Episode Report Card DeAnn Welker: B+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Feels Like The First Time
By DeAnn Welker | Season 4 | Episode 10 | Aired on 11.16.2009
Back in the hotel room, Suresh is unfrozen and the match drops and the film burns. Samuel comes in and says he needs to know what was on that film, since it was about his ability, and a way to increase his power a thousand-fold. He laughs, then screams, "Tell me!" Mohinder says Joseph warned him about him, and Samuel paces saying that for all these years, Joseph has been betraying him and holding him back so he could play the king. He has a large rock in his hand, which he breaks and then tells Mohinder it's his last chance to tell him what's on the film, as he smashes the rock in his hand. Samuel says he'll learn the truth, and Mohinder says he'll do everything he can to stop him. Samuel backs up and throws the rock bits at Mohinder. He gets teary, says he's sorry and leaves Mohinder for dead. But then Mohinder sits up and coughs, realizing he's wearing a bulletproof (and rock-proof, apparently) vest. Hiro's there, and Mohinder greets him with surprise. Hiro says, "Hello, old friend." Commercials.
Back in the hotel, Hiro says he's not the Hiro he knows; he's from eight weeks in the future. Mohinder asks if it was to save his life, and Hiro says it was to save the film, because in the future he knows, Mohinder's dead. Hiro explains his time travel's not so good lately and he arrived ten minutes later to find Mohinder dead, so he knew to put the Kevlar vest on him. Mohinder realizes that if he hadn't gone to Samuel, he'd never have known the secrets of his power. His investigation has corrupted Samuel. Mohinder says they have to stop him. Hiro says they will, but first Mohinder has to disappear for eight weeks until Samuel releases Charlie. Or, I don't know, go back in time and destroy the film before Mohinder watches it? Mohinder says he can't go away for eight weeks while Samuel consolidates his power, but Hiro says if Samuel knows he saved him, he'll never release Charlie. Mohinder thinks their primary focus has to be stopping Samuel. Hiro won't risk Charlie's life. Mohinder says they'll have to agree to disagree, so Hiro says he'll have to make him disappear. He freezes time and apologizes.
Eight weeks from now at the Carnival. Hiro gives Samuel the film, and says he wants Charlie. Samuel says soon, and he's sorry Hiro's friend had to die. Close-up of Mohinder's face as he's waking. Then we zoom out and see he's in a padded room in a straitjacket. They medicate him and call him "Mr. Amadi." How on earth could Hiro have done all of that? Wouldn't that require him to have released the real Mr. Amadi for it to work? Or check him in somehow under that name? It doesn't make sense that it would be that seamless.
Parkman, in the stolen guard uniform, explains to Janice over voicemail that the guy inside his head is gone, and the craziness is finally over. He says Sylar's gone back into his own body, and got what he wanted. He looks sad and hangs up. Would he really call Janice just to say that? No "I love you. I'm sorry. I miss you. I want to come home"?
Tracy's looking pretty in a red shirt in a diner when Samuel comes in. She tells him she's not sure what she's doing here or what she wants, but she knows she can't go on living her old life anymore. He says he's glad she called (called? Didn't he give her a compass, not a phone number?), since he felt a real connection between them. She looks skeptical. Then he says he has something to ask of her -- he has a way for her to use her gifts to help all people with abilities. He says they can accomplish great things together and the camera pans back and out of the diner, as he tells her she has unique talents. We stop hearing him, but still see him talk. I start to think someone must be watching, but no one is.
Peter's apartment. Nathan's sitting brooding at the table, when Peter comes in and says, "So, this thought that you're..." Nathan: "Sylar? Change the voice, change the face, still hidden underneath." He says these hands have killed dozens of people, many of them friends. He says Nathan's gone now other than some random thoughts in a mass murderer's head. Peter looks upset and says that, assuming he believes any of that, why does it matter? Didn't Parkman says he forced Sylar out? Nathan: "As if Matt can purge every sick thought from that head." He then tells Peter that he might be Nathan to the rest of the world but every time Peter looks at him, the way he's looking at him now, he's going to see Sylar. And we all know Peter doesn't want to make out with Sylar (sorry fanfic writers), so this is heartbreaking for Nathan. He asks Peter to tell him he's wrong. Peter doesn't, so Nathan repeats it: "Tell me I'm wrong, Pete." They look at each other sadly. And it really is sad. I mean, through everything on this show, this relationship has been a constant. Even though Nathan's been dead all season, his brain's still been there, and it's sad to think of Adrian Pasdar and Nathan going away for good.
Next time: Bennet, Claire and it looks like Tracy have Thanksgiving dinner with Sandra, Lyle, and Sandra's new boyfriend. Awkward! Claire says she needs to find somewhere that she fits in and it's not college. Then Gretchen shows up (orchestrated by HRG, no doubt), sorry she's late. Nathan tells Mama Petrelli (who's finally back!) that he's dead and she knows it. Peter says "Nathan." And Nathan: "Guess again." Mama Petrelli realizes Sylar's in there with Nathan. Hiro tells Lydia the Tattooed Lady that Samuel broke his promise and won't give Charlie back. Lydia tearfully says they have to stand up to Samuel (so all that Slow Burn stuff is real?). Then Samuel announces to all of his people that there's a traitor; the person who killed his brother is here. Uh, yeah, it's Samuel, isn't it? Looks like he's going to blame someone else, though, but if he kills a hero who lives there, he loses some power, right? So why do that?
DeAnn, a writer and editor in Portland, Oregon, agrees there's nothing better when you're freezing than tea and a hot bath. You can contact her at twopmodmars@gmail.com.