2.11 "Powerless" Spoilers and Discussion Thread

[BlasterBoy]

Okay, so this "season finale" is being shown tonight in the US, so I thought I'd start a thread for opinions on the episode (when it airs) and speculation before it, because if the strike doesn't end, this IS the season finale of Season 2! Now, time for summaries:

Deep below Primatech Paper in Odessa, TX, Peter's (Milo Ventimiglia) reunion with Nathan (Adrian Pasdar) turns violent when the brothers, Matt (Greg Grunberg) and Hiro (Masi Oka) all clash thanks to Adam (David Anders) and his pursuit of the deadly Shanti Virus. After watching his heroic cousin captured by a street gang, Micah (Noah Gray-Cabey) turns to the one person who can help him save Monica (Dana Davis) -- his mom (Ali Larter). Meanwhile, Maya (Dania Ramirez) tragically learns how much of a monster Sylar (Zachary Quinto) really is during his kidnapping of Molly (Adair Tishler) and Suresh (Sendhil Ramamurthy). Meanwhile, Elle (Kristen Bell) decides to play hero to get back into her father's (Stephen Tobolowsky) good graces.

Jack Coleman, James Kyson Lee and Hayden Panettiere also star.

Any thoughts on what's going to happen?

Remember, anything OTHER than speculation before the episode airs at 9 PM tonight MUST be spoiler tagged!

[KingofCretins]

Well... solid episode. It lacked in many ways, though -- definitely a strike induced shortfall in the dramatic flow of the "Generations" arc.

Best thing going in this episode was, by far, by F A R, Kristen Bell. She has absolutely picked this huge franchise up and hoisted it on her spunky and pixie-like shoulders this season. And, her arc is the most interesting for Volume III right now. I think the "Villains" title suggests a nice contrast between the newly restored Sylar and the possibly redeemable Elle.

A lot of other things were a bit paint-by-numbers to me, I hate to say. The standoff between Peter, Hiro, and Adam was kind of a letdown -- I'm starting to wonder if Tim Kring and company can actually deliver on an FX fueled, choreographed Hero-fight. So far, it's been mostly hat, no cattle.

Funniest moment of the night by far, Claire asking Mr. Muggles if he wouldn't leave her, and the little tribble turning around and scampering away.

I have more thoughts, but I'll wait until I'm sure more people have seen it to get into the *big* plot developments.

[Heather]

The episode has already aired in the US! I DO NOT FEEL IT NECESSARY TO USE SPOILER TAGS! Continue reading at your own risk.



***

I want Tim Kring dead.

Episode 2.11 "Powerless" was originally the one that had me so super-duper excited about the latter half of the season (before the strike so unfortunately and inevitably interfered). Wanna know something ten times more unfortunate? It was one of the most poorly written episodes of the series yet. Entertaining? Yes. But horribly written - then again, the majority of this season seems to have been written only by people who enjoy thrills and screams rather than character development and even and reasonably paced storylines.

I'll start with the negatives so that I can try to end this review on a high note. Does that sound good to everyone? I sure do hope so...

-Claire reverts to her extremely selfish ways. She wasn't thinking anything through. The second she came forward about her power, she'd either be: A) Institutionalized or B) Taken away from her family and tested on like a lab rat - exactly like Sandra Bennett said. And yet all Claire cared about was avenging her father's death - not matter who was hurt in the crossfire. Even West would've been screwed over and Claire didn't care at all. It wasn't until her "dead" father showed up that she even thought about anyone else - and, even then, was still hell bent on following through with her wonderful plans. This seemed, to me, like a lame excuse to get Claire in another episode that would've done perfectly fine without her since her storyline wasn't even directly connected to anything else (aside from Claire's blood serving as the cure for the Shanti Virus).

-Peter's was still as dumb as a doorknob. Seriously. And wanna talk about taking a scene and expanding it to twice the necessary length? Look at the vault-ripping-off-the-hinges one. There's something that could've been scaled back. And how would changing the future save Caitlin from being stuck in the future? No matter what happens in the present, Pete still screwed up and got the wonderful Irish lass stuck in the future. Confusing, party of one.

