Heroes Volume Four, Chapter One: A Clear & Present Danger

So it’s been a couple of months since the destruction of Primatech and Pinehearst. Tracy chats on the phone with the governor while watching a televised interview with Senator Nathan Petrelli, who is now heading a Homeland Security subcommittee on Rounding Up Undesirables. Because it’s been months since we’ve seen Ali Larter in her underthings, this all happens while Tracy changes her clothes. As Nathan blathers on about God and country, a scary balding guy and his team of masked goons burst in on Tracy and taser her unconscious.

Claire is staying in New York with Angela and Nathan at the Petrelli mansion. Angela seems to think her granddaughter (who now has her GED, which means we can finally say farewell to all those half-assed and derivative high school plotlines) has a shot at attending an elite university. This is rather optimistic of Angela. Claire listens in on a phone call between Angela and Nathan about how they’re sending goons after Peter and Matt.

Peter, meanwhile, is working as an especially earnest and self-recriminating paramedic. When Claire calls to warn him that Angela and Nathan are planning something, he kind of wanders away from a current medical emergency and hails a taxi, which is driven by Manhattan’s most beautiful cabbie. Mohinder and Peter rehash their meet-cute from the pilot episode, which would be sort of obnoxious if they weren’t both totally adorable about it. They discuss Nathan’s plans to protect the general public from people with special abilities; Peter is vehemently opposed to this, while Mohinder mildly argues that their powers are too dangerous to leave unchecked. He’s actually being sensible and introspective, which: a) is very unMohinderlike, and b) probably won’t last much past this episode.

After Peter leaves, the scary balding guy gets in the cab, pulls a gun on Mohinder, and forces him to drive to a parking structure, where a number of masked goons are waiting to restrain him. Mohinder rips off the door of his cab and uses it to whack the bald guy, which neatly answers the question of whether he retained his powers after losing his scales during his dip in the power-granting Kool-Aid. Bennet arrives and rescues Mohinder, then cheerfully tasers him and hands him over to the goons. Mo seems shocked and outraged at being betrayed by the guy he once shot in the eyeball. Karma, Mohinder. It’ll bite you in the fanny every time.

In Tokyo, still-powerless Hiro converts an old firehouse into a cool superhero lair for himself and newly-powered Ando. He presents Ando with a spandex costume and a motorcycle. Ando is cool with the latter, but not so much with the former. He’s also not cool with Hiro secretly embedding GPS tracking chips under their skin. Ando, who suspects Hiro is overcompensating for the loss of his own powers, storms out in a huff and heads to a strip club. Back at the lair, Hiro gets tasered and captured by masked goons.

Sylar’s in Baltimore, where, sadly, he is neither hanging out with the cast of The Wire, nor starring in Hairspray. Instead, he’s on a quest to find his real father. Yawn. Seriously, Sylar, I’m sure you can come up with a more interesting way to occupy your time. He breaks into a watch repair shop, confronts the guy whom he thinks is his dad, and talks about his abandonment issues. This is far and away the dullest part of the episode, though it’s salvaged by the fact that Quinto is kinda looking smoking-hot these days. Anyway, his alleged dad passes the buck and tells Sylar he’s actually someone else’s kid.

So Sylar moves on to the next likely paternity candidate. No one’s home, but Sylar finds some compelling evidence that maybe he’s in the right place: a) it’s the home of a taxidermist, which seems like a suitable occupation for the father of a serial killer, and it’s cluttered with b) snow globes and c) baby photos of Sylar. Masked goons storm in and try to apprehend him, but Sylar uses his eight billion abilities and slaughters them.

Matt, who is now working as a security guard, is living with Daphne in Mohinder’s apartment. The question of where Mohinder is living remains unanswered. Matt bitches at Daphne for using her super-speedy abilities to help her with her new job as a courier. A tedious domestic squabble ensues. Back when Matt was stuck in his loveless and naggy marriage, I gave him the benefit of the doubt and assumed the bulk of their domestic problems were triggered by Janice. Then Matt shacked up with Mohinder and bickered nonstop with him, and now he’s getting crabby with Daphne. Matt, buddy, I hate to break this to you, but you’re kind of a nag.

Matt is visited by an apparition of Usutu, who is looking pretty hale and hearty considering his recent decapitation. Usutu tells Matt he’s been chosen to be a prophet. Upon hearing this, Matt develops the patented Isaac Mendez Milky-Eyes™ and starts to draw. When Claire stops by to warn him about Nathan’s diabolical plans, Matt shows her a prophetic sketch of himself and Claire getting apprehended by armed goons.

