Cheerleader in Peril as ‘the Eclipse’ Starts on Heroes

In Heroes “The Eclipse Part 1,” the eclipse has begun and it’s having the reverse effect of the one we saw in Season 1.  But we knew exactly what was going to happen this episode because we saw Arthur’s sketches at the beginning.

Heroes - Season 3 -

It was pretty funny watching everyone try to use powers they no longer have, particularly the overconfident Sylar and Elle.  The shocked look on Sylar’s face when his power didn’t work on HRG was priceless.  It’s amazing how reliant they’ve all become on their powers.

The best part was that Mohinder was finally back to normal.  Not that I’m a huge Mohinder fan.  It’s just that he was reaching an all-time low in the gross out factor and I’m not sure if I could take much more. 

But what does the newly healed scientist do?  Sets out to stalk Maya.  I’d be more concerned with whether or not this change was permanent.  Will he go back to being creepy dude when the eclipse finishes?

Nathan and Peter spend their time squabbling, too much brother revelry pent up I guess.  They find the Haitian who won’t leave until he stops his brother, a Level 5 escapee.

While the boys are gone, Angela goes to Nathan’s office where she finds Tracy, who happens to be on the phone with Arthur getting orders to go to Paris Island.  I didn’t understand this scene at all.  Why did Angela go there?  Does she know Tracy’s working with Arthur and if so, why didn’t she confront Tracy?  What was the purpose of this scene?

Meanwhile, Matt finally learns Daphne’s big secret when she goes home to Lawrence, Kansas and loses her powers.  I can see why she liked her ability.  I’m just curious why her dad didn’t get out his shotgun and chased Matt and company out of his corn fields.

Hiro still thinks he’s 10 so he and Ando head to the nearest comic book store to find the latest copy of 9^th Wonder to tell them what to do and they find Seth Green.  I really hope we get to see more of Seth in the next episode.  But my big question is this:  who is writing 9^th Wonder now that Isaac is dead?  Surely, he didn’t have three to six months written ahead of schedule.

And the big cliff hanger is the precious catalyst – I mean Claire – is shot when she jumps in front of a bullet meant for HRG, a man she is obviously very angry at for leaving so often.  So what does HRG do after patching up the now mortal Claire?  Leave, of course, and return to take vengeance on Sylar and Elle who are still licking their wounds.

Guess we are back to “Save the Cheerleader.”

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Heroes’ Claire’s Specialness Revealed on “It’s Coming”

On the most recent episode of Heroes, “It’s Coming,” we finally learned what made Claire special.  But was it really a big reveal for the audience?

Heroes - Season 3 -

Last night we learned that Claire is the catalyst that will make the formula Mohinder is perfecting work.  But most of us guessed that back in the season opener when Kaito (via a recording) told Hiro that the one with the pure blood was the key.

Sure Adam was a contender for the role for a while, but since he’s long been disposed of, it left Claire.

What would have been more interesting was to find out how Kaito made her the catalyst?  Surely, he did it while she was in his custody as a baby.  But how?  And why her?  Was it because of her healing ability?  Or was it just coincidence that she was the one available?  Did Kaito realize that she was a Petrelli?  Or did he and it was just an extra bonus to keep the catalyst right under their noses?

And just how will she be used to make the formula work?

Also not a big surprise given last week’s flashback, Elle and Sylar get close as he – after prompting by Arthur – helps her rid herself of pain and control her power again. 

Sylar is really becoming a nice guy, well except for the part where he is working for Arthur.  This empathy thing is really working for him.  I’m just having trouble finding him so likeable after wanting him dead for two seasons.

Meanwhile, Matt tries to help Angela by jumping in her mind.  But instead he finds Arthur disguised as Daphne, who stabs him.  Now, Matt must really love the speedster because there is no way after being stabbed that I would have brought her into my mind when she asked.  And even after he finds out she’s double crossed him, he stays with her.

In the end Arthur releases Angela.  Did Angela use the power of persuasion on him or was there still some semblance of love between them?

