I agree Peter, best episode of the year so far. Action, intrigue, twists, real character development...it had it all.
I had to laugh at your Princess Mohindra quip. He really is hated, and with good reason. The writers have pegged him as the representation of confusion and angst - tried to make him a character that would be the avatar of the 'average person on the street' confronted with superpowered conficts and difficult decisions. Instead, he's turned into the biggest laughingstock of a character I've ever seen on a major tv show.
I compare what they've done with Mohinder with the completely stellar job writers have done with a comparable character on a show I'm surprised you don't ever comment on...Battlestar Galactica. Gaius Baltar is the best written antihero I have ever seen on a serial. It also helps that James Callis can actually act too. That helps....
HRG is the human character on the show that resonates with my wife and I - and I'm very glad they've kept him on. Perhaps this can be a springboard for a real storyline with Claire and West - discovering and rescuing him. I'm more than tired of Claire as a passive victim of various threats and conspiracies...the writers recycled last years 'gotta get me some of that Claire' storyline, and it's very tired.
Interestingly, the writers strike has imparted a sense of urgency in the show that was lacking. Because they have so little time to wrap up these storylines, the pace has accelerated to what we had last year. Finally something good to be said of that whole strike issue.
Lastly, a comment on 'writer greed'. Don't artists/writers/composers etc in every other field like music or poetry get 'residuals' or payment if their work is broadcast in any way? Why should tv writers be marginalized outside of their creative brethren? Money is to be made of streaming broadcasts....you don't think the networks are providing them for our viewing benefit, do you? If there was no streaming broadcasts, we'd all be pirating torrents of shows, and the networks would get no profit at all - the only reason they started putting them online was to combat piracy and keep advertising dollars in the system.
Just a few thoughts. Thanks for providing an intelligent and critical arena for discussing these shows. The message boards on the network sites are filled with idiots. (a mean generalization, I know....sorry)

Hey Boomer, I thought I smoked you before watching tonight's episode!

Anyway, I think you're bang on about the lack of urgency thus far in the season and what a relief it was this episode to get some sweet sweet Heroes action again. Loved the scene between PArkman and Mama Petrelli, the Hiro time freeze on the balcony was suprisingly good considering the FX standards this season (there were some solid turds of west flying in this episode. seriously the original superman looked better) and kristen bell is just so peach (caption of the year for the one with her and west Pete, bravo).

There's also still a lot of things still shitting me but I'll be lenient due to the strike (those poor poor writers for TV shows and movies, how they have suffered. Lest we forget) . Seriously I know the whole time travel thing is a tough one to tackle what with all the curly paradox's that tend to unfold and you know....I've seen Timecop so I know not to touch a version of myself coz same matter, same place same time...bad idea... but why be so blatant as to have Hiro's dad 20 meters from the funeral, when he called out to mini Hiro did he not notice HIM-FUCKING-SELF standing to the right in the OPEN FIELD!! Plus HIro correcting a large personality trait at such a young age would have certainly changed the time vector line thingamywhoosit he was on thus effecting....I'll stop.

Overall an enjoyable episode but the stench of this season still looms.

Thanks Pete!

Oh and Boomer, if you're looking for more on the writers strike Pete's got an article here:http://www.bleepinggeek.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=85&Itemid=38

and in a similar vein :http://www.themovieblog.com/2007/11/why-you-shouldnt-support-the-wga-strike

I'm sure you can find plenty of pro strike material on the interwebz

Yay! Double yay! Yes, it's taken many episodes - almost a whole season - and undoubtedly at the expense of a whole group of fans who lost patience with this series, but Heroes hit back last night, and has hit its stride again.

Great episode. Up there with many from season one. There were lots of good points, and you've done a good job of identifying those that will appeal to the male audience, but beyond the shadow of a doubt the best sequence throughout the whole episode was Hiro's time travel, and personal journey, with his father.

I know we've joked about daddy issues, but Hiro's sequences with his father this episode were very tastefully, respectfully and artfully done. Movie quality really. I have to give credit to George and Masa: the poignancy of Hiro's father being finally proud of his son was conveyed genuinely. And Hiro's epiphany, a final lesson from his father, is a good lesson to learn.

I sincerely hope that season 3 builds on this "cautionary tale". Hiro must know that the heroes should not play "God" with people. The conflict next season should be between Parkman and Hiro: did anyone else pick up on the fact that Parkman had in fact identified that *mysterious woman* in the photo? He didn't let Angela be - he became his father. Parkman's got a lot of room left to develop his character, and a slippery slope when it comes to exploring his powers. On one side, ladies and gentlemen, Hiro "Use these powers wisely" and on the other side, Matt "Let's rule the world" Parkman.

Excellent summary, again, Pete.