Immediately thereafter, Matt and Claire are apprehended by armed goons.

Peter returns to his apartment and finds Nathan lurking in his living room. When Peter tells Nathan he wants no part of his crackpot scheme to imprison everyone with special abilities, Bennet creeps up behind him and tasers him. Lots of primary characters get tasered this episode. It’s perversely satisfying.

Our heroes are drugged, manacled, masked, and loaded onto a plane. Nathan takes Claire out of the group, tells her to forget what she’s seen, and sends her home. Claire secretly jumps aboard the plane just before takeoff. This is preposterous, of course, but it’s awfully nice seeing Claire being useful and proactive. She rouses Peter, who swipes Mohinder’s super-strength and helps Claire free the others. Claire breaks into the cockpit and discovers the plane is being flown by Bennet.

Peter accidentally absorbs Tracy’s ice ability and, during his scuffle with the goons, freezes the side of the plane and creates a gigantic hole in the hull. The plane nosedives. Peter is almost sucked out through the hole… but Mohinder grabs his hand and saves him.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Apparently Peter forgot about his ability to fly during the heat of the moment because it seems like he could use it to counteract a minor depressurization airflow issue (would it have actually lasted that long with a hole that big anyway?). Guess they still haven't sprung for a science advisor.

Also looks like Peter now has a more friendly version of his father's ability to absorb powers (and one that will not be so prone to creating loose ends like his old power).

Overall a decent start. Now how do they survive a plane crash?
Ingrid Richter said…
I was wondering about the flying too, Jason. It was sweet of Mohinder to reach for Peter, but Peter's one of the few on that plane that could have survived getting blown out of it. And, dude, stop touching the side if you notice it freezing up.

Not a bad start. I'm still skeptical of this "rounding up the mutants" business, but I'm glad Nathan's having a difficult time of it

Why didn't Peter remember the first rule of the Petrelli family: no hugging?
Anonymous said…
Maybe it's a fanwank on my part but I assumed that Peter wasn't sure about controlling his powers so his ability to fly might not have crossed his mind. He accidentally absorbed Tracy's power and then accidentally froze and broke a hole in the plane, then he was in panic mode.

I don't know...I felt it worked as a contrast to Sylar doing such a smooth job using his multitude of powers to fight off the agents. Instead of freaking out and going haywire reacted strategically.

In any case I was distracted by the awesomeness of Mohinder trying to save Peter...and my shock at actually liking this episode (for the most part).
Morgan Richter said…
Why didn't Peter remember the first rule of the Petrelli family: no hugging?

It's a good general rule of thumb: Never hug a Petrelli. I may get that on a t-shirt.

Good episode. I thought most of the characters were in top form: it's such a relief to get through an entire episode without wincing at Peter's or Mohinder's actions. Sylar's plotline was a bit sludgy, but, since we're talking about Sylar, I'm sure it'll pick up steam. And seriously, Matt, stop nagging. His scene with Daphne reminded me of how he'd get condescending and paternalistic when Mohinder was trying to infiltrate the Company. Hey, Matt? You're not the boss of Daphne.

(Claire: You're a very pretty young woman, but I don't know why your grandmother let you out of the house wearing that much makeup.)

Heh. I figure Peter has a long-established history of forgetting his powers when he needs them the most, so I'll give him a pass for not thinking of flying. Poor kid just doesn't think well under pressure, that's all. Plus, it gave Mohinder a chance to do something awesome and heroic, and lord knows that doesn't happen very often.

I felt it worked as a contrast to Sylar doing such a smooth job using his multitude of powers to fight off the agents.

Good point. Yeah, I thought it was striking how vastly more competent and efficient Sylar was at battling the goons, compared to the way everyone else fell to pieces at the first attack. Granted, Sylar's got a ridiculous number of powers, but he owned that situation.
Ingrid Richter said…
I think "Never hug a Petrelli" should replace "Save the Cheerleader! Save the World!" for the new catch-phrase.

So this is the second time Claire's indirectly almost caused a plane to crash. No more planes, Claire!

Loved Sylar's mild annoyance at the guys who were tasering and strangling him, contrasted with his almost deadly fury at his uncle who merely verbally dismisses him.
Anonymous said…
Loved Sylar's mild annoyance at the guys who were tasering and strangling him, contrasted with his almost deadly fury at his uncle who merely verbally dismisses him.

