Heroes Discussion – “String Theory”

A glimpse of the future should their mission fail. There are few shows that can reveal the future, and make me more excited about what’s about to come, but this was one of them. (High point: “No. Let’s go fix it.”)

28 replies on “Heroes Discussion – “String Theory””

  1. they pulled it off
    Well, I was very suspicious about any "Time -Tripping" eppisode, considering how many others have done it very badly. But, without using spoilers, I CAN say that I was pleased with this ep.

    As far as spoilers go, however, but I and my wife noticed that, despite what the teasers would lead us to believe, The Heroes DIDN’T learn much about the future. – All of the REALLY COOL revelations (Syler & Nathan, Matt & Bennett, and most of peter’s stuff) were when neither Ando or Hiro were present. SO, while the AUDIENCE learned a bunch… Most of it was lost to the characters. Which I thought was kinda chintzie… and my wife thought was quite annoying

    • Re: they pulled it off

      Well, I was very suspicious about any "Time -Tripping" eppisode, considering how many others have done it very badly. But, without using spoilers, I CAN say that I was pleased with this ep.

      As far as spoilers go, however, but I and my wife noticed that, despite what the teasers would lead us to believe, The Heroes DIDN’T learn much about the future. – All of the REALLY COOL revelations (Syler & Nathan, Matt & Bennett, and most of peter’s stuff) were when neither Ando or Hiro were present. SO, while the AUDIENCE learned a bunch… Most of it was lost to the characters. Which I thought was kinda chintzie… and my wife thought was quite annoying

      It was a good episode… of course like you said, since Hiro is going back to make the necessary changes, that future most likely won’t happen and we are left as much in the dark as before. I was thinking "wow cool, Sylar blew up NY, not Peter", but in the end they’re still gunning for bomb-stoppage and what happened probably will not happen now.

      Obviously we learn how much Ando matters to Hiro and how good of a guy HRG seems to be when it’s all said and done.

      Nikki’s loss of Jessica is weird and unexplained… but I’ve never care for her anyway. Not sure why they threw that in.

      • Re: they pulled it off

        Nikki’s loss of Jessica is weird and unexplained… but I’ve never care for her anyway. Not sure why they threw that in.

        It shows she at least had some success in the 5 years, and helps to show that there really was alot of action in those intervening 5 years. She didn’t seem to have the strength anymore, but did Peter have it?

        Also, I couldn’t tell if Peter could control more than one power at once.

        And lastly, how was Syler able to hide from Parkman for 5 years?

        • Re: they pulled it off


          And lastly, how was Syler able to hide from Parkman for 5 years?

          That one is kinda easy, if you consider Parkman IS a loyal American. Reading the mind of the President is beyond rude and (in that environment) probably grounds for arrest.

          • Re: they pulled it off


            And lastly, how was Syler able to hide from Parkman for 5 years?

            That one is kinda easy, if you consider Parkman IS a loyal American. Reading the mind of the President is beyond rude and (in that environment) probably grounds for arrest.

            I think one also has to consider the possibility that Parkman knew it was Syler. Consider that he was very nervous about bringing Claire to "the President" after losing Future Hiro. Perhaps Parkman was playing both sides; using Bennett to hide his wife and son (a special?) while simultaneously making a deal with Syler (in exchange for Syler promising not to go after his son?). Sounds perhaps a bit out of character for him but not unimaginable for someone who can read minds.

            Of course all this speculation is probably moot, since Hiro will go back and change the timeline again in some meaningful way (otherwise why bother to give us this glimpse if things will stay the same), but fun to speculate nonetheless.

      • Re: they pulled it off

        It was a good episode… of course like you said, since Hiro is going back to make the necessary changes, that future most likely won’t happen and we are left as much in the dark as before.

        Don’t bet on it. Hiro in the future stabbed Sylar, who then regenerated, five years previously. However, Sylar didn’t have the ability to regenerate until the events we saw last night. Therefore, Hiro didn’t stab Sylar, but instead stabbed someone who could look like Sylar and regenerate like Claire. My bet is that Peter will be exposed to Candace’s abilities, and morph into Sylar in the presence of Hiro in an attempt to commit suicide and prevent himself from blowing up New York. The Peter of the future never heard the specific plan, and probably didn’t realize that helping meant causing the past he was trying to prevent.

        • Re: they pulled it off

          It was a good episode… of course like you said, since Hiro is going back to make the necessary changes, that future most likely won’t happen and we are left as much in the dark as before.

