DonnaK:  Usual warnings, of course…

**SPOILER ALERT!!! SPOILERS BELOW!!! LOOK OUT FOR SPOILERS!!!!!**

I have to say I’m refreshingly surprised at how well Heroes is doing so far this season. Of course, we’re only on week two so I’m not about to start throwing parties yet, but I’m hoping that The Heroes gang can hold it together for at least a little longer. Call me crazy, but both Jim and I have been feeling like before Fuller left for greener pastures he left one mother of an outline, an arc for this season that, if followed, will keep the show on track. This season simply feels a lot more like Fuller than Kring (thank the gods) and if that is indeed the case I think we might have a chance for a good season of the show. I’m keeping it short again this week and just hitting you with my lists of things I liked, things about which I was ambivalent, and things I disliked.

THINGS I LIKED:

—More Robert Knepper! I so love Knepper’s addition to the cast and I’m quite intrigued by his character, Samuel. Samuel’s power is an interesting one - something we’ve not seen on the show before. We’ve had fire masters and water masters, but Samuel is our first earth master. It’s a bold power that, if used correctly, could be devastatingly powerful. I like the ambiguity of his character and how we can’t be sure if his intentions are noble or sinister… or perhaps a little of both. I’m very interested to see where they go with this character and I’m overjoyed at Knepper’s portrayal. I just wish he could keep his accent a bit more consistent.
—Sylar vs. Parkman. I’m absolutely enthralled by the mental duel between Parkman and Sylar. This is a fantastic way to keep Sylar on the show and to have potentially an amazing story arc. We know from last week that “Nathan”‘s body retained Sylar’s powers, but it’s really starting to feel like the true essence of Sylar - his soul, if you will - is now inside of Parkman. How long can Parkman hold out against the powerful mind and drive of Sylar? How long until the young Jedi Parkman turns into the evil Sith Lord Sylar? Dig if you will this picture - Sylar’s mind in Parkman’s body with Parkman’s IMMENSE power. With Parkman’s ability he could rule the world, which is of course Sylar’s dream. My bet is that Parkman will be whittled away a little more each week until Sylar’s mind takes over. This could be the new evil that the heroes must band together to stop - Sylar inside of Matt. Loving this storyline and loving the acting done by both Quinto and Grunberg in it.
—No Mohinder! I’m sorry, I know this makes me a horrible person, but I’m seriously enjoying the lack of Mohinder on the show. There’s just something about his character that has rubbed me the wrong way for a while and it’s just nice to get a reprieve from him.

THINGS ABOUT WHICH I WAS AMBIVALENT:

—The introduction of a new hero. Emma seems perfectly nice with an interesting power… but do we really need another hero? How about we deal with some of the older heroes that have been forgotten or lost in the past first, eh? Besides, it seems as though Emma *might* be a retread of Monica with her ability to learn the cello that quickly. I’d honestly rather see Monica again than meet another new hero. I guess time will tell on this one.

THINGS I DISLIKED:

—Claire in college. Yep… really not enjoying this storyline. It’s boring, it drags, I don’t like the casting of Madeline Zima as Gretchen, and Claire is being her usual, gullible self. I’m tired of it and I don’t care. If Claire’s storyline had been replaced with more of Nathan this episode would have shined. Instead I felt it dragged in spots because this storyline is just not at all interesting.
—No Nathan. I know we are going to have to dole this story out in small doses, but I just kept thinking that juxtaposing Nathan’s struggle with Sylar with Matt’s struggle with Sylar would have made for a much more consistent and interesting arc for the episode than watching Claire. I’m quite intrigued to see where they’re going to go with Nathan/Sylar and not having that crucial story played out even a little this week disappointed me, especially since Sylar/Matt was the frontburner story of the week.

All in all, I’d say this was another solid four-star episode. I loved the Parkman/Sylar story and I’m very anxious to see it play out and I’m also loving the addition of Samuel. If we could just move off of Claire and onto a more interesting story-arc I could see this rating climbing. I’m still holding out hope for you, Heroes. Don’t let me down.