-Hiro getting continuously knocked unconscious. It made me giggle but was pointless.

-The ever-changing way to kill someone with the power of regeneration. Originally it was a bullet/blade to the top of the spinal cord, then it was chopping the head clean off, then it was shooting the head clean off, and, finally, it became a simple bullet through the head. Continuity error, much?

-Maya. Useless Newbie #1. What role did she have in all of this? Even looking at it after Volume II has ended, I cannot figure out why she gets to live longer than...ahemm...someone else. Was it to give Sylar a "love interest?" Was it to have another "hottie" (who can't show any other facial expressions except the 'Hug-me-'cause-I'm-cute-like-baby!' and 'Grr-I'm-Gonna-Kill-You-With-My-Tears' and 'Oh-No!' and 'ALEJANDROOOOOOO!')? I was CHEERING when she got shot (literally screamed "YES!") and CRYING when she got revived.

-Sylar continues to bore me. I really want a new villain on the show since, you know, Volume III's called "Villains." As in the PLURAL form of the word. Hopefully that means that we'll be seeing multiple bad guys and gals instead of just multiple clones of Sylar...*Shivers* That's a horrible thought...

-Niki. I'm not mourning until we see the body or get solid evidence that she's dead (interviews with Ali Larter, a body...etc...). First, they don't even give you a storyline this season - just running around, standing on the sidelines, helping OTHER characters do OTHER things. Never a plot for yourself. Then, they gave you the Shanti Virus with no cure in sight. And how do they reward you? By blowing you up in a building after saving ANOTHER character who had no connection to anything but a nice political statement about the Katrina-devastated New Orleans. Even though I saw her "death" coming and braced myself for it, I can't get over how poorly done it was and how much it seems like the writers opted to kill off an interesting oldie over a boring newbie (*COUGH*maya*COUGH*). I feel super betrayed.

-Nathan. Shot. Shot. And shot again? I'll admit, I didn't see that coming. I thought maybe he had gotten the virus and was gonna die (as per previously released spoilers) but instead you get turned into swiss cheese. I'll admit (again): I screamed. With each bullet shot. And I'm compelled to know who killed you and I wanna slap both Mama Petrelli for letting it happen AND Tim Kring for possibly taking away another amazing oldie from the show. Also, in retrospect, you had no storyline this season either. You had the same role as Niki - a supporting one to help other characters do other things. Technically, you could've been blown up after 1.23 and nothing would've changed. This makes me mad. Mad like Hulk.

Ok, now onto the few (and minor) positive reflections...

-Matt. You were highly entertaining in all of this episode. Greg Grunberg is my hero, I must say. Amazing actor, hilarious man, and he plays a great role on the show. I hope he's not the next to...errrmmm...bite the bullet.

-Elle continued to impress me and, if Niki truly is dead, I will accept her as my new favorite character. Unless, of course, they decide to kill her off too, in which case they will probably kill my interest in the show off as well (that is, if she goes before the several useless and boring characters still on the show). Kristen Bell is the amazingest.

-David Anders finally grew into his role tonight as Sark...uhhhh...Adam Monroe. He was believable, badass, and downright awesome. And, unfortunately, it was probably the last time we'll see him for a verrrry long time.

-Mohinder didn't make me wanna gouge my eyes out...OH WAIT! Until he saved Maya's life... Just kidding.

The episode was highly suspenseful and very shocking, but I will also say that that was one of it's major downfalls - relying too much on shock and suspense as opposed to actual development and stories. From the beginning of the episode, I was nitpicking it and the writing and the directing (the overuse of the the horn-rimmed-glasses effect bothered me greatly in the first half). This just proves I'm not bashing this episode because I'm bitter over the "deaths-" I felt it was weak from the second it started (especially because it spent a half hour recapping and giving us nothing new in any of the storylines...until Maya was shot...).

