The Dope Box TV Blog

Heroes, NBC TV series, Mondays

Hiro eats some magical guano that makes his irises snowy and prompts flashbacks to the previous year. The cynic in me thinks the flashbacks were a ploy to get the apathetic fans interested again. I’d like to say I was immune to this ruse but…it was damn nice to be reminded of why I became a fan to begin with. It was also nice to have a virtually Claire-less and Peter-free episode.

In a plotline almost entirely bitten from La Femme Nikita, Meredith is criminal turned agent by the Company. They’ve captured her dim brother, promising (with fingers crossed so it doesn’t count) to make him an agent too. She chooses bro over foe and busts him out. While fireball production isn’t exactly a coveted power, this character has potential. She deserves more screen time than she’s been getting. Sans cheerleader, please.

It’s clear that Angela Petrelli’s mind had been excessively excavated by Arthur (who is so tan he looks green). She appeared near lobotomized before Linderman healed her. She makes the best of her healed mind, making a scrumptious pot of lentil death soup for her assailant. That Linderman, I don’t know what we’re supposed to think of him. What was his motivation for healing her?

The most interesting vignette for me was of Gabriel/Sylar and Elle (with HRG/Noah). Gabriel, before becoming full-on Sylar, apparently felt so guilty about his emerging “hunger” that he tried to off himself via noose. Elle is playing undercover agent on a mission to observe just how screwy the watch-repairer is. Clearly, Gabriel takes a liking to electro-girl which is only exacerbated by her total exploitation of peach pie (no pie-teasing, ladies, it’s just wrong).

In a stunning final scene, Arthur appears out of nowhere, beheads Usutu (thanks!) and lets Hiro know the jig is up.

The episode’s title is “Villains” which leads me to wonder…which of these characters are we to believe are bad? We’re shown humanity from those thought previously foul. They added some much needed layers that make choosing the villains a more subjective game. Linderman, Sylar, Angela, Thompson, Elle…villains? Or misunderstood?

“I lied; it’s not your mother’s recipe.” -Angela

Heroes, NBC television series, Mondays

I really want to like this show. It used to be easy. One big problem with it is there is no one to root for. None of the characters have been properly developed because so much time is devoted to twisty plotlines and emerging heroes.

When Hiro says “villain,” it sounds like he’s saying “vegan.” Not exactly intimidating to have someone yelling “I am a vegan!” at you.

 Aw, Maya hurts Suresh’s feelings by refusing to be near him. Sheesh, you encase a girl in a gelatinous cocoon one time and she never forgives you.

Obvious question of the week: After Elle involuntarily electrocutes herself, over and over, Claire asks, “Is something wrong with you?”

And so they went, off to see the wizard. Elle calls Claire “Dorothy” but isn’t it the scarecrow who needs a brain?

Peter falls about a zillion stories but doesn’t die. Yay?

 Parkman is supposed to be a brilliant mind reader. How can he not know that the chick he’s with is setting him up?

As Sylar is suspended in midair by Daddy Petrelli, something became clear to me. Wire harnesses make no one’s ass look attractive. They can make the wire equipment invisible but they can’t keep you from looking like you have a load in your drawers.

Out of the whole lineup of “heroes,” I enjoy Sylar the most. He’s got the most layers and is the only one with a sense of humor.

Fingers crossed that next week’s episode won’t make me sleepy!

 ”I wish I had your problems, Cheerleader.” -Elle