Heroes 1.19: ".07%"

Written by Chuck Kim
Directed by Adam Kane

Though the hiatus was relatively short, it certainly felt long. Thankfully, the producers understood the value of a quick, concise recap at the beginning of the hour. It quickly reminded me of all the plot threads still up in the air and the impressive potential for a thrilling climax to the season arc. This episode is all about building to that moment, but that doesn’t mean that the writers are resting on their laurels. After all, given the intentions to resolve the majority of plot threads in a given season (think “Lost” meets “24”), there’s a lot still to cover.

Linderman’s central role in the plot to destroy New York is finally revealed, and his reasons are classic “comic book villain” logic. He was one of a handful of powered individuals in his generation, and despite all the best intentions, they fell to the wayside without making a difference. Linderman, a healer, determined that his methods were wrong, not his goals. So he went criminal, built an empire, and now seeks to give the world a reason to come together under a new brand of leadership.

Hence his support for Nathan, who finds himself with a difficult choice. Whatever he might think of Linderman’s plan, he still believes that his leadership can make a difference. And he has clear ambitions. He now believes that Peter could survive his explosion in New York, so the personal loss element is somewhat mitigated. This is an intriguing direction to take with Nathan, with no end to the possible character development.

Niki/Jessica is also caught in Linderman’s web, and Micah’s purpose in the season arc is now revealed. This should push Niki/Jessica towards some sense of common purpose, should Micah be threatened, and if she has a substantial effect on Linderman’s plans in the process, it could help her transition into a hero in the end.

One also gets the impression that Mrs. Petrelli might have been one of Linderman’s previous associates. This would be an interesting twist, because it would help to answer one of the open questions: why wouldn’t Linderman’s former allies try to stop his diabolical plan? He said that they were more focused on personal gains and interests, and Mrs. Petrelli would be a potent example of that.

While it’s hard to imagine how Mohinder managed to get Peter’s body into New York and into the Petrelli residence without anyone batting an eye, this gives Nathan, Peter, and Claire the chance to catch up and discover a few things about each other. As mentioned earlier, Peter might survive his explosion, just as he is the only one to survive a direct assault from Sylar (that we know of). Claire would also be a formidable member of any team fighting Sylar. Even though the body count is rising, the right people are getting together.

Ironically, despite his plan to destroy New York, Linderman and his Company might represent the most useful means of bringing the right resources to bear against a threat like Sylar. After all, they’ve been cataloguing powered individuals for years. Unless Linderman comes to believe that Sylar might be useful, he’s a threat to be eliminated. This is one of the interesting complications in the story: there are two major threats to be resolved, and neither one can be ignored.

Beyond the major themes and plot progressions at play, there were the smaller character moments that worked very well. Candice is an interesting character that deserves more time to develop. Matt’s realization that Mr. Bennett is little more than middle management is a priceless scene. Mohinder’s ongoing attempt to fight Sylar, despite having no apparent ability, shows his heroic side. And Malcolm McDowell’s performance is always worth the time. “Heroes” is certainly living up to expectation as the first season drives to its conclusion.

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

Final Rating: 8/10