Tim Kring & Company: You have let me down. Failed me. Dare I even say that I feel betrayed. You said this episode would clean out the cast and, instead, you "possibly" kill off two characters who have been on the show from the beginning and far more interesting than any of the new characters you all attempt to introduce. You said the show would be redeemed in peoples' eyes and I know for a fact that it was not in my own eyes and the people who were watching the episode around me.

I feel like they lied to us all.

And it hurts.

It hurts like a motherf...

**AND I REPEAT! I am not saying all this negative stuff because I'm bitter over who died. I've had all these thoughts from the beginning of the episode (and the two deaths didn't happen until the last ten minutes or so). So before anyone responds to my review, let that be known and understood that I was genuinely pissed at this episode before anything major even happened.

[BlasterBoy]

Heather, I could not agree more.

This is ridiculous! I thought he was actually KILL the sucky characters, not keep them around and kill two of the most interesting characters in the show! (them and Matt, Elle, and Noah, imo).

Elle was amazing. I lurve Elle so much, but she has a contract for what? 9 episodes? There's no guarantee she'll stick around after that But, her almost killing Sylar kicked ass. I was so rooting for it. Unfortunately, he got away and that will be two season finales he's escaped death.

And Maya almost died. But, again, the writers feel the need to keep the new sucky characters. Greeeeeat.

AND NIKI! No. That's there way of cleaning up characters?! KILLING TWO AMAZING CHARACTERS!? The ones that they totally forgot all about!? What the hell!?

Overall, there were some interesting things, but this was a season finale? This is making the show better? This is what Tim Kring and the staff decided to do to this show? Depressing.

[KingofCretins]

-Claire reverts to her extremely selfish ways. She wasn't thinking anything through.

Not Claire's best episode, no. But, as mentioned, she got the only laugh out loud moment of the night. What I find more surprising is that Stalker Boy West is actually more sympathetic at the moment.

-Peter's was still as dumb as a doorknob. Seriously. And wanna talk about taking a scene and expanding it to twice the necessary length? Look at the vault-ripping-off-the-hinges one. There's something that could've been scaled back. And how would changing the future save Caitlin from being stuck in the future? No matter what happens in the present, Pete still screwed up and got the wonderful Irish lass stuck in the future. Confusing, party of one.

That scene dragged, and dragged, and dragged. Plus, what the heck, with his powers? Seems like they've decided he's all TK all the time. He's a teleporter, too, yet they let Hiro kind of own him by using that.

I'm hoping that the future just changed around Caitlin but, yeah, it would be nice if someone bothered to save her.

-The ever-changing way to kill someone with the power of regeneration. Originally it was a bullet/blade to the top of the spinal cord, then it was chopping the head clean off, then it was shooting the head clean off, and, finally, it became a simple bullet through the head. Continuity error, much?

I don't remember them discussing decapitation, but yeah, they've retconned this a few times. Claire and Peter both have sustained substantial injuries of the type that theoretically would do what them being shot in the head would do, and recovered. Honestly, decapitation, smooshing, or blowing up the head has intuitively always sounded like the only sure thing.

-Maya. Useless Newbie #1. What role did she have in all of this? Even looking at it after Volume II has ended, I cannot figure out why she gets to live longer than...ahemm...someone else. Was it to give Sylar a "love interest?" Was it to have another "hottie" (who can't show any other facial expressions except the 'Hug-me-'cause-I'm-cute-like-baby!' and 'Grr-I'm-Gonna-Kill-You-With-My-Tears' and 'Oh-No!' and 'ALEJANDROOOOOOO!')? I was CHEERING when she got shot (literally screamed "YES!") and CRYING when she got revived.

Here's the thing... I was pissed when he shot her. Not *just* because Dania Ramirez is hot, but because... *what was the point of the twins at all if they were both killed off without having done *anything* to advance the plot*? Think of all the air time used. They are obligated to keep Maya around until they actually use her for something interesting.

