Heroes Episode 2.11 - Powerless
Dec. 4th, 2007 03:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
weewarriorInterestingly 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...
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...
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(no subject)
Date: 2007-12-05 12:56 pm (UTC)Yeah, but he dies well. And Aeryn gets a really awesome character arc.
New Mexico must be beautiful, though.
From a certain perspective. I grew up hating it and I still think the forests in the mountains are more beautiful, but the landscape is amazing.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-12-05 01:25 pm (UTC)So I've heard! I found it a very fitting ending for him (alas, poor Talyn!), but I don't like the show enough to watch it without him, so I'll pass on Season 4.
And Aeryn gets a really awesome character arc.
That is very good to know.
From a certain perspective. I grew up hating it and I still think the forests in the mountains are more beautiful, but the landscape is amazing.
I meant the latter, as I don't know much about NM besides the landscape, shamefully enough. And I've never seen a desert, so it's fascinating to me. I love the ocean - I miss the sea when I don't see it for a while, and I really hated the area where I grew up otherwise. It's very rural and empty and hopeless.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-12-05 01:41 pm (UTC)S4 is pretty hit or miss. It has a couple of my favorite over all episodes, but sacrifices characterization and continuity for a crack. A lot.
I meant the latter, as I don't know much about NM besides the landscape, shamefully enough.
Eh, not much else to it. Although the landscape does vary quite a bit. My area is full of mesas and bluffs (and, you know, a volcano; we get a lot of geologists hanging out in our area), but there are a lot of places that look more like the typical sandy deserts you'd see in movies.
and I really hated the area where I grew up otherwise. It's very rural and empty and hopeless.
Ahahaha, oh man, you haven't seen rural and empty and hopeless until you've been in the desert. All the brown and lifelessness really wears on you after a while.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-12-05 01:49 pm (UTC)Somehow, that really seems to happen to every TV show. *shakes head*
Ahahaha, oh man, you haven't seen rural and empty and hopeless until you've been in the desert. All the brown and lifelessness really wears on you after a while.
Where I come from, there are fields. With cows. And more fields, and more cows. And the occasional industrial windmill. More cows. Some houses. Cows. And at some point there will be levees with ... SHEEP, not cows, and then you're already at the water.
So, it's a bit livelier, probably.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-12-05 01:55 pm (UTC)Sometimes I think the UK has it right, with their short series. Because every show seems to go off the rails eventually, if it goes until canceled.
So, it's a bit livelier, probably.
Well, if rocks structures are lively, sure. But there are long stretches without even that. But, yeah, flatness is rather disconcerting to me (never do like going Kansas).
Up in the mountians we tend to have llamas, though. And that's cool, at least.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-12-05 02:24 pm (UTC)Llamas. I'd love that.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-12-05 10:29 pm (UTC)Well, there are really only two farms I know of with llamas. But they are a nice change from cows and sheep.