February 26, 2007: I'm Just a Paper Salesman
I had been anxiously awaiting the outcome of the situation we were left with last week: Ted and Matt had HRG up against a wall his own wall, where his happy little family picture hangs untouched, lying to anyone who enters. Inside the Texas home, questions were rising higher than the heat from Ted's hands. It was cool to see how Ted and Matt got into the house in the first place. That radioactive power comes in pretty handy for B&Es. I loved the scene between Matt and Claire when Matt was slowly piecing together bits of the past and Claire was too scared to say much out loud so her thoughts became Matt's only guidance. Meanwhile, Ted was going ballistic. (I wonder how it felt for Matthew John Armstrong to be pointing a gun at his real-life wife.) Luckily for Parkman, without The Haitian around, HRG's thoughts were a lot clearer. Interesting how quickly the tables turned and HRG and Matt were working together to get Ted to believe them. "If you're not back in an hour, look for the mushroom cloud."
I also liked the black and white flashbacks we got from HRG's past. Fifteen years ago, HRG was comfortable with "morally gray," but I have a feeling he might rethink that position if he could go back and do it over. Fifteen years ago Claude was still doing his invisible tricks. Fifteen years ago, Mr. Nakamura handed HRG a baby. Did anyone else catch that smirk on infant Claire's pudgy face? She still does that little side smile. Little did Hiro know he'd be on a mission to save that baby one day. Did anyone else consider for a minute that George Takei might be Linderman? It crossed my mind, but the previews seem to say differently. We definitely need to see more of Mr. Nakamura's story.
For some reason, I laughed a little when HRG's boss (Eric Roberts) said The Haitian was mute - I guess he found his words when they were really important. HRG may have had enough of a hold on him to keep him quiet all these years, but Claire was important enough to talk to. Also, it was great to see more of Claude's past via HRG's story. "I used to believe in the tooth fairy." Great line. I guess we know why HRG was so surprised to hear that Claude was alive. You can't completely kill an invisible man now, can you?
The look on Mrs. Bennet's face when Claire reappeared was priceless. Ashley Crow actually impressed me tonight. I couldn't have played it any better watching Claire's neck repair itself from Ted's hot hold. It looks like Mom's speech about faith gave Claire a new, less-hating perspective on her dad, though. My question is, how did any of those people within feet of Ted stay alive? With that much radiation pouring out of him, the house up in flames, are we really supposed to believe HRG could hide in the corner and be fine? Nevertheless, it was kind of cool to see Claire have her heroic moment. The cheerleader saved the world. Well, kind of. She saved her family for about two hot seconds before the boss learned about HRG's little secret as Claire walked out of the house, healing with every step.
Things have certainly taken a turn for the worse. The Haitian has been turned in, Ted and Matt are being held captive, and Claire is now on The Organization's wanted list. Who was that silent woman in Matt's room? The one who's supposedly going to clean up HRG's mess? He really
was trying to protect his daughter all these years. Some sympathy? Anyone? I'll give him a little. Especially after the flashback in which Claire learned she was adopted and that wearing horn-rimmed glasses wasn't her fate. But still, to this day, she doesn't know her fate. She only knows that the father she's had her whole life just died for her. I'm still fuzzy on The Organization's true purpose. They tag some of the heroes and let them go, yet hold others hostage. What
will they do to Ted? All we got from the boss was, "What do you think?" Clearly something unpleasant, if HRG wanted as much of his memory erased as possible so it wouldn't lead them to Claire. As much as HRG frustrated me, I'll miss Jack Coleman's long stares and absurd phrases. My favorite of the night from him: "People are fragile, like teacups." I don't know any paper salesmen who say things like that.