-Niki. I'm not mourning until we see the body or get solid evidence that she's dead (interviews with Ali Larter, a body...etc...). First, they don't even give you a storyline this season - just running around, standing on the sidelines, helping OTHER characters do OTHER things. Never a plot for yourself. Then, they gave you the Shanti Virus with no cure in sight. And how do they reward you? By blowing you up in a building after saving ANOTHER character who had no connection to anything but a nice political statement about the Katrina-devastated New Orleans. Even though I saw her "death" coming and braced myself for it, I can't get over how poorly done it was and how much it seems like the writers opted to kill off an interesting oldie over a boring newbie (*COUGH*maya*COUGH*). I feel super betrayed.

Niki has at least had a substantial story arc... of some kind. But it was still a disappointment. And, seriously, poor Micah. Monica is worth keeping. In fact, Monica rules. They can't all have been established in Season 1.

-Nathan. Shot. Shot. And shot again? I'll admit, I didn't see that coming. I thought maybe he had gotten the virus and was gonna die (as per previously released spoilers) but instead you get turned into swiss cheese. I'll admit (again): I screamed. With each bullet shot. And I'm compelled to know who killed you and I wanna slap both Mama Petrelli for letting it happen AND Tim Kring for possibly taking away another amazing oldie from the show. Also, in retrospect, you had no storyline this season either. You had the same role as Niki - a supporting one to help other characters do other things. Technically, you could've been blown up after 1.23 and nothing would've changed. This makes me mad. Mad like Hulk.

It felt a little telegraphed, but it still sucked. Plus... uh, Peter, you could always carry on what he wanted to do. They going to *shoot* you? As for who killed him... thought it was pretty obvious. Rhymes with Slowa When-it.

-Elle continued to impress me and, if Niki truly is dead, I will accept her as my new favorite character. Unless, of course, they decide to kill her off too, in which case they will probably kill my interest in the show off as well (that is, if she goes before the several useless and boring characters still on the show). Kristen Bell is the amazingest.

Already my favorite character right now, actually. If the Emmys had a Best Saved Our Show From Descending Into Sophomore Mediocrity Actress, she'd be the winner.

-David Anders finally grew into his role tonight as Sark...uhhhh...Adam Monroe. He was believable, badass, and downright awesome. And, unfortunately, it was probably the last time we'll see him for a verrrry long time.

Okay, he's basically immortal and will presumably have much longer than normal functioning without food or drink... can't he just dig his way out? I mean, does he have anything else to do? I thought Hiro was taking him back to Kyoto and killing him there.

[Nina]

I just saw the episode, my first impression;

Nice episode, not their best but I liked it. Altough I wasn't really into the story of Niki, Micah en Monica.

I didn't care about Niki, I don't know why but since the dead of DL I didn't care about here anymore. I'm not happy she is dead ... but I'm not really sad either.

Nathan (Who was last season one of my least favourites) was a shock and I'm sad he is gone. He was great this season and I really liked him. I loved his team up with Matt this season ... he made Matt interesting.
But Nathan can come back right? Peter's blood can do the same as Claire's right? Please ... Nathan come back! *I don't care if it's cheesy or lame*

How stupid are the most of the characters in this show, Peter was slow, Mohinder is naive, Maya is really stupid and Claire isn't that bright the most of the time.

I hope Sylar gets a great storyline next volume, because his storyline was boring. I don't know if I'm happy of not about him having his powers again.

Maya, can't she stay dead and instead Nathan back? She is so annoying.

I love Elle, I was scared Sylar would kill her but that didn't happen. *cheer*

Angela Petrelli, am I allowed to still love her? Because I do, I love the actress to. The best of the cast.

That was cold of Hiro, not that I care BTW.

[DigitalLeonardo]

Wow, go rant there Heather, I could not agree more... except for Matt...

I started watching this episode with no expectations, I figured it would lessen the blow. And I was right. This episode was only good because Elle/Kristen Bell was the only thing that kept my attention going. Personally I feel I would have stopped after "Fight or Flight" if they had not introduced her. And I agree, if she is killed then I am out, they better double her pay or something cause she is the only thing they got now if Ali Larter is gone.

