Heroes

Episode Recap: "Powerless"

I’m trying to figure out what to write, so I’m going over my notes and the last thing I wrote was: "the pet. bro. are so cut"… then Nathan gets shot! WTF.

I knew it was coming. A political assasination was predictable at 9:59pm.

Possible Spoiler: This is what I’ve heard of the fallen heroes: dead, uncertain and healed. We know Maya was healed. I’m glad she survived. Personally, I’d pick Nathan over her, but the best way to “fix” a character problem is to get rid of the old and bring in the new. Many have complained about Maya, but you have to imagine her character’s possibilities. She’s a weapon of mass destruction and pissed. I can’t wait to see her in action. She and Sylar will meet again.

So, is it Niki or Nathan that is uncertain? Although Peter’s healing abilities (and those who've already received blood transfusions from Adam and Claire) are still questionable. Nathan looked like a goner and Niki dying in the explosion could just be an assumption. Speaking of Peter, did anyone notice the “walk” of the shooter? It definitely looked like a walk I’ve seen from back in the Gilmore Girls day. Could Peter have traveled through time (the future) and assassinated his own brother? Would it really be for the greater good? I may be wrong. It could have been anyone, but that walk was such a Milo move. [Update: After sleep and coffee, I start to think differently. And dream about what I wrote... scary, I know... anyway, I remembered the video camera in the vault recording Nathan and Parkman. The Company knew their plan and probably asked Noah to get rid of Nathan. Its ironic, doncha think? Claire's blood saves her dad, so he can kill her biological father; and both she and Nathan had the same plans to tell the world.]

Why do I still love Angela Petrelli? There’s something about Angela that won’t allow me to dislike her. I know she received a phone call from Nathan’s killer, but there has to be more to that story.

The best part of this entire episode was Hiro - as usual. His time continuum fight with Peter was classic, his reaction to “flying man!” was priceless and his solution to rid the world of Adam/Kensei? YATTA! Adam can always return, but for now he’s six feet under with the best known secret keepers: the dead. I am still astonished at how gullible Peter became. Even as Adam walked through the building slaying guards like wheat in a field, Peter didn’t flinch. “Please, it’s been 30 years.” The old Peter - who by the way never got to Caitlyn - would never trust that comment! He was told not to trust Adam by Victoria, Hiro and Parkman. Finally, Nathan came along and convinced Peter to destroy the virus himself. Did Peter use radiation or a combination of abilities? And why was the virus kept for so long? The Company knew it was dangerous and yet they kept it locked away with brains and golden keys… did anyone else notice Adam reaching towards that large golden key when Peter walked in? I thought that was weird. Adam had the virus in one hand behind his back, but he was clearly reaching for something else.

Okay, I know Mohinder is not the brightest crayon in the box of colorful heroes, but not every character can make the right decisions. Someone has to be the screw up. He still risked his life for Molly and was devastated when Sylar took Niki’s cure. He wants to help the people he cares about, he just doesn’t always think before he reacts.

Aside from Hiro, I enjoyed Kristen Bell’s scenes the most. I loved when she typed “Midas” as her father’s password. I’m glad Elle survived. She has been the best addition to this show. The complexity of her character is fascinating. No matter what she discovers she still wants to please her father and make him proud. Her response to Noah, “I don’t have anyone else to talk to.“ and her reactions to failing with Sylar and then realizing she saved Molly and Mohinder were heartbreaking. It may all go back to when she was seven years old. Her memory may not remember it, but her mind still has the psychological damage of her father declaring her "strong enough to take it", but failing. It’s like when parents push their kids to achieve excellence, but nothing is ever good enough. There’s always a bigger and better challenge.

I enjoyed this episode and I think it ended Volume II well and gave the viewers a nice lead into Volume III. The acting could have used some work, especially the scenes in Odessa, but the writers and networks knew a strike was coming. They did their best to prepare for an early winter finale. Sylar was cured of the Shanti Virus, but who injected him in the first place? We know Candace saved him in the finale, but was she working for The Company or someone else? Remember - this is not a season or series finale. If the strike doesn’t end soon (which sorry fans, but the last one went strong for 22 weeks) this will most likely be sold as an eleven episode Volume II DVD edition; with massive amounts of commentary and extras.

Thank you to everyone who has read this blog and commented each week. I’ve always looked forward to reading your thoughts and theories. I know Heroes started off slow, but new characters are needed to introduce new storylines. Hopefully, Volume III will pick up where we left off and our favorite remaining heroes will soar. (Quick musical note: I’ve wanted to mention this since last season's finale. Fans: listen to the song “Light Up the Sky” by Yellowcard. You will instantly think of the Petrelli brothers and love it!)