I think Sylar's all about compartmentalizing things. Agents trying to taser him? Minor irritation that he deals with swiftly. Uncle he thought was his father treating him with indifference? Unacceptable betrayal.
Morgan Richter said…
It might be too early to tell, but it looks like this volume is going to drift away from last volume's "all heroes have a little bit of evil inside" theme. I hope so. While the idea of exploring everybody's gray areas had some merit, it wasn't executed very well, and instead our characters (Mohinder and Peter chief among them) just came across as tools. In this episode, I thought Mo and Peter were delightful.

(Mind you, I hope I never have to rely upon Paramedic Peter in an emergency. The way he wandered off the job to hail a taxi sort of alarmed me. Granted, his patient was dead, but still...)

I think Sylar's all about compartmentalizing things.

Yeah, Sylar has priorities. I hope his plotline is headed somewhere good, because I sort of had my fill of Sylar being introspective last volume. I'd rather see him in the raucous mix with the rest of the kids.
Ingrid Richter said…
Paramedic Peter cracked me up. The Petrelli money buys a lot of slack. Even GEDs turn into pure gold in Petrelli hands...

Also, did Mohinder really think running down a completely exposed spiral parking ramp was the best way to escape the bad guys?
Morgan Richter said…
I think Angela Petrelli is seriously overestimating the worth of Claire's GED, since we've seen precious little indication of Claire being academically gifted (way back in season one, she told the doctor examining her mom's Haitian-scrambled brain that she got a C- in biology, which would damage her chances of elite-university admittance right there. If she doesn't have any extracurriculars besides cheerleading, she's doomed). I can't picture Smith or Georgetown falling over themselves to admit Claire, though perhaps an endowment for a Petrelli Library would make them reconsider.

Heh. Mohinder might have been better off looking for a stairwell instead of hurtling down the wide, exposed parking ramp. I do think it was mighty nice of those armed goons to stop shooting at Mohinder as soon as he put down the cab door he was using for protection and made a run for it.
Dan said…
Just finished watching it. My impressions:

- Skulky The Turtle Wonder is back!! All kinds of awesome.

- 'Ando' is the worst password ever. Seriously. And Hiro, if you're going to give clues to the Worst Password Ever, you might as well save some syllables and just give him the freakin' password

- Nathan should not have skimped on the plane guards. How long was Claire-Bear running around in there?

- Also, and this may just be me. But if I knew one of the people on the plane was an empath, capable of absorbing powers and becoming as powerful as that dude who just effortlessly wiped the floor with a set of your best* armed goons, then I'd send him down in a separate plane

- If I had a mysterious missing father played by the most awesometastic choice of actor ever, I'd put up with a dull searching subplot too. All for the greater good, right, Sylar?

- Matt the nag was fun. "Daphne! Stop having so much leisure time! Work hard! Get paid poorly! Feed the turtle!" I guess even InstaLove™ doesn't fix everything

All in all, no complaints whatsoever. Now, I'm off to get a 'Never Hug A Petrelli' T-shirt.

* = baseless assumption
Morgan Richter said…
'Ando' is the worst password ever.

Totally. Though wasn't Chandra Suresh's password "Shanti"? Seriously, guys, at least throw some numbers and random characters in there. Make an effort. And don't give hints! I'm surprised Hiro didn't write it on a Post-It and stick it on the corner of his monitor.

If I had a mysterious missing father played by the most awesometastic choice of actor ever, I'd put up with a dull searching subplot too.

Yup. If I hadn't known in advance about this forthcoming awesometastically awesome bit of casting, I would have had zero patience with Sylar's daddy quest. As it is, I'm drumming my fingers impatiently and waiting for the awesomeness to arrive.

How long was Claire-Bear running around in there?

I can only imagine Nathan's goons assumed they'd missed the memo about "Bring Your Daughter To Work" day and didn't want to risk incurring Senator Petrelli's wrath by telling his kid not to mess around with the prisoners. Because she sure wasn't being sneaky about it.

Heh. And yes, in retrospect, maybe putting the power-absorbing guy on the same plane as a bunch of super-powered folks wasn't the smartest move. It's the sort of mistake you only make once.
Ingrid Richter said…
'Ando' is the worst password ever.
I don't think most websites will allow a password that short. And why did Hiro need to hide the password from Ando? I have a mental picture of tons and tons of cosplay files...

