Heroes 2.01 - Four Months Later
Sep. 25th, 2007 09:18 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
weewarriorBrief, unsorted thoughts behind the cut:
- Very slow pacing in general, but I expect it to pick up soon
- Nothing is quite what it seems: Kensei uses a straw man and is not Japanese, Matt's bust is really just a test and the seedy apartment as well as the people in it are fake, Bennet is not a harmless paper salesman, Claire is not a robot (although seriously, West, what about robots from space? What about them? There are alien robots!), Nathan's face is probably not burned up (or is it?), Angela is not completely evil, Stephen Tobolowsky is likely way from harmless, West is not just an intrusive little stalker, Mohinder is not just a duped scientist, Maya is not as sweet and harmless as she looks, and Peter definitely is not dead. Good call there, Nate.
- The phonecall! Claire talks to Nathan! And he's ... not exactly being helpful, but a lot more open than he was at the end of Season One, which is vaguely sad given that he is now an insane drunk
- "He'll want those when he gets back" - I'll admit that this scene played far better than I feared it would, largely because they did not make Angela sound like a harpy but rather like someone who is just very tired. And
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selenak, cadesama, they jossed our idea of Papa Petrelli as an alcoholic! I was aghast! - I'm calling dibs for Nathan having hallucinations and them being apparently connected to mirrors, even though it's admittedly not the same as being caught in the Matrix. And lookit, he did run into Ando!
- I also called Heidi leaving Nathan, and Matt and Janice divorcing, which probably makes me somewhat cynical about relationships...
- Undercover Scientist Mohinder made me giggle, but at least he is working with Bennet - and living with Matt and Molly! Sweet!
- Speaking of Noah, while I understand his frustration at his manager's antics, bodily threatening the man and risking being fired or getting sued is not what I would call inconspicuous behaviour, dear sir.
- I ... don't think Sandra is well, and it makes me so sad. Noah, I adore you, but you are a bastard.
- My, Randall Bentley has grown, hasn't he? And he's getting quite a deep voice, too.
- Why, hello there, Cork, you look much different than I remember. I'm really looking forward to encountering mountains and other geographical markers like that. And hey, is that Dominic Keating in some strangely old-fashioned clothing? And, oh, Pete! Hey, Pete! Your family misses you, and you forget them? That's not cool.
- Matt and Molly were adorable. The poor girl does have a lot on her plate - seeing your parents murdered, becoming the target of their killer, getting into the custody of an evil company, contracting a deadly virus, seeing two men explode, and a man you worship almost get killed is enough to give anyone nightmares. Add some icky creep with Sauron's voice to that, and I was astonished she didn't throw her plate at Matt. Something tells me she might want to talk to Nathan, though, scary beard or not.
- They killed George Takei! Noooo! And he was killed by ... a stunt double? Seriously, if the person's build is meant to be any indication, I have an idea who that is supposed to be, but we'll see what comes out of it.
- There are
nineeight Elders left. Bring on the betting, people! - And for everyone playing continuity bingo, the Company was founded 30 years ago, fairly likely by our merry bunch of - at that point twelve - Evil Elders.
- Hiro in the Past: promising. Adore Kensei, and Yaeko, too, but something tells me that this isn't going to go as by the numbers as it currently looks. We would all expect Hiro to succeed in turning his Han Solo into a shining hero, right? I have a feeling that that's not going to happen, and I will be devastated, because the character seems so much fun.
- Other new characters: can't say much about Maya and Alejandro yet, other than that I guess he is toast as he is not among the main characters; Stephen Tobolowsky is totally evil (if gifted with a useful power); West is basically no more than a catalyst, if an annoyingly pushy one. If he is supposed to have similarities to Nathan other than being dark-haired and being able to fly, I haven't found them yet.
- Can it be next week now?
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(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-25 08:01 am (UTC)They did? How? The "It's a good thing your father's not here to see this" bit?
Seriously, if the person's build is meant to be any indication, I have an idea who that is supposed to be, but we'll see what comes out of it.
My initial guess was Sylar, but that doesn't make much sense at all, so I'm lost.
Need more!
