Heroes is a television show that many readers might not have thought of in a while, and that some players may not have watched a single episode of to begin with.
But while watching early episodes of the series, I couldn’t help but notice a card reference. It had obviously been there for years, but the hand of cards didn’t stand out until the very most recent viewing of a show I’d seen plenty of times before.
Attentive fans of the show might already know which reference I’m referring to. Do you?
Once I saw it, it was time to take a closer look.
What’s with the playing cards from Heroes?
Heroes: the basics
Heroes is an NBC television show, which ran from 2006 to 2010. Four seasons with 77 total episodes make up the Heroes-timeline, set around individuals with mysterious superpowers as their tales interconnect.
In the middle, is the malicious Company, researching viruses and vaccines against the heroes of the story.
If you’ve never seen the story before now, that’s what you need to know minus any spoiler alerts or plot reveals. Start with the pilot, and work your way forth.
There’s a great story to discover if you’re only starting now.
Heroes Reborn
Heroes Reborn is a miniseries aired in 2015, created after both fans and show creators wanted to see some of the storylines concluded.
Contrary to the elaborateness of the original Heroes story, this aired with 13 episodes instead. It helps that many of the show’s original characters returned for the show, though a great deal of the elements feel like they lack the original fire.
Still, see it once you’re done with the first Heroes show – but not as a standalone!
Within The Vault
Let’s get to the card reference, then.
When Peter and Adam visit the Company’s vault, the card reference hides in the background alongside several other items kept in secrecy. Visiting is a casual term, and yes, they’re breaking in to steal a version of the fictional Shanti virus.
The items include a key, a brain, a dagger, a pyramid, and a miniature Trojan horse.
Alongside it, there’s a card hand with a Queen of Spades, a Heart, and a Diamond.
Why?
Why on Earth?
Well, it’s never explained. Not in part, or at all.
Does it help that the pyramid, brain (usually, skull), and dagger are items associated with secret societies rumoured to be much like the fictional Company?