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I can't believe they wasted an entire episode on filler and then advanced the plot a microsecond right at the end, but I guess they really did only have a one-episode story to tell this season. And it's all about Sylar finding out that, in addition to being a serial killer, he's also the hero of the story. When we pick up, he's still trapped inside his "nightmare" -- New York City with no people. Which, I have to say, would not be a nightmare for most people. I mean, don't we all sort of want to be in an empty New York? Anyway, Peter's there, too, and they spend a lot of time fighting and bonding about Nathan. Ultimately, they spend years there, trying to knock down the brick wall that's keeping them there, and they only can once Peter will finally acknowledge Sylar's changed.
At the carnival, Samuel locks Claire in the funhouse with Bennet, and makes Damien show her all of Bennet's memories, starting in 1985, when he had a pregnant wife. When a "special" (that's what we're calling them now; maybe they should change the name of the show to Specials) kills his wife, he goes on the hunt and kills one who was (sort of) innocent -- except for trying to kill HRG. Then Bennet meets Eric Roberts, who forces him to marry Sandra. Oh, and on Thanksgiving weekend, Bennet threatened Gretchen to keep Claire away from the carnival. Claire runs out, sad, but when Samuel finds her, she tells him that won't make her turn on her dad, because they have this little thing called love. Samuel gives her several opportunities to join him, then sends her to the trailer that her dad's been moved to. He buries then 50 feet underground, which he tells Replicating Eli is his way of giving Claire time to consider his offer. Also at the carnival, Lauren tells Emma that Samuel's bad, but Emma's already chosen his side. And, in the end, Samuel's moving the carnival to Central Park to show New York City what they're capable of. He sends Replicating Eli, who arrives in Parkman's basement to try to stop the Ambiguously Gay Duo as they're joining forces to save Emma. No sign of Parkman; I guess he wanted to give Sylar and Peter their privacy.
Want more? The full recap starts right below!I know I said in the recaplet that I can't believe they wasted an episode on filler this close to the end (and after one good episode), but I take it all back: I can believe it. This entire season has been filler, and the only reason I mildly hope it doesn't get canceled is that I want it to come back for one season only, but with an entirely new staff of writers. There are good people working in this business, so I suggest NBC and Tim Kring find them, offer them some money, and bring them on. Then pare back the bloated cast to a few we will actually stick with all season (and, preferably, care about, meaning no Tracy or Parkman or Hiro) and give it one last shot. With an end-point. It really upped Lost's game once they had an end in sight. Although, to be fair, that's still playing out, too, and it could all end ugly (though fewer people would admit it than with this show).
So, previously, Claire told Samuel to surrender, and when he agreed, she told her dad, who unfortunately listened to her, getting Lauren, Samuel and Claire shot, Lydia killed, and Noah framed for it all. Mama Petrelli told Peter that he couldn't save Emma from playing music while the world ends, but when he realized someone else could, he took her power and dreamed about Sylar being the savior. Of course. Because he's always had that in him. Peter found him with Parkman, who was bricking him into a wall. Peter took Parkman's power to bring Sylar out of the nightmare Parkman put him in inside his head (don't ask), but then he got trapped there: New York City. Daytime. Alone.
Which leads us to now: Peter's passed out against a brick wall. Presumably it's the one Sylar's behind, but they didn't have the budget to put Zachary Quinto in the same scene so it's just Peter. We hear him say "Hello? Hello!" repeatedly and then we're in his head, which is to say we're in the empty streets of New York. He's looking for someone. Back with sleepy Peter, whose eyelids are moving around a lot. The camera zooms in on the mortar between a couple of bricks and then sort of goes through the bricks until we find Sylar inside. It's dark, so, what? Did Parkman finish the wall after Peter passed out, and just leave Peter here on the ground? That Parkman sure isn't a hero. Oh, right. He's a "special" -- leaving us all puzzled by the name of the show. Then we're in Sylar's nightmare, too. He's in a watch shop listening to different watches tick. How is that Sylar's nightmare? I'd think he'd damn-near orgasm from all the ticking.
