West: the worst thing in Heroes

[janne_d]

I've been watching the first episodes of series 2 of Heroes, and while I am so far quite enjoying it I can see why people complained about the pace. But what's really bugging me is one single character: West.



Reason number 1: His first interaction with Claire when he asks her if she is a robot or an alien, because there are only two types of people in the world. And you just know he has decided which he is and why that is superior, and that he is judging her by her answer. I cannot stand the type of person who thinks they have the right to make others jump through hoops to be worth their time. And West does it all through the first few times we see him, pushing Claire to act like he thinks she should.

Reason number 2: He is a stalker. That is what we call it when people spy on others through windows, right? The fact he was spying on Claire (in her bedroom, at night) by flying does not make it okay.

Reason number 3: His reaction when he found out she could regenerate. He obviously could tell she was uncomfortable and did not want to be noticed, and instead of reassuring her, he pushed her, in public, to the point where she left in tears and freaked out. Why couldn't he just do the smart and kind thing of saying "hey, I can do things too, it's okay"? But no, she has to confess before he does and then his reaction to her upset is to tell her to "shut up" and to pick her up and fly off. If I were Claire, I would have punched him. How much more controlling can you get?

Reason number 4: He thinks the fact he can fly means he is better than other people. He declares that being able to fly "makes the whole parental guidance thing a non-issue" - um, why exactly? He still isn't an adult or experienced in life or suddenly superior in faculties to any other teenage boy in any other way than his flying.

Reason number 4.5: Sort of related to thinking powers makes people superior, his way of telling Claire she is better than the bitchy cheerleader is "You're a total babe, and you have a power. By definition, you're better than she is". Thus reducing Claire's entire being neatly to her appearance and regenerative ability. Nice.

Now, if I thought the show was intentionally playing him as a controlling wanker, that would maybe be okay if they eventually had Claire realise and break away. But I have a dreadful feeling that West is actually just supposed to be cool and edgy and attractive. Yuck.



I feel better now.

Comments

[piplover.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he gave me the creeps and I wanted to yell at Clair to get the hell away from him. I hate to say it, but the series only gets worse. Have you met the brother/sister duo? Honestly, I think I hate the girl as much as West, though I'll save that rant for another time. Yuck. Heroes, oh how you let me down!

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he gave me the creeps and I wanted to yell at Clair to get the hell away from him.

OMG, yes. I want him to die. Preferably slowly and beaten with sticks.

And another thing that annoys me, though about the actor not the character, is he looks so much like the guy who plays Clark in Smallville I can never remember what the git looks like when he's not on screen. I just see Clark.

the series only gets worse

Oh no *groans* I thought it was meant to pick up again towards the end?

Have you met the brother/sister duo?

You mean Maja and Alejandro? Yes. So far they aren't too bad, though I'm losing respect for Maja's instincts now that Sylar is twisting her about. Alejandro seems to have much better ones when it comes to recognising creepy serial killers might be bad news to have around. I take it Maja gets worse?

[torakowalski.livejournal.com]

Ack, I haven't been able to stick to Heroes at all this season.

They scheduled it at the same time as House *eyeroll* There's really no competition.

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

Hum, that may have been a wise choice. I'm very behind on House sadly. I fell out of the habit a while back and never got back in - plus, like Numbers, it's on so many channels at different times and days I can never work out which one is the current and I keep running into the same episodes over and over!

[julii-wolfe.livejournal.com]

also, the whole Claire getting into a relationship with a guy that has the same powers as her biological father is definitely too freudian and cheap for words. The only power that repeats identically on the show is West's and Claire's Petrelli father.

LAME.
you are so, so right.

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

Ooh, good point. I forgot about that aspect. I do remember wondering why Claire was so impressed he could fly though - it's not like she hasn't seen that before.

Gah. Everything about West is annoying.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I would add, as a generalization, that I found West extremely manipulative. I didn't like the way Claire let him manipulate her from their first 'date' onwards. So pushy!

When I saw the same actor in The Sarah Connor Chronicles I didn't like him as John Connor either, so it isn't just the role: there are things about his acting style I don't like as well.

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

I found West extremely manipulative.

Yes! Completely. I really want Sylar to kill him.

When I saw the same actor in The Sarah Connor Chronicles I didn't like him as John Connor

Um, that's not him. The John Connor actor played Zack from series 1 of Heroes. They do look similar though, and I know what you mean about acting style. I was watching SCC for Sarah and Summer Glau anyway.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Gad, you're right, of course, I confused the two guys without even realizing I was doing it, which doesn't say much about my attention span or my ability to keep characters straight if I don't like them. Zack looked really good compared to West. I just remembered that the guy was from Heroes.

In Heroes, the good characters are great and the rest are - disappointing.