Final word: yes, the writers have done a horrible injustice to Mohinder. Not once has he uttered the dreaded: "My father's research", but he has also truly lost his way. I worry the purge of the racially diverse cast will be closer to reality when and if they off the poor boy. Hiro doing the voice-over at the conclusion of the episode was a change. Masa has just as great a voice as Senhil. But I think Mohinder has the potential to redeem himself and be a great character; deserves better.

And lastly, it's becoming a bit like the Simpsons, folks. No one dies. Tune in next week, when the regular cast are all back and in fine form. Although HRG's eye repair was worth gold. Pure gold.

Yay!

Thanks for the comments!

@Boomer - I've decided that they must have a dartboard in the Heroes writer's room with everyones name on it. Once a week, they toss a dart to decide who Mohinder gets to screw over or betray that week. As for BSG, I made the mistake of writing the show off in it's initial season as just another slick glossy remake of a classic show from my youth, and stopped watching it. Unfortunately, now that it's become something of a phenomenon, I'm tragically behind. I guess it goes to show that not every bastardization of my young life turns out to be bad. I don't, however, have high hopes for the new Night Rider series that NBC is currently working on. As for the writers, what they don't want people to know is that quite a few writers make residuals from streaming media in addition to downloaded material. The problem is that this is decided by who they work for and whether it's part of their salary package. The writers want a union-enforced (read: extorted) guarantee that all writers will get paid for it, regardless of who they work for. Companies lik NBC can afford to pay these fees, but smaller companies or studios don't make enough revenue to afford it. Which means they'd either stop posting them online, or they would be forced to add those productions costs on elsewhere in their pipeline. I'm of a very strong opinion that it should be up to the studio whether or not to play writers for streaming material, as the writers didn't do any extra work to be paid for, nor do the studios make much money off of it themselves. Free streaming episodes are generally paid for by sponsors or advertising content (neither of which the TV writers help with) and that money usually goes towards the programmers, graphic artists, and web team that put it up there, host the site, and maintain it. The only real money that the studios make off it is continued and repeat viewers, because it's less common for people to "miss an episode" with our current batch of digital technologies.

@Tron - I thought about the Kaito thing, and I'm going to say that he didn't notice himself there because his wife just died and he was probably upset. Or it could also be because adult Hiro and present day Kaito were at the top of a hill with the sun behind them. I don't know. It did seem a little odd, but I'm sure there's some way to rationalize it. And as for Hiro's conversation with himself, that's where time travel stories all go a little loopy: by traveling back and having that conversation, adult Hiro would suddenly have recollections that as a boy, a man talked to him at his mothers funeral, making it reality. So in essence, that conversation always took place, and nothing would have changed from Hiro's standpoint. Maybe the reason Hiro turned out how he did was because of that conversation with himself all those years ago...

@Tom - Yup. Pretty soon, Linderman will be up and about and Papa Petrelli will return after Peter travels back in time and saves him. Oh, and D.L. will come back too, but as a brain-eating zombie. A brain eating zombie with the Shanti virus, of course.


Also, I just wanted to mention: after looking back over the article this morning and thinking about last nights episode, I've decided that the guy who plays West is the luckiest actor in Hollywood. He gets to fly, fight with HRG, save the day, tackle Elle, haul her around, lock himself around Hayden Panatierre... lucky S.O.B.

It's great that we have such an episode to talk about! I was thrilled, pissed off, pissed on, aroused, and angry all in the span of an hour!

Why would they (the Company) revive HRG? I mean, he was going to kill Bob, probably Elle too. Not to mention that he now has a serious bone to pick with Mohinder.

Who says it was the company reviving HRG? Claire's not the only one with "healing factor" blood.

Its not my place to judge you Peter. Christ knows, you are a god amongst men, but...
How did you not feel disappointed with the whole blood regeneration thing? Not only was it predictable, but it means that anyone can be resurrected! Where's the fun?

Thanks for the comments, everyone!

@manzy: That's the million dollar question, isn't it? They really wouldn't have anything to gain by reviving him. The only reasons I can think of off the top of my head are:
a)maybe they need information from him
b)maybe because they'll use him to get Claire and the Haitian
c)maybe it was just to test Claire's blood
d)maybe the Company isn't as bad as we think, and this is Bob's way of making peace with HRG. Bob has said repeatedly in the past that he didn't agree with Linderman, maybe Bob truly is just trying to help. Or -
e)maybe HRG could be of use some other way (see further down)


@fansome devil: Good point, but I'm making the assumption it was a Company job because
a)the set he woke up in looks suspiciously like the Primatech set.
b)Bob had the last known access to HRG's corpse.
c)Bob most definitely wouldn't have let HRG's body slip into the wrong hands.
d)the way Bob lamented that Claire could have done so much good with her blood. I think he realized that someone was going to get hurt, so he drew her blood beforehand just in case. That's why he was disappointed: he knew he was going to have to use the blood before he could have it studied.