"Life has its poetry, doesn't it?" -Sylar


If you missed anything or want to watch it again visit our Online Video Guide here.

Episode Recap: "Truth and Consequences"

I’m so pumped for next week’s episode that my mind can’t focus on what just happened!

We knew Noah was alive. [To think Jack Coleman was originally cast for just five to six episodes is mind boggling.] I felt awful for Claire, but why would she want to erase the memories of her father? I understand her guilt, but her memory loss plan really bothered me. The last scene, after Claire dumped her father’s fake ashes, was priceless. Elle fumbling with her keys after blowing her cover and Claire putting her fist through the car window shows the shift of power. Claire has never been one to run or show fear, but losing a loved one changes you. I wouldn’t mess with her. How effective will Elle be with her arm in a sling? My vote has always been on Claire, but rumor has it she won’t be the Elle-showdown we’re waiting for. Apparently, Miss Electro runs into another “hero” and he/she doesn’t play nice.

Noah Gray-Carey impressed me tonight. Our little Micah showed so much emotion and fight. I knew his greedy cousin stole his backpack. Monica dressed like the comic book hero St. Joan (Joan of Arc?) and tried to steal back D.L.’s medal. However, she was caught and her abilities are no match for gun power. I’m hoping Micah runs and gets his mom. I miss Niki and her power.

One twin down, one to go. Alejandro and Maya never bothered me. I didn’t care for their storyline, but I didn’t make it my life purpose to hate on them every week. Are the twin-haters happy? I wasn't impressed by how easy Alejandro fell nor was it clear if Sylar got his power. I threw up a little in my mouth when Maya and Sylar kissed. Ugghhhh. Sylar won the girl’s heart, but can he steal her brain? Charming.

Also, for those who are still dumbfounded by Sylar’s power. He knows how things work. That’s why we hear the clock ticking before, while and after he makes a kill. The powers lie within the brain, so he performs malpractice worthy neuro-surgery and learns how they work. Once he figures out how that specific power “tics” his brain can use it to his advantage. His power seems similar to Monica‘s. Well, that’s what I think. I’ve been reading many people’s comments and some were still confused by what his initial power is. By the way, did Zachary Quito share a personal trainer with Milo Ventmiglia?

We met Victoria Pratt for about five minutes. Adam knew she would reach for the shotgun once she was untied. He knew he was going to kill her before they arrived at her house. How did they know where she lived anyway?

Hiro is back to saving the world again. Ando said it best, “Why is saving the world always your responsibility?” He’s Hiro! Duh. I can’t wait for the Hiro/Peter showdown.

When Hiro traveled to 1977, he saw a young Victoria and Kaito stop Adam from stealing a virus. Victoria said that he must have had help (Adam’s “disciples“) if he knew where to find the virus. Strand 138 of the Shanti Virus must be an airborne strand with no cure. I think The Company and Victoria were trying to mutant the virus so that it could kill someone with cellular regeneration. Someone like Adam. They must have known, even then, how dangerous he was. Maybe the research went too far and to unleash it for it’s original purpose would not only destroy someone like Adam or Claire; it could also cause human extinction. I could be completely wrong, but Bob stated once again that The Company’s main goal to is find dangerous people with special abilities. Again, this is why I think The Company falls into a gray area (see last week’s blog). I would never side with them, but I think it’s best to say “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”. (It's just a quote. I know I'm asking for major comment criticism here, but people can argue all they want. Good people make bad decisions.)

So, Sylar has Maya and Molly. Will Mohinder be able to save them all? I know there’s a lot of Mohinder hate going around and yes, I’ve stated that he makes ridiculously dumb choices, but how can you hate him? Every time you think you want Mohinder off the show just think back to season one when he helped stop Sylar in the future. That should bring your dislike for him down a few notches. I could never hate him, he always does what he thinks is right and even geniuses get it wrong sometimes. Plus, he is the best looking character on the show!

Spoiler Alert: Two THREE heroes die next week. Or fall? Or die and then get resurrected? Will it be heroes we know and love? New or old? Who do you think it will go to hero heaven or hell?

Check out clips, previews and full episodes of Heroes at our Online Video Guide.

Episode Recap: "Cautionary Tales"

This episode lived up to everything Heroes means to its’ fans. It was the best of the season. I’m going to write this by character, instead of scene for scene. We’ll save the best for last.

