Heroes Season 2 - Episode 2

Kudos to Heroes for refilling its Ritalin prescription in time for a more pleasing second episode. Make no mistake, this next installment of Season 2 contained a fair share of ridiculous oversights and bad dialogue, but the end result was something more substantial and less hyperactive than its first. Did we learn anything, though? Mmmm. Sort of.

Nicki (Maya) and Paulo (Alejandro) are back, because they're very relevant and we all care a ton. They're trying to cross the border into the States, to find "the doctor" - as far as I can tell, they're talking about Chandra Suresh and not Mohinder. They'll be disappointed to find him dead if they ever get to New York, which might be tricky considering that Maya keeps killing the people who help them. Lucky for her, Alejandro's power seems to be un-killing the people, if he gets there fast enough.

Meanwhile, in amnesiac news, Peter Petrelli is held captive by Irish thugs who accuse him of being involved with an empty warehouse that ought to have been full of goodies for stealin'. The fact that Peter was found tied up in a corner of said warehouse has no impact on this assumption. Peter still doesn't know his own identity, but he gets a quick handle on his powers when some rival thugs come to violate the captors' sister. Peter does a little fireball-generating and some lively telekinesis, wrecking the intruders. Like a chump, he does not take this opportunity to take flight (literally or figuratively). He sticks around to hear his thug captor say something to the effect of, "Oi! That guy who almost raped my sister was really important! Why did you stop him?" Peter responds, "Whatevers. I'm out of here. Word to your mother." But! The thug captor has a magic box! He explains that Peter CANNOT leave, because the box holds CREDIT CARDS that Peter can use to buy goods and services with cash back and frequent flyer miles! And also his name is on them! The thug goes to throw the box in the fireplace, and because Peter couldn't use his recent lessons in superherodom to, like, telekinetically remove the box from the thug's hand or possibly even reach into the fire and pluck it out, Peter agrees to do some kind of conciliatory heist. Dumb bunny.

Like we all guessed last season, Kensei is actually Hiro - at least some of the time. Desperate to renew Kensei's reputation before the history books get wonky, Hiro dons Kensei's gear and gets his hero on by proxy. He uses his power for some sexy derring-do and gives the credit to the real Kensei, who wins the admiration of a pretty lady and also some arrows to the chest. Does this mean that Hiro is actually the Kensei of legend? Possibly, but not because the real Kensei's dead. Turns out he's got some powers of his own, as his wounds heal immediately. This comes as a surprise to Hiro, and from the look of it, to Kensei as well. Huttah!

In the present, Matt Parkman is assigned to investigate the death of Hiro's dad. They find a fingerprint on that threatening S card belonging to Angela Petrelli. When they bring her in for questioning, Matt gets all up in her brains and Angela psychically bitch slaps him for it. They're so on to each other. I'm not sure why this has any significance whatsoever. More significant is that something bitch slaps Angela Petrelli when Parkman leaves the room. It leaves her screaming and bloody, though it appears to be invisible. Angry Claude Rains? Casper the Vengeful Ghost? In any case, Parkman (and Nathan, who's shown up to spring mama from the pokey) stop the invisble attack mid-stride, buy we're pretty sure Mrs. Petrelli's still in trouble.

Mohinder is sent by the Company to Haiti, where some random Haitian Hero is suffering the dreaded Hero malaise. Alas, it's the Haitian! In Haiti! Who could have seen it coming?! Mohinder's blood is again successful in curbing the disease, and it's unclear whether the Haitian really erases Mohinder's memory or it's a ruse done in collaboration with Mr. Bennet. Who exactly is getting played here? Just the company? The Haitian returns to Bennet, the music swells, and they passionately embrace. "I knew you'd find me," the Haitian whispers emotionally.

No, not really. Sorry.

Finally, Claire studies lizards and becomes fascinated by the concept of regeneration. She blows her bland cover by doggedly pursuing the possibility of human regeneration in Biology, piquing the interest of the Pick-Up Artist sitting next to her. Peter Pan chases Claire after class, clutching a copy of Chandra Suresh's book on mutant humans, but she rebuffs him wisely and tries to go home. Sadly, she cannot, because her car is missing and being super-strong doesn't make her smart enough to check the football field. Apparently, Claire has never seen a movie about teenaged outcasts. No matter - she has other ways to entertain herself - namely, cutting off her pinkie toe to see if it will grow back. It's really, really gross, and I desperately want it to heal without regenerating - not out of malice for Claire, just because it would be interesting to see her limits. If she doesn't have any, what's the point? A character who is completely invulnerable can't drum up enough emotional resonance. We'd never have to worry about her.

And maybe a little out of malice also. I'm not nice.

But it does grow back, with special effects that are surprisingly sharp. As it happens, Claire's experiment is not conducted alone. She looks up, and hovering in her window is Peter Pan himself. Unfortunately, it's a first-floor window, so she doesn't catch on, and she runs outside to find him already gone. Mr. Pibbles - or Poohbears, or whatever his name is - is barking and staring at the sky, but Claire doesn't get the hint. Whatever. They'll be making out in the sky soon enough, because the Mystery Method always works.

source:http://www.ugo.com/ugo/html/article/?id=17899§ionId=2