monica is consoled by her friend, who says, “Given the situation, I’d say you’re pretty normal.” (Eerie resemblance to Bill O’Reilly’s comment about Sylvia’s, maybe.) Micah puts the cherry on top of the theme of hope, saying “I just wish I could fix your dreams for you,” a reference to his superpower - fixing electronics. Many kudos to the politicization of a science-fiction show (I think of Battlestar Galactica again) with a worthy issue like Katrina, but in the end is the televised activism of Katrina by white media producers truly necessary? (They do really happen not to be people of color.)
But not all things this episode were utterly wrong and disturbing. Concerning Monica’s friendship with her white colleague, I’m relieved that it is portrayed as genuine and long-lasting, for we’ve been shown something different lately by the media through Jena about the stenches of divisive racism in the South. (Not that it doesn’t exist, but it should at least make us happy to see something different.) Also, we continue to enjoy the sexualization of Hiro’s father Kaito, who is yet again hinted as having had a prolonged sexual history with a female supporting character. It’s nice to see on Heroes a statement so explicit against the emasculation of Asian males.
There were many troublesome details in this episodes of Heroes, and I hope I’ve done them all fair justice. Now I just want to ask readers: what is up with the song that Mohinder was singing? I thought the yogic mantra that played at times in the first season was cool, but… well, here I turn it over to Elton for next week.
Carmen Van Kerckhove is co-founder and president of 
Carmen Van Kerckhove wrote:
David, didn’t you realize that Latinos are a people of deep faith and strong family bonds?
Also, ten bucks says Monica’s grandmother (I assume that’s her grandma) will have powers that are somehow voodoo-related or -inspired.
And finally, I am so psyched that Kristen Bell will be in the next episode! I was an ardent Veronica Mars fan.
Posted 17 Oct 2007 at 3:44 pm ¶
Jack D. wrote:
re “When we talk about stereotypes on television, all accusations can be legitimate if there are no other characters to defy the claims portrayed. Here, Maya and Alejandro are the only Hispanic characters on the show, (the one last season suffered a bad heroin addiction and was killed off) and, hence, qualities embedded in their characters can become statements about entire groups of people.”:
I’m still waiting to watch the latest episode with my wife, but I do remember a couple of scenes from the previous week. Does the brief cameo by a law-enforcing sheriff count as racial stereotyping?
Posted 17 Oct 2007 at 3:51 pm ¶
jd wrote:
Jack -
Are you talking about the guys Maya almost kills when she rescues her brother? I read them as corrupt federales. (when he threatens to call border patrol on them, I half-expected another request for a sexual bribe from Maya)
Posted 17 Oct 2007 at 4:37 pm ¶
Tony wrote:
I just have to say as a New Orleanian myself I think the show did a decent job with the depiction.
Atleast it’s better than the first ep of K-Ville where they had not one, but TWO shootings in/around the French Quarter, and references to using FEMA checks to buy new cars.
My only real problem was the character saying “half the people in this county”
Louisiana does not, and never has, had counties.
It has Parishes.
No one from New Orleans would refer to it as a county.
It’s like having a born & raised American character call an Elevator a “Lift”.
Posted 17 Oct 2007 at 5:20 pm ¶
Allen wrote:
The Katrina segment was most disturbing because the accents attributed to New Orleanians showed that the producers have never actualy visted New Orleans. I really wish people would realize that very, very few poeple in New Orleans speak with the typical “down South” accent.
Posted 17 Oct 2007 at 5:42 pm ¶
reader wrote:
Has anyone heard about the Nobel Scientist James Watson’s comments about blacks being less intelligent due to their dna? So embarrassing.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2677098.ece?token=null&offset=0
Posted 17 Oct 2007 at 6:14 pm ¶
Tony wrote:
Allen, that’s true, but TV shows never really depict accents right.
Does the Bennet family sound like any Texans you’ve ever met?
The New York cast (Petrellis, Issac Mendez, Sylar) don’t sound like New Yorkers.