I loved when Elle was pissed that Sylar escaped, but then Mohinder told her she saved them, and she was so sly "Oh, cool." god I love her! She is able to just make these scenes so interesting.

Now to the episode... I don't get the Maya thing. Why didn't she go out the window? Why did she feel it was safer to go futher into the house? I don't really get that, she kinda has herself to blame...

Arg I can't even get into this episode with out being angry. So I'm gunna stop, the fights were lame, the story was lame, those weird camera angles in HRG's cell were just poorly done...

Another highlight though was Adam in the grave, it made me laugh so hard! And Nathan's death was a shock, but what was with that flashback? I didn't like it, it was a waste of time and just felt like they were recapping a crappy season and the only clipped I enjoyed was Elle zapping down West.

Here is hope that Volume III is actually good, or I will stop watching after.

[Heather]

**PLEASE NOTE: I still believe that episode 2.11 was thoroughly sucktastic and that this news I am about to share does not change my views on the episode itself, it doesn't even change my views on Tim Kring and Company. I am ALSO not taking this as anything more than a grain of salt - and neither should you. Kristin Veich at E!Online has been wrong many times before but she has also been right on all those other occasions.

I will put the following information, concerning the fates of 3 characters who were "killed off" under spoiler tags so that those of us who don't wanna see spoilers for Volume III can stay away.

For those who don't mind spoilers, clickclickclickity click and I'm sure all of you will have a reason to gain some hope and faith (not the crappy sitcom) in the show again.

Spoiler:

Ali Larter: According to Heroes insiders, Niki is not expected to return to the show. But her devilish alter ego, Jessica? Oh yeah, we'll see her as soon as the show comes back to the beloved airwaves-when the strike is through! At least, that's the plan according to sources who tell me producers had "done all they could do" with Niki. Micah is not gonna be happy. But at least he'll have Monica...


David Anders: I'd bet my beloved, signed Hiro poster that Hiro's sworn nemesis will return. (I've seen that '90s flick The Vanishing and know people can be dug up after being buried alive! Maybe we can even get Kiefer Sutherland to do the digging!) Sources tell me it's not set in stone, but the tentative plan is for Adam Monroe to be back to torment our favorite squinty teleporter-i.e., the "carp." Here's hoping he does.


Adrian Pasdar: I've heard the production and writing staff is somewhat split as to whether Nathan should return to the show. Allow me to be the first to say WTF? Heroes without the brothers would be like Prison Break or Brothers & Sisters without the brothers: a waste of time! Surely Claire's blood can save her own father, right?! Let's say a little prayer for the older Petrelli, shall we?

Can I get a hoohah Tuesday?!

And OMG! That's actually appropriate seeing as it IS Tuesday! WOW! Go me!

[DigitalLeonardo]

**PLEASE NOTE: I still believe that episode 2.11 was thoroughly sucktastic and that this news I am about to share does not change my views on the episode itself, it doesn't even change my views on Tim Kring and Company. I am ALSO not taking this as anything more than a grain of salt - and neither should you. Kristin Veich at E!Online has been wrong many times before but she has also been right on all those other occasions.

I will put the following information, concerning the fates of 3 characters who were "killed off" under spoiler tags so that those of us who don't wanna see spoilers for Volume III can stay away.

For those who don't mind spoilers, clickclickclickity click and I'm sure all of you will have a reason to gain some hope and faith (not the crappy sitcom) in the show again.



Can I get a hoohah Tuesday?!

And OMG! That's actually appropriate seeing as it IS Tuesday! WOW! Go me!

Good news I guess... But I really don't like it.

Spoiler:

I feel there is alot more they could have done with Niki if they were smart and didn't kill DL. That family unit was actually my favorite part of season 1, because it gave alot of people hope that they can make a somewhat normal family, even with all hell breaking loose. Now they have totaly ditched that idea and I don't like it. I would much prefur Niki staying alive and even though Jessica rocks, I feel Ali Larter won't get the chance to be as fun as she was in season 1.