          Don’t bet on it. Hiro in the future stabbed Sylar, who then regenerated, five years previously. However, Sylar didn’t have the ability to regenerate until the events we saw last night. Therefore, Hiro didn’t stab Sylar, but instead stabbed someone who could look like Sylar and regenerate like Claire. My bet is that Peter will be exposed to Candace’s abilities, and morph into Sylar in the presence of Hiro in an attempt to commit suicide and prevent himself from blowing up New York. The Peter of the future never heard the specific plan, and probably didn’t realize that helping meant causing the past he was trying to prevent.

          Future Hiro never went to the future like the current Hiro did. That means that Future Hiro somehow was not changed by the time that he changed when he went back into the past and told Peter to "Save the Cheerleader". Someone else mentioned that it seems like they are using the time travel theory used in "Back to the Future". It also seems the Isaac could see through all these weird time warps as well.

          • Re: they pulled it off

            It was a good episode… of course like you said, since Hiro is going back to make the necessary changes, that future most likely won’t happen and we are left as much in the dark as before.

            Don’t bet on it. Hiro in the future stabbed Sylar, who then regenerated, five years previously. However, Sylar didn’t have the ability to regenerate until the events we saw last night. Therefore, Hiro didn’t stab Sylar, but instead stabbed someone who could look like Sylar and regenerate like Claire. My bet is that Peter will be exposed to Candace’s abilities, and morph into Sylar in the presence of Hiro in an attempt to commit suicide and prevent himself from blowing up New York. The Peter of the future never heard the specific plan, and probably didn’t realize that helping meant causing the past he was trying to prevent.

            Future Hiro never went to the future like the current Hiro did. That means that Future Hiro somehow was not changed by the time that he changed when he went back into the past and told Peter to "Save the Cheerleader". Someone else mentioned that it seems like they are using the time travel theory used in "Back to the Future". It also seems the Isaac could see through all these weird time warps as well.

            The Kwisatz Haderach can see all possible future timelines ;-).

        • Re: they pulled it off

          Hiro in the future stabbed Sylar, who then regenerated, five years previously. However, Sylar didn’t have the ability to regenerate

          Linderman…

    • Re: they pulled it off

      Well, I was very suspicious about any "Time -Tripping" eppisode, considering how many others have done it very badly. But, without using spoilers, I CAN say that I was pleased with this ep.

      As far as spoilers go, however, but I and my wife noticed that, despite what the teasers would lead us to believe, The Heroes DIDN’T learn much about the future. – All of the REALLY COOL revelations (Syler & Nathan, Matt & Bennett, and most of peter’s stuff) were when neither Ando or Hiro were present. SO, while the AUDIENCE learned a bunch… Most of it was lost to the characters. Which I thought was kinda chintzie… and my wife thought was quite annoying

      Yeah, but one thing I noticed is how much the future characters were impacted in their involvement of getting Hiro back to the past. Mohinder, Peter, future Hiro, all stepped up to help Hiro escape. That I feel was important. Also Hiro seeing himself die and the information Ando got about his future, or lack thereof, were important parts they picked up.

      This show is totally amazing!! Its better than Galactica!!

      • Re: they pulled it off

        This show is totally amazing!! Its better than Galactica!!

        Hey now, let’s not go that far just yet. I reserve that kind of judgement until season finale & resulting time before it comes back.

    • Re: they pulled it off

      As far as spoilers go, however, but I and my wife noticed that, despite what the teasers would lead us to believe, The Heroes DIDN’T learn much about the future. – All of the REALLY COOL revelations (Syler & Nathan, Matt & Bennett, and most of peter’s stuff) were when neither Ando or Hiro were present. SO, while the AUDIENCE learned a bunch… Most of it was lost to the characters. Which I thought was kinda chintzie… and my wife thought was quite annoying

      That didn’t irritate me. This eq was for us the viewers, and less . I like the fact that unlike Lost this show is always rewarding you with another piece of the puzzle. They keep adding layers of mystery, but they are peeling them back just as far.

  2. Great Episode
    I enjoyed the Matrix references in there, with the security guards looking on in shock, and all the soldiers coming out and not shooting. Also right before the Peter v. Syler fight Peter stands there looking exactly like Neo does.

    I also liked how the clues for the big surprise in the episode worked out. My reaction: Candace? What? Oh! DAMN

    Syler managed to kill DL as well as Nathan, and maybe Micah. Also, Nikki didn’t appear to have super strength without Jessica. This was shown when she threw the glass at the screen.

    • Re: Great Episode

      I enjoyed the Matrix references in there, with the security guards looking on in shock, and all the soldiers coming out and not shooting. Also right before the Peter v. Syler fight Peter stands there looking exactly like Neo does.

      I thought the same thing about Peter looking like Neo. That scene was too short.