Claire: Now we know exactly how the power of cellular regeneration works. Angela Petrelli explained if the “cells continually regenerate, they stop growing old”. I think many of us knew that or at least had the right thought process. We don’t know how many times Adam or Claire have died. Adam has a 400 year head-start, but I’m glad to see Claire will continue to age. I think she would choose a mortal life over Adam’s.

Hiro: “To eulogize him is to admit he is gone.“ Masi Oka was wonderful tonight! He had me in tears. His attempt at saving his father explained so much. We’ve all been wondering “why didn’t Hiro just go back…” for so many instances throughout the series. Tonight we got our answer. Mr. Nakamura (so nice to see George Takei again!) was a proud and noble man. It took him a lifetime to learn that although he and his fellow heroes have the power of gods it does not mean they can play God. Whether we possess super-hero powers or not, we can’t change destiny. I’m a firm believer that we choose the paths we take and life doesn’t always go as planned, but we cannot change the past. We can only learn from it and hope for a better future. Hiro's future holds revenge.

Elle: I think Kristen Bell is great. She makes you cringe and smile at the same time. You can’t hate her, but you can’t like her and feel good about it. Especially, after Noah reminisced with her. We all knew she was screwed up, but why? Bob really is her father (apparently her mother had very strong genes in the looks department). Elle was most likely one of the first to be taken in by The Company. I’m sure her father had no idea what type of damage was being inflicted upon her, but now we know that a hero can be affected, and harmed, by their own abilities. The result may only be temporary, but the memories remain. We’ve seen the Haitian take memories, but they can still be brought back (Peter in the future with his mother). I think Elle’s memories lie within her subconscious mind. I don’t think she would be strong enough to face the memories if they resurfaced. It would destroy her. She believed Noah. Deep down she knows her father stood and watched as she played the lab rat. Crazy is as crazy does.

West: Could this episode have happened without him? No. Claire has defied her father before, but this was different. I know it seemed all puppy-lovey-dovey, but Noah caused real fear within West and Claire saw that. In the end, West put his vengeance aside to do what was right. Hiro said it best: To know the difference between right and wrong is to be a true hero. West proved that. I also noticed how much he wanted to be apart of the Bennet family. Or any family. I want to know more about him and his past. Does he have parents or did he run away? Does he have a home or does he live in his beat up SUV? By the way, was that Noah’s attempt to have small talk with his daughter’s boyfriend? “So, what kind of car do you drive?” I rolled my eyes with Elle.

Parkman: Worst. Power. Ever. I know so many people will disagree with me, but I would never want it. Reading someone’s mind is such an invasion of privacy. Furthermore, to control someone has only been seen as evil in this series. I know Eden had the power of persuasion and she used it for good and bad, but she worked for The Company. I don’t think it will ever be clear that The Company is good or bad. I think they fall into the “gray” area. I’ve always enjoyed the color gray, because it’s so compromising. There’s no white or black. That’s how The Company works. They don’t follow rules or laws. They compromise. Parkman had to make that same choice with Mrs. Petrelli. Obviously, Angela and Victoria Pratt (the red head in the picture) were once good friends. Angela told Matt that if he made her tell the truth he had become his father. He would never want to be his father, but he had to do it. He had to compromise right and wrong. Which brings me back to disliking his power. I would never want to be in his position or anyone around him. Poor Molly.

Noah Bennet: He lives, he dies, he lives! Don’t ever do that to me again Heroes!!! I have always loved Noah. Even when he seemed evil. I always knew he was doing what he thought was best for his family. He made the ultimate sacrifice tonight. The man went through so much. He lost his entire family at one point! His daughter said, “I hate you” and his wife pulled away in disbelief. I thought Claire was a bit dramatic, but Sandra has been a really good sport and finally had enough. I loved when Bob appeared and she said she knew him. “He was the Regional Salesman for Prima Tech Paper.” Luckily, she witnessed Noah and Elle’s confrontation and realized what was at stake. Noah has always put Claire first. “You’d be surprised what a father will do for his daughter.” It’s true. She is the reason he left The Company. I wonder if he always knew he’d never give them Claire. Noah did his job for The Company; but was it a young Elle who made him realize how important Claire’s safety was?

