Save the cheerleader, save ... hey, wait a minute

November 20, 10:20 PM

I was warned beforehand, by a co-worker who'd already seen Monday's episode of Heroes, that the show didn't quite deliver on the massive hype NBC had put behind it as the episode where we'd get a payoff on "Save the cheerleader, save the world."

The cheerleader was, in fact, saved. As for the world? Um, yeah, get back to you on that. And given the subject of Isaac's latest painting (more on that in a bit), I'm guessing there's work yet to be done.

Networks over-promising on episodes of their big series is nothing new, as any regular viewer of Lost can attest, probably for hours on end. But it's deeply annoying, despite (or maybe partly because of) the fact that we should know better by now for having been burned in the past.

None of the preceding, by the way, should be taken as a criticism of Monday's episode, which on its own was actually pretty damn good. Maybe because I'd gotten the heads-up (thanks, Dan), I was able to set aside NBC's relentless push of the episode and take it on its own terms. So let's get to it.

I rather liked that most of the episode was build-up to Peter's meeting with Claire, and then his confrontation with Sylar. The actual showdown was very well-staged, bringing to life the images we've seen multiple times in Isaac's paintings. And it's apparent, too, that Sylar doesn't have an innate ability to recognize other supers -- otherwise he would have known to go after Claire instead of Jackie, and chances are he might have realized it would have taken more than a shove off the top of the amphitheater to get rid of Peter.

He might also have been more cautious in approaching Eden, who, in addition to being adorable, we now know has some mad game. I was highly skeptical when HRG instructed her to "neutralize him" -- given what we know of him, I wouldn't have thought it would be that easy for her, even with the Haitian's help. That's some pretty serious power she's packing.

As for the second half of the "Save the cheerleader" tagline, things are still very much in the air. For one thing, Hiro -- the only one who really knows the fate that awaits New York -- is kicking around Midland six months ago ("Six Months Ago," by the way, is the title of next week's episode). And about that painting that Isaac did for HRG while he was on the smack: Anyone else think that might be Radioactive Man in full-on anger mode?

Other things to ponder:

A number of you were ahead of me on this, but Nathan is looking more and more sketchy. Something about the way he destroyed the painting of Peter at the high school says to me that he's got more than keeping family secrets on his mind.
Professor Suresh's list of supers -- at least the portion we could see on the computer screen -- included Niki, D.L., Isaac, Nathan, Hiro and Matt. It suggests that maybe the professor's list wasn't complete, and also that there are a lot more such people than we've met thus far (way to lay groundwork for future seasons, writers!).
Jessica appears to have done a full switch with Niki, confining the good part of her to the mirror. I'd be curious to see how that switch happened.
I'm curious to see if Mohinder's little dream guide becomes a recurring character, and whether his revelation will lead to anything more than continuing his dad's work.

Your thoughts on Monday's episode? Did NBC's crazy hyping of the show render it a disappointment, or are you happy with what you saw?

Permalink

Comments (26)

Comments

I would have to say the episode was a bit predictable (c'mon, you didn't really think either Claire or Peter would die?!), but definitely necessary. The show is building up to what will be a good season finale (we hope!). All the big pieces are falling into place, but the little things drive my viewership.

And, hey! NBC has got to put up a tagline to rival a show that's not even on the air, yet: "Jack Bauer must die!"

dre | Nov 20, 2006 10:59:16 PM | #

Best part of last night's episode? Being able to Tivo the scene where Eden & the Haitian "take down" Sylar...because for several frames the viewer is clearly shown Sylar's face, unobscured by either shadows or the baseball cap. Husband & I studied the scene frame by frame.
He's definitely a new character...he isn't "Future Peter" as a few posters have supposed.

Do you think "Jessica's" shot at DL hit him?
How did Peter "heal" himself (turn his leg around) AFTER Claire had been gone for several minutes? Maybe his synching ability lingers...
I was disappointed ( a bit, and only after the show was over!) that there wasn't more on the Hiro/waitress story. I'm eager for next week if indeed it is all about Hiro six months ago.
The boy in Mohinder's dreams both annoyed and fascinated me.
I'm also eager to see what HRG says to Claire upon her "confession." Will he own up to what his real motives are?
Also...You know your tag line is overused when people start making fun of it. Someone on another board (who LOVES the show, mind you) wrote "Shave the Cheerleader, Shave the World." Made me giggle...so I must be over it as well. :sad:

Mavourneen | Nov 21, 2006 5:43:03 AM | #

I thought the show was awesome! I love how they continually plant seeds for future shows and manage to give you a mini-cliffhanger each week. They pose a lot of questions, like Lost, but unlike Lost they don't take forever to answer them. I'm not sold on Nathan being on the dark side, he's a politician therefore he's shady by nature. One of the previews showed him with Micah saying "How fast do you think I can fly?", so i don't think he's doing anything other than trying to prevent his brother from hurting his political career at this point. Also, this show does a great job balancing such a huge cast week in and out!

