‘Powerless’
Previews for Monday’s season finale of “Heroes” promised that two heroes would fall while a villain ascended.
Tim Kring and the writers of “Heroes” kept their promise, but artfully kept viewers guessing who the three would be.
When we left Hiro Nakamura and Peter Petrelli last week they were fighting it out over ultra-villain Adam Monroe. Peter believed he and Adam had come to destroy the deadly Shanti virus and prevent a horrible outbreak while Hiro knew Adam was planning on releasing the virus to remove the “blight of humankind” from the Earth.
As with most TV shows, “Heroes” characters seem to have serious communication issues. When they want to get someone to work with them, they never explain the pertinent information. All Hiro had to do to convince Peter he knew Adam was legitimately locked up for trying to release the virus was explain what he had seen during his own time-traveling.
But of course, had they figured it out so easily there would not have been a great battle for the virus.
Peter ultimately wins, knocking Hiro out. Adam surprisingly doesn’t try to kill the unconscious Hiro, treating Hiro almost as a past friend (albeit one who betrayed him). In the bowels of the “paper plant” Peter uses his powers to remove the large, secure door.
Meanwhile help arrives in the form of Matt Parkman and Nathan Petrelli, who have been sent by Nathan’s mother to kill Adam and, if necessary, Peter.
Matt, Nathan and Hiro form a plan. Just as Peter and Adam open the door to the vault holding the virus, Hiro arrives and slows Peter and Adam’s progress while Matt tries to mind-manipulate Peter into working against Adam. When that fails, Nathan simply appeals to his brother, and it works.
Hiro slips into the vault and confronts Adam, who already has the vial of Shanti virus. Adam tries to drop the vial, releasing the disease, but Hiro “takes” Adam elsewhere while Peter stops the vial from hitting the floor, effectively saving the world.
The trio, Matt, Peter and Nathan, decide to reveal their secret to the world. However, they are being watched.
Hiro returns to Japan to tell Ando that Adam will not be causing trouble anymore. Hiro has dropped Adam in an empty coffin buried deep in a Japanese cemetery.
Let’s see … immortal, already pretty angry at Hiro’s betrayal . he’s going to get out, even if it takes him decades (it probably won’t take that long, just until they need a good villain again) and even angrier. This wasn’t the best move for Hiro and the heroes, but a great move to keep a good villain around for later.
But there still are neither any heroes dead, nor villains ascending.
Ass all of this is taking place, Mohinder Suresh arrives at his New York apartment to rescue Molly from Sylar. Sylar threatened to kill Molly unless he uses Claire’s blood to cure him and Maya. For once Mohinder gets a brain and brings them to his lab in Isaac’s studio. He uses delaying tactics as Elle, eager to prove herself to her “father,” saw Sylar on the video feed and rushes to kill the rogue.
However, before Elle Bishop arrives, Molly, using her “finding” powers, tells Maya that Alejandro “is nowhere.” Maya, who finally understands Sylar’s true nature, confronts Sylar, who shoots her. Mohinder uses one of his final two vials of Claire’s blood to bring Maya back just as Elle arrives.
However, Elle is a loose cannon and uncontrolled in her desire to kill or capture Sylar to get back in her father’s good graces, and Sylar escapes with the last vial of Claire’s blood. With that blood Sylar recovers his powers. Not just his own, but all of the stolen ones as well.
So we have the villain rising, and one hero died (momentarily) but returned. No dead heroes.
In New Orleans, Micah arrives home to find help for the captured Monica. Niki reveals that she no longer has powers, that the virus stripped her of her super-strength. Finally it’s clarified, Niki’s power is super-strength complicated by a case of multiple personality disorder. However, she decides to go after Monica anyway.
When Micah and Niki arrive to rescue Monica they find the gang member who tied her in a burning building. Niki shows that although she doesn’t have super-strength anymore, she still has a few moves, knocking him unconscious. Bursting into the burning building she frees Monica, but is trapped in the explosion.
It’s a sad end for the embattled Niki, but at least she went out a hero. This will leave Micah a true orphan. It is likely that Micah and Monica will team-up for more heroic adventures.
Finally Nathan’s press conference is ready. Matt has prepared the press to accept what Nathan is going to tell them. He begins his speech, but before he can reveal anything he is shot to death by a mystery gunman.
It would be more difficult to revive Nathan, having been killed on-camera in front of dozens of witnesses, but I would not count on Nathan being gone for good. All it takes is one tiny vial of blood from his brother.
This episode may only mark a mid-season break, but given the current television writers’ strike, this may be the end of the second season. Only time will tell.
View the entire episode and next week’s trailer online at NBC.
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Arwyn Rice at arwyn.rice@thecampuspress.com