Soon enough, he hears a loud noise coming from outside, so he heads out into the street and starts his own version of the "Hello?" song Peter's been singing. He walks the empty streets and then Peter bangs some sort of pipe against the ground behind him. Sylar turns and breathes, "Peter? Is that really you?" They walk toward each other quickly, but instead of embracing, Peter just tells Sylar he's here to drag his sorry ass out of this place. Sylar says there's no getting out of here; he's tried for three years. Peter thinks that's crazy since it's been three hours since he got here. Sylar doesn't believe Peter's really here, and thinks it's all in his mind. Then he says what anyone would say to someone who isn't real: "I'm not going to let you do this to me" and "If you follow me, I'm going to kill you." He runs off, and Peter chases after him as the camera shoots the empty street from above, with them running down the center yellow line and "Chapter Seventeen" written above it with "The Wall" written below.
Peter chases him all the way to wherever it is Sylar decided to run. It looks like maybe the watch shop again, or maybe it's not a watch shop and is just his apartment with a lot of watches in it. He's wielding a hammer and tells Peter to get out of his head. Peter tells him to calm down, because he really is here to get Sylar out. Sylar asks why Peter keeps saying that, and Sylar explains that Parkman put Sylar in this dream. Sylar yells that it's not a dream; it's real. Peter asks if he really doesn't understand it's a nightmare, and Sylar replies weepily, "Of course it's a nightmare. Three years. Alone." Sheesh. Am I supposed to sympathize with the serial killer now? Peter explains what happened last episode: Parkman trapped him here. But Sylar is a slow learner, so Peter has to walk him through it. The last thing Sylar remembers is wanting his life to change so he wouldn't spend eternity alone. Peter says he has Parkman's ability and can take him out of here. (Okay, so if Peter can use his abilities in here, why can't Sylar use his? Because, if he can, why a hammer?) Sylar wonders why the brother of the man he murdered (correction, Sylar and writers: one of the many men he murdered) is coming to his aid. Peter says he needs his help, though he'd rather leave him here to rot. He needs Sylar to save his friend Emma from killing thousands of people. Sylar says he's not the savior kind, as Peter should know. But Peter tells him he's going to save her. Because the creators and writers of this show masturbate to Sylar, so they had to go and make him the hero. HATE. Sylar tells Peter to try to get them out of here, so Peter touches him on the shoulder. But he can't do it. Sylar tells him they're trapped here forever, so they decide to spend their time making out. Okay, not really, but wouldn't that be a better show? Opening title.
Carnival. Samuel walks by the funhouse and to his trailer (people supporting him along the way with their looks and shoulder taps, so we know the shooting had its desired effect, bringing them back to his side), where we hear Claire banging on the door to get out, but Replicating Eli is standing guard. He tells Samuel they've really got to do something about her, and Samuel says they will, and then lets himself in to the trailer with Claire. She wants to see her father. Samuel says he's safe and unharmed, which is more than he deserves after shooting into a crowd of innocent people. Claire says he didn't shoot anyone. If he had, Samuel would be dead. True that. HRG isn't so much of a misser. Samuel asks Claire if she's really that naïve, since her father came here with a gun and wanted to use it. He asks if that isn't why she talked Samuel into surrendering in the first place: because she was afraid of what he might do. She says she wants to see him and tries to push by Samuel, but he pushes her back and says her devotion to her father is touching, but she's blinded by it. He thinks it's time she opened her eyes and saw him for who he really is. She says she knows him, and he can't say anything to change that. He agrees, so he's going to show her who HRG really is.
