"One of Us, One of Them"
After last week's huge revelation that Angela Petrelli was Sylar's mother, the big questions on everybody's mind (or at least mine) were: Who's the daddy? How was his birth covered up? Then of course, we had the mysterious Tracy Strauss and her newfound freezing abilities, a gang of villainous criminals (one of whom was carrying Peter along inside) on the loose, Parkman talking to turtles in Africa, Hiro chasing Speedster Daphne across the globe and future Peter just popping up all over the place. Where would all of that lead? Let's find out!
The episode picked right back up in Sylar's cell where we left off, and although none of the "big" questions were answered (come on, it's Episode 3!), Mama Petrelli does tell Sylar that she gave him up for adoption. She comforts him by again reminding him how special he is, and also warns that he needs to be strong for the road ahead. How do you make him strong, you ask? By "feeding" him unwitting victims, like the young lady who can learn people's history by touching them. The pleased look on Angela's face as the screams echo through the halls of Primatech prove she's enjoying creating (or re-creating) her monster.
Meanwhile, the "icy" Tracy Strauss practices her new abilities on the flowers in her room, and misses Nathan's swearing in. Nathan is useful in providing information, both to Tracy and future Peter, who each come looking for their own answers. Nathan tells future Peter that someone called him, claiming to be Peter, but the voice was different. This gives future Peter something to work with, and he goes out on his search. However, Nathan's conversation with Tracy assures her that she has not misunderstood that Nathan believes her to be Niki Sanders. After both Nathan and the Reporter she froze to pieces last week, Tracy has found an address for Niki in New Orleans, and sets out for her own answers. (So, Tracy is in fact a separate person/being/specimen/creation than Niki/Jessica.)
Now that Claire's biological mom is looking after the Bennetts (I chuckled when Lyle and Sandra are more upset by her smoking than her flaming fingers) there is a bit of a rival mother smackdown when Claire announces she won't be going to school, as part of her new plan to "fight" bad guys. Sandra seizes control of the battle and declares she will be attending school, even without her father there to see to it. Noah, however, checks back in at the Company but assures Angela his only mission is to re-capture the villains and return to his family. Expecting to be reunited with the Haitian, Noah is instead surprised to learn his new partner is none other than Sylar. Looks like Mama favors her little boy quite a bit! Noah at first refuses to work with a "murderer" and an "animal," believing it dangerous to send "a psychopath after the psychopaths." Even Sylar is reluctant, but Angela assures him his hunger within that drives him to kill can be overcome with a little "structure," courtesy of Noah, who finally agrees and heads to Poughkeepsie where they have holed up in a bank they robbed.
The robbery went as planned (aside from Peter being all heroic and defending one of the female workers that one of his partners in crime got a little rough with) until Knox revealed a new plan - wait for the Company (Noah) to show up and "beat his horn-rimmed glasses into his skull." We also learn that Knox's power thrives on being around those who are scared of him, which he demonstrates when one of the members of his crew provokes him and he punches straight through his body and the metal wall behind him. When Peter tries to talk Knox out of his plan, he begins to realize "Jesse" isn't quite himself, and sets a trap. When Peter agrees that Jesse's family in Detroit misses him, Knox calls him out because Jesse's family is in Vegas. (Is that the superhero hub or something?)
Hiro tracks down speedster Daphne, only to learn she has given the formula to the person she's working for and has come to intercept the other half. (I love how Hiro calls her his nemesis, much to her chagrin.) Both soon realize their powers are not working, and it is quickly revealed that the Haitian is in the building. As they both wait for the right moment to get the formula (which we learn belongs to Angela Petrelli) Daphne drives a little wedge into Hiro and Ando's relationship, pointing out that Ando is merely "the Robin to his Batman." Even so, Hiro and Ando devise a plan to get the formula, knocking the Haitian out. Unfortunately, when he is incapacitated, Daphne regains her power and swipes the briefcase. And of course, the Haitian regains consciousness just in time to stop Hiro from freezing time, leaving Ando and him out of luck and being hauled back to Level 5.