Having used the New York courier service before, I see nothing wrong with getting deliveries in a fraction of the time. Sheesh, Matt, lighten up!
Morgan Richter said…
I ran "Ando" through one of those password strength meters, and it rated a Very Weak. Yeah, certainly all Google applications wouldn't let you get away with having a password that crummy. But Hiro's high-tech tracking/crime-fighting system? Eh, no real need for security there.

Hiro and cosplay. My brain immediately went to Hiro in a kicky Sailor Moon outfit. Yeah, those photos would need to be kept under a stronger password.
Ingrid Richter said…
I think Hiro's new catch phrase should be: "In the name of the moon, I will punish you!", all while wearing a tiara, knee-high boots and a kicky short skirt.

It'll be a whole new Heroes...
Lou said…
'Never Hug A Petrelli'
It's as lethal as wandering into the 1st scene of Star Trek wearing red. Count me in on the tshirt.

Ah Heroes how I missed thee. I enjoyed eeeebil Nathan and HRG being a sneaky rat. Claire didnt annoy me *gasp* And I liked Sylar scenes so much I wanted to hug them. Bless him and his daddy search.

I agree with Ingrid about using the spiral ramp to escape. Classic Mo - a good idea executed poorly. He looked like a hamster in a wheel. I also chuckled when Peter recognised him on the plane from the Thumb Ring of Sexiness™

Beheaded-desert-man (sorry forgot the name) is back! He's so funny with his distractingly orange Universal Studios tshirt and destiny mumbo jumbo. And Matt is now precog without the nasty paste. A new power!

Cant wait to see how the cliffhanger works out...
Morgan Richter said…
I also chuckled when Peter recognised him on the plane from the Thumb Ring of Sexiness™

I was glad they included an insert shot of the thumb ring, because at first it looked like Peter glanced at the hooded figure next to him, saw the brown skin, and immediately concluded "Oh, hey! Must be Mohinder!"

HRG is best as a sneaky rat. I have the feeling Boy-Morgan is going to jump in at some point and refute this, but I like him best when he's doing shady things.

And I have zero problems with Claire when she's being useful and proactive, as she was in this episode. When she starts getting sullen and self-absorbed, then I have problems. But as long as she's actively helping out and keeping a good attitude, I can hang with Claire.
Dan said…
at first it looked like Peter glanced at the hooded figure next to him, saw the brown skin, and immediately concluded "Oh, hey! Must be Mohinder!"

I must have missed the shot of the Thumb Ring of Sexiness™, because that's exactly what I thought happened.

Because, heck, there aren't many Indians in the world, are there? There couldn't be a second one with abilities.

And, yeah, HRG is at his best when nobody knows which side he's really on (note to writers: this does not necessarily work for other characters).

Cant wait to see how the cliffhanger works out...

I'm hoping for a blatant rip-off of the second half of Con Air
Morgan Richter said…
I must have missed the shot of the Thumb Ring of Sexiness™, because that's exactly what I thought happened.

It's kind of strangely done. There's a shot of Peter looking down, and then a shot of Mohinder's ring-free right hand, and then a shot of Peter exclaiming "Suresh!", which makes no damn sense, so immediately thereafter there's a shot of Mohinder's left hand, featuring the Thumb Ring of Sexiness™ in all its shiny silver glory.

Eh, I guess it makes sense either way. Peter's led kind of a sheltered life...

Also, weird how both Claire and Peter kept calling Mohinder by his last name throughout that scene. Fine, and I guess Matt gets called "Parkman" from time to time, but if they're going to do that, make it consistent. I think Hiro should be referred to only as "Nakamura" from here on out. See how long that lasts. And Claire as "Bennet," and Tracy as "Strauss," and Daphne as... wait, I'm sure we know Daphne's last name, but for the life of me I can't come up with it. Maybe because no one ever, ever calls her by it.
Dan said…
Well, we did go most of the first season not knowing HRG's first name. I think it's only fair we go as long as possible not knowing Daphne's last name.

Although, in grave contradiction to that thought, Senor Google informs me that it is 'Millbrook'.

I sure hope she goes by Millbrook-Parkman ultimately.
Morgan Richter said…
I sure hope she goes by Millbrook-Parkman ultimately.

Or the lovebirds could just shorten it to "Milkman." Adorable!