Back in Tokyo, Hiro – or rather Ando – is dealing with the side effects of Arthur’s attack on Hiro.  What I don’t understand is why Arthur didn’t just take Hiro’s powers?  Or was that what he was doing and Ando interrupted, leaving Hiro thinking he was 10?

In the end the sides line up and wait for what’s coming – an eclipse.

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They say Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned and Angela Petrelli was definitely a woman scorned in Heroes’ “Villains.”

Linderman and Arthur plotting together

I was wondering about the little Ozzie and Harriett routine that Arthur and Angela had going on in the beginning of this episode.  They didn’t strike me as the happily ever after type.  But it made a lot more sense after we found out how Arthur was keeping Angela “in line.”

And given that tidbit, it’s easy to see how she would be so willing to kill her own husband (I always thought she did).  Many mothers will do anything to protect their children.  Ironically, by doing so, she became the matriarch of the Petrelli family and became what she hated about Arthur – willing to kill her own son(s) for the good of the plan.

However, this interesting plot was ruined by the major hole in the storyline – the part they rewrote without explanation.  In Season 1, we were told that Arthur Petrelli committed suicide.  And if I remember right, he was found in the bathroom. 

I never believed it was actual suicide, but instead murder – or attempted murder.  However, this episode didn’t even reference the earlier mention to suicide, let alone follow through with the premise.  But even more frustrating, it offered no explanation for the deviation.

I was actually really enjoying this episode until we got to that part.  Then the whole episode was ruined for me.

I don’t understand all the trouble they went to in the episode to show other connections – HRG with Mohinder, Claire saving Flint – if they were just going to completely change the story as we knew it.

However, we did get some interesting tidbits in this episode.  We learned how Arthur survived.  And we got a little more insight into his powers.  He can obviously read people – when Linderman asked him to look in to Nathan he said he saw “trouble.”  He can also apparently put thoughts in people’s head – like convincing Angela that Nathan needed to die.

Furthermore, we learned that The Company knew about Sylar from the beginning and did nothing to stop him.  In fact, they encouraged his behavior. 

And we discovered that Flint and Meredith are siblings.  I’m guessing it won’t be long before she becomes one of Arthur’s henchmen since Flint is already one.

It started out as a great episode, one of the better of the season, but flopped with an ending that just didn’t cut it for me.  And did anyone else feel like the timeline was off a bit?

What did you think about the episode?  What was your favorite new reveal?  What didn’t you like?

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Heroes Form, Break Alliances on ‘Eris Quod Sum’

Loyalties are more than divided on Heroes these days.  On “Eris Quod Sum” we saw allegiance cross and double cross.  And who is at the center of all the chaos – the Petrellis.

A little water settles down the electric Elle. Courtesy of NBC.

Arthur Petrelli was a busy man tonight.  First he confirmed some details for fans.  Yes, Peter’s abilities are gone for good.  Arthur takes it all and leaves nothing behind.

And Arthur was in a taking mood this episode.  First he “heals” Maya by taking her power.  And fans rejoice as Maya leaves hopefully for the last time.  But not before she has a very stalker-like goodbye with Mohinder.  No way I’d waste words on some guy that put me in a cocoon on the wall! 

Meanwhile Mohinder goes to work for Pinehearst to help with the formula.  I don’t understand what Mohinder needs to do.  Don’t they already have both halves of the formula?

Next Arthur takes Maury’s life.  Maury had pledged his loyalty to Arthur in exchange for Matt’s safety.  But when Arthur’s plans for Matt change, Maury protests and gets a broken neck for his troubles.  But given what we later find out I have to wonder is Maury really dead?  Or was it a show?  For who’s sake, I’m not sure – maybe Knox.

Next Arthur sends Daphne to kill Matt or so Knox thinks.  After playing a little mind trick on Knox, Daphne befriends Matt.  But we know that she’s still working for Arthur, who warns her that he if she screws up he’ll put her back where he found her.  Just where did he find her?  Did she have powers when he found her?  Or did she acquire them later?

In the meantime, father-of-the year is playing musical sons.  First he has Peter locked up and wastes the opportunity for father-son bonding with really bad lines like “you’re grounded.” 

