Heroes Episode 2.11 - Powerless

[weewarrior]

Interestingly enough, there was a Life episode of the same name a few weeks back. It's all connected, apparently. Spoilers for the episode behind the cut:

So, first of all, when the Alias writing room was disbanded, Jesse Alexander did make away with the stash of very bad crack, didn't he? And he deliberately seems to share it with his new colleagues, if this whole (half-)season is any indication.

Before I start in earnest, let me briefly address that next-to-last scene. I find it pretty unlikely that Nathan is actually dead - they coped out of actually saying it, for one, and the bloodcure has been used so prominently, I highly doubt they wouldn't apply it in this situation. Besides, that whole conversation between him, Peter and Matt in the vault certainly leaves a lot of wiggle room for setups.

Should he stay dead for some reason, though, I'm using this as a handy excuse to drop the show from my schedule - I don't think anyone here will be at all surprised when I say that I'm not really watching for either the plot or any of the other characters.*g*

But onto the rest of the episode:

- Claire's willingness to bring down the Company was admirable, but indeed a little overly risky. Her discussion with Sandra in the beginning was emotionally believable and heartfelt from both sides (yay for Ashley Crow especially) and she finally shows some of the spine she's been missing for so long.

- Said spine thankfully didn't go away when West confronted her about her plan, which - how exactly did he even know about this? Not that I think he'll actually return, so the question whether or not he had a deeper agenda is pretty irrelevant, but with his insistence on Secrets being cool, he was firmly back in creepy territory.

- Claire: "You won't leave me, will you, Mr. Muggles!" - Muggles: *scutters away hurriedly*

- So, Bennet is back with the Company? That's convenient. I still think that wasn't him who shot Nathan in the end, though. Even if it was just a body double, they wouldn't have taken someone who is half Coleman's size and height.

- Lyle actually had text!

- Surprisingly enough, I actually found the scenes between Sylar and Mohinder pretty entertaining - these two actors really have awesome chemistry.

- Maya on the other hand doesn't, with either of them, but as little as I liked her and her storyline, I am relieved that she wasn't just killed off. Maybe they can give her a personality now, or send her on a hitchhiking trip around the world to find herself and fittingly grief Alejandro.

- Poor Molly really needs a lot of therapy now. Maybe together with Micah. Poor kids.

- I loved how open Niki's death scene was - I have heard rumours that Ali Larter asked to be released from the show, so I'm not sure she will be back, but at least they could bring her back if they wanted. And at least she got to kick some ass in the end, even without her superpowers. What a tragic family though.

- Speaking of tragic, I guess this was Monica's Uncle Ben moment? If so, I love it that she got a strong female role model in Niki, and hope she will try to emulate her and her heroics instead of sinking into self-doubt first.

- Adam and Hiro: aww, that was cute. Hiro created his own supervillain nemesis! ...and then he buried him alive, because he couldn't kill him. I guess that means Adam will be back next Volume, depending on how long it takes him to scratch through the concrete. Watch out, Ando!

- Matt and Nathan: "We don't talk about that ever again." - "Agreed." Loved Nathan having to rearrange his back after this. Also - nice subtext here, guys.

- Elle and Bob: definitely challenging the Petrellis for most dysfunctional family dynamics. I like them and am glad they'll probably both stick around, but as of now, Elle's scenes with Daddy Dearest are by far her most interesting ones. Maybe she'll get the opportunity to develop more now that she's made friends outside the Company?

- Angela and Nathan: still as dysfunctional as ever, and for what it's worth, I am glad that he finally gets to be angry at her. Nonetheless I don't believe that her scene with the phone in the end means she put out a hit on him or was otherwise involved in the shooting incident - if it was even orchestrated by the Company that is. As I said above, I hope this was either anticipated by Team Reveal The Powers, or they set it up themselves to put pressure on the Company, which would mean Angela was talking to Nathan in the end.