Downside: it'd be awfully hard to take "Detective Matt Milkman" seriously.
Dan said…
Downside: it'd be awfully hard to take "Detective Matt Milkman" seriously.

Not if Detective Milkman has a kick-ass talking turtle as the brains behind the operation, Remington Steele-style.

Mmmm... I smell spinoff!
Dan said…
Not if Detective Milkman has a kick-ass talking turtle as the brains behind the operation, Remington Steele-style.

Clarification: Stephanie Zimbalist is not a turtle. Apologies if my previous comment was unclear on that point.
Morgan Richter said…
Clarification: Stephanie Zimbalist is not a turtle.

Glad you cleared that up, Dan. My Remington Steele knowledge is not as comprehensive as it could be, at least in comparison to my vast knowledge of all things Miami Vice, A-Team, and Hardy Boys, but I'm sure I would have remembered a talking turtle.

(A talking turtle would have fit right in on The A-Team, actually.)
Dan said…
Surely HM ('Howling Mad') Murdoch befriended a talking turtle at some point during the A Team's epic run. And then BA 'pitied' him.

If not, shame on everybody involved for this staggering omission.
Morgan Richter said…
Sure, I remember that episode. And then Hannibal chomped on his cigar and told B.A. to leave Murdoch alone, and then they built a catapult to hurl rotten cabbages at the fat-cat tycoons who were trying to run the community center for underprivileged children out of the neighborhood. Face impersonated an Irish chaplain, while Murdoch dressed up as a bazooka-wielding nun. Then B.A. gruffly told Murdoch that he was a crazy fool for having a talking turtle. Good times.

So who's most likely to find redemption and embrace his inner marshmallow by the end of this volume: HRG, Nathan, or Sylar? I vote Nathan. Even at his dastardliest, Nathan is at least 33% pure, unadulterated, uncut marshmallow.
Dan said…
So who's most likely to find redemption and embrace his inner marshmallow by the end of this volume: HRG, Nathan, or Sylar?

If it's Sylar, I will puke all over my television screen. And that's no fun for anybody. So he's out.

HRG will reveal he's only done all this to (somehow?) protect Claire-Bear. But he still won't give a tinker's cuss for anybody else.

So, yeah, Nathan's my vote too. Maybe they'll explain it all away as Nathan being possessed by Arthur (via some kind of body-possessin' Petrelli Hug at some unnoticed point in the previous volume).

Also, Matt Milkman will apologise to Daphne for giving her a hard time. Or he'll continue to be a douche. Whatever works.

PS That A Team episode was probably my favourite one ever.
Morgan Richter said…
If it's Sylar, I will puke all over my television screen.

Ditto. Previous attempts to redeem Sylar quickly became barfy beyond belief. Not quite literally barfy, but certainly in that general area (I mean... he baked ziti! And called Elle an angel!).

HRG will reveal he's only done all this to (somehow?) protect Claire-Bear.

I think we can take this as a given. Like death and taxes and crappy bus service throughout the greater L.A. area.

Or he'll continue to be a douche.

I think Daphne really got the short end of the stick with the Milkman Insta-Love. She's probably cursing her misfortune at falling madly and inexplicably in love with a chronic nag instead of with one of those adorably madcap Japanese guys. I think I'm going to actively push for a Daphne-Ando pairing (Dando? Better than "Anphne," I guess), just because Ando would never gripe about Daphne using her powers on the job.
Dan said…
Ando would never gripe about Daphne using her powers on the job

Not when that's the only way he gets to use his.

Semi-related: Hiro? Dude? A chick-magnet motorcycle and a GPS locator is not enough to make Ando an actual superhero. In fact, I'm rather certain he'd make the worst superhero ever.

Either the villains he's fighting have abilities, in which case, Ando shows up to, uh, make them stronger.

Or they don't have abilities, in which case, Ando shows up to, uh, be a tall geeky guy on a motorbike, lacking even a basic batarang.

Either way, that boy's getting his ass whupped.
Morgan Richter said…
Either the villains he's fighting have abilities, in which case, Ando shows up to, uh, make them stronger.

Ah, yes, but see, he'd unexpectedly make them stronger, which would cause their abilities to malfunction in hilariously improbable ways! Just think about it: he could sneakily super-charge Nathan, so that when Nathan starts flying, he ends up going so fast he bursts into flames! Or something. I don't know. Yeah, it strikes me that even with the spandex and the motorcyle, Ando is a few steps away from being a legitimate superhero.