But the comatose Angela uses her mad skills and a promise that he’s her “favorite” to inspire Sylar to break out of his coma, escape Level 5 and save his little brother.  Sylar manages to save Peter from being Mohinder’s guinea pig, but gets himself caught. 

So instead of running for his life, the powerless Peter decides to return the favor and rescue Sylar.  But what he doesn’t know is that Arthur tries to win Sylar to his side by convincing him that Angela is the devil incarnate (hmm . . . that didn’t take much improvising).  Sylar decides to stay with Daddy and sends Peter flying out the window.

Has Sylar really traded allegiances?  Was the man who evaded capture so many times in the first two seasons, really so easily taken hostage by Camp Arthur?  Did he try to kill Peter or help him escape?

Pete falls at the feet of the blonde duo on their way to Pinehurst to get “fixed.”  Elle’s powers are really out of whack (almost took down their plane) and Claire is still feeling broken, so the pair bond over daddy issues on a cross country flight.

But the appearance of Peter stops Claire in her tracks, while Elle continues into Pinehearst.  So who does Claire call for help?  Daddy.  No not him, the other Daddy. 

Nathan and Tracy leave their meet and greet with Meredith and HRG at Mohinder’s lair to go to Claire and Peter’s aid.  Peter gives Nathan the low down on Papa Petrelli.  Nathan promises to shut down Pinehearst legally, but then heads out to confront Daddy Dearest.  Another son in Arthur’s grasp.

Tracy, who has been getting kick backs from Pinehearst, agrees to accompany him.  How is her former allegiance to Pinehearst going to pan out?

And while all these alliances are being formed, and broken and double crossed, our wanna be hero Hiro is in Africa arguing with Ando about the hazards of time travel.  Apparently Africa is the new place to go when we don’t know what to do with your storyline.  Or maybe it’s just an excuse to flash forward or flash backwards.  And backwards is just where it appears Hiro’s spirit walk is going to land us in two weeks.

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Arthur Petrelli’s Power Revealed on Heroes

The Petrellis are a complicated family and apparently the heart of Heroes.  Tonight on “Dying of the Light” we see a perfectly healthy Petrelli patriarch use his power on his own son while the rest of his family is incapacitated.

Adam learns that Arthur Petrellis is alive.

Let’s start with Arthur.  If you thought Peter’s ability was cool, you haven’t seen anything yet.  But it’s easy to see how Peter is his father’s son, if to a lesser degree.

First Arthur meets with Adam.  And without saying a word, he puts enough fear into Adam to empower Knox.  Then he touches Adam, making him age so rapidly that he turns to dust.  Did he just use Adam’s ability to stay young against him?

And if that didn’t wow you, suddenly Arthur is Mr. Healthy, up and out of bed.  So not only does he absorbs some else’s power, but he uses it against them too.

So I have to wonder if Maury is pulling the Linderman sightings or if it’s Arthur doing it with a power he stole from Maury?  Could explain why Maury is so afraid of him? And last week, Arthur used Angela’s premonition power against her to put her into a catatonic state.

Meanwhile, Daphne continues her recruiting efforts for Pinehearst.  We pick up with her meeting with Hiro and Ando and learn how Hiro faked Ando’s death.  No big surprise there – most fans had figured out that scenario or a similar one already.

But she sends Hiro (and his sidekick) to Africa to kidnap Usutu for Pinehearst.  Instead Hiro plays how many times can I get hit with a shovel before finally having a conversation with Usutu.  Usutu tells him he’s relying on his powers too much and shows him a painting of the real villains.  Anyone get a good look at the painting?

In the meantime, Matt has returned from Africa with turtle in tow.  Just how did he get the turtle through customs?  Did he declare it as his totem?  Either way, the turtle need not lead him any further because Daphne is waiting for him at the airport.

After thinking Hiro had turned into a killer, she gives Matt a half-hearted sales pitch.  But Matt is giving his own pitch – he’s trying to convince Daphne that Pinehearst will get her killed and that she is his soul mate. 

You can see that she wants to believe him, but Arthur and company are obviously holding something over her so powerful that she can’t leave them.  Did they give her her power and are threatening to take it away if she doesn’t cooperate?  Or do you think it’s something else? 