The painting came true. Again, Suresh did what he thought was right. Of course, again, he was wrong. Thankfully, we know something else about cellular regeneration. It can bring a person back from the dead. Or perhaps, Noah wasn’t entirely dead. He may have had severe damage to the brain through his cornea (Am I making any sense?) and Claire’s blood healed him. I think Claire and Adam’s blood type can change and manipulate itself to heal whoever it is injected into. So, HRG is alive - for those viewers who’s DVR may have stopped short - and possibly has 20/20 vision!

There were so many other great moments: Hiro’s eulogy about what it takes to be a true hero and the Japanese funeral were beautiful. Bob fumbling when he first meets Claire and calls her Miss Bennet. Claire spelling SORRY, as if she was stranded on an island, for West to see on his "route" to school. Hiro finding out that Kensei/Adam lived long enough for revenge and assassinated his father. Elle (driving after being shot) pulling away from her father. Finally, the look between Claire and Elle as the exchange was made (in real life they are as tight as Batman and Robin).

Two episodes left The WGA and networks are meeting after the Thanksgiving holiday. Maybe a Chriskwanukah miracle will occur and December 3rd won’t be the finale! I’ll put a call in to the north pole. The rest of you - do what you have to do.

For clips and full episodes of Heroes check out our Online Video Guide.

Also, check out our interview with BFF's Hayden Panettierre and Kristen Bell here.

Episode Recap: "Four Months Ago"

Bonsoir mes amis! Leah Friedman (Friday Night Lights, among other blogs) in for Casey tonight, and I figured I'd stick with the Montréal theme. I'm thrilled to be filling in for her for the second in what will hopefully become a series of great Heroes episodes. We all know about the griping (and yes, I've done my own fair share of it this fall) about how the season started out, but between last week and this week, I'm hoping we can all agree that the show is back on track. It was certainly a subtle episode by Heroes standards; more along the lines of last season's "Company Man" than anything else, and as a character study of the Petrellis, Elle and the Sanders family, it worked well — most of the time.

First off, thank you Tim Kring for finally revealing just how in the hell Peter ended up in Ireland. We already knew that Nathan saved New York from Peter, but in dueling bouts of self-sacrifice, Peter rescued a falling, burning Nathan and delivered him to the hospital, only to be caught by crazy-ass Elle and "Bob" (Stephen Tobolowsky). After convincing him that they had a cure, The Company locked him up, made him take some dubious pills and allowed Elle to use him as her scratching post. I'd start listening to Adam (aka Kensei) too, if my choice were between him and Elle, the all-but-self-described sociopath, who apparently threatened to kill her psychiatrists. A real catch, that one.

Nathan wasn't much better off than his brother. Severely burned and now considered schizophrenic by his wife (at the suggestion of his mother), it's pretty obvious now why he fell into the deep depression we've seen this season. Yes, Peter and Adam broke out of The Company's prison and saved Nathan with Adam's blood, but Nathan doesn't seem to have much of a will to go on, at least not in this past timeline. (As an aside, when did Peter get close enough to DL to get the "passing through walls" power? Surely their limited interaction at Kirby Plaza wasn't enough.)

But yet again, what does Peter get for rescuing his brother? More trouble that starts with a battle in the streets and ends with the Haitian wiping Peter's mind and leaving him locked in a warehouse module bound for Ireland. Memo to Peter: Sometimes you have to take care of yourself first.

Poor DL. Finally a respectable man, a true civic hero by virtue of his firefighting, he ends up getting killed by a man that his wife — under the guise of another personality — hooked up with at a sleazy bar in L.A. Let's just take a minute now to reread that sentence. Enough with Niki/Jessica/Gina. None of these girls is any good for anyone and they're all ridiculously depressing.

In fact, I'd rather have had less of the three faces of Niki, and more of the back-story of the wonder twins. We've learned so little about them over the last month and a half, but at least now we know why they're wanted for murder. If only Alejandro's new wife hadn't wanted to get busy with her ex-boyfriend at the wedding reception, maybe none of this would have ever happened. I know I'm in the minority, but I quite like the twins. Maya is more convincing as an extremely dangerous and beyond panicked "hero" than last year's radioactive man, and while he was going to take out New York, I'm wondering if she's going to take out the world (could it be that she's a carrier of the Shanti virus that kills 98% of the population?).

And so our intrepid crew have an objective again. OK, so it's the same objective as last year: they have to save the world, but it's not so simple as stopping an exploding man any more. As Adam pointed out, "They've been days away from perfecting [the cure] for 30 years now." But whose side is Adam on, anyway? I'm not sure, but I'm more than willing to spend some time at 121 rue St-Jacques to find out.

