Heroes [2006]

The lowdown: 'Heroes' is a serial-based science fiction drama from US network NBC, with the first episode being
broadcast on September 25, 2006. A group of ordinary people discover that they have superpowers, and with this
discovery comes the slow realisation that their destinies will bring them together to prevent a terrible disaster in
New York City. The heroes include high school cheerleader Claire Bennet, who has the ability to heal any injury;
artist Isaac Mendez, who paints visions of the future; Japanese computer programmer Hiro Nakamura, who can travel
through space and time using the power of his mind; Peter Petrelli, a hospice nurse who can absorb the superpowers
of other 'heroes'; and Nathan Petrelli, a Congressional candidate who has the ability to fly. The heroes are pursued by
Sylar, a serial killer who is seeking to absorb the powers of the 'heroes' and kills them by slicing of the top of their
head, while genetics professor Mohinder Suresh and Noah Bennet (the adoptive father of Claire and an agent of a
covert organisation, are also very interested in people who manifest super-powers.

Christopher Eccleston appears in several episodes as Claude, a man who possesses the power of invisibility. Peter
Petrelli first meets him when Claude is stealing from people in the streets of New York City, and is surprised to learn
that somebody can see him. Claude eventually agrees to help Peter to control his own superpowers, and the following
episodes sees Claude instructing Peter in how to use powers such as telekenesis. However, Claude walks away when
Noah Bennet tries to capture him, blaming Peter for exposing him to danger. A later episode uses flashbacks to show
that Claude once worked for Bennet's agency and they were partners, but Bennet was ordered to kill him after Claude
hid one of the people with superpowers and expressed an unwillingness to continue to hunt down others of his kind.
Claude is shot and falls off a bridge, and Bennet is left to believe that he is dead.

Trivia: In one episode Claude describes himself as Claude Rains, who of course was the actor who played the title
role in the 1933 version of 'The Invisible Man'. However, the producers have indicated that this was merely an in-joke.

Quote:
Claude: I spend a lot of time moving around people's homes,
their bedrooms. You get to know people if you see them when they
think they're alone. You see them for what they truly are. Selfish,
deceitful ... and gassy.