Heroes - season four, episode eighteen
May. 3rd, 2010 10:40 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lathanyHere's my usual Heroes write-up from BBC3 last night - the final episode of season four. This is also, possibly, the final episode of Heroes as they're still considering renewal.
Details: Three main plotlines this week become the Boss Fight plotline.
Main plotline one is the rescue of Claire and Noah. Noah tells Claire that there is no way out and he's going to suffocate. He asks her to always hide her powers - because people don't change and they will fear her and other Heroes. It looks like it's all over when Tracey shows and gets them out using her water ability. She then departs whilst Claire and Noah travel with Lauren to the Carnival.
The second main plotline is Peter and Sylar take on Eli(s). Turns out that Matt is still in the house and gets a few Elis of his own. The three of them make short work of the situation (one of them - Sylar I think - thumps the real Eli). Matt, however, is mad as hell that Peter let Sylar out. Consequently, Peter mind reads Eli to find out where to go; but it looks like Matt may stop the two. Sylar invites Matt to read him, but Matt says he can't - he needs to see his heart. Matt does eventually let Peter and Sylar go, then reprogrammes Eli to go back and admit to Lydia's murder.
The third main plot line is that Hiro discovers Charlie is in the same hospital as him - but is sixty five years older. The other time-traveller took her to 1944. Hiro says he can take her back and they can be together, but Charlie gently tells him that she had a good life and starting again would mean giving up her children and grandchildren. Hiro accepts that he saved her (by getting Sylar to heal her) so that she could have a good life and leaves.
The finale of Redemption is Peter, Sylar, Claire, Noah and Lauren looking for Samuel and Emma. Sylar tells Peter he will save Emma and goes to the House of Mirrors. At first he is paralysed by Doyle, but Doyle loses hold of Emma for a moment and she uses the cello to throw him. At which point Sylar has him. Edgar collars Noah and admits he too does not trust Samuel and then Eli shows up. Claire confronts Samuel, telling the Carnival people what he's done. At first they don't believe her, but Edgar and Eli say their bits and convince them. Claire tells the Carnival people to leave as Samuel gets his power from them. They do start to leave, but don't get far enough when Samuel starts his earthquake. However, Samuel is hit by Peter (there's an indication that Peter and Sylar flew to New York) and Peter mimics his power. Peter can then balance Samuel. Hiro is called by Noah and, superpowered by Ando, he teleports all the Carnival people out. At which point Samuel becomes normal.
Volume six, Brave New World begins where Redemption ended. Lauren arranges for Samuel to be taken away and tells the press that an exploding gas main caused this. Peter and Emma meet up and hug and Peter discovers that Sylar has tied Doyle up like a puppet but not killed him. Sylar tells Peter that it felt good to be a hero. Noah asks Claire to tell the press the usual line; however, Claire no longer wants to hide. As she climbs the wheel with the cameras watching, the others see her, most (except Sylar) seem horrified (Peter says she's going to change everything). She then jumps and heals on camera.
General comments: After all of the filler earlier this season, this was a good, full episode.
Claire and Noah didn't go on too long and I liked that Tracey was able to save Noah. Pity she didn't stick around, but maybe, if there's a season five, she'll be back.
Peter and Sylar managed some good stuff - I liked that they both said the same line to Matt. Also, the interaction between them at the end was pretty interesting for two reasons. Firstly, that Sylar's found a new bandwagon - being a hero. Secondly, that it was slightly reminiscent of Nathan-Peter with Peter listening to Sylar talking about it. I liked that Matt was not fully convinced by Sylar (nice touch) but was sorry he didn't show up at the Carnival. However, how come that Eli did? I get that Sylar and Peter arrived in time by flying, but Eli can't do that!
Hiro and Charlie was sad, but made sense. Also, they got someone who looked just right for the older version of Charlie. I was sorry they didn't get together though - there are too few happy romantic endings on this show.
Samuel's downfall was just right - including that Edgar had a key role in it.
As for Brave New World? I'm not convinced as they've sort of been there before. However, I did think that the right people were horrified - Peter, Hiro and Ando who have all seen dark futures where superpowers became known (Peter at the start of season three and the other two back in season one) whereas Claire and Sylar have never time travelled. Oh well, if it happens it will be good to see what they do.
Character by character:
Themes: To hide or not.
Refer back moments: Claire's filmed suicides from season one (and three). Hiro and Ando talking about destiny calling (again season one). Peter decking Samuel (as he did with Sylar at the end of season one) - although it seems more fitting here as they've both just lost powers.
Continuity errors and other weirds: By all rights, Eli should not have got back to the Carnival as there was no way of him travelling fast. And would Matt really want to live in a house where the other two were trapped? Particularly Peter who, if he hadn't got out, would probably have starved to death. And how come Doyle could hold Sylar here when he couldn't back at the end of Villains when he was trying to save Meredith?
Season 4 stuff in general:
Good/OK things:
- Taking down Samuel.
- That the various relationships and romances seemed more plausible.
- That the resolution of "what happened to Claire's roommate" occurred early rather than late.
