'Heroes': It's coming together

October 30, 10:47 PM

Although he made a brief appearance last week, Monday's Heroes brought Leonard Roberts officially into the fold (that wasn't him playing HRG's memory-wiping sidekick in previous episodes). The show's regular cast is now fully present, so it seems fitting that, more than any previous episode, this one started really to make the connections between our main characters.

I was a little distressed at first by the heavy focus on Roberts and Ali Larter's characters, given that her Niki hasn't been as well-defined as some of the others, either in terms of character or what her ability is. As the hour progressed, though, and we finally got a clear picture of the Good Niki-Bad Niki dynamic -- a very literal split personality -- I got more and more into her story.

The arrival of Roberts' D.L., Niki's fugitive husband, helps immensely in the clarity of this plot thread. We know now just what Bad Niki has been up to, framing the guy for her truly grisly crimes and plotting to steal his $2 million. Given the way she was left in that last scene, though, it doesn't look like it's going so well. But given how the two Nikis were conversing before, I have to wonder: What does D.L. putting his fist through (and I do mean through) Bad Niki mean for the future of her alter ego?

Given her presence at the poker-game bloodbath, Niki's comment to Ando that she's "not the same person" as she is online takes on a little extra meaning too. She also inspired a crisis of faith in Hiro, who wondered if he'd done enough to save the poker guys. Will this doubt affect him as he and Peter and whoever else try to save Claire?

And speaking of our cheerleader, I'd be interested to hear what you all think about the meeting with her biological parents. Are we meant to believe that Mr. Bennet hired people to pose as her real mom and dad, or that he was holding something over them not to say too much? I'm inclined to believe the first, but I'm not sure.

Finally, and maybe because I was so enamored of her performance in Brick and really wanted to like her here, but I didn't really see the revelation of Nora Zehetner's Eden as a bad guy coming. In hindsight, it makes perfect sense: Why else would she have befriended a possibly off-his-nut old professor from India, then taken equal interest in his son? It could also explain how, a couple of episodes back, Sylar's place was scrubbed clean when Mohinder brought the cops there.

Missed Greg Grunberg this time, but so far I'm liking that the writers aren't trying to shoehorn in every lead character every week. He'll be back next week, it appears, and it looks like D.L. and Hiro will cross paths as well.

So then: What of Good Niki? How long will it take Peter to track down that missing painting? And, are you liking the connections being forged in Heroes?

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Comments (38)

Comments

First of all, everyone I know who watches this thinks D.L. is also Mr.Bennet's sidekick. There should be a disclaimer or something. But now that you have cleared that up for me...
I am a little unsure of the split Niki thing. Maybe it is because I assumed her to be a "good guy" and now I am not so sure. It was nice to have some clarity, both on her abilities and her relationship with D.L. I find it interesting that Mika has known about her powers all along.
I do believe that Mr.Bennet hired those two to play the part of Claire's parents. As well, was I the only one surprised that Claire has a brother?
From the very first moment Eden walked on to the screen, I knew there was something up there. She just takes to much in stride, Mohinder was raised around these theories and possibilites, but she is supposed to be new to this and should be a little more shocked. I never trusted her. At one point, I thought she might be Skylar. So I was a little disappointed to learn she was just an informant to Mr.Bennet.

Mandy | Oct 31, 2006 6:56:17 AM | #

I never thought DL was Bennett's co-hort. I do keep thinking he's J. August Richards. I also knew that Nora/Eden was not what she seemed from the very beginning. She was too cute and asking all the right questions. Did anyone else notice the melted wax lion from "Wonderfalls" on Micah's night stand?

Jenny | Oct 31, 2006 7:07:23 AM | #

I too thought that Mr. Bennett hired those 2 people to play the part of Claire's parents.

Re: Micah, I don't think he knows about Niki's powers, I just thought he knew about the money.

Just a thought here, but now that Eden has been revealed to be a source to keep track of Mohinder, does anyone think that Simone is also a source to keep track of Peter/Isaac and same with Zach (Claire's friend) to keep track of Claire's activities - and that he was the one who just gave Mr. Bennett the video of Claire rather than having someone stolen it?

Rishi | Oct 31, 2006 7:22:58 AM | #

I highly doubt that Simone is a source to keep track of Peter and Isaac. I believe SImone and Isaac had been seeing each other for at least 2 yrs. There is no way that those 2 people were Claire's real parents. I believe her real parents are dead. I was surprised how much I liked DL. Niki could be written off the show and I would care less.. DL, Hiro and Micah will make a great team.

