By DeAnn Welker
Adrian Pasdar gets a hero's farewell that's not quite earned, but he and Milo Ventimiglia sell it the best they can. It all starts with Peter on a mission to keep Nathan alive and get rid of Sylar. Rene shows up for a split second, so Peter can borrow his power, then he sets out. He finds Sylar right away -- in the hospital elevator, where he's shape-shifted into a nurse. They fight, with Peter using his Haitian power and a nail gun to gruesome (and awesome) effect. Then Nathan comes out, and Peter tries to talk him into staying in Sylar's body and fighting. But Nathan's tired and jumps off a building. Peter catches him, just like he caught Peter in the first episode, and after a tear-filled goodbye, he lets him go. When Nathan lands, he's Sylar again, and presumably Nathan's gone for good. It would be a lot sadder if it weren't the third or fourth time we've had a Nathan death scene. This show sure is good at temporary goodbyes.
Meanwhile, Claire and Gretchen show up at the carnival, and with Hiro not there to fill her in, Claire falls in love with the place. And even though she wanted nothing more in her life than Gretchen just last week, she's ready to give her up to join this traveling freak show. All of the Samuel's carnie friends help sell it, through lies and manipulation. So Claire gives Gretchen a hug on what has to be Friday night (at the earliest), and cries as she says she'll see her Monday. The tears make Gretchen and me think it's a lie. Lydia the Tattooed Lady isn't sure what good someone as innocent as Claire will be to Samuel (but then, she doesn't know what he's up to, now, does she?), but he says she's not the one he's after. Given that Nathan reminded Peter to take care of Claire, could it be him?
Or maybe it's Bennet, since Samuel's obsession with him is still going strong. This week he sends a new eyeliner-bedecked friend (a multiplier, or "The Replicating Man," depending on whether you're asking bag-and-taggers or carnival planners) to get files from HRG, which the guy has no problem accomplishing, since Lauren and HRG (on a date that ends up being more of a recon mission) give chase from him, leaving him alone with the files. So, now we have Sylar on the loose, Claire at the carnival, HRG and Lauren hunting for her, depressed Peter, missing Hiro and Parkman (and Tracy and Mohinder and Ando and... you get the picture). But we don't get another episode until January 4th. The good news is that there are no episodes until January 4th.
Discuss this episode in our forums, then see the best Storylines that Went Nowhere! And check back later this week for the full recap!