- In the end, I liked the Carnival plot and how it unfolded (pity it was the only real plot); although I didn't think Samuel was quite plausible enough as the silver-tongued master.
- Mohinder's brief return.
- The Haitian.
- Emma, mostly.
- Edgar.
- That more episodes had self-contained stories.
- Nathan's exit (with the caveat that I didn't like how they led up to it).
- Peter beating Sylar by taking the Haitian's power.
- Nathan's funeral (and that his sons attended it).
Bad/less OK things:
- Far too little happened.
- Too much filler (the penultimate episode, the wake and pretty much half the screen time in general).
- That the plots that did happen involved too much of the Sylar/Nathan stuff from the end of season three (eg. neither Matt or Angela managed a scene that wasn't set around that or its aftermath - with the possible exception of Angela meeting Emma).
- That the flashback episode, whilst quite good, was yet another "Noah" one and very reminiscent of Shades of Grey from season three.
- Too much Claire-Noah conflict and angst; they should have dropped this after season one when it was actually new and successful.
- Again, too much Matt-Janice lack-of-trust angst; and this was dull in season one.
- That Sylar survived Nathan was too predictable.
- That Sylar had memories from Nathan that Matt couldn't possibly have given him (and I don't think he could have got the running race one from objects).
- Hiro's recovery from his brain tumour.
- That despite a much shorter character list than season one; about a third to half had little or nothing to do (Angela, Ando, Tracey, Matt and Mohinder).
- Claire had too much screen time for too little plot (by which I mean even more so than everyone else).
Other points of note:
- For once, there might be heroes and stuff out of season four going forward (if there is a forward). Emma and Edgar look like survivors and Peter-Emma still has mileage.
- There were an awful lot of nods to things that happened in season one (eg. Claire's suicide attempts, Charlie, Peter's rooftops) but still a lot of consistency errors.
- Similarly, the vast majority of the side/minor characters that returned were from season one (eg. Charlie and the Burnt Toast Diner owner, Mohinder's girlfriend, Hiro's sister, Thompson).
- In theory, going forward could be a big jump and change.
So, that's that. Because it's over, this now means I can read everything on the webs and so on - I can no longer be spoilered (which is the first time given I only started watching eighteen months ago). I'll also write a longer post on Heroes soonish about what I've thought of the entire series - what went well and what didn't.
Details: Three main plotlines this week become the Boss Fight plotline.
Main plotline one is the rescue of Claire and Noah. Noah tells Claire that there is no way out and he's going to suffocate. He asks her to always hide her powers - because people don't change and they will fear her and other Heroes. It looks like it's all over when Tracey shows and gets them out using her water ability. She then departs whilst Claire and Noah travel with Lauren to the Carnival.
The second main plotline is Peter and Sylar take on Eli(s). Turns out that Matt is still in the house and gets a few Elis of his own. The three of them make short work of the situation (one of them - Sylar I think - thumps the real Eli). Matt, however, is mad as hell that Peter let Sylar out. Consequently, Peter mind reads Eli to find out where to go; but it looks like Matt may stop the two. Sylar invites Matt to read him, but Matt says he can't - he needs to see his heart. Matt does eventually let Peter and Sylar go, then reprogrammes Eli to go back and admit to Lydia's murder.
The third main plot line is that Hiro discovers Charlie is in the same hospital as him - but is sixty five years older. The other time-traveller took her to 1944. Hiro says he can take her back and they can be together, but Charlie gently tells him that she had a good life and starting again would mean giving up her children and grandchildren. Hiro accepts that he saved her (by getting Sylar to heal her) so that she could have a good life and leaves.
The finale of Redemption is Peter, Sylar, Claire, Noah and Lauren looking for Samuel and Emma. Sylar tells Peter he will save Emma and goes to the House of Mirrors. At first he is paralysed by Doyle, but Doyle loses hold of Emma for a moment and she uses the cello to throw him. At which point Sylar has him. Edgar collars Noah and admits he too does not trust Samuel and then Eli shows up. Claire confronts Samuel, telling the Carnival people what he's done. At first they don't believe her, but Edgar and Eli say their bits and convince them. Claire tells the Carnival people to leave as Samuel gets his power from them. They do start to leave, but don't get far enough when Samuel starts his earthquake. However, Samuel is hit by Peter (there's an indication that Peter and Sylar flew to New York) and Peter mimics his power. Peter can then balance Samuel. Hiro is called by Noah and, superpowered by Ando, he teleports all the Carnival people out. At which point Samuel becomes normal.
Volume six, Brave New World begins where Redemption ended. Lauren arranges for Samuel to be taken away and tells the press that an exploding gas main caused this. Peter and Emma meet up and hug and Peter discovers that Sylar has tied Doyle up like a puppet but not killed him. Sylar tells Peter that it felt good to be a hero. Noah asks Claire to tell the press the usual line; however, Claire no longer wants to hide. As she climbs the wheel with the cameras watching, the others see her, most (except Sylar) seem horrified (Peter says she's going to change everything). She then jumps and heals on camera.
General comments: After all of the filler earlier this season, this was a good, full episode.