Steve | Nov 21, 2006 5:49:19 AM | #

This show isn't Lost or an evening soap opera so it needs to start picking up pace and acting like a prime-time drama. We were told in the second episode (October 2nd according to Hiro) that on November 8th New York City would blow up. My calendar says November 21st and I'm incredibly disappointed.

I didn't count, but it felt like at least 20 minutes of the show focused on Mohinder with every scene drawn out as long as possible. What did we learn? His father found the boy, his father found the supers, and Mohinder is coming back to the US.

If it's going to take the show till May to bring an end to Radioactive Man I might as well wait till next summer and watch the dvds. They've saved the cheerleader, but at this pace it will be 6 months till they save the world.

Oh, and a cliffhanger where you shoot someone who can phase through objects really doesn't leave you wondering what is going to happen. Same as how Peter was going to survive after the commercial break. At least Lost would kill off cast members, I'm still waiting till someone does get removed (with the waitress not counting because she's already back).

Bob | Nov 21, 2006 7:01:17 AM | #

I loved the episode. Yes, I knew that Peter would be able to heal himself because he would be near Clare, but so what. Also, I wasn't dissappointed in the "save the cheerleader . . . " hype not coming through because I didn't expect it to. It's only November. Come on, what did you really expect?

Sue | Nov 21, 2006 7:48:53 AM | #

I think in the timeline of the show, it's no later than mid-October. Since Hiro saw the explosion we've been moving forward only a couple days at a time. My guess is they're building up to Nathan's election and the possible catastrophe for toward the end of the season.

Niki/Jessica made a remark about DL not seeing it coming when she bought the rifle -- maybe he can't change his body if he's not aware of the approaching object? (That said, yeah, he's not gonna die - but he might get hurt.)

And the actor playing Sylar is Zachary Quinto. He's been in the opening credits the last couple episodes.

Rick | Nov 21, 2006 8:57:30 AM | #

One thing people seem to be neglecting ... who said the "Save the cheerleader" stuff is over? Trailers said that this is what the heroes would rally around. Just because she survived one night doesn't mean that its over. Sylar is pretty bad ass ... I'm sure he'll make a return somehow. Plus, I'm really interested in knowing why he is taking brains. Interesting detail to be worked out . . .

DJ | Nov 21, 2006 9:04:20 AM | #

K. It wasn't the best episode I've seen. But the worst "Heroes" is still some of the best TV.

I knew they weren't going to be able to wrap up the STC-STW storyline tonight, but I did think there would be at least a little more "resolution" towards the Save the World part.

Robert | Nov 21, 2006 9:08:12 AM | #

Why is everyone assuming "the cheerleader" is Claire? What if it turns out Jackie was in fact the cheerleader that had to be saved?

Chet | Nov 21, 2006 9:53:51 AM | #

I think yesterday's episode was one of the best yet! I don't know what kind of powers Sylar has but definitely he is not invincible as I thought before. I am really curious what kind of powers Eden has. At least there was more action than usual but surely a great show. I just missed Hiro!!!!!

Mariela | Nov 21, 2006 11:26:34 AM | #

Last nights show was great.

Other than Sylar that we all know is bad and Claire, Micah & Hiro who for now seem good, All other characters on this show seem grey.

I wonder what powers or what Control Devises HRG have?
Eden and Haitan seem to take order from HRG. That seems weird.

DL will get shot. How does Sylar heal so quickly?

Tony | Nov 21, 2006 12:46:15 PM | #

I think this episode was the best yet ( I said that last week too)!
Claire is now aware that she is not the only one that has powers. This will make it even more interesting to watch. Will she fall for Peter? I too thought Sylar was all powerful, until they showed Eden with the power. Hiro better come back next week along with the Waitress. Great Show!!!

John | Nov 21, 2006 12:52:53 PM | #

And as always, my favorite part of the episode was Simone & Peter.

The episode was dissapointing as hell, though. Still very good.