Adam... I liked the idea that he was somewhat gone... The biggest issue with Heroes is not letting story's end. We got alot of Adam/Kensai, but I think if he left for awhile and came back maybe season 3 (or Volume 4... or what ever it would be) then there would be enough time to pass for his return. Just to have him come back would be too much.

Nathan... Meh, I don't care either way. Though this Claire's blood thing is becoming annoying cause now no one will have to die and it just leaves us with so many characters and no real way of getting rid of them.

[KingofCretins]

Well,

Spoiler:

I'm not surprised by the Adam thing -- as I said above, it's really not as if there's even really been anything done about him. In fact, Hiro's solution was pretty stupid.

Swapping Niki for Jessica is... interesting enough, I guess. Jessica as Micah's new mother would be really pretty interesting.

Nathan... I love the character, but at some point, the audience starts tuning out if you keep "killing people off" without actually remembering to kill them. They may decide they've made their (badly written) bed on that one.

[slaycandy]

Spoiler:

Nathan... Meh, I don't care either way. Though this Claire's blood thing is becoming annoying cause now no one will have to die and it just leaves us with so many characters and no real way of getting rid of them.

Spoiler:

What I don't get, is if Claire & Adam's blood can cure... why can't Peter's? Surely he could save Nathan the same way that Adam did, having seen it done before. Meh, I dunno... Nathan was one of my fave characters, and I'd be really miffed if out of the three he was the only one NOT to return. But hey that's just me.

SJ
xox

[DigitalLeonardo]

Spoiler:

What I don't get, is if Claire & Adam's blood can cure... why can't Peter's? Surely he could save Nathan the same way that Adam did, having seen it done before. Meh, I dunno... Nathan was one of my fave characters, and I'd be really miffed if out of the three he was the only one NOT to return. But hey that's just me.

SJ
xox

Spoiler:

I don't think Peter's blood can work like that. I mean if he gives Nathan his blood, won't Nathan then get EVERYTHING in Peter's blood? And wouldn't it pretty much kill him? Since I don't think Nathan could handel getting all that power at once.

[Veverka]

Huh. I think my friend put it really well when he said at the end; "They said 'to be continued'... and then they basically said f*** you." By which, I simply mean, and he meant... that was it? That was all?

Just not enough, just 'wrapping' an arc for the sake of it and not enough thinking- I'm not a huge Niki fan, but they totally wrecked the potential they had to give her a decent storyline all along.

As for Sylar. Okay. He's not good. I get that. (I wish he were redeemable, but I guess not.) But, um, ah... wasn't that season one's storyline?

Sooo: I'm loving Elle... but hope for more upwards momentum next season...

[spidol]

Spoiler:

I don't think Peter's blood can work like that. I mean if he gives Nathan his blood, won't Nathan then get EVERYTHING in Peter's blood? And wouldn't it pretty much kill him? Since I don't think Nathan could handel getting all that power at once.

Spoiler:

I don't think it quite works like that personally. I think that the blood heals as opposed to the blood giving the person powers to heal if you get me.

I wasn't thrilled with the episode, especially after the last few which I think have been great.
I'm really not happy about Nathan dying and I know that they have differant roles but West just seems like the poor man's Nathan to me. The flashback was a bit corny but the speach itself was good. I'm wondering whether the shooter was just a random goon or if it an actual character so to speak.

Hiro was quite good with the whole fighting Peter bit, he could of had him if he hadn't not wanted to hurt him. How the hell did he know there was an empty space under the cemetery and how did he get them both in there and then leave??? Did he take the sword back in the end I wonder.
Adam played it quite nicely in this one (if only he had put just the slightest downward force on the vial it would of reached the floor ). Also, he has forever to dig up about nine feet, the coffin itelf should disintergrate in a few years by worms etc. shouldn't it? *Sigh* Also, him taking the sword was a nicely done scene.