(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-25 08:41 am (UTC)OH MY GOD WHY DO YOU HAVE IT ALREADY PLZ TELL ME DYING HERE? & :-P
(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-25 09:27 am (UTC)(Actually, I have good means to acquire the eps. I think you can guess how. It's an invitation only thing; if I had any invitations, I would give you one, but alas, I haven't. I could ask someone who has, if those are the same means you usually use to acquire the eps by.)
(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-25 09:27 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-25 09:29 am (UTC)Yes, but thinking about it more, Angela could have just meant that Papa Petrelli was better at hiding that he's an alcoholic.
My initial guess was Sylar, but that doesn't make much sense at all, so I'm lost.
I have to see more to decide, but I don't think Kaito would recognize Sylar, and he seemed convinced that it was one of his old buddies.
Need more!
Me too! *squee*
(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-25 09:43 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-25 09:44 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-25 01:31 pm (UTC)I am a little disappointed that the scenes with Matt in the promo were basically one giant fake-out, but his scenes with Molly were so great that I can forgive it.
I don't like West very much so far, which is a pity, because watching Claire trying to find a Peter-substitute is so filled with angsty and subtexty potential that I am dancing in anticipation. But we'll see if he improves next week.
As for Maya and Alejandro: I like her...not sold on him, for purely shallow reasons. But again, I'll have to see more of them before I make a judgment.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-25 01:33 pm (UTC)The phonecall to Nathan shocked the hell out of me, and I adored it. Oh Claire, still reaching out to Petrellis, as if they are functional human beings. You're so naive! And, of course, I love crazy!Nathan. Although, of course, I think he's being messed with by the Nightmare Villain and is not actually crazy. Crazy is harder to cure than villain hijinks, after all.
I also called Heidi leaving Nathan, and Matt and Janice divorcing, which probably makes me somewhat cynical about relationships...
Well, I still think that saying Heidi was "driven away" is a far sight from divorce. They've put Heidi and the boys into character storage, until Nathan's sane enough to have a family again.
I ... don't think Sandra is well, and it made me feel so sad. Noah, I adore you, but you are a bastard.
I haven't decided yet with her. There was a lot of dark humor in the Bennet section, focusing on the bleakness of the working class, so I don't know if she's off because of that, or because she's truly degenerated. Probably the latter, since they said they aren't dropping that plot.
And for everyone playing continuity bingo, the Company was founded 30 years ago, fairly likely by our merry bunch of - at that point twelve - Evil Elders.
I wonder how much influence that actually had on Nathan's childhood. Please let there be flashbacks!
We would all expect Hiro to succeed in turning his Han Solo into a shining hero, right? I have a feeling that that's not going to happen, and I will be devastated, because the character seems so much fun.
I think within the confines of the first seven or eight episodes, he'll actually appear to succeed. It's just later when it will all fall apart.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-25 01:45 pm (UTC)I loved that! I also thought that he was comparatively nice to her, and given that he apparently either recognized her number on sight or has her filed in his cellphone, this definitely wasn't the first time they talked to each other.
And, of course, I love crazy!Nathan. Although, of course, I think he's being messed with by the Nightmare Villain and is not actually crazy. Crazy is harder to cure than villain hijinks, after all.
He totally is, and not just on one level I think.
They've put Heidi and the boys into character storage, until Nathan's sane enough to have a family again.
Fairly likely. At the very least they'll have material for him trying to get her back or something.
There was a lot of dark humor in the Bennet section, focusing on the bleakness of the working class, so I don't know if she's off because of that, or because she's truly degenerated. Probably the latter, since they said they aren't dropping that plot.
The humour failed to capture me a bit, but mostly because I really fear for her health by now.
I wonder how much influence that actually had on Nathan's childhood. Please let there be flashbacks!
*nods excitedly*
I think within the confines of the first seven or eight episodes, he'll actually appear to succeed. It's just later when it will all fall apart.
Yes, I would agree. I just didn't imagine that it would hit me that much, because I liked Kensei.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-25 01:50 pm (UTC)I'm not disappointed about his first scene, because I really think it is part of a theme. Nothing is what it is initially seems, we have to look more closely. We even had two fake-outs in that situation - the hostage taker being the woman, and then the whole situation just being a simulation. It's a clear sign that our perception will be screwed with, and I like that. The creators of the show always have great respect for the viewers' intelligence, and they expect us to play, if you will.
I don't like West very much so far, which is a pity, because watching Claire trying to find a Peter-substitute is so filled with angsty and subtexty potential that I am dancing in anticipation. But we'll see if he improves next week.
