By Frederic Germay
This should be the part of the season where a definitive plot is established and emphasis is placed on the characters that are central to this plot, whereas this season has established a rather vague plot and surrounded all potentially pertinent characters with an air of uncertainty. Although this uncertain mix isn’t altogether disastrous, it would lend strength and impact to the season’s developing story if more information is revealed. Don’t get me wrong, I am not wishing that the show would become predictable, but I think that at this point in the season the plot should have been significantly more tangible.
However, we are still left with quite an interesting mix as far as this plot goes. During this season’s first couple of episodes, I was under the impression that the threat of the virus would be the cornerstone of the plot. Quite surprisingly, that entire plot thread seems to have been momentarily forgotten in place of the mysterious 8. I think that can only be beneficial to the storyline, seeing as the interactions between Mohinder (Sendhil Ramamurthy) and Bob (Stephen Tobolowsky) were annoyingly unbelievable. However, that plotline has delivered some relevance to the overall story with the inclusion of Bob in the mysterious 8. It appears as though most of the people in that picture have died already including Linderman (Malcolm McDowell), and Charles Deveaux (Richard Roundtree). Due to Mrs. Petrelli’s (Cristine Rose) presence on the picture, I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s the next to go.
Now this brings up an interesting question…who is hunting them down? It appears that there is someone who may be as formidable (or even more formidable, but I doubt it) as Sylar (Zachary Quinto). Is this killer the Bogeyman, or Matt’s (Greg Grunberg) father? Is the person in the picture whose face is blurred? Have we even met this character yet? This plot revolving around the mysterious eight’s doom seems to be the most promising plot of the season to date, and hopefully a timetable is set regarding the fate of the eight so that a stronger element of suspense is induced.
Concerning the surprisingly engaging subplot, Claire’s (Hayden Panettiere) character apparently needs someone who can share what she can do. Naturally, Mr. Bennet (Jack Coleman) would most likely want to be the one that Claire confides in, but thanks to his inability to relate to his daughter on that particular avenue, in combination with his seemingly untrustworthy nature, makes him an understandably poor candidate. Then West (Nicholas D’Agosto), a cocky and headstrong young man, comes into her life and literally sweeps her off her feet. Despite my complaints about his irritating and unlikable attitude, there is something to be said about the definitely tangible chemistry between the characters…NOT! Almost every single line of dialogue between Claire and West felt horribly scripted and forced – it actually felt to me as though the actors couldn’t wait to get away from each other!
Mr. Bennet’s strong reluctance to allow Claire to fraternize with boys is quite understandable, seeing as the man in the painting appears to bear some responsibility in Bennet’s future demise. However, West is quite clever when it comes to deception, and he’s allowed Claire to get away with being with him without her father’s knowledge. I really don’t think Claire is making a clever decision to lie to her father, because Noah Bennet happens to be quite a cunning man, and I think he’ll eventually figure things out. I can hardly wait for the confrontation between West and Bennet.
Then there are the filler stories of Sylar and Micah (Noah Grey-Cabey). Micah has found himself in the company of the Dawson family, some of which posses unique abilities. Thanks to her incredibly long-winded and mopey story, we’ve uncovered that Monica Dawson (Dana Davis) possesses the ability to seemingly mimic things at a moment’s glance. This could be one of the strongest powers uncovered yet, as she could potentially reflect Peter (Milo Ventimiglia) and Sylar’s abilities, if she’s given the opportunity to witness them first. On the other hand, Sylar seems to have found himself at an all-you-can-eat buffet, but with no fork and knife. As if that’ll stop him… His ‘loss’ of powers hasn’t abated his homicidal tendencies, but I hope he regains his skills soon. Sylar, fully charged, is one of the most electrifying characters on television.
Overall, this episode is a positive step in the right direction. However, in terms of excellence, this season hasn’t quite rivaled its predecessor yet. Hopefully, things will get a little more definite next week. I give this episode an 8/10