@Hallemeres: First I want to say that I'm hardly a "god amongst men" (but anyone who wants to say so is OK by me). Like I said above I was actually caught by surprise with HRG's revival. I should have seen it coming (a lot of people did) but I just didn't catch it fast enough. I suppose I had blindly assumed that Claire's blood would only work on another person with special abilities, or that it would only work on her unique chemistry. I didn't even stop to think that someone would use it on a normal human. Now that you mention it though, I am more than a little worried that they will use this idea again the next time someone bites it. Just like in comics: one (1) resurrection is allowed, more than that and it loses it's bite.

However, since I don't think they've done this before, I can't help but wonder if there will be any consequences to this. Will HRG now be able to regenerate? Does the effect fade or disappear over time? We knew you could transfer abilities (like Sylar) but I wonder if it's as simple as a blood transfusion. We also know that the abilities manifest in the brain, so maybe Claire's blood won't continue to work without Claire's brain. Like they did with Hiro and Charlie, perhaps they'll discover a compelling reason why Claire can't just resurrect anyone she wants.

Or maybe HRG will gain Claire's abilities and the Company resurrected him because they're going to use his new blood to cure people instead of Claire's.

Also, on a smaller note, do Claire's abilities heal vision? Does HRG no longer need to wear his trademark glasses? I wonder what the extent of Claire's powers are. Would they cure a mole or dead skin cells? If old skin wasn't sloughed off (as everyone does) and new skin continued to grow, wouldn't she just be a pile of extra skin? We've seen that her toe regrew itself completely when she cut it off. What about her hair? Her nails? Wouldn't they just grow back after being cut off as well? Would her tonsils grow back?

I'm probably just overthinking this.

Agree, the show is back on track. Story now is better structured - no more time wasting side plot with those minor characters. As for HRG, thought that might happened (see previous post) as he is a very popular character. Even though I like HRG, but I think it is probably better he stay dead, unless of course there is a real good reason/story line for him to continue. @hallemeres, you are right, it makes life too easy, a bit like PC games's resurrection.....

As for the girls being tided up.....well that is funny, maybe the writer like 1920 black & white movie or something, ha ;)

As for Hiro, not really sure why he doesn't just chop adam up & burn the pieces before he hit the ground? Oh well....

FSbot: I think any trace of respect that Hiro once had for Adam/Kensei is now gone, which is why Adam has been recruiting Peter to help him. Adam knows that in a fair fight, healing powers can't compete against power over time and space. Hiro can't kill him as long as Peter's protecting him.

I don't think Claire's blood could bring just anyone back to life, they probably have to have expired fairly recently, but the only way they can prevent this type of thing happening over and over again is for there to be some sort of consequence for the victim.

Nathan consistently sees his burned face in the mirror and this could be foreshadowing. Of course it could just be for dramatic effect. Maybe HRG will have to take a monthly shot of Claire Bear Tonic?

I have a theory that Mohinder purposefully shot Bennett so it would appear he was completely loyal to Bob and the Company and somehow has secretly had him moved somewhere and will explain this was his plan and that he didn't want Noah to die at all. He shot him because he knew he could bring him back. One huge problem with my theory though...where would Mohinder get Claire's blood?

One thing I forgot to mention about the Mama Petrelli and Parkman scene was that it was the PERFECT point for her to reveal her power. Pushed to the edge, alone in a room with parkman and she just cops it? C'mon, unless her power is that of ultimate patience / passiveness then I can't see a better time for her to bust some parkman ownage. It also seems like she doesn't have the persuasive ability that people have suggested so just what the fuck is her power?

@ Manzy - the wrinkle with the Mohinder actually a good guy theory crossed my mind too. Perhaps - and this is a stretch - the choice of intersection to meet was a coded signal to HRG. I think my theory is unlikely, however, due to the careful exposition of West being somewhere else at the same time, etc. (Like we're in grade 3 and missed it the first time, the street signs were shown several times.)

@ Tron - sure, but I don't think she has anything that could help with Parkman's influence. I think she was resisting - the bloodied nose had shock factor! - and I'm convinced she is a touch-suggestor, and meanie Parkman wasn't touching her.

While we're on the topic of revealed powers, do we even have a clue whether Hiro's father has a power? I'm thinking he must have, to be part of that original 12. But what? Did this get discussed and I missed it?