Needless to say, she continued her recruitment by visiting Level 5.  She frees Flint and Sylar.  But Sylar refuses to go with her, saying “I’m not a killer anymore.”

But the freed Sylar did check on Mama Petrelli.  When he finds her incapacitated, he wakes Peter from his coma.  Instead of joining forces with his brother, Peter puts the smack down on Sylar, leaves him in a coma and heads to Pinehearst.

Shocked to find his dad alive, Peter falls for the give-dad-a-hug gag that leaves him powerless and Daddy walking around with a whole lot of new abilities.  Since Peter obviously leaves Arthur more powerful, why didn’t he send Daphne to recruit Peter?  Was their relationship that bad?  Or did he just know that Pete would find his way to him?

Meanwhile the eldest son Nathan and his girlfriend Tracy are playing fly bait for Mohinder when Daphne stops by to visit.  She walks in on his cocoonville, but does nothing to help his victims, just leaves him a Pinehearst card and tells him he’s as bad as the rest before dashing out.  She obviously doesn’t understand Nathan’s connection to Pinehearst’s founder.

Obviously Pinehearst isn’t worried about keeping a low profile.  Daphne has left the card with the double Godsend symbol all over the country.  But I guess the real question is who is left to stop Arthur?

And lastly we have little Claire Bear, who is often playing hero again, this time with Sandra in tow.  The mission is to free Meredith from Eric Doyle, the puppeteer. It seems that Eric and Meredith have a past relationship.  He tells her, “I’m going to make you love me again.”

But the girls have different plans for him.  After playing a game of Russian roulette combined with spin the gun, Sandra finally shoots Claire.  Thinking her dead, a surprised Eric gets knocked out by “Barbie.”  Next thing you know HRG is on the scene bagging and tagging the puppeteer.

Even after being praised by Daddy, Claire won’t talk to Noah.  Anyone else think it’s ironic that Claire is following in the footsteps of the man she doesn’t trust?  Well, if HRG can’t get Claire on his side, he’ll settle for partnering with Meredith.

Aside from seeing Arthur’s power in use (but not totally defined), the episode had no big reveals.  But the story seemed to move along.  What was your favorite storyline?  What questions did the episode leave you with?

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Who are the Real Villains on Heroes’ ‘I Am Become Death’?

On tonight’s episode of Heroes, “I am Become Death,” Peter and Matt both see (one by dream and one by time travel) four years into the future and given what they see you have to wonder which of our heroes are actually heroes and which are villains.

Peter and Sylar face off against Daphne and Claire four years in the future.

In the future – in which anyone can have an ability if they want – the line between right and wrong is blurred.  But it’s clear that sides have been chosen – at least by some.

Peter – future and present – was on one side.  He doesn’t think people can be trusted with abilities.  Therefore, it’s ironic that his actions end up creating an army of people with abilities and he himself acquires an ability he can’t handle.

On the other side are a leather-clad Claire, a longer-haired Daphne, Knox and the Haitian.  What this side wants – besides Peter dead – is unclear. 

In the first clash of sides, Claire kills Future Peter, but Present Peter escapes.  How did Peter die?  I thought he had Claire’s healing ability.  Sure the Haitian was there, but Present Peter knocked him out which should have made his power useless.  Is a bullet in the back of the head really deadly for Peter?  Why can he be killed, but Claire can’t if he got his power from her?

The second battle is at the Bennett house where Sylar – I mean Gabriel – is playing June Cleaver with his son, Noah.  Is anyone else blown away by the fact that the supreme villain from the last two seasons is not only playing house, but has a son of his own now.  Just who is Noah’s mom?

It seems unclear if Gabriel has chosen sides in the future, but Claire is definitely holding a grudge against him.  However, after painting the future – which showed what? – Sylar gives Present Peter his power to understand how things work.  Unfortunately, in the ensuing battle Little Noah is killed by Knox and Sylar goes supernova, killing 200 thousand.

Daphne gets away, but dies in Matt, her husband’s, arms in front of Molly and their daughter Danielle.

