# Heroes 9/22 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 23, 2008, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroes-9-22/464773 "2008-09-23T01:28:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroes-9-22/464773/81 "2008-09-23T20:57:51Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > _That’s_ who Mr. Hinkley was. I was trying to figure that out.. The funny thing about it is that Katt character in The Greatest American Hero was originally named Hinkley but it was changed after a dude named Hinkley tried to kill Reagan. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroes-9-22/464773/82 "2008-09-23T20:59:02Z")
> [@Scupper](#): > > And I apologize, **Lightray** , for my snarky tone earlier about getting my own say, but it did sound an awful lot like you were saying criticism of the episode was not welcome in this thread. Nah, criticism of the episode is why I’d read these threads. Heck, I criticize myself. Criticism of Heroes not being something other than Heroes really belongs in its own thread. (IMO) Sometimes these threads read like: \: Another time-travel MacGuffin! This is so stupid! \: Ummm, there is a time-travel guy, of _course_ we’re getting time-travel MacGuffins. _repeat ad-infinitum_ Meanwhile there might be a highly interesting discussion of Mama Petrelli mind-controlling her sons going on that is relevant to the episode. … okay, I kid. _That_ could never happen. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sycorax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@Sycorax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sycorax)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroes-9-22/464773/83 "2008-09-23T20:59:59Z")
Oh boy – mixed emotions here too. I was s-o-o-o happy to have the show back, I was ready to overlook and forgive just about anything, and when it was over, I felt dissatisfied. There was so much going on, and so many changes in the characters that I’ve considered going online to see the shows again, but I don’t think that would help. Someone said the shows were sloppy, and I thought, yes, that was my reaction – it was all over the place. As though the writers decided they had to make up for the last season by throwing in a whole bunch of new plots/subplots, character changes, locations, etc., etc. Oh, and the bit where Hiro’s father leaves him the message about the forumula was the one thing that almost made me laugh. He tells Hiro about it, probably knowing Hiro will want to get to it, then when Hiro does, there’s another message from his father saying (in so many words) ‘I told you not to remove the formula!’ If the formula was safe in the safe, why tell Hiro at all? I’m glad Mohinder got some (he is a hunk, eh?), but the “mad scientist” thing was a bit much. Previous seasons, he’s one of the few rational humans in the show, and he suddenly goes beserk with just the thought of acquiring superhuman powers. Re Lindermann: It was my impression that he healed Nathan; didn’t Nathan, upon seeing Lindermann say something like “so it was you”? I recall that Lindermann healed Nathan’s wheelchair-bound wife. (Whatever happened to her, I wonder.) ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroes-9-22/464773/84 "2008-09-23T21:18:14Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > Because I really, really want to like it. > There are visual moments that make me sit up and think “cool,” there are snippets of storylines that could head to an interesting place, there are ideas that could make great television if explored correctly. So I watch hoping that this week the writers and showrunners will get through their growing pains (which many shows have)…and instead I end up slightly frustrated because the show is not living up to its potential and knowing how many things could have been fixed with just a little more attention to detail, pacing, and plot. Seconded. I tuned in last night, and will likely give it two or three more episodes depending, because I liked this show and want to continue to like this show. Instead I find myself liking it less and less. It’s tremendously flawed, embracing the most predictable traits of comic books and ignoring the most interesting. Hero dies? Not for long. Need to get the plot a’movin? Try Dead Father Ex Machina or the ole meddling time traveler. And let’s not forget to brood people. Nobody wants to see happy faces. Right now, all I want is for the villains to be more than generic evil. At least Adam had some motivation beyond just being evil. I’m not encouraged that the first thing the frightful four did after escaping prison is to beat and fry two people at a gas station for no apparent reason other than to establish how eeeeevil they are. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroes-9-22/464773/85 "2008-09-23T21:26:47Z")