      I gotta admit they had me fooled about Nathan for a little bit. He is such a self-serving guy that I could buy into his actions. Plus Sylar didn’t seem like he was capable of waiting so long just to find and gain Claire’s power (so he could then be the undying ultimately powerful nutjob). He always seems more rash then that.

      • Re: Great Episode

        I gotta admit they had me fooled about Nathan for a little bit. He is such a self-serving guy that I could buy into his actions.

        I forgot to put that in my first post… I could so completely believe the comparison between Nathan and Hitler there. It wasn’t even surprising what he was saying so I didn’t consider the clues until that apparent non-sequitur.

      • Re: Great Episode

        Plus Sylar didn’t seem like he was capable of waiting so long just to find and gain Claire’s ….

        That was revealed in the process of this episode. He didn’t know about that for the whole five year time. Bennett kept that hidden even from Parkman until the scean near the end of the ep. Then, once the President was informed that his daughter was infact alive and found…

    • Re: Great Episode

      Syler managed to kill DL as well as Nathan, and maybe Micah. Also, Nikki didn’t appear to have super strength without Jessica. This was shown when she threw the glass at the screen.

      I got the impression that they died when Peter blew up New York.

      • Re: Great Episode

        Syler managed to kill DL as well as Nathan, and maybe Micah. Also, Nikki didn’t appear to have super strength without Jessica. This was shown when she threw the glass at the screen.

        I got the impression that they died when Peter blew up New York.

        Peter and Nikki think they died then, but Syler was using Nathan and DL’s powers.

        • Re: Great Episode

          Syler managed to kill DL as well as Nathan, and maybe Micah. Also, Nikki didn’t appear to have super strength without Jessica. This was shown when she threw the glass at the screen.

          I got the impression that they died when Peter blew up New York.

          Peter and Nikki think they died then, but Syler was using Nathan and DL’s powers.

          Bing! Let’s not forget that Linderman wants Micah to do (build?) something for him. Peter may only have thought that he was responsible for the explosion. We (and Nathan) know that Linderman wants the explosion badly, so it’s just as likely that whatever Micah does/builds was the actual cause of the event.

    • Re: Great Episode

      Syler managed to kill DL as well as Nathan, and maybe Micah. Also, Nikki didn’t appear to have super strength without Jessica. This was shown when she threw the glass at the screen.

      An idea that I had while watching this episode is that Syler may have "killed" Jessica and got her strength, but Nikki wasn’t killed. It looked to me like Nikki couldn’t access the Jessica side of her personality even though she maybe wanted to. Of course, if Hiro succeeds in his mission, this episode didn’t really happen, so who knows what might occour in the "new" future.

    • Re: Great Episode

      Nikki didn’t appear to have super strength without Jessica. This was shown when she threw the glass at the screen.

      Nikki threatened to break a man’s neck with just one hand.

  3. Awesome episode.
    I really dug it, especially how bad ass future Peter was. That guy did a good job with the acting.

    My favorite line? "I scare me." haha.

  4. Wrong Title
    I would like to note that this episode is called "Five Years Gone"

    "String Theory" is the graphic novel that ends at the last scene of ".07%"

    • Re: Wrong Title
      String theory is what my Tivo called it…I forgot to notice what the episode called it…

  5. Oh, yea, I do have a complaint!
    My only complaint is that they didn’t let us see any of the fights :/ I would have loved to see the one where future Hiro and Peter stormed the building and the one between Sylar and Peter. That would have been great.

    • Re: Oh, yea, I do have a complaint!

      My only complaint is that they didn’t let us see any of the fights :/ I would have loved to see the one where future Hiro and Peter stormed the building and the one between Sylar and Peter. That would have been great.

      That would have been 10-15 minutes.

      • Re: Oh, yea, I do have a complaint!

        That would have been 10-15 minutes.

        Yeah, 10-15 minutes of awesome.

    • Re: Oh, yea, I do have a complaint!

      My only complaint is that they didn’t let us see any of the fights :/ I would have loved to see the one where future Hiro and Peter stormed the building and the one between Sylar and Peter. That would have been great.

      They seem to be keeping super-being violence to a relative minimum compared to what one might expect from a comic book. This is either because when they show violence they want it to be pretty graphic (as evidenced by virtually all of Sylar’s acts) and so have to keep the actual violent minutes to a minimum to satisfy "standards and practices," or they’re ramping up to a big payoff with multiple super-beings going wild and want that action to be as cool and surprising as possible. The corollary to the latter would be that every TV show has to keep to a budget, so they’re saving their effects pennies for "the big one" (see BSG for what happens when you spend too much of the budget early in the season). :)

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