And that's basically all I have to say about this episode. Writing these reviews has been fun, and I will keep it up in some fashion for the other shows I watch. For Heroes, this mostly depends on Nathan's return, as mentioned above, but even then it won't be regularly as I couldn' t stomach having to think up coherent stuff about something like Kindred again...

Comments

[selenak.livejournal.com]

So, if there is no transcript, how did you hear about it?

(Well, it's a cliché about actors and rockstars that they're open to non monogamous relationships. I will say that whether or not they have a thing, they certainly are the two most enamored with each other co-stars of either gender I've heard of, and after two years of working together, the honeymoon period where everyone is nice about everyone else and says good things for publicity is long over.)

[wee-warrior.livejournal.com]

So, if there is no transcript, how did you hear about it?

One of the Americans in the hoyay thread on TWOP said it. Let me quote:
Yes there was a cut kiss. Adam Arkush said so in the commentary, after Wendy mentioned that,"They look like they're about the kiss". He said it was a brotherly kiss, but we all know what that means."

So, it actually could have been on the cheek...

they certainly are the two most enamored with each other co-stars of either gender I've heard of, and after two years of working together, the honeymoon period where everyone is nice about everyone else and says good things for publicity is long over.

Yes, that was my feeling also. It's cute, somehow.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

So, it actually could have been on the cheek...

Well, I doubt they would have cut either a kiss to the cheek or to the head, as there are precedents to both.

It's cute, somehow.

It is. BTW, have you seen this Pasdar interview?

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20163930,00.html

Mostly about the musical he co-directed, but also about the YouTube vids and other neat things. What he says about Heroes doesn't sound as if he got the "err, Adrian, you might not be back" phonecall from Kring:

We all have great faith in the writing team that puts together Heroes. Season 3 is going to be very interesting to see what happens and how they're able to take the lessons that we've learned, and really tell the story that they want to tell without losing an audience. Because the goal at the end of the day is to have as many people watch the show as you can. What's challenging is: It's not stupid TV, it's not a reality program. It actually is complex. There's many layers to Heroes. Tim's not averse to risk-taking, as he has proven in the episodes of season 2.

[wee-warrior.livejournal.com]

I read that one. I read one other with Kring, that basically said both Nathan's and Niki's situation is "dire" (which to me means they'll both be back), I saw an interview with Adrian by yon harpy Kristin Veitch, where he is all "I can't say anything, but come on, you know how it goes." and that she basically could reuse the footage where everyone asked him about the beard (which could either mean that he comes back or not, since I can't bloody read the guy. All I know is that having to do the whole thing again probably gets on his nerves and that he looks tiny next to Leonard Roberts.).
I've seen another interview with Jack Coleman, where he was basically slithering around the question whether anyone was dead or not, which left me again with the impression that no one kicked it. I've heard other rumours that sound less positive, but so vague that I'm not entirely sure I buy them (I have no idea if you want to know or not, given spoilerfree status and all).

So, ultimately, I stand by my initial interpretation that it would be dumb to let him go, but really, who knows?

[cadesama.livejournal.com]

Wait, what Kring interview? Is it at EW as well?

I'm trying to remember how they handled previous deaths. I don't think they were ever interrogated on Isaac and DL's deaths. Everyone seemed to accept them, and there were vague "oh, you never know"s on the subject of whether they were gone for good. The current cageyness resembles the way they reacted to questions about Matt, Nathan, and Peter after HtSaEM.

[wee-warrior.livejournal.com]

The Kring interview is a TV guide one, and it should still be on their main page.

I agree that the cageyness is pretty much the same way they reacted to the question of Matt, Peter and Nathan last season. Adrian was on a talkshow last night and did the exact same thing where he started out with talking about his involvement in the show in the past tense and ended up somewhere more vague in the present tense. And I don't quite believe that he doesn't know (at least I hope not. Stringing him along for at least until his current contract runs out seems pretty cheap.)

