Heroes Discussion: “Tabula Rasa”

After last week’s smooth integration of plots, this week seems a bit clunky. Still, the acting remains strong, and Samuel continues to reveal himself as a force with which the heroes will have to reckon.

Title: “Tabula Rasa”

Cast and Crew

Writer: Rob Fresco
Director: Jim Chory

Milo Ventimiglio as Peter Petrelli
Deanne Bray as Emma
Zachary Quinto as Sylar
Jack Coleman as Noah Bennett
Masi Oka as Hiro Nakamura
Robert Knepper as Samuel Sullivan
Cacho Ribeiro as Lydia
Mark L. Young as Jeremy Greer
Hayden Panettiere as Claire Bennett

“Tabula Rasa”

Premises

  • Sylar faces a past he cannot recall, while Samuel manipulates Sylar for, he tells himself, the betterment of his brotherhood of super-powered mutants.
  • Peter and Noah seek out a healer named Jeremy Greer in order to save Hiro’s life. All is not well, however, at the Greer homestead.
  • Hiro advises Emma, puts on a magic show, and remembers Charlie.
  • I see from my notes that I’m supposed to pick up the dry cleaning today. I found that message similar to the Heroes in-house ad for “Slow Burn.” It draws my attention (in the way that a regular commercial does not), but it’s not entirely relevant to the matter at hand.

High Point

I like Samuel’s Machiavellian manipulation of Sylar and the detective. The ringmaster could become a far better adversary than Sylar. I understand his motives entirely, even if I condemn his methods.

Low Point

I found the dialogue this week needlessly artificial and awkward. Samuel’s voiceover is slightly more tolerable than Mohinder’s.

The Scores

Originality: 2/6. Samuel may be the most interesting character in awhile, but there’s no mistaking his similarity (in motivation and method, not powers) to Magneto. Jeremy, meanwhile, recalls more than a little the X-Men’s Rogue.

Effects: 6/6.The special effects sequences proved especially visually appealing this week.

Story: 5/6. The “Sylar/Samuel” story has been addressed elsewhere; it is a highlight. The “Jeremy” storyline was predictable. The editing overall seemed choppy, especially after last week. However, this episode retained a similar approach, in that it developed only a few storylines.

Acting: 5/6 Oka and Bray gave us the kind of human moments that ground this show’s fantasty.

Emotional Response: 4/6

Production: 6/6

Overall: 4/6.

32/42.

Notes and Observations

Even given Samuel’s experience of mutants and awareness of Sylar’s existence, he arrives at the correct conclusion regarding Sylar’s memories very quickly. Did anyone else think so?

5 replies on “Heroes Discussion: “Tabula Rasa””

  1. I would actually like it if Heroes took a more X-Men approach. I think they are maneuvering Noah to take on the Professor X role.

  2. My low point? Peter absorbing Healer Boy’s powers instead of TELEPORTING HIM to Hiro, having him heal him, then teleporting him back. Sure, Peter would love to have that power, but first thing first! Save Hiro, THEN absorb the power. Yeesh. Heck, it’d probably be better for the kid if he and Noah started out in NYC instead of Buttcrack GA.

    Also I’d kinda like to see the pace increase juuust a bit, and maybe have less of a Who’s Sylar This Time aspect.

    • RE: Jethro’s Low Point

      That is a good point, and arguably a flaw in the storytelling. I suppose one could argue that Peter figured Hiro would be hanging on for awhile, and, given his personality and current profession, he wanted that power as soon as possible. He also might have worried about the kid’s psychological state, and didn’t want him screwing up Hiro.

      The pacing has actually picked up the last few episodes, but it’s not exactly breezy.

      In staying behind, Jeremy and Noah were able to “resolve” the mystery of the parents’ deaths for the benefit of the Buttcrack police, rather than have legal worries hanging over him. Noah is a master at cover-ups, so that aspect made sense to me.

      • Yeah, the Noah staying with the kid made SOME sense (cause you know, so what if he has an apartment he’s renting and his daughter and whatever). But Peter could’ve teleported them BOTH back and THEN taken a plane!

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