Episode Report Card DeAnn Welker: B- | 297 USERS: B- YOU GRADE IT Taste the Rainbow...
By DeAnn Welker | Season 4 | Episode 5 | Aired on 2009.10.12
Previously: Samuel went looking for Peter, thinking he'd found his dead brother's replacement. And he was exactly who Samuel hoped he'd be. Peter met Emma, our deaf "hero." He tried to flirt, but she would rather people think she's an ignorer than admit she's deaf, so she ignored him. She can see sounds. Gretchen was obsessed with Claire, even after finding out that Claire's invincible. She even told HRG she knows about it. He was less than thrilled. Swoosie Kurtz toasted to closure with Mama Petrelli, as her goon buried Sylar-as-Nathan in a hole in the ground.
Now (and also then, though they're not including it with the previouslies), Sylar digs himself out of his hole and staggers along the road, until a police car happens by with sirens on to pick him up. The driver is Warden Leo, who's apparently been demoted since his days at Oz. He wonders if Sylar's had too much to drink, and then gets out and makes him get down on the ground with his hands behind his head. Sylar, clearly not knowing his power or who he is, obliges. Title card. Wow, that came quickly.
Feet trample the ground, and our episode chyron -- "Chapter Four: Hysterical Blindness" -- and then we pan back to see we're with the carnies in their circus tent, or whatever it is they live in. Edgar's pushing some gigantic box around as breakfast is being prepared. An old woman's sticking her hand on a hot waffle iron, apparently for show, though Samuel comes out and says she's Mrs. Comey and she's making her "unparalleled blueberry waffles." Apparently they're so good because she burns her hand while making them. Then he goes on and on about how great breakfast is, because they all sit as a family before anything bad happens for the day. Birds chirp in the background as he goes on that Joseph's seat is empty at the table -- which consists of the old guy who has the same power as Hiro, Lydia the Tattooed Lady, Edgar, Samuel, and a bunch of children -- but he says he'll convince one of the heroes out there to join their table by the end of the day.
Claire and Gretchen are eating in the school lunchroom, when Gretchen wonders why Claire's so happy. Claire: "This. This is cool." Wow. How does any writer come up with such engaging dialogue? She just loves being in college with her roommate instead of being shot at or chased. Gretchen thinks this is pretty much tedium, but Claire thinks right now she can be anyone. Seizing the perfect moment to butt in, Jackie from Veronica Mars walks up and tells Claire she can't escape her destiny. Oh, show, you're so clever. She introduces herself as Becky Taylor, and says she's a member of Psi Alpha, Sandra's sorority. Gretchen's horrified to discover Claire's mom was in a sorority, but Claire eventually caves to attending open rush, even though Gretchen tries to tell Becky she's going to pass. Gretchen tries to say sororities are a social crutch for people who can't make their own friends, and that they'll turn Claire into Stepford Claire. Claire sweet-talks Gretchen into going with her.