House of Mirrors. Claire runs in and hugs HRG, who's tied to a chair. She touches the rope for a second, but doesn't really even try to untie him, then turns to Samuel and tells him to do it. That's weird. But Samuel's not ready yet. First, he calls Damien in to reveal HRG's memories on the mirrors. Samuel says she deserves the truth, but HRG says to let her go, since he doesn't need her anymore. Samuel wonders if Bennet's afraid she'll see the real him. He nods in Damien's direction, and HRG begs him not to do this. Black and white images appear on the mirrors (because life didn't come in color when Bennet was younger, of course). They've tried to make Jack Coleman look younger here, but it's not super successful. Anyway, he's a car salesman, and is too nice to be very good at it, because he sends people to a cheaper car lot instead of making a sale. Then his boss sees him. Not sure why any of that matters, though, because soon enough a lady comes up behind HRG and puts her hands on his eye
s: "Guess who!" He pretends he thinks she's someone named Candy, but then says, "Oh, I'm in trouble. It's my wife." They kiss and she asks how the world's most handsome salesman is. He says he stinks at this, because he has no killer instinct (riiiiiiiight), but somebody has to pay the rent. She thinks he belongs home writing plays. I guess when they go back and create new backstories for Bennet, they keep changing their minds. Although writing plays is sort of related to teaching high school English. She says they could live on love, and he thinks that would be nice. They kiss, but then he asks her if something's wrong. She says she has some unexpected news: She's pregnant. She stammers that they didn't plan this and she knows he likes to be the man with the plan. But he's so happy he picks her up and spins her around. Then we're back with Claire, who looks at her dad and says, "You had another wife and family?" He apologizes for never telling her, but she says it doesn't matter. She tells Samuel to let him go, but he asks if she's the least bit curious about what happened to HRG's first wife. Samuel says there are reasons he kept it a secret, and he'll leave them with Damien. HRG yells after him not to do this.
But then we're back in Bennett's black and white past. His wife is happy on their couch, because he's ordered a double order of pot stickers since she's eating for two. They talk about being parents: He can't wait. A knock at the door. It's the Chinese food delivery guy. HRG answers, and the shifty-eyed delivery guy says Mr. Yin couldn't make it, then he holds them up with powers. It's Sylar's power to move things with his hands, so he throws Noah against the wall and asks for all of their money. Noah tells his wife to just give the guy her purse. She does, but the "special" isn't happy about how much money is in it. HRG tells him that's all they have, but his wife asks "What are you?" Instead of nicely replying, "A special, of course," he throws her against the glass coffee table and leaves. Problem is, she was shish-kebabed on the table's frame. HRG jumps down and runs over to her. Claire looks on sadly. So far this seems to make her sympathize, not hate him. It appears Samuel's not exactly a rocket scientist. Commercials. I'm almost embarrassed to say that Dawson appearing on Mercy makes me want to watch.
Funky camerawork zooms in on the empty New York street, then on suns and moons so we know time has passed. Peter broods on a graffitied rooftop, sadly missing the other half of the Ambiguously Gay Duo. Sylar finds him, and tells him he can't go forever without talking to him, and it's been a month. Peter says he's not going to spend the rest of his life alone with Sylar, and it's not exactly heaven for Sylar either. Which is a total lie, as we all know. Sylar hearts Peter. But what about us? Don't they all know that we don't want this storyline either? Sylar offers Peter a comic book, since he knows he's a fan. Awww, sweet. But Peter just wants Sylar to focus, so they can leave. Sylar tells him to face the fact that Emma and whoever she killed is already dead. Peter punches Sylar in the face (?) and says, "The only thing that's real ... is us." Okay, that's the Ambiguously Gayest line of the episode, for sure, right? Can they get any gayer? They look into each other's eyes, then leave the rooftop.
Down on the street, Peter tells Sylar this is just a dream, but Sylar asks how there are books here, then; did Parkman put them here? Peter says they're in Sylar's head, but Sylar says he didn't read 9th Wonders! Peter did, so maybe they're in his head now. Oh my god, who cares? Peter agrees with me, and tries to move it along, asking Sylar if he doesn't want to get out of here. Sylar too quickly is like, "Yeah, of course," so Peter realizes Sylar doesn't want to. Sylar says maybe he deserves this aloneness and this nothing. Peter agrees that maybe he does, but says he can't get out of here alone, so he needs Sylar's help. Sylar throws down his messenger bag, and tells Peter he wants to help. He walks close to him and they gaze into each other's eyes. Then they notice a giant wall behind them in the street. Peter realizes it's their way out, since it's the wall in the basement. He says they have to break through. The camera jumps up above the city and we see the brick wall goes all around them in a several-block radius.
