Episode 1.21: The Hard Part
Airdate: May 7, 2007

05/03 - Zachary Quinto is rehearsing a scene in which Sylar confesses to his mother (Ellen Greene) that he has a nasty habit of murdering others of his freaky new ilk. (He spares her the part where he might be eating their brains, too.) Naturally, Mom is disappointed, so she grabs a knife and tries to gut him. The actors struggle — then they freeze. The physical universe has ground to a halt. It's Hiro time. Slipping into the scene, Masi Oka withdraws his sword from its sheath and prepares to bring it down on Quinto's head. Does the noble hero have the stones to decapitate a defenseless, time-paused soul, even one as nasty as Sylar? "I'm sorry," says Oka. Then, breaking character: "Don't worry. It's not sharp." Quinto, steely brown eyes unflinching, doesn't laugh. His response: "Bring it." Source: Entertainment Weekly
04/17 - Now knowing what's at stake if they fail in their mission, Hiro and Ando's determination to save the world is put to the test. Committed to the path, Nathan takes some surprising steps to guarantee his election. Jessica and D.L. begin to learn how their family fits into Linderman's plans. Thompson (guest star Eric Roberts, "Less Than Perfect") brings someone new into his company's fold. With more and more blood on his hands, Sylar (guest star Zachary Quinto) visits his mom (guest star Ellen Greene). Santiago Cabrera, Jack Coleman, Noah Gray-Cabey, Greg Grunberg, Hayden Panettiere, Sendhil Ramamurthy and Milo Ventimiglia also star. Matthew John Armstrong, Justin Evans, Missy Peregrym, Cristine Rose, Rena Sofer ("24"), Adair Tishler, and Jackson Wurth guest-star. Source: NBC
04/17 - I asked [Zachary Quinto] about the show's visit to Sylar's past. Zachary told me: "You get to see a whole other side of him in episode 21, which was such a joy for me to explore. You get to see a lot more about where he comes from and what drives him and what he's fighting against in a lot of ways. I think he's definitely misunderstood—he's like a lost soul. And I got to work with the incomparable Ellen Greene—she might play my mom, but I'm not going to say that for sure..." Source: Kristin on E!Online
04/09 - According to Heroes creator Tim Kring, "We learn about [Sylar's] home life and where he came from, and after that episode, your opinion of him may change." Source: Kristin on E!Online
02/16 - [Tim Kring, Aron Coleite, and Joe Polaski revealed in interview that we would actually see the world and time that future Hiro came from in episode 20.] Source: Sci Fi Magazine, April 2007 issue

Wow, Sci Fi mag is sure faster than Kristin Online and Ausiello. Thanks for the info Jester!

Seriously!? AWESOME!

Actually, this adds to exactly what I was saying in my last post on episode 1.20 about it being an alternate possible future.

I so hope you are right!

I'm guessing that this episode is a continuation of Hiro and Ando's trek into the future

Not a bad idea, I could see it happening this way!

Although I think we are going to VIRTUALLY travel into the future with the SERIES, and NOT Hiro... I think they are going to tell the story of how things ARE going to be, not how Hiro and Ando see it...

Yeah that seems like a possible way to go and it would be very interesting to have and episode about the horrible bleak future where the government controls the population through fear because of something that seems like a terrorist attack on new york.
Or am I being too political?
V, anyone?

Just like "V for Vendetta!!!" YES! (I loved that movie...)

I am wondering how people will live in this supposed Alternate-TimLine in which Hiro has created... Hmmmm...

Plus, it's a comic book. I really need to stop the comic refrencing.

Hah well technically it's a graphic novel and not a comic book

They both are one and the same!

Well technically there is some kind of difference, I kind of forget what it is though

Apparently, this episode has been named "The Hard Part".

Are you sure? Cause I checked the spoiler sites and that isn't up yet

I heard that on Myspace as well as that guy probably did! SO NO, it is NOT reliable!

Well we'll know for sure in the next couple of weeks

Should be good though! This waiting is terrible

My firneds keep telling me it's true... ??? But it is hard tellin'...

It just seems far too early for that information to have been released

AGREED! I think they are really monitoring these 'information slips,' and they are very smart about certain information being spread... So NO, not this early...

Well they like to spoil us but giving away that much information? It would ruin watching the episode

Besides, "The Hard Way" kinda sounds a little cheezy... suspicious...

Well you never know but as soon as the official titles are released, it'll be posted

That is good to know, especially since it is coming from you!

