By John Keegan
Visit Critical Myth for an archive of John's TV Review archives, with more than 1100 entries.
After a few episodes of scattered plot threads and, quite possibly, too many characters, the writers adjust the scope and focus on a handful of plot threads. Limiting the extent of the canvas does wonders for the cohesion of the story. There are still a few elements that seem overly convenient, but that has always been a hallmark of “Heroes” storytelling.
This episode begins to answer questions about the connections between the Twelve, the Company, and Nightmare Man. The previous installment hinted at those connections, but they are more solidly established. If Nathan’s picture is accurate, then Mohinder is working for one of the Twelve, which is a nice twist. The revelation that Matt’s father was also one of the Twelve cements the implication that most of the current “heroes” are just the next iteration of a long-term legacy.
As it stands (and if I understand the details correctly), the Twelve originally came to the conclusion that they needed to identify and protect their own. The Company was created for that purpose. Over time, however, some of the Twelve came to regret that choice and decided to walk a different path. This decision point may or may not have been the same event in which Angela and others betrayed Nightmare Man. Whatever the case, the past is catching up with them in a big way.
One interesting possibility is that the “plague”, which has thus far been confined to a very small number of victims, is related to Nightmare Man’s campaign. Now that Bob is revealed as one of the Twelve (though seemingly much younger than the others), his motivations to find a cure are more suspect. But given how various plot threads are intersecting, it would be no surprise to discover that Bob’s work is directly related to Nightmare Man’s activities.
Current events should drive Matt to find his father, which should lead to more information about the current threat. Molly’s situation should put him on a timetable. Matt’s part of the story is a lot more interesting this season, now that his abilities are being utilized and his family history is at the center of the action. With his current relationship with Mohinder and that connection to the overall plot, Matt is getting some of the attention he missed in the first season.
Claire’s plot thread is more contained, but considering how integral Mr. Bennett is to the war against the Company, that may not last very long. It doesn’t help that West is setting Claire against her father, and that his judgment is already suspect. After all, West has repeatedly used his ability in broad daylight with little or no concern for the consequences. Even if Claire does nothing to reveal his ability, West’s behavior could expose her and her family at the absolute wrong time.
The same applies to Micah and Monica. It’s always possible that Micah’s theft of the pay-per-view program could be traced back to the house, and sooner or later, Monica’s talents will be noticed. Both of them have yet to use their power to full potential; it would be interesting to see if Nichelle Nichols’ character points them in the right direction. If nothing else, Monica could use her ability to develop skills to find a new career, if she gets her hands on the right kind of video. (Assuming, of course, that her ability works that way.)
It seems overly convenient and coincidental that Maya and Alejandro would run into (and almost over) Sylar, but it does continue the process of bringing the old characters back into the story. It’s still not clear how his abilities currently work (or, more correctly, don’t work), but he’s certainly interested in Maya and Alejandro’s abilities. His evil ways remain intact, so his decision to help them get to New York is not a good sign.
Those annoyed with the apparent focus on new characters over existing cast members will likely find this episode disappointing. This is unfortunate, because the “Heroes” universe is vast enough to allow (and beg) for deeper exploration and diversification. Right now, the old and new characters are blending together well, and if that trend continues, the scattered nature of the early episodes could give way to a satisfying narrative. It is reasonable, however, to note that the second season has been equal parts test of faith and test of patience. |