Back at the Carnival, Lauren's made her way there and is walking through nervously looking around. She manages to find the medical tent and starts stealing gauze and stuff, when Emma interrupts her. She realizes Lauren's hurt, says she's a doctor (not exactly), and helps her. Lauren tells Emma she doesn't have to do this, since she doesn't want her to get in trouble. Emma exposits to say that again, since she has a hearing loss. Lauren says she's here to stop Samuel, and Emma asks if she was with the man who shot everyone. Lauren says HRG didn't fire his gun, and that Samuel was responsible, but Emma says she's wrong about him. Lauren tells her that he is trying to galvanize his people around a common enemy. Lauren hears Samuel coming and asks Emma not to tell him she's here. She hides behind a curtain as Emma greets Samuel. He can tell something's up, so he asks if everything's all right. He signs that they're not alone, and then says they don't keep secrets. She signs to him that "she" says he's a bad man, who shot his own people. Samuel signs she's misinformed, asks to talk to Lauren, and lets Emma leave. When she's gone, Samuel tells Lauren it's all right; he just wants to talk.
Back in the House of Mirrors, Claire finally reacts to what she saw before that last commercial: "Your first wife was murdered by a special?" He says yeah, but it was a long time ago and the person he was then died that night with her. He cries and then says he's sorry he never told her. Claire says it's okay, because some things you just can't say out loud. She asks if that's why he joined the company and became Mr. Bag and Tag. Damien starts his mirror show again, despite Claire saying she doesn't need to see anymore. In the black and white, HRG starts his first wall of weird, with a map and thumbtacks and newspaper clippings, just like now. Time moves forward a year, and he's adding photos to points on the map. Then he goes to visit one. When the guy gets home, HRG is holding a gun on him, and asks him not to move. The guy offers up his wallet, but HRG says he's not after his money; he wants information because he knows what he is and what he can do. HRG wants information about someone else like him. The guy asks if there are really other people like him, and HRG tells him not to play stupid. He describes the delivery guy, but the guy swears he doesn't know anyone else like him. HRG doesn't believe him, so the guy throws a fireball. HRG ducks, and then shoots the guy. His first kill. In his defense, the guy did throw a fireball, and HRG looks shocked at himself for it. But then he quickly wipes his fingerprints off the gun and leaves it there, making it look like a suicide, I guess. But who shoots himself in the chest? Commercials.
Still in the House of Mirrors, HRG tells Claire it was an accident, but she wonders why he brought a gun. He says he didn't know what to expect, and was scared. She realizes it was the first time he killed anyone, and now she's interested. She asks what happens and the black and white picture show starts back up. HRG's still selling cars, and he's a lot more of a killer now, threatening people that if they don't buy it, he has another buyer chomping at the bit. Then Eric Roberts (whom I don't think we've seen since
withoutpity.com/show/heroes/villains_1a.php?page=2" target="_blank">Villains) shows up, but he's not looking for a car, as you might have guessed. He's there to ask about HRG's little side project, finding specials. (Eric calls the guy a special, too, which is dumb, because they didn't used to call them that, did they?) He tells HRG his secret (that he killed the repairman) is safe with him, but they want him to come work for them. Cut to Claire and then to another scene of Eric Roberts and HRG at dinner. Eric Roberts wants to know how the "one of us, one of them" is working out for him, and they mention Claude, which is even more awesome because there's a third glass at the table. HRG talks about how he doesn't trust him because he's abnormal, and I wish we would have found out Claude was sitting there the whole time. Because I think he was. Eric Roberts tells HRG his case is unusual, so it's only natural he'd harbor a grudge. He mentions three deaths attributed to Bennet. As they talk, we hear Ashley Crow's voice and see a "Sandra" nametag as the waitress leaves their sandwiches. Eric Roberts tells HRG he needs to take a wife and start a family to put his life in balance and calm himself down. Bennet says he can't do that again, but Eric Roberts says that cute waitress will do fine. Bennet turns and sees Sandra, then asks Eric Roberts what if he refuses. Eric Roberts says he won't.
