Heroes 1.12: "Godsend"

While the winter hiatus left many fans less than pleased with the long wait, there does seem to be a certain value to the scheduling. One could almost see this as the beginning of a new season, considering how much of the episode is devoted to setting the stage for the next arc in the story. In fact, this is a good jumping-on point for the series, because there are a number of transitional elements that give the writers time to show the audience the state of play in the “Heroes” universe.

Nearly every single subplot moves forward to some degree, as the characters begin to interact more often and the dynamics shift. Once Nathan, Hiro, and Isaac are in the same room, the writers manage to connect some of the dots, widening the scope of the situation while further defining the future progression of the story. While Simone still feels like an odd distraction from the rest of the story, the implications overpower whatever problems might result from her lack of chemistry with everyone else in the room.

While the majority of the villainous behavior has been attributed to Mr. Bennett and Sylar, another troubling presence has been mentioned several times since the very beginning: Linderman. At first, he was presented as Nathan’s corrupt rival for political power (or the man behind the rival, as the case may be). His involvement in the Nathan/Niki situation, where Mr. Bennett managed to get into the hotel at just the right time, suggested a connection to the big picture. But what if Linderman is actually more of a threat than Mr. Bennett?

What struck me in this episode was the reinforcement of the fact that Linderman has been collecting Isaac’s paintings for some time. If Peter and Hiro could make the connection between Isaac’s paintings and prediction of the future, then why couldn’t Linderman make the same connection? And if Linderman is corrupt and willing to use that information to pursue his own interests, he could be positioning himself as a major threat.

Meanwhile, given the fact that this episode takes place two weeks after the previous episode, the majority of the time is setting up the new status quo. Hiro is still on his journey, and he is still the breakout character, delivering the majority of the comic material throughout the hour. Niki and Jessica appear to be vying for control of their mutual body more than ever, and Ali Larter manages to pull off the transitions very well. Claire struggles with the idea of keeping her ability secret, and her impulsive decision to show Zach the truth again could have horrific consequences.

Matt’s situation is particularly interesting because he has all but exhausted the legal resources to stop Sylar. Despite his earlier successes, his lack of progress since Sylar’s capture has destroyed his credibility. This should serve to test his heroism, especially if he think it would be more effective to take vigilante action. If Mohinder contacts him sooner rather than later, they could work together to gather others on the list to oppose Mr. Bennett’s organization. That’s a relatively simple solution, but it could serve as the trigger for the emergence of the eventual “team”, should one develop.

This episode also introduced the character of Claude, a man with the ability to turn himself (and apparently anything or anyone he touches) invisible. Thanks to a timely vision, Peter realizes that he will be an important element in his near future. Claude is still a complete mystery at this point, but it does bring up the question of Peter’s visions again. Where are the visions coming from, and are they connected to Isaac’s ability in any way? The answer to those questions could be of major importance to the “24” universe.

Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4

Final Rating: 8/10