I think he is a little one-note, more of a function than really a character.
As for Maya and Alejandro: I like her...not sold on him, for purely shallow reasons.
I like them both, but I see some rather scary Niki-parallels in her storyline; a power she can't control and can't comprehend, and which causes her to innocently kill people. I just hope they handle it better this time.
And I find it darkly humorous that they want to go to Chandra for help.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-25 01:52 pm (UTC)He was. I get the feeling she wore him down. I think there was probably a period of avoiding her calls, and then giving in, and talking about Peter until it hurt too much, and now Claire wants more of that, but there's nothing left for Nathan but to go cry in his Peter!shrine. (And that's damn near canon, too!)
Fairly likely. At the very least they'll have material for him trying to get her back or something.
Yep. I think that'll be once there is a lull, or a less fast paced plot (when they decide they need to age Micah and Molly appropriately).
The humour failed to capture me a bit, but mostly because I really fear for her health by now.
I liked it, but I was surprised by just how broad the comedy actually was for Noah. That's usually only for Hiro. And, yeah, with you on the fear. She was almost as nutty as Sylar's mom. Even my casual viewer friends were pointing out that there's something wrong with her brain.
Yes, I would agree. I just didn't imagine that it would hit me that much, because I liked Kensei.
Yay good story telling. I was actually a bit surprised by just how much I liked both Yaeko and Kensei. I was expecting to like the plot for Hiro, but I really look forward to a lot more of them. And the crazy tension there will be in the group. Awkward!
(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-25 01:53 pm (UTC)Heh. Did you notice that one of the truck drivers was also the guy who came to collect money from Niki in the S1 pilot? He's actually an assistant director or producer (I can't remember which.) They like using him because he enjoys the cameos and he's enormous.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-25 01:55 pm (UTC)And now I'm imagining Claire asking Nathan all kinds of questions about Peter, because she never got to know him, and Nathan doesn't want to talk because it hurts too much, but he can't NOT talk about Peter because reminiscing about him to Claire somehow makes it seem like Peter's there again, and he talks and talks until they're both crying, and now I'm crying. Damn you, Petrellis!
(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-25 02:29 pm (UTC)Yeah, at the very least the wedding picture is getting a pretty good workout.
I'm also wondering about the Pasdarnecklace again, because that didn't look like his usually thing to me, and they pretty cleverly hid the pendant. But maybe they just told him to "bring some old stuff"...
Yay good story telling. I was actually a bit surprised by just how much I liked both Yaeko and Kensei. I was expecting to like the plot for Hiro, but I really look forward to a lot more of them. And the crazy tension there will be in the group. Awkward!
Not to mention that they'll probably all fall in love with each other, to a certain degree. Oh, Hiro.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-25 02:30 pm (UTC)Hee. That's cute, I didn't know that. Must pay better attention to him on rewatch.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-25 02:41 pm (UTC)I am now going to pretend the necklace is something Peter made for him at camp/in crafts class once.
Not to mention that they'll probably all fall in love with each other, to a certain degree. Oh, Hiro.
Hmm, not so sure that Yaeko and Kensei will fall for each other, but I think they'll both fall for Hiro, as he's already sort of fallen for them
(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-25 02:48 pm (UTC)Okay, that made me giggle, even though it is also strangely sad. And most of all weird. What are your thoughts on the spec that he is wearing Peter's clothes?
Hmm, not so sure that Yaeko and Kensei will fall for each other
Oh, I'd say there was some honest personal disappointment in that slap. And he totally thinks she is hot, too.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-25 02:56 pm (UTC)He just so crazy. ;_; Hmm, I didn't notice, but his clothes do not look very much like Peter's. Just because they are lighter colors doesn't make them Peter's -- especially since Peter actually usually wears dark colors. They do look frumpy on Nathan, and Peter is a bit smaller, so that could happen. In any case, if he is wearing Peter's clothes, that's a whole new level of crazy and disturbing and GET SOME THERAPY.
Oh, I'd say there was some honest personal disappointment in that slap. And he totally thinks she is hot, too.
Point. Ohhh, a fun love triangle this season!