Benjamin | Oct 31, 2006 8:00:53 AM | #

Ok, I watched the episode and the preview of next week's show left me a little confused and intrigued. Does Micah have abilities too? Are all of these special people finally going to find each other and work together? Will Niki combine herself into one superwoman?

I need answers.

By the way, the 2:00 preview on NBC.com will blow your mind. A lot of interesting things coming soon . . .

D | Oct 31, 2006 9:11:15 AM | #

Love this show, the hour goes too fast, and the week goes too long....

I keep thinking Niki is kind of like the Jean Grey/Dark Phoenix storyline.. the producers keep saying that not everyone will turn out good, so I've been watching her thinking she could end up the arch-villian. (and no way she's dead...)

I have to admit I was a little surprised with the Eden twist, I wasn't paying that close attention to her, so I hadn't seen that coming. Was hoping she would be a good guy (probably just because she's cute..)

I had a feeling that Claire's "parents" weren't real - can't trust anything HRG does. I do think they are alive, and I wonder if HRG actually found them before - maybe a future story plot.

I love that Hiro embraces his powers, and the "I have a sword" moment may have been my favorite from the whole episode...

Preview looks good, now just have to get through the week... six hundred one thousand two hundred seconds, six hundred one thousand, one hundred ninety-nine.....

Robert | Oct 31, 2006 9:23:37 AM | #

Now I'm wondering about Micah, too. If what Jenny posted above is correct ( God Bless my tivo, I'll look tonight ), what does it mean that he has the Wonderfalls wax lion on his nightstand? An allusion to a power?

Mavourneen | Oct 31, 2006 9:42:03 AM | #

Another thought. We have all been assuming that Mr.Bennet/HRG is bad- how do we know that? I assumed he was the threat to Claire, but now I am not so sure. He could have been in cohurst with Mohinder's Father... he could be more like the scientist who sometimes lacks the compassion to see these people as humans and not science experiments...
I could see this twist, because the one thing i love about this show is i never know who is good and who isn't. Eden seems good, but now, who knows. Niki was good, but now, maybe not. DL was assumed bad, now, maybe good. I could see a similar twist for Mr.Bennet.

Mandy | Oct 31, 2006 9:43:29 AM | #

I will bet HRG is a good guy, a Prof. Xavier figure. He acted too nice to the kid who tried to rape Claire; if he was bad he could have just had him killed. There has been a lot of emphasis to make us assume that they are bad, but it looks like they are just assessing the groups powers.We were to assume that "clean him out: meant the brain evacuation that Skylar but it was just an erasing of memories of their encounter. I wonder if HRG's orders to Eden to "bring in" Isaac means to let him in on their operation and find out what they are really all about. And I agree: kill Niki.

Robin | Oct 31, 2006 10:20:33 AM | #

I think Michah for sure has some sort of power, yet to come. I think Niki is bad and DL is good but the characters are still being developed. I think there is a good chance Mr. Bennett is good but I am still confused by what he is doing to everyone. Why was he trying to get Nathan? What did he do to Matt? I know there are still lots of questions to be answered. This is such a great show!

Katie | Oct 31, 2006 10:31:33 AM | #

Love, love, love this show. Niki is too cool to get rid of. Love her super strength, love that she may be the villian. Can't wait to watch each week and the hour goes by too fast.

Theresa | Oct 31, 2006 10:46:35 AM | #

Come on people! Isn't it obvious that Sylar is the one that they have to save Claire from?

He hunts down people with powers and kills them. It could be because he then gains their powers. That may be his power.

Jack | Oct 31, 2006 11:39:44 AM | #

I cannot figure out how they are going to find the cheerleader way out in Odessa, TX.

I did think Claire's dad hired those folks to be her bio-parents. I also think he really did find her real parents--whether he killed them or not, I'm not sure.

JoeB | Oct 31, 2006 11:40:43 AM | #

I believe those where not Claire parents. Also I agree with the theory that Micah has special power and he is going to be a key element on how everything comes together. By the way Nikki and DL makes a great storyline. Also I think Peter has the power to tap into anyone’s power he is around at the moment, i.e. like flying when he is with his brother and see the future when he is with Isaac. I know that this show is getting good and can't wait to see how it unfolds in the feature.

Dj | Oct 31, 2006 11:59:58 AM | #

Leonard Roberts is Forest Gates from Buffy. Riely's friend from the Initiative. I totally thought he was Gun from Angel, but at least the fact that I recognized him tipped me off the the fact that he wasn't the same guy who wipes hero's memories.

I think they have to save Claire from her 'father'. Didn't the painting of ded claire show a guy with glasses?

Rose0605 | Oct 31, 2006 12:33:56 PM | #

Very interesting episode last night all though it did go in the all slightly slow.

