Yay for back story! This one was awesome right from the first scene. Every character I had wondered about got at least a couple scenes in this episode, and they were almost all well done. This is another one of my very favorite episodes. Sylar’s back story was the one I wanted most, and I think his reveal was perfectly timed. They’d done the suspenseful build-up of The Sylar Monster without us ever having seen him, and just as he is shadow-ly revealed and included in some action, we’re whipped away to be introduced to him six months ago. Instead of explaining who he is in the present and having to muck through some heavy exposition to cover his back-story, we get a flashback episode where everything is revealed as storyline! Nicely done.

Beautiful music with the included ticking as we scan around Sylar’s apartment in Brooklyn. It’s the obvious Heroes theme, but the ticking is a nice variation on what we hear every week, and it works nicely with the close-up shots of the clock innards. Erick Avari and Zachary have a great little scene in the beginning here, and there are so many nice moments I’m not going to name them all. My favorites are Sylar’s first “I can fix it,” and the amused follow-up expression on Chandra’s face. Zachary also does a great job of looking confused and utterly intrigued as Chandra walks out the door.

It was nice to see Matt step out of that cruiser, but as soon as Eden was revealed I immediately felt bad for him. You just know he’s about to have a really bad night. Only thing I didn’t like was the sighing-monster-growl noise that signified her power of suggestion. Do something weird with her voice, fine, but you don’t need Godzilla heavy-breathing in the background. Funny Godzilla/Masi Oka thing: hxxp: www. youtube. com/watch?v=IEJm0uIVwUc

The only back story I didn’t like was Niki’s, but that might just be because she’s not my favorite character. Ali does a great job with everything she’s given, but I just don’t find myself as invested in her story. Plus, I think they could have written her dad in a little more elegantly. His story seems to clunk a little more than the rest of the episode, and at times it feels forced.

Nathan’s a jackass! Speaking as a female doc-to-be, I applaud the male nurses of the world. (And those nursing shoes, gotta tell you, are amazingly comfy…. seriously. ) It’s great to see Peter smiling and joking in this episode, happy before the weight of the world falls on his shoulders. And I want to meet Mr. Petrelli! I’m sure they’re purposefully not revealing him so he can be cast at a later date when his character will no doubt be central to a plot thread, but this is driving me bonkers that we still haven’t seen him even after two seasons (don’t tell me the fuzzy, blurry picture counts, because it doesn’t). And in the most amazing Heroes moment to date, Angela Petrelli actually says something sweet and supportive to her son.

Peter is so sweet during his discussion with Nathan about outing their father as a Bad Guy. The man refuses to come to his nursing school graduation party, and yet Peter doggedly defends him. This is really the first time we witness this character’s insanely stupid loyalty problem. (Well, no, maybe the Petrelli Family Sunday Brunch counts. ) Someone helps him, or is related to him, and he’ll follow them to the ends of the earth, completely blind to the fact that maybe they’re not exactly out to save the world. If Peter was an animal, he’d be a golden retriever, smart-but-dumb, and loyal to a fault.

Heidi is so energetic here! You can see why Nathan married her—when she’s bouncing around at Peter’s party she’s obviously a total spitfire. And very diplomatic between the boys in conversation. I like this woman! Don’t cheat on her Nathan!

Better yet, don’t fly out of your car and put her in a wheelchair. There’s an idea. But in all seriousness, Nathan, you are such a horrible human being. The favorite, the one with the ‘birthright’, the son who is loved more… And you think Peter is self-righteous?? And who do we think was driving the car that ran them off the road? They presume it’s one of Linderman’s guys, but I want to find out later that it was someone we get to know. Whoever that might be. And sadly, doesn’t the canned scream they attribute to Heidi as the car crashes sound a lot like the awful, fake scream Claire gives as she’s running from Sylar in 1x09 Homecoming? Come one, sound people, step it up.

I have problems with the following scene in the hospital, too: how has the staff let Nathan wander around with that gash on his forehead? If Heidi’s been in surgery for hours at this point, someone would have taken him aside and forced him to accept a clean-up. I don’t think he would have refused care for that long, right? And then we have another patented Peter Flip-Flop. Oh, wait, I will help you squeal on Dad. Forget my whole spiel from earlier. But the coolest thing in the hospital scene is the reflection in the window made by who-knows-what that looks just like the eclipse Heroes logo (right at the end, next to Nathan’s head).