(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-25 03:08 pm (UTC)I honestly didn't think it were Peter's clothes, but then again I also think he is a wee bit too crazy for it only to come from drinking and grief. So I'm definitely firmly in the corner of Molly's Big Bad messing with him.
Ohhh, a fun love triangle this season!
Finally!
(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-25 03:11 pm (UTC)And is Nathan actually living in Peter's apartment now?
(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-25 03:12 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-25 03:16 pm (UTC)Oh, definitely. Is that somehow not canon yet?
(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-25 03:24 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-25 03:25 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-25 03:27 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-25 03:30 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-25 03:30 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-25 03:32 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-25 03:46 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-25 03:55 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-26 04:57 pm (UTC)I ... don't think Sandra is well, and it makes me so sad. Noah, I adore you, but you are a bastard.
My thought exactly. & :-(
We would all expect Hiro to succeed in turning his Han Solo into a shining hero, right? I have a feeling that that's not going to happen, and I will be devastated, because the character seems so much fun.
Still holding out for Yaeko playing an instrumental role (but not holding my breath).
West is basically no more than a catalyst, if an annoyingly pushy one. If he is supposed to have similarities to Nathan other than being dark-haired and being able to fly, I haven't found them yet.
I doubt there are more similiarities, although he in general strikes me as more than a little odd (though Selena's Peter Pan musings make sense; he's not quite of this world, that alien boy).
(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-26 05:01 pm (UTC)http://monanotlisa.livejournal.com/638389.html
(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-27 05:40 pm (UTC)Most people seem to know him from Groundhog Day, so they regard him as harmless. Of course, being with the Company, he is bound to be secretly badass at least.
Still holding out for Yaeko playing an instrumental role (but not holding my breath).
I love that she's fierce, for the time being. I imagined her to be some sort of wilting flower, so this came as a surprise. But I'm afraid that she's not the historical Kensei. As awesome as that would be, it might also be a little beyond the writers' collective imagination.
I doubt there are more similiarities, although he in general strikes me as more than a little odd (though Selena's Peter Pan musings make sense; he's not quite of this world, that alien boy).
On the other hand, we don't really know how Nathan was at that age, and depending how the story with Meredith went, he could have been somewhat rebellious. Either way, those two meeting could be pretty comedic. (Meeting Bennet will just leave West dead, I suppose.
I always want to write Wes for some reason.)And I read your review! Like
(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-27 05:51 pm (UTC)ME TOO SEE ICON.
And yes, v. true about the Nathan/Mohinder devotion. & ;-)
Better late than never
Date: 2007-09-28 03:55 pm (UTC)Nothing is quite what it seems
That's a very accurate summary of the episode although I have the feeling that it's fitting for quite a big part of this season.
The phone call is definitely one of my favorite scenes as well. That and the confrontation between Nathan and Angela. Adrian blew me away with his intensity in both scenes. I'm pretty sure they slightly changed the scene from what we saw in the ComicCon preview, though. Angela delivered those lines much calmer and yet conveyed enough pain. I'm glad they changed that because I can't see her screeching undignified like we saw before.
Nathan being haunted by his disfigured reflection is probably also the reason he was punching that mirror in one of the promos.
Re: Nathan wearing Peter's clothes: He is definitely wearing the coat Peter wore in the pilot. My love for the co-dependency of the brothers aside - I'm really starting to worry about Nathan's sanity.
I also worry about Sandra although I was so glad to see the entire Bennet family again. They are the only family that remained together after what happened last season.
Contrary to the majority of fandom I like West. He really has this Peter Pan like quality and I realized how much I missed Claire interacting with people her age - as cliched as the high school story line is so far.
There are so many possibilities who the hoodie killer could be. I have read very interesting theories and the only thing I'm sure of is that we know him. It would have the most dramatic effect if it's a character we know and not someone new. Right now I'm leaning towards Kensei.
Re: Better late than never
Date: 2007-09-28 06:35 pm (UTC)Yay!
That's a very accurate summary of the episode although I have the feeling that it's fitting for quite a big part of this season.
I'm getting this impression, too, which definitely bodes well. I love it when I don't exactly know what's going on - in a good way, that is, not in a What On Earth Were They Smoking? way.
I'm pretty sure they slightly changed the scene from what we saw in the ComicCon preview, though. Angela delivered those lines much calmer and yet conveyed enough pain. I'm glad they changed that because I can't see her screeching undignified like we saw before.
