Episode 23 - Season Finale
"How to Stop an Exploding Man"
(Airs 5/21/07)

With Isaac’s horrible predictions all unfolding before them, the everyday people with extraordinary abilities face moments of pain and peril in Kirby Plaza with unflinching heroism, as “Heroes” first volume comes to a close — and the next surprisingly begins.

Spoilers ahead so do not read if you have not seen ep yet:

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I was glad Peter heard Nathan's thoughts and discovered that Nathan was with this whole exploding man thing. And I loved Claire for jumping out the window in escape from her evil Grandmother (okay I find her sort of evil ) and Nathan.
Then the whole Peter like time traveling thing was weird. He definitely has some odd powers there. But I liked that sequence with the old man he was caring for telling him he had the Heart to save the world.
His encounter with Sylar slightly disappointed me. I was hoping he would show more strength against him. I did love all the Heroes coming together in that scene though and helping out. That was sweet. Niki coming to the rescue and then Hiro striking the killing (or was it??!!) blow.

Okay how the whole exploding Peter thing ended...I never even thought of that. I never thought of Nathan flying him into outer space. I was very proud of Nathan doing that and changing this future that all these others had so planned out for them. But does this mean Nathan is gone from the show now??!! I am thinking so, but he was someone I can live without on the show.

Going back in the episode a little again, I loved that Hiro was able to trick Sylar into letting his guard down and save Ando and take him back to safety. I do hope we still see Ando some next year.

I was glad Molly saw Matt and that Noah (Hee! we know Mr. Bennett's first name now!!) stopped trying to shoot her. I really loved how just everyone came together in this episode by the end. It was very cool.

I knew that it was that Candice girl who was playing Jessica. I was wondering how long it would be before Jessica truly came out to Niki and told her. I was glad she did. I think Jessica is now in Niki but Niki does have full control now.

Well Generations is the next chapter. It looks interesting from Hiro's little scene and I liked how we saw the Helix symbol and the Eclipse ...so it looks like we will be getting explanations into that for next season. I can't wait.

Overall I was very satisfied and happy with the finale of this season. BRAVO!!

Someone told me that next season was going to be a prequel, but I didn't know we were going back centuries! Interesting...

I can also live without Nathan, but hopefully Peter will be okay. We know that Claire was able to survive being in an explosion, but could they survive actually exploding? I don't think they will get rid of him. The time travel thing was weird. I was thinking at first he got it from Hiro, but no one else could see him, so I guess it was another one of his dreams that got more real than they normally do. It's true, though, he's all heart. It was a good way to summarize his whole place in the show. So Simone's father is involved with this whole thing? Does that mean he had powers? If so, did she?

I loved the conclusion to Ando's arc. I just watched the first episode yesterday, as well as Homecoming, and it's amazing the transition that he made, but it is completely realistic that he could have gone through that switch.

I also wondered if Sylar is really dead. For that matter, is Linderman?

Good conclusion to the Niki/DL/Micah storyline, but isn't DL still wanted for murder?

Hmm, I forgot about DL being wanted for murder. I dunno.

I wonder who the person is who Molly said can see her...a Bigger Bad than Sylar obviously.

Yeah I wonder if Simone's dad had powers too. But she is dead so we will never know about her.

Well they kept on saying Peter could regenerate...they kept saying he would be able to live if he was the bomb. So I am assuming he will be back. Better be! He was my favorite.

Yeah, I agree that Peter is probably alive. He's my favorite too, and a lot of other people. It would be a big loss to the show if they killed him off.

The entire season has come to this: the showdown between Sylar and the assembled heroes. From the opening montage, the full measure of the season’s progress becomes plain. It’s amazing to think that so much has happened this season, and how much of it has been built slowly but steadily since the very first episode.

As the episode opens, Nathan is preparing to leave New York before the storm comes crashing down. With Linderman dead, it all comes down on his shoulders to continue the plan, and his mother is happy to remind him of it. That choice pits brother against brother, which is a nice bit of symmetry. It also represents a nice crossroads for Claire, who must choose between her biological family and her adoptive family. The Petrelli clan has been at the heart of the story since the pilot, so this focus makes a great deal of sense.

It also leads to another link to the past, and an unexpected one at that. Who expected Simone’s father to be part of Linderman’s old team? As seen in many recent episodes, there is a consistent generational aspect to the series. This makes one wonder what ability, if any, Simone might have had. Like Molly, it’s another strong link to the beginning of the season. It definitely feels like the end of one volume, with several threads coming together.