Hannah | Nov 21, 2006 1:05:01 PM | #

I really enjoyed last night's episode. Of course we all saw it coming that Peter would be fine - only a viewer who hasn't been tuning in wouldn't have caught that. But him being arrested? That actually caught me by surprise! I can't wait to see how he gets out of it, what happens to Sylar under HRG's care, how HRG responds to Claire's confession... Lots and lots of stuff to mull through!

Chelsea | Nov 21, 2006 4:33:27 PM | #

OK so I think that um EDEN KICKS ARSE!!! Reallyy cool how she and the haitian double teamed Sylar, and i also agree isaac's painting of the flaming dude is radioactive man full power. Speaking of which Eden seems to be quite the powerful heroine. THose persuasive powers can prove to be just what Peter and co. nneed when it comes to saving the world from whatever. The waitress thingy-im not sure if hiro was succesful i dont think he was seeing as he did to return and she is still dead even with his picture there... not good. Well I am pumped tosee the jessica+dl thing. Micah is clever and hey ahs anyone noticed the kids (Micah and indian boy) are a whole lot cleverer and wiser then the adults?! Micah seems to know a lot same witht he indian boy. I think that the next person he is going to visit is peter. Peter seems to be the "leader" of the whole ting and if they do form a superteam imagine how powerful Peter will be with all those supers!! I am a little tired of the swithcing with Matt Parker+radioactive man and thepetrelli and+nikki/DL/Micah. For once hiro didnt take presiddence in this show. Good buildup for nex tmonday. CANNNOT WAIT!!!

Claudine | Nov 21, 2006 4:56:26 PM | #

This continues to be one of the best shows on Television today.

While it didn't live up to the hype, it was still very, VERY good. I get the feeling the Season Finale will not disappoint.

Jon | Nov 21, 2006 6:50:51 PM | #

I wonder if HRG has some sort of immunity to supers? I mean, why does Eden keep doing what he wants if she could convince him that isn't what he wants? Is it just loyalty that keeps the haitian and eden following HRG, or something more?

As well-extreme, i mean EXTREAME disappointment over sylar. I didn't want this character to just be another person we haven't met before- serious waste of awesome twist potential there. That and i am loath to admit I was wrong and future peter isn't sylar.
I think Peter is one of the best characters in this show, but I wish he would take the martyr act down a notch. I mean, really, Clarie has a pretty awesome power that would help both of them- why keep sending her away?
Does Jessica really think she can shoot DL? could the bullet just go right through him?
I found this episode a little slow, but necessary for a big buildup. Oh and who missed Hiro this past week?

Mandy | Nov 21, 2006 8:18:32 PM | #

I love this show and I loved last night! I do have a question about Eden...Why can't her powers effect Claire's dad? obviously she has a huge power if she can subdue Sylar...why can't HRG be??
Oh, and Bob...you are obviously not a lover...so why not be a leaver and get "lost"!!

jo | Nov 21, 2006 8:36:37 PM | #

PS
I know what assuming does to you and me...but I think Eden is a bad seed...

jo | Nov 21, 2006 8:40:36 PM | #

Claire is confirmed to be "The Cheerleader" by being "The Cheerleader" in the real-life images represented in the paintings

Eric Adams | Nov 21, 2006 11:18:52 PM | #

Maybe Eden's powers can affect HRG. We only think he is calling the shots and not under her influence.

MarK | Nov 22, 2006 9:53:19 AM | #

Why are we assuming that saving that the cheerleader is what is saving the world. Maybe Peter needed to absorb sklyer's power's and the cheerleaders to save the world. So by saving her, he gets her power (I know he isn't usually perm but since skyler's absorbtion seems to be perm..maybe Peter got that power -- so now he can keep powers) and he can save the world because he was there to save the cheerleader.

d | Nov 22, 2006 12:39:53 PM | #

Perhaps HRG has control/authority over the others because he can cancel their powers. Of course, I think he was close to Nathan when he took of on his flying spree - but how close??

RKM | Nov 22, 2006 1:26:31 PM | #

I agree with Sue; I wasn't disappointed by them not really coming through with the "Save the cheerleader.." because it IS only November. I was actually more disappointing to me when they said it would be resolved- the can't pay off something like that so quickly- so I'm glad they didn't.
My only complaint is that Simone is as boring and pointless as all hell.

Sarah | Nov 22, 2006 9:29:00 PM | #

Yeah, I think by saving the cheerleader that they were able to finally catch Sylar. Hopefully next week's episode will clear everything up. In the meantime Save the Cheerleader Save the World is still a good saying and everyone should have a shirt that says it. =)

JunaD | Nov 29, 2006 12:58:55 PM | #