Check out clips, previews and tonight's episode at our Online Video Guide.

Hello everyone. Leah Friedman here, filling in for Casey tonight.

So after getting back on the right track last week (it only took seven weeks), we finally get to see what happened in the four months between when our heroes saved the world, and when they put it back in peril. How did the Bennetts manage to avoid The Company? How come Peter ended up locked in that warehouse in Ireland? Will we be forced to see Nathan growing that god-awful beard? How did Sylar lose all of his powers (except the power of hotness)?

Talk about tonight's episode here live, and check back sometime after 10 pm/ET for my full recap.

Episode Recap: "Out Of Time"

Welcome to November Sweeps. The writers’ are on strike, NBC is green and Heroes is back!

If you’re reading this, there is a good chance you are a regular at the Heroes TV Guide blog. Let’s get right to it.

Last week, I mentioned Mr. Bennet’s sloppy handy work in Ukraine. I knew he would get caught! He also destroyed the remaining paintings. Two of which, came true in tonight’s episode. The battle between Kensei and Hiro and Peter’s distraught first look at human extinction.

Many of you should give yourselves pats on the back! As I watched tonight’s episode so many of your predictions and comments in the past weeks came true. Especially, when Kensei turned out to be Adam Monroe! So, Kensei/Adam and Claire are immortal. I think they remain forever young at the age they realize they have powers. It looks like we will never see Claire at happy hour. Who liked this episode as much as I did? I know it’s been slow, but tonight’s episode had our favorite characters, answered questions, offered new twists and Hiro returned!

All of the legends Hiro heard as a child came true. Hiro not only changed history with his visit, he also changed the future. Am I wrong to think that the last battle between Kensei and Hiro (the Dragon) also came true? Or will it occur later? I figured the “cutting out” of Kensei’s heart was a broken heart metaphor. Hiro said it best, “Pain has made him cruel.” I for see Hiro and Kensei (aka Adam) eventually meeting up and hopefully Hiro’s next line, “…but he is still good inside”, will come true. Only Hiro has the power to fix this. It was painful to watch him say goodbye to his true love, but I am thrilled to see Hiro back with Ando! I completely forgot that Hiro never knew if they had saved the world. It seems so long ago, like, six episodes ago. How wonderful was it to hear Hiro utter the words: “No bomb? No boom? We saved the world!” If I could, I would write Japanese characters that say what sounds like, "YATTA!" when he cheers. It was happy, old Hiro again… until he asked about his father.

Peter accidentally left Caitlyn in the future. Did Mrs. Petrelli use her power to help him regain memories? The Company knew he was alive. Why didn't they tell Mrs. Petrelli? It's just another reason why you can never trust The Company. We try to get out, but they keep pulling us back in!

Matt actually figured out a way to trap his father and save Molly. His powers may not be as strong and experienced as Maury’s, but his love for others is greater. Maury is just like Sylar. They are power hungry and only love themselves. It consumes them.

I was glad to see D.L. I know he is dead and it was only Maury using Niki’s fears against her, but it’s nice to see actor, Leonard Roberts, is still with us. He was one of my favorite characters last season. It was also nice to know that it has been Niki this entire time. Even when she threw Mohinder, I still think it was Niki. I don’t think Jessica appeared at all in this episode, it was merely Niki becoming overly paranoid (for good reason) and using her super strength. Nathan has great political skills. He convinced Niki that she was a good person and to think of Micah. She came to her senses and injected herself with the Shanti virus. However, the new strand has become immune to Mohinder’s antibodies. I knew that would happen. The nightmare of human extinction is obsessively frightening and interesting for that exact reason. It scares the hell out of us, because it is truly possible. How does this virus spread? Mohinder’s sister was the first known victim. The Haitian was infected as well. Do you have to be injected with the virus? Will this new strand become contagious through contact? Or worse. Airborne?

West finally saw Claire’s father, the man with the horn-rimmed glasses. He freaked! All bets are off. Maybe West is simply a reckless teenager with raging hormones for his cute, blonde biology partner. I still don’t fully trust him. The night they played the prank on the drunken mean-girl cheerleader, he dodged a question about his parents. I don’t think he has any. And if he does, he ran away from home a long time ago. Maybe after he was abducted, he knew it would never be safe again and he flew to the west coast. By the way, aside from Mr. Muggles, Mrs. Bennet (Ashley Crow) gets cooler with every episode.