Claire and Noah didn't go on too long and I liked that Tracey was able to save Noah. Pity she didn't stick around, but maybe, if there's a season five, she'll be back.
Peter and Sylar managed some good stuff - I liked that they both said the same line to Matt. Also, the interaction between them at the end was pretty interesting for two reasons. Firstly, that Sylar's found a new bandwagon - being a hero. Secondly, that it was slightly reminiscent of Nathan-Peter with Peter listening to Sylar talking about it. I liked that Matt was not fully convinced by Sylar (nice touch) but was sorry he didn't show up at the Carnival. However, how come that Eli did? I get that Sylar and Peter arrived in time by flying, but Eli can't do that!
Hiro and Charlie was sad, but made sense. Also, they got someone who looked just right for the older version of Charlie. I was sorry they didn't get together though - there are too few happy romantic endings on this show.
Samuel's downfall was just right - including that Edgar had a key role in it.
As for Brave New World? I'm not convinced as they've sort of been there before. However, I did think that the right people were horrified - Peter, Hiro and Ando who have all seen dark futures where superpowers became known (Peter at the start of season three and the other two back in season one) whereas Claire and Sylar have never time travelled. Oh well, if it happens it will be good to see what they do.
Character by character:
- Claire - She had a key role taking on Samuel, which I guess fitted after all their earlier exchanges. Her showing the cameras was a nice reminder of season one as well, although I'm not convinced by her logic.
- Noah - Made sense, and he got to see Samuel go down.
- Samuel - Still alive, but hopefully they'll put this super-villain down now.
- Sylar - Good? And for how long? I'm finding it difficult to realise this may be it, of course! I see he has his powers back, which I think is a shame.
- Peter - Got to take down Samuel, which makes sense.
- Tracey - Having almost vanished, I liked that she came back and saved Noah.
- Hiro - Pity about Charlie, but nice how they did it.
- Ando - After season one ("I wish destiny would lose our number") he's come around to saving people. And I was delighted that he finally got to use his power in its original form.
- Matt - Pity he wasn't around more, but at least he was in the ending.
Themes: To hide or not.
Refer back moments: Claire's filmed suicides from season one (and three). Hiro and Ando talking about destiny calling (again season one). Peter decking Samuel (as he did with Sylar at the end of season one) - although it seems more fitting here as they've both just lost powers.
Continuity errors and other weirds: By all rights, Eli should not have got back to the Carnival as there was no way of him travelling fast. And would Matt really want to live in a house where the other two were trapped? Particularly Peter who, if he hadn't got out, would probably have starved to death. And how come Doyle could hold Sylar here when he couldn't back at the end of Villains when he was trying to save Meredith?
Season 4 stuff in general:
Good/OK things:
- Taking down Samuel.
- That the various relationships and romances seemed more plausible.
- That the resolution of "what happened to Claire's roommate" occurred early rather than late.
- In the end, I liked the Carnival plot and how it unfolded (pity it was the only real plot); although I didn't think Samuel was quite plausible enough as the silver-tongued master.
- Mohinder's brief return.
- The Haitian.
- Emma, mostly.
- Edgar.
- That more episodes had self-contained stories.
- Nathan's exit (with the caveat that I didn't like how they led up to it).
- Peter beating Sylar by taking the Haitian's power.
- Nathan's funeral (and that his sons attended it).
Bad/less OK things:
- Far too little happened.
- Too much filler (the penultimate episode, the wake and pretty much half the screen time in general).
- That the plots that did happen involved too much of the Sylar/Nathan stuff from the end of season three (eg. neither Matt or Angela managed a scene that wasn't set around that or its aftermath - with the possible exception of Angela meeting Emma).
- That the flashback episode, whilst quite good, was yet another "Noah" one and very reminiscent of Shades of Grey from season three.
- Too much Claire-Noah conflict and angst; they should have dropped this after season one when it was actually new and successful.
- Again, too much Matt-Janice lack-of-trust angst; and this was dull in season one.
- That Sylar survived Nathan was too predictable.
- That Sylar had memories from Nathan that Matt couldn't possibly have given him (and I don't think he could have got the running race one from objects).
- Hiro's recovery from his brain tumour.
- That despite a much shorter character list than season one; about a third to half had little or nothing to do (Angela, Ando, Tracey, Matt and Mohinder).
- Claire had too much screen time for too little plot (by which I mean even more so than everyone else).
Other points of note:
- For once, there might be heroes and stuff out of season four going forward (if there is a forward). Emma and Edgar look like survivors and Peter-Emma still has mileage.
- There were an awful lot of nods to things that happened in season one (eg. Claire's suicide attempts, Charlie, Peter's rooftops) but still a lot of consistency errors.
- Similarly, the vast majority of the side/minor characters that returned were from season one (eg. Charlie and the Burnt Toast Diner owner, Mohinder's girlfriend, Hiro's sister, Thompson).
- In theory, going forward could be a big jump and change.
So, that's that. Because it's over, this now means I can read everything on the webs and so on - I can no longer be spoilered (which is the first time given I only started watching eighteen months ago). I'll also write a longer post on Heroes soonish about what I've thought of the entire series - what went well and what didn't.