I don't know how official it is but I put the title up

Well a title can't give too much away. I mean I wanna know whats going to happen but I also wanna be surprised lol!

Well, for now it seems plausible that the titles' are out... It's okay that you put them up, I guess... who am I to judge, eh???

Well just in case, at least people have something to look forward to

yeah... I have to say that you all make this site look great!

(It looks a lot better than 9thWonders... )

Well we do have 20000 less members, which probably makes things a bit easier but we are a bit more organized (just a bit )

lol, i haven't seen 9th wonders, but I'm fine and comfortable in this Heroes forum.

I'd recomend you stay here... PLEASE DON'T GO!!! (Just Kidding)

It's a bit disappointing because so few spoilers have been released on this episode, I have no idea what will happen in it

I know what you mean, and I am a spoiler fiend!

I WISH THERE WERE MORE! I bet there will be more to come later on in the month(s)...

There will I have no doubt about that

I guess it's just a reminder that techincally the less spoilers the better.

But with a show like Heroes, does that rule really apply?

Nope, at least I don't think so, this is the only show where I know every single spoiler that comes out and the show still amazes me

LOST and Heroes do that for me.

When I just found out that Simone died, I was still like :O:O:O when it happened. When I spoiled myself for the ending of Parasite I was still ike :O:O:o.

I love this show...

Yeah especially with Simone, I knew she was going to die but when I saw that episode I was totally shocked

And when or if(I'm not sure whether to put spoiler tags or not, but I'll still do it ) [spoiler]Isaac really dies which it seems very likely he will[/spoiler] I will still be like and Noooooo!!!!!

Spoiler tags are unnecessary since this is in the spoiler section of the forum

Ah, okay.

In that case, i will be sobbing alot when Isaac dies....

You and quite a few fangirls

I think I'd only get upset if Peter, Claire, or Hiro died. Although it is kind of sad that Isaac will probably die, I mean first he loses his 'true love' because he's on drugs, he stops doing drugs and then ends up shooting his true love trying to shoot her boyfriend, and now he's probably going to get his brain cut out and eaten. Rather tragic really. Ah, well, maybe they can be together in the "higher place".
Can't wait to find out what exactly this title means, that and "Landslide" because we know what the other 3 titles mean. I mean, everything the Heroes go through could be considered "The Hard Part" so maybe it's just figuring out who exactly causes the explosion or how Claire and Nathan are going to stay connected. Like, whether Claire will live with Nathan and the Petrelli clan or if she'll end up back with her adoptive parents or what.
Well that sounds a bit confusing but it makes sense in my mind.

The title Landslide is so obvious. You obvioulsly dont remember Hiro and Nathan's first conversation when Hiro told Nathan about the election "You win by a LANDSLIDE."

So the episode has to do with election day and Nathan winning.

But since "The Hard Part" is before landslide. The Hard Part means the wait to see who won the election...

I'd be extrtemly disappointed if Claire, Peter, Hiro,Niki, DL, and Micah die but if the rest go I really would not care sorry if that sounds rude to anyone.

Oh yeah! Man, I really need to go back and watch all the episodes.

Same goes for me, even if I don't like Niki's character much, I don't want to see her go just yet because she has more story. Like what exactly her powers are (if it's really super strength or if that's Jessica's power and Niki's power is astral projection or whatever) and more about her past. And we need to know more about Micah's power.

I would as well, they are my favorite characters and my favorite stories and I think there is still a lot left for their stories



Ah great catch, I didn't even notice that myself. Though I don't know if the Hard Part will pertain in the specific manner that you suggested, that could be a part of it but I think there is more to it

OMG! I don't know why I didn't get the Landslide before! I thought there would be a character who could cause earthquakes or something.

It was already confirmed that Hiro will survive for Season 2. Sylar also.

I'm sad to see Isaac go. For me he wasn't the most likable but you feel sorry for him because well, hehe, he was high most of the time. He was just starting to get his life back when Simone was shot and he lost everything again.
I'd be sad to see any of the characters go. Some more than others, but either way I'd still need a tissue. The fan favorites especially. I don't think Claire will die because.... how can she? As for Peter dying I'm still biting my nails and checking spoilerfix.com for any hints.
The person who I'd be least sad to see go would actually be DL. Not to be rude, but his story doesn't seem to have much importance to the main plot of the show. I think it would be better if he got more screen time.