I'd like to believe Mohinder is one of the good guys, that he's smarter than I give him credit for. But somehow, I just don't buy it. I think that he was a good idea on paper: an altogether human aspect in a superhuman show, but they've long since lost track of that and he just seems to float from team to team because the writers don't know what to do with him. He was the narrative voice for the whole first season, so they can't just kill him off, especially because he's the one most closely tied to Sylar, whom they would have brought back for an extended tour after November sweeps had the WGA not did their thing.

As for Angela Petrelli's power, I know she's got to have one. Papa Petrelli was by all accounts the normal one, so it had to be her. As for Hiro, I believe Kaito had the powers, but we haven't been given any clue as to what they were.

Hi Peter--love the recaps! I agree that Angela has a power, and I do believe it's that she can persuade people through touch. It's been hinting at different times, even if they haven't come right out and said it. I thought that if Papa Petrelli was one of the original 12 that he would have a power too--did I miss something?

And about Dohinder, I think he's essentially a good guy, but really naive and trusting. I can't believe that his shooting HRG (who had better not lose the damned hot glasses, btw) was planned at all for two reasons--(1) the last time HRG was shot it was intentional, so would they really pull that plot-trick again? and (2) Moh doesn't act as much as he reacts. I like that they're trying to show us the good people who make bad choices angle (Moh, Matt, Claire...), but that doesn't stop me from wanting to smack them (the characters, that is).

Final thought--have you noticed that every time Claire pitches a massive hissy fit with HRG he gets shot later that day? Maybe thats her real power... ;)

Great episode and equal review, nice job. There were great lines in this; Magoo’s wife Mohinder being called "Fight Club"; Mama Biatch telling Magoo "You are exactly like your father"; HRG "oh imagine that you can't remember anything about that, well I wonder how that may have happened"; Ma Butler/Bennett saying Claire digs guys like her Dad, HRG "What because he can fly?"; revived HRG "Holy Shit!"; that Hiro line was fantastic!!!

While I don't covet Kristen Bell like you (I preferred the Ando teasing stripper Nikki, Jessica, Gina, whatever) as a high school kid don't you think West gave her a good luck tap on the ass as he carried her around. I knew cute, athletic blondes have powers over men, but can't they get a brunette in here with powers for an extended period. Candice, gonesville; Monica, sorely missed; Charlie ??? I mean who else?

Isn't Mo checking in with the misses every once and a while? He would have learned that Molly is okay and he would no longer have his excuse to be the Primatech International Sales Manager, right?

Got the feeling that West was pining for a family when he brought Claire home.

I now think (more a wonder) Ma Petrelli is going to develop into a Hero-she has to have physical contact with the person for her powers to work.
.
If Kensei stayed that age becseu he repeatedly regenerated, is Claire in danger of looking like a 17 year old girl forever, like Interview With A Vampire?

Cliffhanger will be Papa Petrelli showing up to explain things to Peter and why Kensei is bad, mmmkay.

Oh and dude, catch up on BSG starrting with the mini-series. It is an incredible piece of work. I started to watch because i did when i was a kid, and my wife made fun of me. She reminds me when it is on now. It's phenominal!!! Oh and you want hot chicks, watch the mini-series oh my!!

--have you noticed that every time Claire pitches a massive hissy fit with HRG he gets shot later that day?

@Rinda - Haha! I didn't think about that. HRG really needs to work on his communications skills with Claire, it's hazardous to his health when they fight...

If Kensei stayed that age because he repeatedly regenerated, is Claire in danger of looking like a 17 year old girl forever, like Interview With A Vampire?

@CC26 - Yup, that's the theory. According to the show, "once cellular regeneration reaches a certain level" you stop aging altogether. It's unknown, however, whether Claire has reached that level, leading to the completely unnecessary "eternal virgin" debate put forth by some of the seedier members of the Heroes fanbase.

Because Hayden Panatierre is not immortal and will undoubtedly grow into a smoking hot 20-something, I'm going to go ahead and assume that they will write it off as Claire aging for a few more years, and then her aging will stop at a certain point in the future once her powers evolve a little more.

Which brings me to another point: It appears that these abilities change and evolve over time. They either become stronger or more diverse, unless the person becomes infected with the Shanti virus, and then they lose their powers completely. As we saw with Parkman, it starts out with the ability to read minds, then grows into the ability to control minds.

How will the other character's powers change? Since Peter has Matt's powers, will he be able to control minds as well, or does he only copy a persons current power?

I think it's like what Invisible Claude was telling Peter about working/practicing to control "it". So Peter would have to hone his own skills of mind control...unless he runs into Parkman again that is

"Magoo’s wife Mohinder being called "Fight Club"; Mama Biatch telling Magoo "You are exactly like your father" [...] "Isn't Mo checking in with the misses every once and a while?" OMG, that's the funniest thing I've read for a while. Keep it coming!