Heroes: Truth or Consequences

This week, we meet a new hero named Arthur with the ability to leap over carnivorous marine life1. Actually, it wasn’t that bad, but after a very slow-paced second season, the writers strike, and the show careens too quickly into some kind of conclusion.

1. Thanks to Fozzy_Bear for the suggestion.

Title: Truth and Consequences

Cast

Milo Ventimiglio as Peter Petrelli
David Anders as Adam
Sendhil Ramamurthy as Mohinder Suresh
Zachary Quinto as Sylar
Masi Oka as Hiro Nakamura
Noah Gray-Cabey as Micah Sanders
Shalim Oritz as Alejandro
Dania Ramirez as Maya
Hayden Panettiere as Claire Bennett
Ali Larter as Niki Sanders
Stephen Tobolowsky as Bob
Jack Coleman as Noah Bennett
Dana Davis as Monica Dawson
Ali Larter as Gina / Niki Sanders
Kristen Bell as Elle
James Kyson Lee as Ando Masahashi
Nichelle Nichols as Nana Dawson
Greg Grunburg as Matt Parkman
Adair Tishler as Molly

Premise

Adam reveals his true designs, Peter remains clueless, Hiro uses his power to some effect, Monica becomes a costumed hero and quickly lands in trouble, Claire and Elle head for a showdown, and Sylar draws Maya further to the dark side.

High Points

The Monica plot has potential, especially since the series has to have at least one character move in this direction. While I could see how she might have escaped from the house, the fact remains she has not yet become fully confident with her powers.

Low Point

Quinto is a good actor, but his scenes with Maya do not quite work. I think her corruption might have been more effective if, like Parkman, she was less motivated by external manipulation.

The view of Sylar over her shoulder was pure soap opera, and not in a good way.

The Scores

Originality: 2/6.

Effects: 5/6. This episode featured low-key but impressive effects and camerawork.

Story: 4/6 I found this week’s story interesting, as we see how the very many plots might come together, and somewhat exciting. The use of Hiro, discussed last week, continues to present problems. The writers really don’t know how to handle his considerable powers, and they have him act within limits that don’t really make sense.

Acting: 4/6. The performances vary from excellent to rushed.

Emotional Response: 4/6

Production: 5/6

Overall: 4/6

In total, “Truth or Consequence” receives 28 out of 42.

Lingering Questions

What, exactly, did the CompanyTM originally set out to do? Were they keeping their eye on metahumans? Developing viruses? Contracting for a Bond villain? This seemed clearer in earlier episodes, but becomes less so as we learn more of the corporate backstory. It is not necessarily a problem but, rather, something the show needs to clarify at some point.

12 replies on “Heroes: Truth or Consequences”

  1. Ok longer post now
    This season is really disappointing me so far. I feel like this is a mesh of very unequal stories. I’d have to rate them like this.

    Hiro’s story : A
    Claire and the Bennet Family’s story: B
    Parkman’s story: A
    Peter’s Story: Up until the jump to the future B, after that D
    Nathan’s Story: Wait, he’s still on the show??
    Nikkis Story: I’ll give this one a Why minus
    That girl in New Orleans Story: C
    Mohinder’s story: C
    Maya and Sylars story: F frakking minus dammit. So far a totally worthless storyline to bring back a villian so we can see our heroes fight him _again_, oh boy. Sylar’s the writers crutch. They made him a great villian, so why not keep him. Because that makes having previously defeated him mean nothing!!

  2. too mixed up
    This episode was too mixed up and confused. Peter is a chump, Bob and Elle are idiots but they seem to stay alive, Mohinder….. *sigh* The MOST annoying guy alive. I wanted to slap Maya… I just can’t buy anyone being that stupid… not even stupid people are that stupid.

    On the bright side I like Adam as a villain and not as "maybe a good guy". Anders plays a bad guy so well and after Sylar’s comeback we need a real villain.

    I’m curious as to what exactly Maya’s power is.

  3. marketing bullshit
    What happened to Hiro getting the jump on Peter, as seen during every commercial break on NBC for the last week? I guess it could still happen next week, but seems unlikely now.

      • Re: marketing bullshit

        Didn’t the episode end that way?

        No, instead of Hiro sneaking up behind Peter and putting a sword to his neck (and seemingly not the cutting edge), Peter realizes he is there, calls him out, and then Hiro rushes him.

        • Re: marketing bullshit

          Didn’t the episode end that way?

          No, instead of Hiro sneaking up behind Peter and putting a sword to his neck (and seemingly not the cutting edge), Peter realizes he is there, calls him out, and then Hiro rushes him.

          I’m trying to figure out why Peter seems to like his newest lightning bolt power so much…it’s his new reflex power it seems. It’s like he has has forgotten about every other power he has.

  4. Sylar and Maya
    See, I liked Maya’s corruption a bit more, but I was looking at it different.

    See, Sylar’s original power is that he knows how things tick, right? Couldn’t that apply to people? He knows what makes people tick, so he’s saying everything exactly as Maya needs to hear it. He’s brainwashing and manipulating her into becoming his minion. That’s why whenever he’s staring intently at her and saying "I only want to help you…" we hear the clockwork noises.

    It makes him much more interesting, and a good potential foil for the other characters, if you ask me, especially Parkman and Peter.

    • Re: Sylar and Maya

      See, I liked Maya’s corruption a bit more, but I was looking at it different.

      I like your theory, insofar that it gives Sylar some reason to be in the show. Of course, I still feel they should have left him dead and moved on with the current plot and villains.

      As I stated, I like the New Orleans/Saint Joan plot, but I can see J_W_W’s point. We have no real connection between it and the rest of the show, so it seems out of place. I’m hoping this will change.

      I think Hiro is a great character, well-portrayed by the actor. I think his plot has been handled without real thought as to the extent of his powers.

      • Re: Sylar and Maya

        As I stated, I like the New Orleans/Saint Joan plot, but I can see J_W_W’s point. We have no real connection between it and the rest of the show, so it seems out of place. I’m hoping this will change.

        I suspect Nichelle was part of the Company (black lady in the photo, house is crawling with super-kids). This leaves the obvious tie-in when Adam gets around to knocking her off. Another likely tie-in is the Company taking another flip on the multiple personality disorder and deciding Saint Joan is a little too flamboyant to not get questions asked (although her power is very subtle: ‘maybe she’s just really athletic/dextrous/lucky’) and going to do the old tag-and-bag.

      • Re: Sylar and Maya
        I view the Saint Joan plot as the stepping stone to heroes dressing up in costumes and capes. Sure it was just a black jumper with a hood but it made her look like a comic book hero more than anyone else. I didn’t get what was preventing her from leaving through the window she snuck in though…

        I can’t wait to see Maya get tossed in a woodchipper. I like the actress but the character is sooooo lame. The whole thing with Sylar massaging her back in front of her brother made my eyes roll.

        • Copycat

          I view the Saint Joan plot as the stepping stone to heroes dressing up in costumes and capes. Sure it was just a black jumper with a hood but it made her look like a comic book hero more than anyone else.

          Well, the cheerleader outfit looks a lot like a Supergirl costume… but yeah, she’s the first with a cool name that describes her power, AND it’s got an animal name in it.

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