I'm not a massive Elle fan and i'm so glad that she was unable to kill syler, one becuase he is one of the show's better characters and two, when he does die I don't want it to be by one of the newbies. However I do think that bell is doing really well with the actual acting, it's just the character that I'm not to keen on.

Noah had so many oppotunities to just kill Bob in this episode but didn't take them. He's one of the main people whos story I really want to see progress.
Matt was somewhat useless in this episode and I'm annoyed that he was unable to make peter do anything after I thought that Matt was going to become really quite powerfull, Peter was just like, "no... fly over there".

The Nikki, Dl and Micah characters for me only really worked together with all three (apart from Micah and candice, I liked those scenes) but other than that they needed the family unit. I'd say something quite cold like 'two down...' but they won't have one of the kids killed.
Syler being back should be great as long as he doesn't just go after Claire's powers again which if he was smart he would because she is totally defenseless now but I doubt they will just because it would be last season again. hmmm, him having candice's powers could be interesting. I can see a couple of episodes with him preteneding to be someone else.
No haitian . I know he's not one of the main characters but I think that he knows more than most about what's going on and he is definately the one I look forward to finding more about.
How unsubtle was it having Peter destroy the virus with the radiation powers? What almost destoryed them last time saves them now, kind of thing.

[Heather]

Spoiler:

I don't think Peter's blood can work like that. I mean if he gives Nathan his blood, won't Nathan then get EVERYTHING in Peter's blood? And wouldn't it pretty much kill him? Since I don't think Nathan could handel getting all that power at once.

Spoiler:

Now, this is where fans have to stop reading so much into the powers. Everybody's abilities are in their heads - that's why Sylar scalps his victims and then, assumably, "learns" from what he sees in their heads and adapts. Peter, however, has the ability to just mimic what everyone else does - his whole body doesn't adapt like Sylar's does. At least, that's not how I see it. So Peter's blood isn't all healing - it's just that his head knows how to heal himself when necessary.

Also, Nathan wouldn't get all of Peter's powers if their blood mixed. Just like Sylar can't heal just because he has Claire's blood in him, Noah can't, and, god I hope, Maya can't either.

Their powers are in their heads, not their blood.

Then again, this also leads to a big chunk of bad writing - how can Claire and Adam's blood heal people if their powers are in their heads? Why does everyone else have powers in their brains? If Claire and Adam have special blood, then why doesn't everyone who gets their blood have their powers and, even still, why can't Sylar just drain people of their blood to get their powers?

This season contradicted the first season in two ways - how to kill somebody with regenerative abilities AND how powers work/where powers are located.

[Yosso]

Wo-ah. What an episode. Though feeling a little flat than a bog-standard season finale, I still thought the episode was high-quality and a nice attempt to conclude the events of the first half of the season.

First Peter and Adam. Slash potential in the house. Now onto less important issues. I can't say I entirely enjoyed how the way this arc was finished. I know there's been this writer's strike which has had to cut shows short, but I wish they hadn't cut the virus arc so short. I know it wasn't their fault entirely and this surely wouldn't have happened if there was time for a full season, but it just felt so abrupt. After all this hoo-ha and drama about the possible effects of this oh-so-deadly virus, Peter just gets rid of it so quickly. So the virus is just gone? I really hope not. One thing, while I enjoyed all the great expressions from Peter's immense concentrating, while discussing the recent episode with some people, I realised, why couldn't Peter just teleport in there? Or phase through it? Or explode the door open? God knows how many other options there were. Hmm, I stand by my opinion that uber-powered-Peter sucks. And to make it worse they couldn't even get the continuity with it right.

The Hiro/Peter "tiff" was nice to see. It was clear Peter would kick Hiro's ass, but it still sent shivers down my spine. They would make such good friends the two of them. Hiro was good in the episode I think, loved the way he dealt with Adam ? burying him alive. Though that leaves some leeway for a possible return in a future season. I hope they take advantage of that possibility. Again as a result of the shortness of the season, I don't feel that the two of them are done, they still have unfinished business.