In fact, I'm rather certain he'd make the worst superhero ever.

Trying to come up with a counter-argument... Naah. Can't do it. You're probably right. Doomed to perpetual sidekickdom, Ando.
Michael Ens said…
Why does everybody figure Peter can fly? I thought it was pretty clear that now, he only has the power of the last "special" person he touched. When he touched Nicci and got freeze powers he lost his recently-gained strength and seemed dumbfounded when it didn't work.
Ingrid Richter said…
Really?!? I thought his power was the same as before - absorbing and assimilating powers. He even mentions flying *in* this episode.

And wasn't Mohinder was the last person he technically touched before he demolished the airplane with frost?

*As a side note, was anyone else sad that Mohinder and Tracy's road trip at the end of last season went absolutely nowhere?
Morgan Richter said…
I thought it was pretty clear that now, he only has the power of the last "special" person he touched.

I'm hearing this theory bounced around a lot. It's possible -- it's clear Peter's abilities have changed somehow, since there was a new special effect/cracking sound when he grabbed Mohinder's hand and swiped his power -- but I don't think it's been made explicit yet that he can only take on one power at a time now. Plotwise, it's a good idea, seeing as it would avoid the whole Omnipotent Peter problem of prior volumes, but I'm not going to assume that's the case until there's at least a throwaway line to that effect.

As a side note, was anyone else sad that Mohinder and Tracy's road trip at the end of last season went absolutely nowhere?

Somewhat, since I love a good Heroes road trip (hi, Sylar and Mohinder!), and since Sendhil and Ali have mad chemistry together. One of those online comics that absolutely no one reads covered the dissolution of the Mo/Tracy alliance in some detail; much like this past episode, it involves Mohinder being mature and rational, which is: a) refreshing! and b) weird! On the other hand, a Mo/Tracy plot probably would have revolved around Mo's blasted power-giving magical toxic Kool-Aid from last volume, and I'm just as glad that seems to be a relic of the past, right along with magical blood and power-stealing viruses.
Ingrid Richter said…
Of course, the web comic also features Mohinder jumping out of Tracy's moving car on the New Jersey turnpike. Darn good thing he still has superpowers.

And as we know (Morgan), jumping out a moving vehicle is just plain reckless and scary (and very, very sweet)...
Morgan Richter said…
And as we know (Morgan), jumping out a moving vehicle is just plain reckless and scary

In my defense, I will just say it seemed like a good idea at the time. And it gave us some awesome anecdotes (long story, for those who haven't heard it yet, but I jumped out of a moving bus while Ingrid was visiting a couple weeks back and had a close and personal encounter with a sidewalk. I believe this is what's known as "pulling a Mohinder." If I'd only landed on my feet, it would have been really cool).

Hey, what do we think about Mohinder's powers? Keep or ditch? I think the theory behind giving him the abilities is that Sendhil is so physically remarkable (and how!) that it makes sense to exploit his strengths. Still, I'm sort of hoping his abilities mysteriously disappear during the next eclipse.
Dan said…
Hey, what do we think about Mohinder's powers? Keep or ditch?

Ditch. There are more than enough characters with powers. The powerless ones make a good contrast.

I swear, the episode in which HRG is given a power is the last episode I watch.

(Unless, of course, it's some kind of meta-fiction mind control power that compels me to watch. I mean, obviously.)
Morgan Dodge said…
I feel like I missed the boat a bit since you've all covered the important bits of the episode.

So my favorite moment in the episode? My favorite part of the episode was the part where girl-Morgan jumped from a moving bus to "save" her sister. Not sure what the super power was there, but it was great action!
Morgan Richter said…
Good to have you join us, Boy-Morgan!

My favorite part of the episode was the part where girl-Morgan jumped from a moving bus to "save" her sister.

In terms of efficacy, it was roughly equivalent to accidentally punching a hole in the side of a plane and causing it to crash.

I swear, the episode in which HRG is given a power is the last episode I watch.

Oh, Dan. Don't tempt fate like that. You know they'll give HRG an ability one of these days. They can't help themselves. First Mohinder, then Ando... I'll be astonished if HRG lasts until the end of the volume without being able to breathe fireballs or whatever.
Patrick said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Patrick said…
Hi guys, greetings from Ireland! I love reading this blog after watching the show, sometimes it's even better than watching the show.