Posted 17 Oct 2007 at 7:30 pm ¶
Michelle wrote:
I do have a problem with the darker of the two little boys being, bigger, meaner, dumber, impotent, less moral, less sweet and more aggressive. When you have a mixed race child juxtaposed with a Black child, both males, it seems almost dangerous to have such a stark contrast between the two boys.
And yet, they do have a stereotypical white mother (Claire’s mother) who is clueless and kinda useless and raises dogs that she treats like children. So all is fair in love and heroes? Maybe….
Also, as problematic as it all is, Dana Davis (I think that is her name), who plays Monica, is the only Black female on network tv, on a primetime drama, who is under 35, of a darker hue and whose body type is more atheletic than overly voluptious. She is the only Black female on the show with a power! If we are talking about people all over the world evolving a greater rate than the rest of the population, I am glad that a Black female is counted amongst the people who can evolve.
Next up; Save the fast food worker…save the world?
Posted 18 Oct 2007 at 12:25 am ¶
Jenny wrote:
David, that’s a long article. Props for finding time writing that
Posted 18 Oct 2007 at 1:36 am ¶
David Wynn wrote:
I think that was a pretty good depiction David. My only ciritque is that I think you’re really stretching when you compare the “given… pretty normal” statement to O’Reilly’s comments. Bill said those in a far from subtle tone of derision, whereas the character in the show was trying to communicate a quite opposite sentiment.
Posted 18 Oct 2007 at 2:18 am ¶
Daomadan wrote:
I love Heroes, but am starting to struggle with character portrayal especially with regards to the female characters. I really hope that Monica rises to the top of the pack as a strong, role model for young women. Also, she has a cool power that (for once) doesn’t have anything to do with bodily protection. While if the premise of the show is about how certain humans have evolved then I suppose it makes some sense that women, who are traditionally victimized, etc, would have powers that would protect them (Claire with her regeneration, Nikki with her double personality, etc.). But, why can’t a female character just…fly? Or be able to time-travel? That’s why I’m so glad we have Monica because her power is cool and non-traditional for a women to have.
I’m actually disappointed to see Kristen Bell join the cast. Another blonde, white woman to add to the other two already on the cast? I hope they let the women bust out and be more than useless or racial or gender stereotypes and actually be, you know, heroes.
I agree with Carmen: I wonder if they’re going to give Nichelle Nichols some voodoo power because we all know every old black woman in New Orleans is a voodoo priestess.
On a ranty note: I want more Kaito Nakamura! Why did it have to be him?
Posted 18 Oct 2007 at 10:04 am ¶
Latoya Peterson wrote:
Fabulous work. I don’t even watch Heroes, and now I feel like I need to go get the DVD so I can catch up and join in the conversation…
Posted 18 Oct 2007 at 10:40 am ¶
Zoe wrote:
Great analysis, David. I am glad that Kaito Nakamura is depicted as a sexualized being (and with a white woman now less), especially given his son Hiro’s own seemingly non-sexiness (though Hiro did almost have something going with that waitress from Season 1). I am frustrated though that Hiro is helping the white man with perfect Japanese to win the heart of the Japanese woman and to become a national (Japanese) hero. I did however find it interesting that Kensei was so useless that Hiro had to pretend to be him to impress the princess–in other words, white dude has to learn from Asian dude when it comes to being a hero & impressing women. Still, I’d prefer if Hiro could get the girl instead.
I forget his name, but I really enjoy the character of the doctor, the British guy of South Asian descent. He’s depicted as attractive, intelligent, and caring–look how great he is with the little girl Molly. Here’s an Asian guy on TV who’s actually an attentive father figure.
I’m a fan of Kristen Bell, but I agree with Daomadan that it would be nice to have more young women of color on the show…I’d like to see Keiko Agena, formerly of Gilmore Girls, on there. She’d make a kickass hero!