Peter and Claire also survive.  And she is enjoying torturing him until President Nathan and First Lady Tracy stop her.  While trying to understand Nathan’s motivation, Peter becomes the monster he always thought Sylar was.

Still the question remains, who is the real villain(s) here?

Meanwhile back in the present, Matt wakes up from his future dream and chooses a turtle as his spirit totem to guide him to changing the future.  Seriously, he couldn’t have chosen a faster animal?  At this rate, he has no hope of changing anything, let alone getting out of Africa this season.

Tracy learns that she is one of identical triplets – Niki and Barbara are her sisters – who were subjects of DNA manipulation by The Company after their parents died.  After they were given their powers, the triplets were separated which begs the question, where is Barbara?

Frustrated that Zimmerman can’t cure her and unable to confess ton killing the reporter, Tracy takes a header off the office building after resigning.  But Nathan – at the urging of imaginary Linderman – saves her life.  And the beginning of the future relationship is born.

Hiro and Ando spent most of the episode arguing with each other in a cell in Level 2.  Just when Hiro is about to escape sans Ando, Angela tells Hiro that he holds the secret to unlocking the mystery behind the formula.  Reenter Adam.

Finally, Mohinder spent the episode playing The Fly and he was even less helpful in the future.  All we know is that he didn’t get the formula right.

My biggest question is based off the preview for next week when Angela tells Nathan that they gave him his power.  Who was “given” powers and who was born with it, if anyone?  Zimmerman made it sound like he wasn’t the only one working for The Company.  How many others were conducting “experiments?”

What did you think of the episode?  What questions did it leave you with?

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Paternity seems to be the key to the shockers on the third season of Heroes.  Last week we learned that Angela is Sylar’s mom and this week in “One of Us, One of Them” we find another one of our heroes questioning their origins.

Working with HRG, Sylar poses as an FBI agent, complete with Irish accent.

After a tender bonding moment (as if Angela knows anything about maternal nurturing) in which Mama Petrelli tells Sylar – excuse me “Gabriel” – that she’s sorry she gave him up for adoption and promises to provide him with inspiration, guidance and comfort, Angela serves Sylar lunch – I mean a new power. 

Why does she give him the power to read the history of any object?  Is she expecting him to need that particular power in her plans for him?  Or was she just offering him a power as a peace offering?

Next Angela partners Sylar with the one man who hates him most – HRG.  She believes that Noah – who insists he hasn’t reenlisted but simply wants to return the escapes – can provide Sylar with the structure he needs.

Despite protesting that Sylar is a killer, Noah agrees to take Sylar to rein in Jesse/Present Peter, Knox, The German and Flint.  Looks like HRG will play mentor to Sylar . . . at least until he finds Sylar’s weakness.

Meanwhile Angela’s youngest son (at least of the ones we know about) is still trapped in Jesse’s body.  Jesse is originally from Las Vegas.  Anyone else think that’s more than just a coincidence?  It seems like everyone on this show is either from New York, Las Vegas, Texas or California.  Could Jesse be related to one of our other Vegas residents or former residents?  Maybe he’s Linderman’s son?

Either way, Jesse is jonesing for revenge against HRG and has masterminded the current plan to rob this bank and draw out HRG.  However, Peter’s resistance to the plan make it easy for the others to figure out he’s not the real Jesse.

After a little fear – or maybe its adrenaline – Peter discovers – and uses – Jesse’s Black Canary-like power before Future Peter shows up to free him.  But the whole “possession” leaves a few questions.

Did Peter have access to his own powers while he was hijacked?  Now that he’s come in contact with Jesse’s power has he acquired it?  Where was the real Jesse during Peter inhabitation?  Was he also in there?  And where did the two Peter’s go?

When Future Peter rescues his present self (anyone confused yet), he leaves HRG at the mercy of Jesse and his flunkies – until Sylar saves the day, but not without acquiring a new power.  Guess Sylar’s reformation isn’t complete.

HRG and Sylar return to Level 5 in Hartsdale, NY with Flint.  The German and Jesse are dead — those stories were short-lived. And Knox is still on the loose. 