> [@Sycorax](#): > > (Whatever happened to her, I wonder.) I think last season it was shown that his family left him for being an alcoholic. At least i remember him sneaking visits with his kids through a fence. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroes-9-22/464773/86 "2008-09-23T21:32:46Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > Sylar is a watchmaker. He digs around in their brains to see how their brain works, how it is put together. He’s looking for what’s different in his victims’ brains. He then rearranges his own to be like the ones he’s examined. > > That’s one of the cool ideas. Do we know that for sure? How does he rearrange his own brain? I didn’t think we ever really saw _how_ Sylar acquired powers. But it’s certainly possible I forgot. One more cool scene I forgot to mention: Mama Petrelli’s dream, with all the horror stuff, esp. Claire’s head watching her own body get dragged off. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroes-9-22/464773/87 "2008-09-23T22:17:24Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > Do we know that for sure? How does he rearrange his own brain? I didn’t think we ever really saw _how_ Sylar acquired powers. But it’s certainly possible I forgot. > > One more cool scene I forgot to mention: Mama Petrelli’s dream, with all the horror stuff, esp. Claire’s head watching her own body get dragged off. I don’t think Sylar has to rearrage his brain, just learn how others do their thing. Mama Petrelli’s dream was interesting. I wonder if Sylar appeared behind her because he’s the bad guy leader, or he’s there to save mama. Whatever happened to Haitian? I can’t remember. ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_Next\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@Girl\_Next\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_Next_Door)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroes-9-22/464773/88 "2008-09-23T22:28:01Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Whatever happened to Haitian? I can’t remember. LOL! Good one! ---
**Author:** ![ladybug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@ladybug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladybug)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroes-9-22/464773/89 "2008-09-23T22:58:42Z")
> [@Girl\_Next\_Door](#): > > Was it just me, or was there an obvious homage to [Halloween](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077651/) when Claire was in the closet hiding with the knife? It’s not just you. I was waiting for Sylar to smash through the closet door wearing a repainted Captain Kirk mask. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroes-9-22/464773/90 "2008-09-24T02:27:42Z")
David Anders (Sark from **Alias** ) was also listed in the credits, but I didn’t see him. WTF? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroes-9-22/464773/91 "2008-09-24T02:52:29Z")
We had a superpowered humans in the real world show that was excellent in all the ways that “Heroes” is not; it was called “The 4400” and it was cancelled because no one (except me) was watching it. Bah. ---
**Author:** ![WilhelmGefallen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9f8e36/32.png) [@WilhelmGefallen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WilhelmGefallen)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroes-9-22/464773/92 "2008-09-24T03:36:18Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > I don’t think Sylar has to rearrage his brain, just learn how others do their thing. > > Mama Petrelli’s dream was interesting. I wonder if Sylar appeared behind her because he’s the bad guy leader, or he’s there to save mama. I think it’s because he’s working with Mama Petrelli, he appeared behind her just like the Haitian used to. Now I thought I saw Kristen Bell in with the group that Mama Petrelli was facing off against, so that could mean that Sylar is going to become a(n anti-)hero? \*\*\*\* to the people who missed the NYC painting \*\*\* The painting in NYC is on the docks just after Mohinder has thrown the mugger away, given that Isaac has been dead for a few months at this point and it looks brand new I’d assume that it wasn’t him that painted it. With the introduction of Bruce Boxleitner Im hoping that the guest stars are now going to come from B5 as well rather than Star Trek alone. ---
**Author:** ![WilhelmGefallen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9f8e36/32.png) [@WilhelmGefallen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WilhelmGefallen)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroes-9-22/464773/93 "2008-09-24T03:37:18Z")
> [@Frostillicus](#): > > David Anders (Sark from **Alias** ) was also listed in the credits, but I didn’t see him. WTF? He was in the dream that Mama Petrelli had. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroes-9-22/464773/94 "2008-09-24T03:45:56Z")