[cadesama.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I saw that one eventually. His phrasing absolutely doesn't sound like they are dead.

And I don't quite believe that he doesn't know (at least I hope not. Stringing him along for at least until his current contract runs out seems pretty cheap.)

He can't possibly be in the dark. They've shot 12, 13, and possibly some of 14. And we know from previous deaths that the actor gets a call about it before they get the script (despite the way the actors joke about worriedly reading their scripts. So if Nathan is dead, Adrian knows. But if he were dead, I don't think he'd be nearly so successful in stringing us along.

BTW, which talk show?

[wee-warrior.livejournal.com]

He can't possibly be in the dark. They've shot 12, 13, and possibly some of 14. And we know from previous deaths that the actor gets a call about it before they get the script (despite the way the actors joke about worriedly reading their scripts. So if Nathan is dead, Adrian knows. But if he were dead, I don't think he'd be nearly so successful in stringing us along.

One caveat might be that the storyline for 12, 13 and 14 was really supposed to go different, so they may have decided this pretty much on the fly, but either way, he's a regular, they would have told him. (On the other hand, Leonard said in the Eonline interview I mentioned above that they told him pretty late, so take that as you will. I'm not sure I quite believe that, either, though.)

As for Adrian stringing us along - I'm not incredibly good at reading him, but he usually seems to fold like a paper cup when asked in a more roundabout way, and really seems a bit exasperated by the whole need to be this secretive, so he is either really zen about being off the show, or he is reasonably sure that he is still on it.

Talk show: Tavis Smiley. clip (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr4eJbUo1ew)

[cadesama.livejournal.com]

One caveat might be that the storyline for 12, 13 and 14 was really supposed to go different, so they may have decided this pretty much on the fly, but either way, he's a regular, they would have told him.

Yeah, but we don't really know when they started changing things around. Once they knew the strike was inevitable, they could have started shifting things. And I maintain that, as long as we presume that Nathan was supposed to be in the hospital, it's not that different. If, however, Peter and Matt have a killer to chase, then the episodes have to be entirely different and they can't use any of the stuff they filmed.

(On the other hand, Leonard said in the Eonline interview I mentioned above that they told him pretty late, so take that as you will. I'm not sure I quite believe that, either, though.)

Leonard was in a weird situation, though. He knew before the season started that he wasn't a regular anymore. So what does he mean by being told late? Was he told late that Niki and Micah would have a scene at his grave? Or that he would film a death scene? Or even that his contract wasn't being picked up as a regular?

and really seems a bit exasperated by the whole need to be this secretive, so he is either really zen about being off the show, or he is reasonably sure that he is still on it.

Given that he bought a house in LA and is doing his play there just to be close to Heroes... I somehow doubt he'd be so zen. And, yeah, the other interviews before the episode came out lack any of this cageyness, so I think he easily forgets he's supposed to be doing it.

Thanks for the link!

[wee-warrior.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but we don't really know when they started changing things around. Once they knew the strike was inevitable, they could have started shifting things. And I maintain that, as long as we presume that Nathan was supposed to be in the hospital, it's not that different. If, however, Peter and Matt have a killer to chase, then the episodes have to be entirely different and they can't use any of the stuff they filmed.

That's a very good point. They would have to tweak it a little bit, since Suffering-from-Virus Nathan would absolutely have been isolated, while Suffering-from-Gunshots Nathan would likely only need protective custody, but they might still be able to use some of that stuff.

Leonard was in a weird situation, though. He knew before the season started that he wasn't a regular anymore. So what does he mean by being told late?

I have no idea, but from one case in VM, I think it is possible that they retroactively rework your contracts. On the other hand, Teddy Dunn simply got his number of episodes reduced, while Leonard became a special guest star instead of a regular, so - I guess he simply didn't know at once that he wouldn't come back? Or that he thought D.L. would make it? I heard rumours that he was originally supposed to be in the promo pictures and was even there when they shot them, so that decision could have come really late.