Daphne comes between Hiro and Ando.

Also in Level 5 are Hiro and Ando.  Seems they tried to relieve the Haitian of Angela’s half of the doomsday formula in Berlin only to have it stolen by Daphne while they argued between themselves over Ando’s “sidekick” status.

Meanwhile, Matt continues his “spirit walk” with Usutu in Africa, discovering a series of paintings Usutu has done of Parkman’s life beginning with his encounter with Molly.  All the paintings have come to be except one – of Matt with a woman holding a baby.  Did anyone think the woman looked like Daphne?

But Usutu tells him the future has changed, then goes all white eyes and paints over it.  In the new picture, Matt is carrying a woman that is injured/dead.  I still think it could be Daphne.  Matt asks if he can change the future and Usutu helps him meditate.

Claire is trying to do some changing of her own.  Tired of being a victim, she asks Meredith to help her learn to fight using her powers.  Instead Meredith tries to scare her into giving up her vengeance plan and focus on being a teenager.

Claire says sure, pretends to be the good cheerleader and heads out on her own mission with a Primatech box in tow.

Back in DC, Nathan – sans any visits from the mysterious Linderman vision – gets swore in.  But it’s Tracy that’s the real story of the night.  When Nathan visits her she is clearly struggling to grasp the apparently newly revealed power to freeze and continues to deny any knowledge of Niki Saunders.

Tracy goes to Micah for answers about Niki.

After a visit with Micah at a funeral home in New Orleans, Tracy discovers that she and Niki share a birth date and a birth place, but not a body.  Tracy is a separate person from Niki, not a separate personality.  And Tracy – and presumably Niki – were created by one Dr. Zimmerman.  Big questions here.

Who is Dr. Zimmerman?  Exactly how did he create Tracy?  Did he create Niki too?  Or was she the model from which Tracy was created?  And who did he think Tracy was when he answered the door?  Did he call her Bobba?

What is Zimmerman’s relationship to The Company?  There’s no way someone was creating people with powers and The Company not know about it.  What does this mean for the other people with powers?  Has he had a hand it that?  Could he be Sylar’s papa/creator too?

What are your thoughts on this week’s episode?

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Tonight Heroes returned with a two-hour premiere – “The Second Coming” and “The Butterfly Effect” – opening Volume 3:  Villains with a literal barrage of plot twists.

Hayden Panettiere as Claire Bennet and Milo Ventimiglia as Peter Petrelli. Courtesy Adam Taylor/NBC

I know that NBC is trying to gain back some of the momentum the series had in the first season, but sometimes less is more.  I think that they threw a little too much at us to even start to digest.

After the disjointed Volume 2, I was left with a whole series of questions about the plot and one major question of whether the show was still worthy of my play list.

After tonight, I have even more questions and I’m still not sure if Heroes has recaptured the magic from Volume 1.

Let’s start with what tonight’s episode answered.

A future Peter shot his own brother during Nathan’s press conference in Odessa where Nathan planned to expose his powers. 

Apparently four years in the future, Peter – who has the ability to teleport – feels the need to run before traveling back in time, but not before he has a run-in with a dark-haired future Claire.  It seems not all is well for our heroes in the future with the masses knowing about their powers.

But once in the present, future Peter finds out that changing history isn’t as easy as it sounds.  While he might have prevented Nathan from revealing their secret, he did not actually kill his brother.

A miraculously recovered Nathan believes that he was “touched by God” while at the same time believing that he was healed by Linderman – a Linderman who we believe is dead and apparently only Nathan can see.

This tidbit then begs the question – who healed Nathan?  Is Linderman alive and invisible?  Is he a figment of Nathan’s imagination?  Or is someone cloaking themself to appear as Linderman while not being seeing by others?

Either way, the revived Nathan gets noticed by New York’s Governor (Bruce Boxleitner) and his staffer/lover Tracie Strauss – formerly known as Niki Saunders to viewers (and Nathan) – and is tapped to fill a senate seat.

It seems that Niki survived the fire in New Orleans, but has assumed another alter ego.  This one has the power to freeze nasty little reporters that might expose skeletons in the closet.  Poor William Katt.  What an end for the Greatest American Hero!

