When No Ordinary Family premiered on ABC, it arrived with a wave of anticipation. The premise was undeniably appealing: picture a typical sitcom family – a dad who’s a lovable goof, a wife who’s brilliantly out of his league, and two teenagers perpetually eye-rolling at their parents – suddenly imbued with superpowers. What could go wrong? The initial episodes of No Ordinary Family series delivered on that promise, creating a light and enjoyable atmosphere that felt distinct in the television landscape. The focus seemed to be more on the family dynamics and character-driven stories than the flashy special effects. The superpowers were a backdrop to relatable teen angst and familial misunderstandings, showing us that telepathy and super-intelligence don’t necessarily make high school any less of a nightmare.
However, somewhere along the way, No Ordinary Family took a dramatic detour, ultimately mirroring the trajectory of another superhero series, Heroes. But not the compelling first season of Heroes, or even the entertainingly chaotic second season. No Ordinary Family series unfortunately nose-dived into the depths of Heroes’ much-criticized third season, a shift from which it never truly recovered.
Season 3 of Heroes became synonymous with convoluted plots and a generic, shadowy organization – the Very Big Corporation of America. No Ordinary Family mirrored this with its own sinister entity, Global Tech, led by the villainous Mrs. X, portrayed by Lucy Lawless. Both organizations shared remarkably similar goals: to extract and weaponize the protagonists’ superpowers into a convenient injectable serum. The endgame was also eerily alike. Just as Robert Forster’s character in Heroes aimed to create an army of super-powered individuals, Mrs. X’s plan, revealed in the season finale, was to build her own super-powered force, opting to recruit from the ranks of convicted criminals, perhaps as a nod to the action film Con Air.
This overarching storyline, which dominated the first half of the season and then aggressively pushed its way to the forefront in the latter episodes, overshadowed what was initially the most engaging aspect of No Ordinary Family series: the family itself. Michael Chiklis, Julie Benz, Kay Panabaker, and Jimmy Bennett displayed a genuine chemistry as the Powell family, but as the season progressed, they increasingly became mere vehicles for the superhero plot, their family dynamics relegated to the sidelines. No Ordinary Family had the potential to be a refreshing blend of family dramedy and superhero escapism – a “Modern Family” with super strength – but it unfortunately chose to morph into a more conventional, and arguably less interesting, sci-fi mythology-driven adventure.
In its attempt to embrace the sci-fi adventure genre, No Ordinary Family seemed to draw inspiration from the weakest elements of Heroes. The narrative incorporated tired tropes like amnesia, a time travel episode, and a shapeshifting character with seemingly limitless abilities. Adding to the narrative inconsistencies, the shapeshifter was resurrected using a magical serum, effectively diminishing the stakes of death within the No Ordinary Family universe. This was further emphasized in the finale, where Jim Powell (Chiklis) survives being shot multiple times after a power-blocking serum conveniently wears off. Furthermore, some of the sci-fi elements simply lacked logical coherence. In one scene, a character with the power to generate electricity is somehow electrocuted, an implausible scenario akin to extinguishing the Human Torch with a match.
Despite its missteps, No Ordinary Family series wasn’t without its merits. Romany Malco and Autumn Reeser shone as the superhero sidekicks, often stealing scenes and creating their own compelling storylines. Whenever the show managed to cut through the derivative superhero plotting and refocus on the Powell family’s interactions, it briefly recaptured its initial charm. However, facing consistently low ratings and with cast members already seeking new projects, it appeared that the season finale might indeed be the series finale for No Ordinary Family.
The episode concluded on a significant cliffhanger – superpowered criminals unleashed upon the world and an NSA agent recruiting Jim and Stephanie with the promise, “The government needs your family’s help.” This open ending, while intriguing, leaves viewers wondering if No Ordinary Family series truly capitalized on its initial potential. Did the shift towards generic superhero tropes ultimately undermine what could have been a truly unique family drama?