Given that he bought a house in LA and is doing his play there just to be close to Heroes... I somehow doubt he'd be so zen.

That's a pretty good point, especially since I think I read somewhere that he doesn't enjoy living in LA that much.

Re: cageyness in interviews: I actually meant the way he dealt with not spilling Nathan's situation after last season's finale. He pretty much told all the foreign press that he was alive, unless it was a very official or a print interview.

[cadesama.livejournal.com]

since Suffering-from-Virus Nathan would absolutely have been isolated, while Suffering-from-Gunshots Nathan would likely only need protective custody, but they might still be able to use some of that stuff.

There'd still definitely be a lot of retooling, since whatever scenes of containing the virus would have to be cut completely, but we have no idea how far they got with that. They got to the point of scouting locations, but who knows if the ever shot anything.

Or that he thought D.L. would make it? I heard rumours that he was originally supposed to be in the promo pictures and was even there when they shot them, so that decision could have come really late.

I've seen those promo pics, actually. And is it pathetic that I can piece together a time line here? Those pics were shot before Milo cut his hair. I could have sworn he had shorter hair at the wrap party in April. They started shooting in June, and I know the deadline for contract pick ups was sometime in May. So they probably didn't tell him and took him in for promo shots, and then let it go down to the wire about whether to new the contract.

Re: cageyness in interviews: I actually meant the way he dealt with not spilling Nathan's situation after last season's finale. He pretty much told all the foreign press that he was alive, unless it was a very official or a print interview.

Ahahahaha, I'd never heard that. I know that Milo was actually far better at cageyness, but that didn't really amount to much. There was one interview where Hayden practically stomped on his foot to get him to shut up.

[wee-warrior.livejournal.com]

They started shooting in June, and I know the deadline for contract pick ups was sometime in May. So they probably didn't tell him and took him in for promo shots, and then let it go down to the wire about whether to new the contract.

What I'm wondering is whether they would do the same thing to Adrian, but on the other hand the situation does seem to be a bit different, not least since they would probably have to revoke his current contract instead of not renewing it. And, seriously, he doesn't seem to me like he's not in the know. The question is simply whether they'll change their opinion.

Ahahahaha, I'd never heard that.

There were a couple of situations, mostly informal, where he more or less let it slip. I mean, one reporter cornered him in a dressing room during the Global TV thingy back in June/July and asked him if he really died and he answered "apparently not."

And yeah, I think I remember the foot stomping incident.

[cadesama.livejournal.com]

And, seriously, he doesn't seem to me like he's not in the know. The question is simply whether they'll change their opinion.

Yeah, I totally think he knows what's going on. Not in the least because it's really implausible. The idea that he doesn't only works on people who don't know they've shot more episodes.

I mean, one reporter cornered him in a dressing room during the Global TV thingy back in June/July and asked him if he really died and he answered "apparently not."

Ha! And here I thought Grunberg was the one with loose lips. Although, of course, he's pretty bad too. I watched an interview with him before 0.07% and ended up getting pretty badly spoiled about his escape.

[wee-warrior.livejournal.com]

The idea that he doesn't only works on people who don't know they've shot more episodes.

My one fear would be that they indeed changed their minds from what would have happened in that storyline.

Ha! And here I thought Grunberg was the one with loose lips.

Greg is really bad, but Adrian under the right circumstances does say stuff. I mean, he did spill that he could fly in one Comic Con interview (although at least he asked the guy if he had seen the pilot first).

[cadesama.livejournal.com]

My one fear would be that they indeed changed their minds from what would have happened in that storyline.

Well, if he's currently around and they shot with him, I think it's probably more reshoots to remove him and a real hassle (I'm hoping).

I mean, he did spill that he could fly in one Comic Con interview (although at least he asked the guy if he had seen the pilot first).

Heh, yeah, that's a pretty bad one.