> [@WilhelmGefallen](#): > > Now I thought I saw Kristen Bell in with the group that Mama Petrelli was facing off against, so that could mean that Sylar is going to become a(n anti-)hero? That’s what I’m thinking. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroes-9-22/464773/95 "2008-09-24T05:05:43Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > Sylar is a watchmaker. He digs around in their brains to see how their brain works, how it is put together. He’s looking for what’s different in his victims’ brains. He then rearranges his own to be like the ones he’s examined. > > That’s one of the cool ideas. That’s my feeling as well. I think he has taken the brains in the past because he needed time to study them and he didn’t want to get caught in the act (and also to feed the rumor that he eats the brains). I have a feeling he doesn’t really need to pop the top to learn what he wants, he just thinks he does. He seems able to see that people have abilities before he opens their head. ---
**Author:** ![AllWalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/db5fbb/32.png) [@AllWalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AllWalker)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroes-9-22/464773/96 "2008-09-24T05:42:52Z")
I have to say, I am enjoying how nuts they’ve gone with the first two eps. I’ll be happy if it all makes sense in the long run but damn! how crazy. They’re not even pretending to be sensible anymore. Sylar: My mother is dead. Mama Petrelli: No, Sylar I _am_ your mother! Sylar: No! That’s not true! That’s impossible! They may as well have written it like that. I laughed at that revelation. Ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroes-9-22/464773/97 "2008-09-24T06:41:19Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > If she were to shoot him in the head, as Adam said, “there’s no coming back from that one.” I would assume that Adam had seen this happen sometime in the last 400 years. Or he’s smart enough to realise that faking a vulnerability can be useful. > [@](#): > > I haven’t seen evidence the teleportation power works like that. If he were to do that, _he_ would have had to TP to the pacific, and there goes the ability to do the switcheroo that he wanted to do. Can’t Peter stop time? Or at the very least, couldn’t he just teleport there and back _quickly_? ---
**Author:** ![Scoundrel\_Swanswater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@Scoundrel\_Swanswater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoundrel_Swanswater)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroes-9-22/464773/98 "2008-09-24T09:35:11Z")
> [@Sateryn76](#): > > Except I was unhappy to see that William Katt was gone so quickly. I was looking forward to seeing him act again ☹ I am not so sure he is dead yet. When the camera panned to the frozen droplets I was expecting them to start melting again and join together to reform him. Wasn’t he the guy in X-Men who turned into a puddle? The shot was also very similar to the one near the ending in Terminator-2 where the terminator had been frozen and blown to smithereens. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroes-9-22/464773/99 "2008-09-24T12:22:43Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > Sometimes these threads read like: > > \: Another time-travel MacGuffin! This is so stupid! > \: Ummm, there is a time-travel guy, of _course_ we’re getting time-travel MacGuffins. > _repeat ad-infinitum_ You know, if they had different time travel McGuffins you might have a point but for three seasons in a row they’ve lead off with the **exact same time travel plot line**. With infinite possibilities they choose to do the same story over and over again. With the problems of last season where while it was airing we were told that they realized their problems and were revamping. So I gave things another chance and was disappointed. I’m willing to give it another week or two but I’m on the verge of tuning out permanently. > [@Scoundrel\_Swanswater](#): > > I am not so sure he is dead yet. > When the camera panned to the frozen droplets I was expecting them to start melting again and join together to reform him. I’m going to be annoyed if next week the reporter has “mysteriously vanished” rather than “been found reduced to a twenty foot across bloody mess coating a parking garage”. A drain doesn’t get rid of evidence. Especially that much evidence across that much area. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroes-9-22/464773/100 "2008-09-24T12:56:09Z")
> [@Just\_Some\_Guy](#): > > With the problems of last season where while it was airing we were told that they realized their problems and were revamping. So I gave things another chance and was disappointed. I’m willing to give it another week or two but I’m on the verge of tuning out permanently. They _did_ revamp. They even gave a shout-out to what they revamped – Hiro swore off going into the past. _That_ is what they felt was the problem. Obviously, they believe that starting out with the flash-forward is successful for them. **Scoundrel Swanswater** the guy from X-Men was [Bruce Davidson](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001117/); different guy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroes-9-22/464773.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroes-9-22/464773.md?page=6)