With DL dying and Micah missing, it comes down to Niki and Jessica to find a way to get out of Dodge. For all the fun we’ve had with Candice before, she becomes quite important to the Niki/Jessica character arc in the end. The fight is over far too quickly, and the integration of the two sides of Niki’s psyche feels like an afterthought.

Mohinder and Mr. Bennett battle over Molly’s fate, a matter complicated by Claire’s involvement with Peter and his battle with Sylar. Despite her medical condition, Molly is the most obvious means for finding Sylar, and Mr. Bennett knows it. As seen in “Five Years Gone”, Mr. Bennett will make all kinds of unusual and unexpected choices when Claire’s fate is at stake.

Throughout it all, Hiro is there, looking for Ando, hoping for the chance to save his friend while still saving the world. The initial showdown with Sylar is a nice taste of things to come, and sets Hiro on the final step of his journey to heroism. It comes just in time for Peter to come out of his vision quest, with Mr. Bennett (revealed as “Noah”) at his side.

Much like Niki’s integration, Sylar’s defeat comes far too quickly and easily (as does his survival). It feels incredibly anti-climactic after everything that has come before it, though it was interesting to discover that Sylar ultimately saw himself as the hero, facing down Peter to save the world from the exploding Peter! It’s always better when the villain can justify his or her actions on some reasonable level.

The resolution to Peter’s dilemma is more unexpected, and brings the conflict between the Petrelli brothers to a close for the moment, since it’s unlikely that they both died in the explosion. Claire and Mr. Bennett find common ground, Niki’s family appears to be together and relatively well, and while Matt’s fate is uncertain, the death toll is rather slim. It appears that the plan to clear the decks and focus on new heroes in the second season may have been misdirection.

All things being equal, two things come to mind. First, the generational nature of the series, tied together with the unusual symbol and the eclipse, will come to define the next volume of the story. That seems fitting. Second, Molly mentioned that there was something far worse than Sylar out there, which will hopefully lead into something more substantial and satisfying than this season finale. As it stands, this particular conclusion is a startling disappointment.

all i can say is WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


and


WHAT HAPPENED?!


i don't think peter died. he had claire's regeneration powers or whatnot and claire was supposed to die in a fire so i think peter is still alive.

so is sylar that little snitch haha just kidding


but what the heck? we're back in the 1600's?!

I was really happy with the finale.

But, why did Nathan fly off with Peter? Couldn't Peter have flown to space himself? Unless he couldn't control his powers while going radioactive. Regardless, I don't think Peter is dead. At least, I hope not. I can live without Nathan, if need be.

I'm among those who don't think Sylar's dead. Something lives and breathes in the sewer and dragged Sylar into it. I would prefer it that way... ha! The Peter/Sylar fight scene was less than expected, but all the Heroes coming together to challenge him was cool!

I wish we knew for sure if the default Candace is really her, or if that's the person she chooses everyone to see.

NOAH Bennet doesn't seem quite right, but at least we know his full name now.

Claire is such a fighter. Gotta love her!

Mama Petrelli has SO many secrets. Does she have powers or not? And, what is her connection to Simone's father?

Speaking of which, Peter's dream was freaky. And, how is it that Simone's dad was able to see him and speak to him??

Molly and Micah were absolutely adorable together. I wonder who will look after Molly now? Will she go with Niki & DL, or will Mohinder take her?

To think there's something/someone scarier than Sylar out there is VERY intriguing!

Great season. Can't wait for Volume 2. A prequal sounds interesting...

I think was because the radioactive powers were taking over his whole body and he could not use any of his other powers.


Well I think it really is her, seeing as when she was knocked out she returned to that form. I would think that was her original form.


Yeah those are still good questions.



Yeah another Big Bad out there...it is very intriguing.

yeah i'm wondering who the worse person is that can see the little girl?


creeeeeeeeeeeeeeppy!!!!!!!!!

Very creepy...

I just rewatched this ep today for the heck of it. I really wish NBC was rerunning the show this summer. I could totally rewatch them all again in repeats. It is such a good show.

Yeah, I've noticed that a lot of channels aren't doing reruns anymore. I'm guessing DVR kind of killed summer reruns. The good news is Sci Fi is showing it.

So Wild, notice any new insights on the epi?

Yes, I'm curious if you saw anything new/different?