Again, I love the scenes between Sylar and Chandra. Sylar’s line, “So, what, you’re going to cut me open?” is cute, considering his future as a human butcher. Zachary’s delivery of his entire monologue/explanation of how he views his family is wonderful, especially his down-turned eyes and inflection of “insignificant”. And we learn that he’s been simmering for awhile on this idea of changing his name and running away from his father’s pitiful legacy. The best Sylar moment of the episode is his frustrated outburst when Chandra tells him he may not have an ability. Zachary throws such a perfect 7-year-old’s tantrum, flinging the folders. And! In another lovely two-ships-in-the-night moment, we see HRG step out of the cab behind Sylar as he leaves Chandra’s apartment.

The reveal of Jessica as Niki’s sister was good, but I think the story could have had more details. I would have liked them to be identical twins or something. That would make more sense and fit with the future storyline. And boy, does Ali break my heart when she cries. I really like the fact that as Jessica walks into Hal’s hotel room, we watch her first as a reflection in the mirror before the camera actually swings around to Ali.

Now, if anyone can clarify these details for me I’d be grateful: did Hal beat Jessica and only Jessica until he killed her, then switch to Niki? At which point Niki absorbed her dead sister’s personality and then when Hal beat her, Jessica would take over and take the beating, only giving Niki back the reins after the abuse had stopped? So does Niki have the physical power of strength (which Jessica can borrow when in control), and Jessica has the ability to jump her consciousness from a dead body into another one? (That discussion will continue in the review of 2x11 Powerless. ) So Niki doesn’t ever remember him killing her sister, or the subsequent beatings? This all goes a long way towards explaining Jessica’s brutal personality…

Super Dave! David Berman (Brian Davis) plays one of my favorite side characters on CSI. He’s wonderful here, too, perfectly awkward and hesitant about displaying what he can do. I love how hard he has to concentrate just to move the cup. And just as soon as Gabriel Gray finishes his 1917 watch that he’s been working on for seven years—just as soon as he is triumphant and successful in figuring out how it works—he takes the name Sylar and figures out how he himself is supposed to work. Brilliant brilliant brilliant! I just don’t think it looks like he connects with Brian’s head when he swings those crystals at him.

I like that when Sylar goes to see Chandra after acquiring Brian’s power his hair isn’t quite so neatly coiffed, and he doesn’t have the glasses on anymore. He’s shedding Gabriel Gray and coming apart at the seams a little. The spiral downward has begun! The way both actors jump as the glass shoots off the table and breaks is very nicely done, too.

Bits and Pieces:

* In the Previously-On-Heroes recap at the start of the episode, the tape of Sylar talking to Chandra is partially replayed, but this time it’s been re-recorded with Zachary Quinto’s voice instead.
* Have I mentioned how much I like the way they place the chapter titles at the beginning of each episode? This one and Seven Minutes To Midnight are among my favorites.
* Zachary looks adorable with the magnifying glasses on! Then again I think anyone would look cute in them.
* Nice line: “We’ll take pictures—we’ll totally commiserate the event!” “I think you mean commemorate. ”
* Cute cartoon look on Hiro’s face as he looks out at the rain and wishes Charlie happy birthday.
* The dance between Heidi and Nathan is one of very few acceptable instances of the use of a song with lyrics instead of score.
* Is it just me, or is our mild-mannered watchmaker somewhat reminiscent of Clark Kent in his slicked-to-the-side black hair and black-rimmed glasses? I’m sure they didn’t do it entirely on purpose, but the similarity is cool nonetheless, considering that instead of the hero this one’s alter-ego is the villain.
* Very nice cut: as we switch from Sylar’s hopeful “What do you think my abilities could be?” to the laundry list of Eden’s dubious ‘abilities’. Robbery, arson, grand theft auto and possibly murder sound like some special talents there, little lady.
* It’s always fun when the show that is shot in LA and has to pretend to be in every other exotic location imaginable gets to actually shoot in LA and show off some recognizable landmarks like the Staples Center behind Matt.
* Jayma Mays accent is the most endearing thing in the world.
* I love love LOVE the fact that Hiro has a bunch of bandaids on his fingers after he folds the cranes for Charlie. Lots of papercuts! What a wonderful detail.
* I like Janice a little bit more (not much, but a little) now that I know what a crab Matt was to drive her to her affair. She’s still a b****, but living with a depressed and going-nowhere Matt must have been really tough.
* Did Mr. Petrelli really commit suicide? Because the initial story told was a heart-attack, and then Angela admitted to multiple suicide attempts, the last one successful. But now I really think he was murdered (and it was possibly made to look like a suicide?). . . but that's for season 2 discussion.
* Hiro’s and Charlie’s scene together when she tells him she loves him is adorable. Minute problem: Masi drops the accent a little when he says “I’m supposed to save you. ”
* Nice to see when and why Eden was sent to monitor Chandra.

Til next episode, or visit my website for more reviews!
GoldenGait