Back in the House of Mirrors, Claire yells that it's like the Company arranged his marriage. Bennet says they encouraged him, but he chose Sandra because he loved her. Claire says the Company seems to make a lot of his decisions, but Bennet says it's all over; it's the past. Then we see black and white images of Thanksgiving weekend (apparently, even though Damien can show Sylar's life in color, even HRG's recent memories are in black and white). He asks where Claire is, and she says she doesn't know, but he tells her she doesn't have to lie. He knows Claire stole the compass, and that they drove to the Carnival, but wants to know why she didn't come back. He says the Carnival people are killers, and Gretchen says she knows, but he has to trust Claire to know if people aren't good for her. HRG tells Gretchen she has to stop encouraging her, and that she's happy here in college living a normal life. Gretchen says it's not enough for her, but he says it has to be. The Haitian walks in, and Gretchen asks why, is he going to erase her memory (how did she know what he does? I guess we're supposed to assume Claire told her after the episode where she didn't?). He says no, not if she does what he asks. When it's over, HRG immediately tells Claire he didn't know where she was or what to do. She says he doesn't trust her (well, he trusted her last episode and look where he is now). She yells at him for threatening Gretchen, and says this wasn't some distant past; this was now. She leaves him alone with the mirrors (and probably Damien, but we haven't seen him in awhile; we're just supposed to assume he's there).
Ambiguously Gay Duo. Peter's banging a sledgehammer against the brick wall, as Sylar says he should eat. But Peter doesn't need to eat or sleep or do anything (well, duh, because it's a dream). Sylar asks if there's any progress today; there's not, just like every other day. Sounds like he's been doing this futilely for a long time. Peter doesn't even want to know how long it's been, but he says he'll do it as long as it takes. Sylar says he knows that look of Peter's; he has it all the time. When Peter asks, "Like when?" Sylar spews a memory that's obviously Nathan's about Howie Kaplan beating Peter at the fifty-yard dash so they kept training and training. Peter gets in Sylar's face and tells him that's Nathan's memory, not his, and he's told him to stop doing that. "You're not him. You're nothing like him." Sylar: "So you've told me." He starts to leave, but turns and tells Peter he knows he's said it before, but he's sorry he killed Nathan and took him from him. Peter turns and yells that Sylar keeps saying that, but it's not going to bring Nathan back. It doesn't change anything. Sylar yells that Peter's right: Nothing changes, and they're stuck here forever together. Sylar picks up the sledgehammer and says he can't take it anymore. He walks toward Peter. They glower at each other, as Ambiguously Gay as ever.
At the Carnival, Samuel says Lauren's from the Company, so she's cut from the same cloth as Bennet. Lauren tells him this doesn't have to end badly for him: He can turn himself in and release Bennet and Claire. He asks why he'd want to do that, and she says because he loves his family and doesn't want them to get hurt, and they will get hurt. Samuel asks if she doesn't think he knows what's best for his own family. She asks what that would be, and Samuel tells her it's change. He says they're strong enough to show themselves and take what's rightfully theirs. She says they don't have the right to take anything, but he says they deserve admiration and respect. She asks if he plans to hurt people to take it. He asks what she'd have him do: live this life? In a carnival? She asks why not, since he's lived here happily for years. He says they were wasted, unfulfilled years, and he could have been so much more. He realizes she knows about him, and the film, and how powerful he can be with all of the other "specials." He wonders if he can really do what his brother said, and move mountains and cities. He asks if he can change the world. She hopes to god we never find out and asks what the world ever did to him. His reply: "It should have treated me better." This whole time he's walked closer and closer to her, so now he's right in her face, and Lauren's obviously nervous. She asks him not to do this, please. Replicator Eli comes in and tells Samuel that Claire left the House of Mirrors. Samuel says he'll have a word with her, and it's time to gather the family. He tells Eli to tell them all to pack up to move on to bigger and better things. Then he tells Lauren she's been quite helpful and tells Eli and his friends to take care of her.