Meanwhile, future Peter sends Matt to an African desert when Matt discovers he’s not the present Peter.  While in Africa, Matt meets Usutu (N’Tare Mwine) who tells him he must go on a spirit walk.  Why doesn’t Matt just read his mind to get the answers he wants?

Nevertheless we learn the Usutu paints the future – I’m assuming he meant literally, but I guess it could me figuratively too.  It’s easy to guess that the rock painting that Matt saw in the desert is Usutu’s work, but what about the painting Mohinder saw?  How did Usutu get to New York?

Heroes - Season 3 - "The Second Coming" - Sendhil Ramamurthy as Mohinder Suresh. Courtesy Adam Taylor/NBC

Speaking of Mohinder, he’s been busy playing mad scientist after sending Molly somewhere to be safe.  He uses Maya’s adrenaline to develop a serum that will give anyone injected with it special powers.  Maya, however, is still left without an antidote for her deadly power.

Mohinder – apparently coming up short in the common sense department – decides to inject himself resulting in heighted senses including super strength and super lust for Maya.  But no good deed goes unpunished and Mohinder starts to lose his skin. 

In another act of stupidity disguised vaguely as wisdom, future Peter tells Claire not to rush to the injured Nathan’s side, leaving her to continue hiding in Santa Cruz, CA where Sylar easily finds her.

After a chase scene right out of a teen horror flick, Sylar finally takes Claire’s power.  But he doesn’t kill her.  Instead he leaves her with a gift – he takes away the pain.  He also tells her she’s special and that neither of them can ever die.  But we know differently – if the brain stem is severed (like it was to Peter is Volume 1), death can happen.

With his new found power, Sylar heads to Section 5 where the biggest and baddest villains The Company has captured are imprisoned.  The same place where future Peter imprisons present Peter (anyone confused yet?) is the body of a prisoner named Jesse (Francis Capra).

Sylar starts off by killing Bob and acquiring his power to turn medal to gold, but Elle short circuits the rest of his plans.  While she’s able to capture Sylar, her power surge inadvertently released the rest of the prisoners which included HRG, Jesse, Knox (Jamie Hector) who absorbs fear and uses it as a weapon, Flint (Blake Shields) the flame thrower and The German (Ken Lally).

But never fear, there’s someone to step up and fill Bob’s shoes – Angela Petrelli, who promptly fires Elle.  Angela confirms that her power is premonitions – that’s how she knew who future Peter was. 

She also had a premonition in which Matt, Hiro, Peter, Claire and others are left dead while the likes of Adam, Tracey, a black guy I didn’t recognized and what looked like Governor Malden face off against Angela and Sylar.

Seems Angela has taken a liking to Sylar.  He’s her new project – and judging from the previews for next week, HRG’s new partner.  But the big reveal is when Angela tells Sylar that she is his mother. 

Is she speaking literally or figuratively?  Just how many people has Angela slept with?  There’s Peter and Nathan’s dad, Kaito, and apparently Sylar’s dad (whose identity remains a mystery).  There is even speculation that she’s Matt’s mama too – but I have no proof to back that one up.  This woman really gets around.

Lastly, we have Hiro and Ando who find out that Kaito left Hiro in charge of half of a dangerous formula whose only cure is the purity of blood.  Hiro immediately loses his half of the formula to speedster Daphne (Brea Grant).

In the quest to find her and retrieve the formula, Hiro travels to the future where he sees a super charged Ando kill him.  Of course, now Hiro treats Ando differently and that is going to be the exact reason Ando turns on Hiro in the future.

More interesting, I’d rather know who Daphne is working for?  And who has the other half of the formula – at least until Daphne steals it.

Micah, Monica and Molly are all missing this episode.  Jessalyn Gilsig reprises her role as Meredith Gordon, Claire’s biological mom.

I felt like I was running through this entire episode trying to keep up.  Didn’t the creators learn anything from last season?  I can only hope that the show finds its groove soon and settles in.

What did you think was the most interesting twist?  What was the biggest surprise of the night?

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