Daryl Tay.net

This week’s episode of Heroes - episode 9 of volume three: Villains - is definitely the worst episode of this season, and perhaps of all time (it’s a close call, comparing it to season two when Maya and her brother existed). How much do I dislike it? Let me count the ways:

1) Hiro and Ando’s story

Arthur is powerful enough to kill Adam Monroe and Maury Parkman without a thought and punch Usutu’s head clean off, but he chooses to… regress Hiro’s mind? It’s pathetic building Arthur to be this uber-badass, and he chooses to be “lenient” with Hiro, and for the rest of the episode we see Ando convincing Hiro he has powers, basically a role reversal of one of the first few episodes in season one.

Hiro and Ando’s story have been a complete waste of time this season (as well as last season) and while the sides are forming up, they’re left out in the cold.

2) The absolute destruction of Sylar’s character

Season one, Sylar was a kick ass character. Season two was a waste of his time and season three has more twists and turns in his character than I can keep track of, none of which make sense. When Angela said he was her son, I was like “okayy”. When he “joins” the company as HRG’s partner “okayyy”. Goes to save Peter at Angela’s request “hmmm” and now claiming he’s been feeling remorse the whole time? What a load of bull.

Also, was the point of last week’s Elle/Sylar story simply to have their heartwarming “empathy” moment this week” Because it sucked. Not only was it hardly believable, but I don’t understand the choice to shoot it in the dark. What, Sylar goes in in “darkness” and after getting Elle’s power and the lightning crackles around him, he’s reborn in the “light”?

3) Peter and Claire’s “escape”

Okay what point did this serve exactly? Some uncle/niece bonding time while being chased by two psychos? Not to mention one psycho who maybe doesn’t think it’s a bad idea to shoot fire in a place full of pipes, nevermind whether he knows they are gas or not? It could have been done in one quick scene, but then it gets drawn out and wastes everyones time.

4) Mohinder and the “catalyst”

Mohinder has sucked since season two. And this episode in particular, he has reached new levels of sucktitude (yes, that is a word appropriate for Mohinder). All his science mumbo jumbo was even more aptly explained by Angela at the end, rendering Mohinder a waste of space. I don’t know what deal Sendhil Ramamurthy has with the network, but I hope they axe it quick.

Speaking of the “catalyst”, aren’t we forgetting that at least Nathan and Jessica, Nikki Tracy have synthesised powers? How come they’re alive and well with no side-effects?

5) Nemesis and Matt

I know her name is Daphne, but I liked her when she joined the show as Hiro’s nemesis. Anything’s better than this lovey dovey crap that’s going on between her and Matt. Matt falls in love with her from a dream and she falls in love with him in the span of what, a day and a half? Someone explain to me how that happens?

6) Tracy’s turn

This isn’t a big deal because we don’t know anything about Tracy and how she would behave anyway. But this was yet another waste of time for me. They cut a much more interesting character in Monica for this?!

7) The “assembly” of the sides

I’m sure the final scenes were meant to look like some “cool” standoff, but it was just lame. The Heroes writers need to watch the last four or five episodes of season five of Lost, and understand what it means to move the pieces and characters into play. Not “miraculously” having Matt, Daphne, Peter, Claire and Nathan hit Primatech paper at the same time, conveniently when Angela wakes up.

Does anyone on Arthur’s “team” even have a motive to be there? Knox and Flint are scumbags, Sylar is presumably going to betray the team, Elle went to Pinehearst to remove her powers, not join a team, and Tracy… well, who knows what’s going on with Tracy.

8 ) Absence of characters

Speaking of Primatech paper, where’s HRG? His daughter has been running around getting herself into trouble the whole season (not to mention almost killed by Sylar) and he lets it be when in previous seasons he barely lets her out of his sight? What gives?

The one thing - the only thing - I liked was the throwback to Kaito passing Claire to HRG way back when, and using Claire as the catalyst. It was a nice reminder that things used to tie together, when they’re now going all over the place.

At this point, I’m really watching Heroes to see what a trainwreck it’s going to become. With two of the head writers fired, I’m wondering if the series can get any better. It certainly can get worse. My opinion is Tim Kring needs to go, and they need to bring in someone who understands plotting, pacing and characterisation, because all those elements are sorely missing in this comic book superhero genre show.

[Image credits: Sylar | Hiro/Daphne | HRG]