It seems to me that Peter can only absorb one power at a time (thus agreeing with some of the people above). Remember that when he absorbed the freeze power he lost his super-strength (he was surprised at how easily he was beaten up afterwards meaning that he quickly realised he could no longer fly).

I suspect Nathan is aware that this is how Peter's power now works. It may be one reason he hugged him - thus ensuring that Peter's power was flight and not something that could make him avoid arrest. It is also why he asked him about his power (what it was now) earlier in the episode.

Anyway, loving your work!
Ingrid Richter said…
Hi Patrick - Welcome!*

Michael Ens also mentioned this new trait of Peter's earlier on in the comments section. Interesting. Why did his power suddenly change? Makes sense that he can only have one at a time (omnipotent Peter was getting to be, well, too much like Sylar), but why the limit and why now?


*Oops, never mind. Looks like Patrick just deleted his comment. One of those lost in the ether postings...
Ingrid Richter said…
Er, never mind the never mind. Cross-posting at its best!

Sneaky of Nathan! Couldn't believe Peter actually fell for the "Give your brother a hug" trick, though...
Morgan Richter said…
Hi, Patrick, and welcome. Yeah, I think Patrick and Michael are right about Peter's power changing (I guess when he injected himself at the end of last volume, it gave him a different-yet-similar version of his former power?), though I'm hoping they'll make that more explicitly clear in later episodes, if that's the case.

I missed it the first time around, but I went back and rewatched, and yep, Peter definitely does seem surprised when his punches don't have much force behind them in his scuffle with the guards after absorbing Tracy's power. So he can't fly anymore, but since he's now gripping Mohinder's hand, presumably he can absorb Mo's strength again and hold on for dear life.
Dan said…
It seems to me that Peter can only absorb one power at a time

What a delightful and nonsensical plot twist. I like it!

Still, doesn't he just have to go find Sylar and touch him to regain the ability to absorb more than one ability at once? Or would Sylar absorb his ability to only have one ability at a time first?

Mmmm... meta-abilities. My favourites!
Patrick said…
I think the writers wanted to find a way to stop Peter being an invincible, invulnerable Superman. The same with stripping Hiro of his time-travelling ability. This keeps Peter interesting, so that he can be very weak some of the time, but when necessary he can take someone else's power.

Also, they needed a regular cast member to have the prophetic drawing ability - otherwise Tim Sale's work would go to waste - so Parkman suddenly becomes a prophet. When you think about it - the prophetic drawing ability has been held by an extraordinary number of people at some time or another!
Morgan Richter said…
Also, they needed a regular cast member to have the prophetic drawing ability - otherwise Tim Sale's work would go to waste - so Parkman suddenly becomes a prophet.

I wish they'd kept Isaac around. Sure, he was kind of a grouch, and sure, he shot his girlfriend (no, Isaac, "I was aiming for Peter" is still not a good excuse), but he had floppy hair and pretty eyes, and he was actually, y'know, an artist by trade instead of a telepathic detective/security guard. Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best.

Still, doesn't he just have to go find Sylar and touch him to regain the ability to absorb more than one ability at once?

And this is where it gets (more) confusing. If Peter touched Sylar and absorbed Sylar's powers, wouldn't he have to chop heads to steal abilities? Or am I missing something? I mean, I know they kinda sorta established last volume that Sylar doesn't really have to muck around in brains to get powers, but still, when Future Sylar voluntarily gave Peter his ability, the first thing Peter did was chop open Future Nathan's head.

(Man, Volume Three was weird, huh? It didn't seem like it at the time, but it retrospect, it was pretty much bananas from start to finish.)
Ingrid Richter said…
I miss Isaac too, although I got a chuckle out of Peter's stick figure flying drawing ("See, Nathan! I can draw the future!") in Volume One.

Wasn't Sylar originally supposed to eat the brains of everyone he killed to absorb their powers? These days, I think he just mucks around in there for fun...
Dan said…
Wasn't Sylar originally supposed to eat the brains of everyone he killed to absorb their powers?

Hopefully this chapter will see Sylar killed and then return as a zombie, inspiring him to return to his brain-eating ways. I'm sure the Haitian could get involved somehow.

What? It wouldn't be the craziest thing the writers have ever done.

Not by a long shot.
Ingrid Richter said…
We can only hope, Dan. I'd rather have Sylar munching brains than baking ziti for Elle...
Dan said…
Now, that was a contender for the craziest thing the writers have done.