Back in California, Claire's birth mother agrees to teach her to fight, but actually sets her up to exploit her weakness. That's right, the indestructible Claire Bennett is afraid of being trapped. She played with her mind in a form of torture that exploits the fear of being trapped, even to the point that your mind thinks you are drowning. She explains that is the same way Sylar got to her, by trapping her in the house and weakening her. She does this only to break her down and learn the real reason she wants to fight: It's not to help people but to hurt Sylar "for what he did to hurt me." Although she later said it was only for Claire's best interest and that she thinks Claire should consider being a 17-year-old girl, Claire puts on a fake smile of understanding before stealing a Primatech box of files and heading out on her own mission.
Back at the bank robbery, Noah and Sylar are in their own power struggle until Sylar take some initiative and imitates an FBI agent to get access to the crime scene. (Loved his "police" accent and the use of the phrase "looky-loo civilians," and I have to say he was rocking the bad boy agent look in that suit.) Still, Noah, tells Sylar to stay put outside while he goes in and handles it. Noah quickly loses control, but Peter, realizing Jesse's power of sonic waves (power-yelling?) has a little shouting tantrum that throws everyone off until future Peter shows up. He removes Peter from Jesse, and warns him about the future (notice he isn't that concerned with disrupting the space-time continuum) and then teleports him there to see it.
When Noah realizes Peter is no longer there to help him, it's Sylar to the rescue. He says Noah told him to stay put "to make sure that he wouldn't." Though Noah took one of the villains into custody, Sylar's hunger kicked in, and he set his sights on Jesse, allowing Knox to get away. Noah tried to stop him, urging him to fight the urge, but Sylar can't help himself, saying, "I am just a killer." And unfortunately, Jesse loses his head.
Meanwhile, Parkman is on his spirit walk with his guide in Africa, and learns that his guide first painted the future on his own spirit walk as a boy. He calls Matt by his last name, and then explains that he knew his name from his badge, which he saw in his first painting as a boy. Parkman then sees all of the many paintings, each portraying a different part of Parkman's life that has come true. All except one, it seems, which shows Parkman with a woman and a baby (though the woman was blonde I believe, making me believe it wasn't his wife from Season 1). As such, his guide says the future has changed, and he sets about erasing and repainting the picture, with his hand "pre-cog" eyes. What is revealed is Parkman carrying an injured woman (also blonde, and was she on fire, or have little flames on her?) who Parkman doesn't know. But he assumes she is in Africa. His guide says "It is not my future, Parkman," and helps him acquire his own "pre-cog eyes" with a little bit of music. (And Parkman was eating something. Perhaps his pre-cognition was drug-enhanced like Isaac's was at first?)
In New Orleans, Tracy finds the funeral parlor where Niki Sanders' body is being held. Apparently, poor Niki didn't survive that Season 2 explosion. But Micah sees her, and instantly thinks she is his mom. Once he puts that notion away, he asks if she has powers, and even though she won't talk about it, he uses his machine manipulation to learn that she and Niki were born on the same day, in the same hospital and delivered (or not?) by the same doctor. (Got to feel bad for little Micah when he gives Tracy that big hug, the closest he may ever get to embracing his mom again.) Tracy tracks down Dr. Zimmerman, who instantly recognizes her, but calls her Barbara. When Tracy looks confused, he apologizes for misspeaking, but she introduces herself. "Do you remember me," she asks. "I created you," the Zimmerman responds.
Now, we're getting somewhere, but who is Barbara?
Back at Level 5, the Haitian (presumably without the formula) and Noah look on as the inmate they brought back is put into his cell, as is Sylar, who tells Angela she was wrong about him. There's something in her "we'll see" that reeks of evil, and if the opening scene is any indication, she will let Sylar kill at will until he's made himself into the perfect weapon for her plan. (Get actress Cristine Rose's take on this plot line
here.) But if Noah has anything to do with it, that plan will be spoiled: He plans to "find his weakness. And then I'm going to kill him," he says to close the show.
What do you think of Mama Petrelli's plans that continue to get darker and more twisted? Who is this new woman Parkman is looking for? How "villainous" is this season going to be with one villain already back in custody and another one dead at the hands of Sylar? Is the formula mentioned in next week's previews the one Daphne has sold, or perhaps Mohinder's wonder drug (which really isn't wonderful)? And what the heck is Tracy Strauss? Share your thoughts and check back next week for more!
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