By Couch Baron
Well, it's over. So it turns out that Bennet got Angela and Claire out of the car last time before he was captured, and after successfully escaping, Angela drops Claire off at the Capitol Building before heading off to find Matt, whom she dreamed would save Nathan. Matt tells her he came to destroy Building 26, but Angela convinces him that they need to rescue Nathan to save their future.
Sylar takes Danko's shape and, after explaining that he shapeshifted his weak spot to elsewhere on his body, frames him for shooting at his own men, and then uses that "knowing the history of an object" power to fool Claire into thinking he's really Nathan, so she goes with him to try to help. Meanwhile, Bennet and Danko find themselves sharing the same cell, and Danko admits that he effed everything up before they decide to team up, which could have been about the only truly interesting twist that's happened in quite some time. However, Hiro's recovered somewhat, although his power is still making him sick, and he stops time just before Bennet and Danko officially shake on their alliance. Hiro and Ando then find that room where all the Heroes are being kept, and free them and, unwittingly, Bennet and Danko. Mohinder warns Hiro that he's got to stop freezing time, but moments later, just as Danko is about to turn on Bennet by drugging him, which is disappointing but consistent, Hiro uses his ability again to save him and collapses. That's it for Danko and pretty much it for Hiro (although we learn he survives), which: Lame.
Peter finds the real Nathan (like, it took him longer to get to D.C. flying than it did for Bennet to drive there, show) and they go after Sylar and Claire, who have made it to the President's suite, wherein Sylar reveals himself to Claire (and Bennet, by phone). Sylar then talks at poor Claire for ages, which I suppose brings things full circle from the season premiere, while downstairs, Nathan reveals his power to one of the President's people before convincing him to let him and Peter up to Sylar, and the two Petrelli brothers head for a showdown with Sylar, which happens offscreen, like, what the shit, show? In the end, after separating from Peter, Sylar slits Nathan's throat, which as much as I've despised Nathan this season I was still quite afraid would happen. However, Peter has copied Sylar's power, and heads after him even as Sylar has taken the form of that staffer I mentioned earlier. Sylar catches up to the President (Michael Dorn again, which yay, for two seconds, which boo) -- BUT IT'S PETER, who drugs Sylar immediately. That was pretty awesome, I have to admit, although I wonder if Peter's going to stay a shapeshifter for any length of time.
And oh, is the aftermath screwed up, as Angela and Bennet charge Matt with using his power to permanently convince the drugged Sylar that he's actually Nathan, so as to cover up the fact that Nathan was killed by one of them, which would mean the end of their lives as they know them, or something. I guess this means Matt is the new Haitian, although it might have been better for them to ask Matt to use his power to RESTORE THEIR MEMORIES SO THEY'D KNOW THAT CLAIRE'S BLOOD CAN RESTORE THE DEAD. In the end, "Nathan" tells us that he talked the President down from the ledge…
…and then we get a preview of Volume Five, "Redemption," which starts six weeks later with a former Building 26 agent coming home and finding water in his apartment… which coalesces into Tracy, very much alive and pissed off enough to kill the guy, apparently. Also, a bit of Sylar seems to be surfacing in Nathan, which probably means this whole business was for nothing. And that's all we've got -- until season.
Look back at the best and worst episodes of the season. And watch full episodes on TWoP.