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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Heroes Form, Break Alliances on ‘Eris Quod Sum’

Arthur Petrelli Lives on Heroes, But is He an Angel or a Monster?

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

Heroes’ Sylar Goes to Work for Mommy in ‘One of Us’

Heroes Returns with Double Feature Season 3 Premiere

New Talent or Seasoned Performers: A Closer Look at the ‘American Idol’ Top 12 Men

I’m fairly new to the American Idol fad, so forgive me if I get a few things wrong. I thought the purpose of American Idol was to find untapped talent. But looking at the line up of the Top 12 men I’m not seeing a lot of freshness.

Since the end of the auditions Ryan has touted this season’s crop as “the best it’s ever been.” With the amount of experience among this dozen men alone, it’s no wonder.

Of the Top 12, at least four of them have already made an album and another four have logged serious time performing on a stage. And one contender has done both.

Only three hopefuls appear to truly be untouched gems – Danny Noriega, Garrett Haley and Chikezie Eze. And with the competitive edge their opponents have I don’t see these three lasting long.

Here’s a little closer look at the experience of the Top 12.

David Archuleta

Before this 17-year-old auditioned in San Diego, he made his Idol debut singing for Season 1 hopefuls. Then in 2003 at the age of 12, this Utah native won the Star Search Junior Singer competition. You can check out his performance in this video.

Colton Berry

Although we’ve seen very little of this Virginian in the first two phases of Idol, Colton is no stranger to performing.  Not only has this 18-year-old been active in local theater, he’s performed in France four years ago at the French-American Gospel Music Workshop Exchange. In 2005, Colton competed, but did not win, on Showtime at the Apollo when the tour visited Charlottesville.

Robbie Carrico

Before auditioning in Miami, Robbie used to open for Britney Spears as a member of Boyz-N-Girlz, a pop band that got its break singing in a House of Blues in Orlando and went onto record two albums.  The 26-year-old went on to record three more albums with the alternative band Missing Picket.  Robbie must inherit his musical talents from his cousin, the legendary Patsy Cline.

Jason Castro

While Jason Catro might not have produced an album, the 20-year-old Texas is no stranger to singing in front of a crowd. You can catch a video of him performing live at The Prophet Bar.  As a drummer for the rock band Keeping Lions, Jason has opened for Cheyenne Kimball and starred in her self-titled MTV reality series.  Although I couldn’t find any albums by the band, its My Space page lists Secret Weapon Management as its record label.

David Cook

This Oklahoma-native had two albums with the rock band Axium under his belt before he headed to Omaha to audition for Idol. Here’s a video of the band’s performance.  Last year, David released his first solo album, ”Analog Heart.”

Chikezie Eze

As far as I can tell, this Californian’s biggest claim to fame is that he tried out for Idol last year and didn’t make it. It’ll be interesting to see how far the 22-year-old makes it this year.

Garrett Haley

This 17-year-old Ohioan remains a mystery. We know very little about him outside his San Diego audition and his Hollywood time.

David Hernadez

Although David might not have an album of his own, he’s been hanging out with Latin singer Jacob Madrid in New York. Here’s a video of the pair singing at rehearsal in New York. I’m not sure what they are rehearsing, maybe songs for Madrid’s debut album in which case David might be singing backup on this album.

Michael Johns

Before his San Diego audition, this Aussie performed with two bands – The Rising and Film – under the name Michael Lee.  While I couldn’t find an album produced by either band, Michel lists Dingo Lane as his record label on his MySpace page.

Luke Menard

Although we didn’t get to see much of this Crawfordsville, Indiana native (my hometown by the way) during the first two phases of Idol, he’s been getting plenty of stage time as a member of the a cappella group Chapter 6.  Not only has Luke toured nationally with the group, but together they have release four albums – two in college and two professionally – and have a handful of awards.

Danny Noriega

I can’t find much else in singing experience for this 18-year-old. In addition to his try out in San Diego, Danny also auditioned, but didn’t make it, last year.

Jason Yeager

Although he auditioned in Dallas, Jason has been spending his time in Branson, Missouri where he logged in some time at Country Tonite and as a back up singer for Shoji Tabuchi.

Now take a look at the Top 12 Women and their experience.