Ambiguously Gay dreamland. Peter asks Sylar what he's going to do, and Sylar says, "I'm going to end this" as he rushes toward Peter with the sledgehammer. But Sylar's going toward the wall, not toward Peter, who watches him hammer it. Sylar pauses for stupid dialogue: "I can't bring Nathan back, Peter. But I can sure as hell swing a sledgehammer." They both hammer.
Back at the Carnival, Samuel tells Claire he's sorry to put her through that, but he hopes through this painful experience she can finally see the truth. She is still crying as she says, "Yeah. You were right, Samuel. My dad is a bad guy. I belong with you." She turns to him and adds a snotty, "You're my hero." She says that's what he wants to hear, right? Since that's what this is all about. She asks why he didn't show her the memory of her dad shooting Lydia. He says maybe HRG didn't pull the trigger, but does that negate all the times he has? He says Bennet lies to her, even her, his darling daughter, because he can't trust any of them. She asks if he actually thought that she would turn on him. She says he doesn't understand -- maybe because no one ever really loved him. She says he calls these people family, but they're not: They fear him. She asks for her dad, and says they're leaving. He says he's sorry, but she's too important to him. By the way, why hasn't Claire called her uncle Peter or something? Oh, right, he's in his dream coma. How about any other hero she knows then? And why is it taking Tracy so long to get here? He says Claire's especially important now that everything's going to change. She asks what's going on, and Samuel says he was talking to a new friend about how things are going to change, and she was so afraid. He wants to see that look again 1,000 times over, because it's time for their biggest show ever. No more hiding in the shadows; it's time to show themselves. He's bringing the whole show to New York City to show everyone how powerful they are. He says some lives will be lost, but they'll show everyone how powerful they are, just like they've always wanted. Claire says she's never wanted that. Samuel tells her this is her legacy, and she'll remind everyone what he's done long after he's gone (presumably because she'll live forever, but I don't get why she ages, then? I know she heals, but I didn't think that means she can't die of anything ever), which is why it's so important for her to be part of the family. She tells him he's desperate and small, and she'll never be part of his family. He tells her she sounds just like her father, but he had so hoped to convince her. Maybe in time she'll change her mind. She tells him not to hold his breath, and he says, "Right," then tells her that her father's back at the souvenir trailer.
She runs off, and Replicator Eli comes up and tells him that "the government lady" got away. Samuel says it's not worth it to go find her. Then he says he's going to give Claire some time to think about his offer. She keeps running until she gets to the souvenir trailer. He tells her he wants to explain what she saw, but she wants to talk about it later. She starts to untie him, but the trailer starts shaking. They wonder what it is, but we see Samuel's moving the Earth under it and eventually buries it underground. He tells Eli he's ready to go now, and Eli thinks New York will be fun. Samuel tells him he'll have to join later because he has some loose ends to attend to. Then he says that Lydia spoke of some people who want to interfere with the plans, so he needs Eli to stop them permanently. I think he must have been asking her who would stop them when Lydia showed the tattoos of Claire, Peter, and Sylar in the premiere. That's the only explanation I can come up with for Lydia having told him about anyone who wants to stop them. They both leave without discussing who it is, even though neither of them is a mind reader. I guess they'll use their Sprint phones or something.
Nighttime in the Ambiguously Gay nightmare. Sylar's sitting alone, staring at the brick wall when Peter gives him a package and says, "Happy birthday." Sylar: "It's not my birthday." Peter: "Yeah, I know." But he gives him a new copy of The Pillars of the Earth because he wore out his other copy. I'd like to think the book is somehow symbolic, but it's more likely a shout-out to the director of the upcoming movie version, since he's also directed Heroes episodes. Peter tells Sylar he appreciates him being patient with him and keeping him sane. Sylar jiltedly says, "That's very kind of you, Peter. Thank you." Peter picks up his sledgeh
ammer to start hammering, but Sylar says, "Wanna know something weird? Every time you pick up that thing, I think you're going to hit me with it, really hard." Peter laughs and says that is weird, "because every time I pick it up, I feel like I'm going to hit you with it, too. Really hard." Sylar asks why, and Peter says because Sylar is who he is. He wishes he could accept his apologies, but forgiving Sylar is not doing right by Nathan. Sylar asks if Peter's afraid he'll lose Nathan forever if he lets go of his anger. Peter nods. He says he feels the anger slipping away sometimes, but then he looks at Sylar, sees him killing Nathan. He took his brother away from him. Sylar looks sad and walks up to Peter, who's hammering now. He tells Peter they've been here for who knows how many years, and he's changed, repented, and is never going to hurt anyone again. And all this time, Peter was afraid to let him out? Peter just keeps hammering, and Sylar yells, "Peter!" Peter stops and Sylar tells him he's not that guy anymore. Peter says he knows he's not, and he hammers again and a piece of the wall breaks. They hammer together as they break through it. Here's what I don't get: If Peter didn't want to let Sylar out because he was afraid, why did he tell him when he figured out breaking down the wall was the way? I guess because it was his subconscious that didn't want to let him out.
