Heroes 1.15: "Run!"

Written by Adam Armus and Kay Foster
Directed by Roxann Dawson

It’s comforting to know that Nathan was apparently unaware of Claire’s existence. The writers immediately take the story in a logical direction: Nathan sees this news as a threat to his election hopes. That should make things rather interesting if he should discover that Claire and Peter are friends. It could drive more of a wedge between the two brothers. It’s certainly a test of Nathan’s character, especially when his mother is dispensing such negative advice.

Claire should have expected that her gambit would be uncovered, given her knowledge of her father’s unusual activities. This addresses one of the apparent plot holes in the previous episode, where it seemed like Claire was having too easy a time dodging detection. Under the current circumstances, especially her biological mother’s attitude, she must be wondering if she made a mistake. It would be interesting if Mr. Bennett destroyed his wife’s memory to punish Claire.

Unfortunately, the promotion arm of NBC did this episode a disservice by stating, quite clearly, that Claire would meet her biological father within the hour. That didn’t happen, which was a little disappointing, though she manages to see him from a distance. The plot thread brings up some great elements for future exploration, especially given the confrontation between Nathan and Meredith.

Jessica’s control over Niki’s body is an intriguing shift in that plot thread. Jessica’s instability makes her a more interesting character overall, and her connections to Linderman make her an interesting potential villain. Ali Larter plays the bad girl extremely well, and it’s always fun to see her toy with those expecting an easy mark.

With his own life at a crossroads, it only seems fitting that Matt would be tested yet again. Just the thought of Matt squaring off against Jessica brings up some interesting potentials. Niki’s presence presented an interesting issue, even if the possibilities weren’t fully explored in the limited amount of time afforded that plot thread. That said, this experience might be a reason for Matt to search out other with abilities, especially if he doesn’t think his future is very bright. The fact that Jessica is coming for Nathan could lead into those portentous meetings.

As one would imagine, based on his father’s experience, Mohinder has a difficult time getting people on the list to respond. It certainly moves the story along to have Sylar come and visit the first person to call Mohinder back. Now he’s in the perfect position to find others with abilities, all in the name of “helping” Mohinder. This episode also seems to bear out the idea that Sylar is able to gain control over a newly acquired ability very quickly.

It’s great to see Ando taking such a direct role in helping Hiro find his heroic calling. All things being equal, it’s not just about saving the world. It’s about protecting the powerless from the powerful, even for something as minor as a dancing girl’s handbag. Of course, this being Ando and Hiro, it’s not quite that simple. It’s a little disappointing to think of Hiro and Ando being split apart for a while, but in all fairness, Ando could use a chance to shine.

Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 1/4

Final Rating: 7/10