I'm mostly wondering about Hiro, he does have the greatest powers out of all the heroes, once he masters his powers will he decide to go back in time and fix a lot of things? The entire show could be changed around if he went back and made things better.

I was actually pretty disappointed they didn't have the Petrelli brothers and Matt Parker, I'm really anxious to find out about Matt and how he'll begin to control his mind-reading powers.

Those were definetely not Claire's parents. It seemed all so.. planned. Like it was purposely planned to be really awkward. Wondering how Claire's brother will react to it..

DO NOT KILL NIKI! That would be a huge mistake on their part to kill off a character so soon in the show without developping the character enough. It'd actually be pretty sweet if her good side is trying to become a good hero, and the bad side continues to go against her, and then it's like she's slowly splitting herself into two very seperate people.

Anonymous | Oct 31, 2006 1:41:34 PM | #

I rarely make comments about television shows. But for once I have to show my appreciation for the jewels in the crown of recent network programming.

"Heroes" is one of the best. Surprisingly avoiding all stereotypical dramatic devices.

As D.L. gets more screentime it'll be obvious that he and the Mind-Scrubbing man are two different characters.

But I was surprised at Micah being taken by D.L. after that graphic scene of him putting his hand inside Nikki.

As for Nikki I believe that her evil side has always been the more dominant half and it seems to be hinted at the way other characters respond to her.

Not to mention why she was skipped over when she was asleep with the congressman, which they did acknowledge knowing about her secret. I believe that she'll be back on the side of the Mind-Scrubbing man and Claires' father. With her goodside as a sometimes impediment.

Hiro is perfect exploring his powers as he tries to find the others on his hero's journey.

The development of the all the characters is well done and the pacing is perfect.
Each week pulls us further into this fully mesmerizing story.

Dare I Say, That Heroes is the "New, Lost!!!"

Eugene | Oct 31, 2006 3:03:06 PM | #

I think Micah is clairvoyant. He knew his father was innocent all along, he knows about his mothers secret. He just knows to much, where is he getting this info?

| Oct 31, 2006 4:20:33 PM | #

Love the show. I'm a sports nut, but I really enjoy watching the intrigue this show provides over the lackluster monday night football games lately. I just wonder if Nikki happens to be Skyler. I really haven't read any posts which bring that idea to the forefront. Because, Nikki never knows when she kills. She could be out every night and taking care of business and not even know it.

John | Oct 31, 2006 4:31:30 PM | #

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought that DL was also HRG's sidekick. Throughout the episode, I kept thinking he was either the guy from Angel, or the chained-up guy from Desperate Housewives. Whoever he is, there are way too many people in Hollywood going after the same look.

I like when the show bounces between all characters, but only when it makes sense. I wasn't the biggest fan of Matt's storyline last week; it just seemed disjointed from the rest of the show.

Bobby | Oct 31, 2006 7:40:18 PM | #

I love the show. I think they are going to find out through the fire disaster painting where Claire is. It says Odessa Texas Freightline on one of the boxcars. As for Micah, I'm clueless as to his power but it should be good since he is the offspring two powerful characters.

Reaper | Oct 31, 2006 8:55:03 PM | #

Best show in years!! If Hiro came from the future to give Peter a message for himself,he must have completed his journey and saved the world. Now we shall see how he became "The Samarai Warrior" as the new episodes progress. By the way, it is "Sylar" not "Skylar" Out....

SuperGenetic | Oct 31, 2006 10:54:32 PM | #

"Heroes" is at least the better "6 Degrees".

HRG - Faithful public servant or Rogue Mad Scientist?

Niki - so is it Bad Niki or Good Niki that wound up lying on the floor, or would it matter? (notice that "B.A." Niki has the mark and different hair)

"Eden" is a nice name. Could have been "Eve", but that might have been pushing it. I kept pegging her to be a fall gu-- err, gal somehow. My co-workers were adamant she was a villain from day 1 though.

And Micah? Can he hear people's thoughts? Can he bend time/space? Can he hurl people against the wall and impale them with candlesticks? All of the above?

Love the fact that the show puts the psycho villain as an undertone. (so far) Hopefully this cast will last as they are now for a season or two, split up, and get brought back together in one form or another when disaster strikes (yet again).

pakopako | Nov 1, 2006 7:14:46 AM | #

What exactly does HRG stand for? No way Niki is Sylar. I bet DL "killed" Niki's good side and she will be bad from now on. I don't know who Sylar is but I agree that he takes other's powers. What about the little girl that Matt found, does she have powers?

J Dog | Nov 1, 2006 8:07:55 AM | #

HRG = Horn Rimmed Glasses

Jane | Nov 1, 2006 9:18:23 AM | #