The two brothers are together again and it was good to see that the brotherly bond was stronger than Adam's hold on Peter. I couldn't help but chuckle when I saw Nathan and Matt land clumsily, hehe! . Nice to see Nathan again. Overall this season he hasn't done much, the only truly eventful thing I have to say is the drastic beard to shaven transformation. At last, we (or I, maybe I just didn't notice till now) finally get some insight onto why Nathan never seemed to take up his congress post after winning it at the end of last season. I'd have preferred them to show us this as part of "Four Months Ago." Though it would have been interesting for him to take that up and have more of a role this season, even looking at it as half a season, Nathan's pretty much done jack.

I get Claire's pain, I do sympathise. But what she's doing is just entirely selfish. I felt so sorry for Sandra mostly in the episode. A lot of the time it's the people on the sidelines that get hit the hardest, and Sandra's really feeling it . Why did HRG have to come back this episode? I just think it ruins some of the mystery of letting some storylines hang loose until next season. So I guess my "He'll be back next season" thought was overshooting a little. I felt sorry for West too and how Claire treated the guy, I have to say ? I've finally warmed to this ship, took me a while but it's got me. In 2.09 I realised that the actor who plays Lyle, as well as being incredibly cute, is great at reacting to the events around him, sometimes holding Mr. Muggles for comfort.

"I love that kid." Man, I love you Monica! There hasn't been a moment this season I haven't. I honestly feared for that woman's life this episode and at the end of last. So glad Niki completely kicked the insano's ass, we saw her in a great light this episode. But the explosion? Niki better not be dead. And I mean that. Despite how the season was cut short, I appreciate the not-so-amazing Niki arc this season. I really hope they don't ruin it by killing yet another member of the Hawkins family. Please don't kill Niki. Just don't. Though if they do, at least I know she died a hero. I also hope we get to see a lot more Jessica alter-ego next season. I desperately hope that The Company haven't in fact completely freed her of her alter-egos, that's what made her character so interesting in the first place! Take away that and she doesn't feel complete. In fact did we get to see Jessica at all this season? I can't remember exactly. Please live, Niki. Please live.

Sylar is just bastard defined. I'm glad Maya's finally managed to see the guy for what he really is. Poor Mohinder and Maya. I've started to warm to the girl a lot more, she's growing more as a character and isn't just the slightly whiny refugee she was earlier on in the season. I'm glad she was able to be brought back to life. Though one of the reasons I liked the pair together is now gone. I liked the ying-yang aspect both to their powers and relationship, Maya is impulsive and a lot rasher than Alejandro, however he's calmer and as far as we've seen, mostly right. That's reflected in their powers, Maya being the one who kills people and Alejandro the healer and reverser of her actions. I liked how she felt like half a character and two made a whole. Ah well.

Elle was freakin' awesome this episode! I completely loved her. Like West, this girl has grown on me. "We owe you our lives." (Cut little Mohinder-nod) "Really? Cool." Haha! I love her vulnerability this episode, the way she's really trying to please her father in the light of what we've discovered happened to her in her childhood just makes it all the more effective.

So Sylar's "back". Despite the cheesy catchline, Sylar's re-development of his powers should be interesting. Though is it just going to be a repeat of S1 Sylar with his hunt for power? I hope he gets a new aim and mission next season.

I think it's clear The Company had everything to do with Nathan's death, unless it's a mislead of course. Bob doesn't want Nathan to do what Claire was planning to do. Angela seems to have been involved with it as well. Angela seemed willing for Nathan to kill Peter "if he had to", so it would make sense. I speculate she was talking to the assassin sent by Bob or Bob himself? now I think about it, it could have been Elle who fired the shot, being desperate to please Bob. But what exactly is Angela's deal? Why is she trying to hide the secret and what does she have to do with it? Still chilling. So many questions, and such a perfect ending. I'm looking forward to what Pandora's Box has to bring.