By DeAnn Welker
In a hurry? Read the recaplet for a nutshell description! Finished? Click here to close.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.