Exactly. That was precisely the reason I was worried how this scene would play out. It was bitter enough, but it wasn't over the top.
Nathan being haunted by his disfigured reflection is probably also the reason he was punching that mirror in one of the promos.
I suspect it - unless he sees other things apart from the reflection. I guess that depends mostly on what that reflection really is, whether it's just his guilt manifesting, or someone messing with him. I'm leaning towards the latter because -
I'm really starting to worry about Nathan's sanity.
I definitely agree with this. Wearing Peter's clothes is really a little far out there, and the fact that he has additionally withdrawn from everybody, drinks and hallucinates - it's all a bit alarming, I'd say.
I also worry about Sandra although I was so glad to see the entire Bennet family again. They are the only family that remained together after what happened last season.
Yes, I love them. And Claire and Lyle are such refreshingly normal siblings - not that I dislike the more co-dependent variety we get, but it's good to have people like them, or Hiro and Kimiko, for that matter.
I realized how much I missed Claire interacting with people her age - as cliched as the high school story line is so far.
I give him points for that, definitely. I also cut him a bit of slack because he is a teenage boy, but he does still grate (and I'm not a great fan of "stalking your bedroom window" as the beginning of courtship. It's not romantic, script writers!). We'll see where it goes.
It would have the most dramatic effect if it's a character we know and not someone new. Right now I'm leaning towards Kensei.
Me, too, actually. :)
(no subject)
Date: 2007-09-30 01:23 am (UTC)Yes, but at least both those characters were in the episode for more than 10 seconds. Whereas I somehow managed to devote an entire paragraph or two to Peter, when he only had ONE LINE. Heh. *facepalm*
Re: Better late than never
Date: 2007-09-30 01:32 am (UTC)You know, now that I think about it, I'm less annoyed by West than I was before. I think I was almost pre-emptively creeped out by his behavior, because this show doesn't have the best track record with distinguishing "romantic" and "creepy" (see Matt reading his wife's mind, for example.) So I'm always a little afraid that they're seeing something different from what we are, and I think I had more of a knee-jerk reaction to West than I would have otherwise. We'll see if he improves next week. :)
Re: Better late than never
Date: 2007-09-30 01:48 pm (UTC)Something I realized about my own reaction, though, and that amuses me, is that I didn't start questioning it until I saw that the majority of fandom disliked him. I guess that's the "I don't want to be with the popular crowd!" factor again... :)
Re: Better late than never
Date: 2007-09-30 03:49 pm (UTC)Hee. At first I found his dialogue stilted and forced, but then it struck me that it's actually pretty realistic for a guy crushing on the new girl and trying to impress her. He would come across as pretentious and snotty to anyone out of their teens. :)
Something I realized about my own reaction, though, and that amuses me, is that I didn't start questioning it until I saw that the majority of fandom disliked him. I guess that's the "I don't want to be with the popular crowd!" factor again... :)
LOL! Like I've said before, I'm usually unable to work up real affection for a character unless I've had to defend him/her at some point, which is probably why I'm not a Neville fangirl, and why I like Nathan but don't love him. OTOH, I find it very difficult to remain a fan of anything (character or show) if I don't at least have 2 or 3 people that I can share the love and squee with.
Re: Better late than never
Date: 2007-09-30 03:56 pm (UTC)So, talking to Our Special Friend still didn't give you the feeling you needed to defend Nathan? *g*
I don't know, I get the feeling I need to defend him so much, I'm almost getting tired of it and want to go looking for less demanding favourite characters. Maybe I could take a special liking to Alejandro! or someone like that.
OTOH, I find it very difficult to remain a fan of anything (character or show) if I don't at least have 2 or 3 people that I can share the love and squee with.
It's a delicate balance. If I'm lucky, I leave the specific fandom before the negativity gets me down. But it's definitely nicer to have someone share with you.
Re: Better late than never
Date: 2007-09-30 03:59 pm (UTC)Hee hee hee. That was...weird. Because he/she always insists that Nathan's their favorite character, and...frankly I find it impossible to discuss Nathan with them, or even take what they say seriously, because the character he/she is talking about? IS NOT NATHAN.
Re: Better late than never
Date: 2007-09-30 04:14 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-10-01 02:59 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-10-01 06:35 pm (UTC)