Heroes (2006)

9-10 PM · NBC · Returns Sept. 24

Creator Tim Kring drops crucial intel: ''As season 2 begins, many of our characters are back in their old worlds. Claire [Hayden Panettiere] and her family are starting over in Southern California, in hiding. Parkman [Greg Grunberg] has returned to his domestic situation. And Jessica/Niki [Ali Larter] and her family — their story really reached a conclusion at the end of season 1, so they're rebuilding anew. So what we will find is that time has passed, and everyone is at a new starting place.'' Speaking of new places, Hiro (Masi Oka) will be in feudal Japan discovering his family history and falling in love with a princess. There'll also be plenty of new faces, including Alias' David Anders as the mythical Kensei and, in the best casting news of the year, Veronica Mars' Kristen Bell joins in episode 5 as Elle, a mysterious figure with ties to the Petrelli and Bennet families. But there's plenty of action before then, including a good-ol'-fashioned murder mystery. It seems as if someone is hunting the older generation of Heroes, and one familiar face won't make it past the first episode. And that face is... Oh, we wouldn't do that to you.