So, Peter wakes up outside the brick wall, which Parkman apparently really did actually finish and then leave. So dumb. He stands up and we can hear bricks breaking, then the wall comes flying forward. Sylar stumbles out, his hair all a mess, and they walk toward each other. Really, it's so gay. Sylar asks how long it's really been, and Peter checks his watch and says "a half a day." Sylar says it feels like it was years, and asks if it makes it any less real. Peter smiles at him, and says, "Let's go save Emma." But Replicator Eli's on the stairs as they try to leave the basement (WHERE IS PARKMAN? AND JANICE? OR EVEN BABY STOP AND GO?). He says, "Sorry to break up the love fest, but I'm here to make sure that doesn't happen." Uh, dude, the love fest cannot be broken up now that it's finally on. Replicator Eli surrounds them, but this is freaking Sylar and Peter. They win by default.
Meanwhile, cameras take us through the dirt at the now-gone Carnival, to where Claire and HRG are in the trailer. They turn on her phone as a light, until they find a lantern. They're both okay, but realize they're buried pretty deep. He thinks it felt like forty or fifty. They scream for help. But the screaming and the lantern burning are probably two quick ways to burn up all the oxygen that HRG, at least, needs to survive down there.
Okay, so the flashback stuff really ruined this episode. I didn't hate most of the Sylar and Peter stuff (other than that I think making Sylar a good guy is retarded; I mean that literally: It's like making Sylar mentally disabled, because he's not himself somehow). But (and it's a big but), if they're going to do it, and have him team up with Peter, it had to be for something big, like Peter thinking -- correctly or not -- that he needed Sylar to save the world, or Emma, or anyone who matters. And then they also needed enough time to elapse for them to build trust and friendship, and the only way to do that was the way they did it. It's weird, but actually the best part of the episode by a lot. The flashbacks and the Carnival stuff were all just filler, but the weird two-person dreamscape actually moved the story forward. And that's what we haven't had nearly enough of this season. Too bad it was a small part of this sucky episode, and that it ended by spreading everyone out, instead of bringing them together. I would have liked for the entire finale to have our core heroes together, fighting the good fight. But it looks like it's going to take at least half of the episode to even get them all where they need to be. How will Claire and Bennet get there in time (I'm assuming Lauren and Tracy will assist in their rescue? Maybe Hiro?)? I don't think it will take the Ambiguously Gay Duo long to take out Replicator Eli, if Sylar still has his powers.
So, time: Bennet quickly realizes that if they dig, they'll lose air, and that Samuel's plan must have been for her to watch him die. Yep, sounds like our Samuel. Speaking of, he rallies the carnies, telling them they've come to save everything. Emma plays, and looks puzzled when Sylar says he's there to save her (so, no suspense: They make it). Doyle tries to puppet him, but he pushes Doyle back with his mind. Doyle: "Please. You're one of us." Sylar: "No. I'm a hero." God, they love Sylar. It probably should end this way, so that the writers can have their insane Sylar happiness. He's the HERO, you guys. See? That's where they were always going with this. Of course. See you then.
DeAnn, a writer and editor in Portland, Oregon, would love a House of Mirrors that could show me my memories, because I'm forgetful. You can contact her at twopmodmars@gmail.com.
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