Posted 18 Oct 2007 at 12:41 pm ¶
bygbaby wrote:
I love this comment “Next up; Save the fast food worker…save the world?” I really like Monica kicked the hell out of that guy. She should watch the Food network & try to open a restaurant or better yet enter the Top Chef challenge.
This show is such a mixed bag of stereotypes, it is hard to trip because they get no one ritght.
Bygbaby
Posted 18 Oct 2007 at 2:29 pm ¶
Daomadan wrote:
Zoe: I’d even settle for another white female character who was a brunette! What’s with all of the blondes really?
And don’t get me started on how the woman who could cast illusions was casting one to make herself look thin. That’s some fat-hating going on there yo.
Posted 18 Oct 2007 at 3:20 pm ¶
2muchtime wrote:
I thought it was interesting that, Maya always has to filter everything through her brother seems a little machismo, also why is it his power to nueutralize her power… I am also bothered by her lack of control it reminds of Jean in Xmen and the idea that if you give a woman too much power she won’t be able to control it and she will need a man to help her.
@ zoe I feel the same was about Hiro and Kensei
Posted 18 Oct 2007 at 4:13 pm ¶
Tessa wrote:
Hell, I’m just glad Monica’s power didn’t show up in response to an attempted rape - that alone sets her apart from Claire and Nicki.
Posted 19 Oct 2007 at 7:58 am ¶
Orville wrote:
I also had a problem with the depiction of the darker skinned black child in New Orleans. I didn’t like how the darker skinned black boy was depicted as stupid, fat,dumb. And that Micha the mixed race child is depicted as more sensitive and vulnerable. I would like TV for once to depict young black males more honestly. Not everybody is a thug, there are black boys that do have vulnerability but society still choses to ignore this. I don’t like how they made the darker skinned black child super macho and aggressive when he’s only a kid. I notice TV does that a lot they always stereotype black males as not having real feelings and emotions.
Posted 19 Oct 2007 at 3:54 pm ¶
Orville wrote:
Another point I understand Heroes is a TV show but was it necessary to depict Monica’s family as poor? Yes the writers did demonstrate that Monica had pride and she wanted a better life but I found it offensive when they made the black guy the crook, and Monica and her family being poor. Not all blacks in Lousiana are poor and destitute. The people behind the Heroes TV show I am certain are not people of colour because the same classic racist stereotypes still exist.
Posted 19 Oct 2007 at 3:57 pm ¶
Michelle wrote:
So…are we gonna discuss on Tuesday?
The show does get some things right….#13, Zoe you are right about Dr. Kiresh (sp). It is a very complex character…liking that.
And Daomadan…good call on the fat chick pretending to be thin, and then getting kicked after he killed her…as if to say she was even more vile because she was fat….hmmmm. (And who in the hell is responsible for Siler being alive!!!!)
Good call about Jean and how women can’t control awesome power…they need men to help them.
And yes…even if you get a White woman…does she have to be blond….does it seem rather Nazi-ish? I.e. the Aryan race being more evolved. Maybe that is a stretch, but really, so far only one Black woman and one Latina have power…no Asians, and no White women with dark hair. It makes you wonder what happens or rather doesn’t happen in people’s (in this case the writers) imagination and how that speaks to race relations in reality.
Posted 21 Oct 2007 at 8:47 pm ¶
Anonymous wrote:
I have enjoyed Heroes from the very beginning. However, it would be nice to see characters that are not thin, beautiful, and blonde. I was exicted when I learned about the characters from New Orleans, being that I was born in the city and attend college there. But I could not tolerate Monica’s terrible accent. Also it would have been nice it the scenes where actually shot in New Orleans. None of the houses that were shown were typical of New Orleans architecture but more of that in California. I am disappointed that Maya and Alejandro were killed off. It would have been nice to see all of the female characters meet and band together. I think Mohinder and Peter are the most interesting characters. Nathan has got the be the creepiest Hero on the show. Even Syler has a sense of humor.
Posted 03 Jan 2008 at 9:49 am ¶