Who do we trust? Mohinder confessed that he and Mr. Bennet were planning to take down The Company. Was it me or was Bob’s reaction too calm? As if he knew all along. Bob tells Mohinder that the only cure for this virus is Claire, because of her regeneration powers. We’ve all wondered if Claire’s power could beat the Shanti virus or Maya’s black eyed plague. It’s a high possibility. Did they experiment with Kensei/Adam or Peter when they held him at The Company? Is Mohinder ready to kill? Will Claire stand by as her father falls? If you save the cheerleader, can you save the world?

[OK, this is my best attempt at any biblical references in the show. I do not mean to offend any one or religion when writing this. And forgive me, if I am wrong, because I am not an expert on the New Testament or Christianity, but this is what I have so far: Maybe all the biblical character names do serve a purpose (mentioned many times by my readers and commenters). So, Adam Monroe is the leader of the “bad“ guys. The name Adam is also biblically known as the first man. The first man who defied the Lord and ate the forbidden fruit. In a sense, Adam took his gifts for granted. Just like Kensei with his powers. Peter, an Apostle of Jesus, thrice denied him at the Last Supper. I may be completely wrong, but this could mean Peter (Milo Ventimiglia) follows Adam, but denies (defies) him in the end. This could be a stretch and again, I don’t mean to offend anyone or any religion, so please, just take my opinion as a reference and Heroes possibility.]

Many of you have excellent theories about Heroes and tonight's episode proved anything is possible. I know this blog was long, but alot happened! What do you all think?

Check out clips, previews and tonight's episode at our Online Video Guide.

Also, the rumors may be true. Heroes could end its second season in December. To stay updated, please visit our Strike Watch blog here.

Still on fire with questions about Heroes? Our Q&A with Tim Kring answers all our readers' burning questions.

It’s November Sweeps time, the writers’ are on strike and NBC is green.

We’re going to be doing a lot of time traveling tonight! Past, present and future heroes will collide.

How long can Claire keep West a secret? When will Hiro return to the present? Can Matt face his nightmarish father? And will this be one of the last episodes of the season?

Stay tuned and check back for my full recap after the show!

Episode Recap: “The Line”

Heroes has never made me lose interest, but it did get off to a slow start. I knew tonight would be a good episode. OK, I hoped tonight would be a great episode. It was the lead-in to November sweeps. However, I didn’t want to set my expectations too high. I’ve noticed a growing trend with network television: they build up the months of November, February and May for Nielsen ratings, and then leave us hanging. Sometimes, the episodes that air during those sweeping months live up to the abundance of promos, previews and annoying scroll lines under everything you watch. Other times, a ferry crashes and we are left with the letters WTF on our minds. That being said, let’s recap.

We’ve all been through high school hell, and I’ve watched the genius of Tina Fey's Mean Girls, but do people like the cheerleading captain really exist? If so, then she got what she deserved. (When she wrote the number of pounds to lose on the girls' foreheads, I threw my pen at the TV.) But I thought that was a ridiculous prank. Why is West so willing to risk his and Claire’s secret? It wasn’t even a cool plan! Sure, the cheerleader was drunk, but she’s not crazy. I doubt she will let this go, especially considering what she has lost. All Claire had to do was re-create the scene from the pilot episode in gym class. I’m not sure what the move was off of the high rise platform, but that would have impressed everyone and gotten her on the squad.

Does the Haitian do everything Mr. Bennett tells him to do? I know they were partners and friends, but the Haitian had been secretly working for Mrs. Petrelli all of last season. That could also mean he was a puppet for The Company, but his power is by far the best defense. Not only can he select and erase memories (before he could only go from your newest memory backwards); he can also shut down your power completely when you are near him. I never know whose side he is on. I like the Haitian, and I want to know more about him. I apologize in advance, because I didn’t get the name of the man Bennet killed. Obviously, he worked for The Company. He called Bennet his protégée. Why were the paintings left in the same place as Peter? More importantly, how did Peter end up in Ireland while the paintings stayed in the Ukraine? Maybe I missed something…

[Update: The man Bennet shot, Ivan, said that the paintings were left with the Liquid Man. So, I may be wrong that it was Peter, but he was also found tied up in a cargo container!]

I also didn’t get a good look at the family photo, but Bennet mentioned a dead daughter. The memory of her was the threat that made the man talk, but is she really dead?

