Episode Report Card Angel Cohn: N/A | 164 USERS: B- YOU GRADE IT Do You Know the Muffin Man?
By Angel Cohn | Season 4 | Episode 1 | Aired on 2009.09.21
Well, this show is back, and now with even more characters than ever. Not sure we truly cared about all the other ones, but whatever. The first new guy is a creepy carnival employee who goes by the name of... well, we don't actually learn his name, so let's call him T-Bag since he's played by Robert Knepper. T-Bag has a funeral for his brother, talks about the importance of family, fills in the grave with telekinesis and can do magical psychic tattooing on a coworker (it disappears after a few minutes), which causes him to send his knife guy after Danko to get something. Also, T-Bag's pals with an older ailing gentleman who possesses the ability to send people back in time. He's like Hiro, but without the ability to talk, which is just about my dream.
Speaking of Hiro, he and Ando have gone in to business together. They've started a Dial-a-Hero helpline and it is remarkably unpopular. Hiro's sister Kimiko, who seems to be the brains of the family, hates Ando and thinks this is a stupid idea. Still, Hiro and Ando run to the rescue of a little girl's cat, Mr. Muffin. They realize that neither of their powers are useful in scaling buildings, but Hiro is able to stop Ando from crash landing by freezing time. However, using his powers paralyzes Hiro (sadly only temporarily) and gives him nosebleeds. Apparently, he's dying. And the only way to stop it would be to go back to 14 years ago to see the fortuneteller who told him he'd do great things with his life and stop his younger self from fulfilling his destiny. But he's way to ethical for that. Also, magical tattoo lady gets a picture of Hiro on her back.
Also related to the carnival life is HRG, he's lonely and making toast, when he and Angela aren't conspiring to revive the company and put a stop to Tracy. Tracy, for her part, tries to trap HRG in a flooded car (which is similar to a story I saw on Eureka a few weeks back). Danko saves him and wants to partner with HRG to stop Tracy and all the heroes, but HRG isn't buying it. And that actually doesn't matter in any way, shape or form, because Danko gets sliced to bits by speedy sword guy. (Tracy also gets cut up, but turns into water to save herself.)
HRG's kid Claire has gone off to college and is living with a highly driven and competitive roommate. She tries to adapt to regular school, but fantasizes about life on the lam. She also meets a freak named Gretchen, who is also from Texas and remembers the story about the cheerleader getting her head chopped off and living. Then there's some random awkward Guitar Hero moments and the apparent suicide of Claire's roommate.
In Petrelli news, Angela has visions of Sylar every time Nathan talks. Nathan can't remember anything about his old life and is freaked the hell out. And Peter is back being an EMT, using his powers to jump to the rescue (my husband cleverly dubbed him "Peter Parkour") and has no desire to get back in with his family or the company... unless it helps him save more lives.
Read about the second half of the premiere, then discuss this episode in our forums. Plus, see whether we thought last season's finale was one of the Best or Worst Finales of 2009. And check back soon for the full recap!