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

[cadesama.livejournal.com]

Somehow, that really seems to happen to every TV show. *shakes head*

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.

[wee-warrior.livejournal.com]

I think 12 to 13 episodes is really the best length for a season, and it probably shouldn't be more than 5 to 7. Everything that goes on much longer than 7 years, by my experience, is at least bound to repeat itself. *waves cheerfully at ER*

Llamas. I'd love that.

[cadesama.livejournal.com]

I think it depends on the show. For a non-serialized show, I think 20 is a good number, because then you can do arc episodes and standalone, and still have three fourths of them be very good episodes. Serialized, it's harder to say. The shorter arc certainly didn't do Heroes any favors this season as opposed to last, but many other shows do very well with that. And, yeah, 5-7. They always get terrible after that point.

Well, there are really only two farms I know of with llamas. But they are a nice change from cows and sheep.