Sylar admitted his plans to kill the twins — or just Alejandro — because Maya is “a shiny new toy and she’s all mine." He is mental. And maybe Maya is too! She committed murder and meant it. It wasn’t like the prison scene. Before, she cried, freed her brother, and saved the men with Alejandro, leaving them weak and almost unconscious. I understand that she wants to get to the U.S. (finally!), but she didn't hesitate to kill those men and drive off. I enjoyed Alejandro’s threat. If Maya uses the power again, he won’t bring Sylar back.

From last week’s previews, I thought Kensei was the traitor, but the story was flipped. Kensei and the sword-maker escaped while Hiro teleported himself and Yaeko to a safe place, not knowing Kensei had beaten him there. Hiro had to kiss her! It was the kiss that "fractured time and changed Hiro forever.” It also cut Kensei “deeper than any blade possibly could.” I asked myself why Hiro didn’t just go back and stop himself from kissing her, but I realized Hiro thought he had convinced Kensei it wouldn’t happen again, then he was knocked unconscious — oh, and it’s television.

I’m glad Mohinder finally stood up to King Midas and The Company. Although Bob’s apology didn’t seem sincere, his fear was. The Company is holding a “Fireman.“ Not the heroic savior Fireman, the arson fire man. His name is Adam Monroe, and he’s met Peter. How great was the future scene? For some reason, the background effects have not been done nearly as well as last season's, but it’s still awesome. Peter and Caitlyn went to Montreal and found a note from Adam. Then, they teleported to New York City, circa July 14th, 2008. The city had been evacuated. SPOILER ALERT: 93% of the world’s population is dead. I can’t wait for November sweeps!

I know this blog/recap was long, so I’ll sum up some other quick thoughts:

Best Quote: “Support, advice and now gifts. You’re like my own personal Oprah.” — Monica

Best Yell-at-the-TV Moment: I yelled at Niki to take off her jacket to see if the tattoo was on her shoulder. She’s Mohinder’s new partner, but is it really her?

Best Hope-The-Viewers-Won't-Notice Move: It was the Ukraine. It’s cold there. Mr. Bennet could have kept his gloves on while he destroyed that man’s home instead of leaving finger prints everywhere. (I doubt this will ever come into play, but it still bothered me.)

In Loving Memory Of: Tim Susco, who passed away on August 15, 2007. He was a location manager for Heroes.


I really enjoyed this episode and it’s only going to get better! I’ll check back to read your comments and theories. Talk to you all soon! Now, I’m going to go research the history of guns in Japan.

Check out our Online Video Guide here for clips and previews of Heroes!

We missed a few of our favorite heroes last week, but tonight they return.

Will Claire show the cheerleading squad what she is made of? (The new blue uniform in the promo pics was a given.) Is Peter on his way to Montreal? I hope so, because his storyline needs to get out of Ireland. More importantly, I want to know what the deal was with the Hiro previews last week! If you didn’t see them, let’s just say Sylar might not be the only one planning to betray his new travel friends.

I'll be back with a full recap after the show!

by Ileane Rudolph

Ando may be Sancho Panza to Hiro's Don Quixote, but James Kyson Lee, the Korean-American actor who plays Ando, the Japanese salaryman turned apprentice world-saver on Heroes (Mondays at 9 pm/ET, NBC), couldn't be happier. Lee, who visited New York for the Asian American Arts Alliance awards and a charity poker tournament, chatted about learning Japanese, his upcoming movies and the key to Ando's happiness.

TVGuide.com: Congrats on becoming a regular cast member.
James Kyson Lee: Most people thought I was a regular last season, because I was in all but one of the episodes, more than anyone but Masi [Oka, who plays Hiro] and maybe Milo [Ventimiglia, who plays Peter]. But I was a guest star. It doesn't mean anything really but a pay raise. You could still go at any moment...read more

A crisis of conscience hits the Heroes tonight — some harder than others. Claire wants to remain under the radar, but that bratty cheerleader is so asking for it — and West encourages Claire to give her what she deserves. Suresh finds himself in a deep moral dilemma, but what did he expect from working with The Company? Hiro tries to put history before his heart as he continues to fall for Yaeko, Kensei's princess, but does that selfish bum really deserve her? And then there is Alejandro, who is having second thoughts about his new friend, Sylar. If he only knew what Sylar really intends for Maya, he wouldn't have such a hard time making up his mind. — Jeanette Martin

Episode Recap: "Fight or Flight"

What would you do if you were faced with your greatest fear?

It was around this time last season that Eden sacrificed herself. I was shocked when she fought against Sylar and managed to take her own life before he could steal her power. Tonight, Ricky sacrificed himself as well. He may not have stuck his finger into a socket on his own, but he did lie to protect Peter and his sister. In the end, he paid with his life. He literally was “toast." So, Peter and Elle have met before. Also, the box? A passport and ticket to Montreal! That’s it? I really thought there would be more to it.

I am a Veronica Mars fan. So, I was psyched to finally see Kristen Bell tonight. Sadly, I was a bit disappointed. Maybe it’s my own fault; my expectations were too high. I know her character is going to get interesting, but when? The list of questions continues: Who is her father? Is she good, evil or confused? Do she and/or her father work for The Company?

What is the deal with Mohinder? He is supposed to be some sort of genius, and yet the man has no common sense! Mr. Bennet said it best: “The moment you trust [The Company] with what you care about most. They’ll have you.” Mohinder was desperate to save Molly, but it wasn't the safest choice. Then, after Niki/Jessica broke out and attacked, he tried to free her. He didn’t even think of the consequences or the fact that cameras are everywhere watching patients’ every move. I think The Company knows Mohinder is in over his head, and they are using him to get what they want.

I was happy to see Mr. Bennet (I never liked using HRG, nor do I think he looks like a "Noah," so I am sticking with Mr. Bennet) and The Haitian working together again. Where were they? They looked like businessmen taking a walk through Russia.

The best scene of the night was between Parkman and Nathan. The fight was awesome! The camera direction and editing were well done. However, the new knowledge about telepathy intrigued me the most. Parkman and his father, Maury, are the only relatives who have similar powers. They can both read minds, however, Maury’s power is far more advanced than his son’s. Of all the powers on this show, I’d never want to be telepathic. Why? The truth hurts, and it can be used against you. Maury can not only read your thoughts, but see your greatest fears. Matt fears that he will follow in his father's bad parenting footsteps, and Nathan still blames himself for Peter's "death." This is how he is terrorizing Molly and most likely how he controlled Sylar’s world after Candace’s death. Candace was a huge part of the fake surroundings with Sylar, but with Parkman Sr. in his head, anything is possible. I’m not sure how he does it, but the mind is tricky. Human beings use less than ten percent of their brain — I’m sure the Nightmare Man can go far beyond that percentage. We use all of our brain. However, I can't help but think that some use more than others. Either way, the Nightmare Man has us all beat!

We didn’t get to see much of Hiro tonight. I want him back in the present. I’m happy he got to pull a Marty McFly and meet Kensei, but enough is enough. I’m not sure where the writers are going with this storyline, but I can only hope that it will make sense in the end.

Ando was adorable when the parchment read "Dear Ando" and the man helping him gave a confused look — “What? It’s a very common name…” Ha! And I’m glad Micah and Monica are bonding. Monica needs help understanding her power, and Micah needs a motherly figure in his life. (“Don’t even get me started on my Mom.”) He misses his mother, but I think a part of him is glad she isn’t around to mess things up. Yet.

My Favorite Moment: Ando getting frustrated with the illegible handwriting on the 1671 parchment. He wanted to know more, now. It was definitely a play on words for Heroes fans!

For more Heroes, check out our Online Video Guide!

Fans and critics alike have been asking: Is Heroes in a sophomore slump?

Tonight we will see some of our missed heroes as Ando keeps busy with messages from the past, Parkman travels to Philadelphia with an unlikely candidate and Mohinder gets a new partner.

Also, Kristen Bell finally makes her debut! Will she save Heroes ratings or be another addition to the multiplying cast?

Don't forget to check back for my full recap after the show!

by Matt Webb Mitovich

Yes, some of the many (many) Heroes newbies aren't quite yet dazzling us with their different-ness. But Dana Davis' Monica, introduced last week, perhaps boasts one of the coolest powers of the season: By merely witnessing an actor or talent, she can mimic it near-instantly. TVGuide.com invited the alumna of ABC's tragically truncated The Nine to preview what's to come for her plucky New Orleans heroine...read more

Some of the Heroes find themselves paired with strange bedfellows when Matt travels to Philadelphia with one of the last people he expected would help out. The pair are on the trail of Molly's attacker, but they quickly find themselves outmatched. Mohinder is beginning to think he's in over his head as well, especially after he meets his new “partner” and gets a disturbing assignment. In Japan, Ando continues to unravel the story of the ultimate odd couple: Hiro and Kensei. And then there's the mysterious Elle (Kristen Bell), who is trying to join up with Peter. People are just dying for them to meet. — Jeanette Martin