1.05 Hiros

Hiro tells Peter that he risked a rift to give him a message: he must save the cheerleader. He says that Isaac will know. When time resumes, Mohinder doesn’t believe Peter’s visitation story.

Claire has survived the crash, and so has Brody.

Nathan’s attempted abduction by Mr Bennet is thwarted easily when Nathan flies to freedom at rocket-like speeds.

Niki awakens to find that her double has graciously fulfilled every distasteful request of Mr Linderman, and she is now free of debt.

Matt shows up at home. He has no memory of the last 24 hours; he thinks he just passed out in the bar.

Ando and Hiro are dumped well outside Las Vegas by one of the gamblers they fleeced. Ando is sick of getting beat up and leaves Hiro. At that moment, Hiro watches Nathan comes in for a landing outside the diner, burning his feet. Hiro tells Nathan that he can bend time, but Nathan is still a skeptic, even though he is a freak. But when he limo arrives, Nathan does agree to give Hiro a ride back to Vegas.

Claire tells her dad that she crashed the car on purpose because of Brody’s attempted rape and serial history. Mr Bennet promises not to tell anyone.

Peter finally sees Isaac. Although seemingly unwilling to help, Isaac’s paintings reveal a clue: the cheerleader whom Peter seeks.

Nathan drops Hiro off at Las Vegas and runs into Niki, who tells him he is about to be blackmailed. They dance around the notion that she is not the woman he slept with.

Matt and Janice begin the first steps to rekindling romance and trust with a romantic dinner.

Mr Bennet bedside manner with Brody is more than threatening. He brings his Haitian friend and tells him to wipe Brody’s mind completely.

Peter channels Isaac to finish the painting that could be the key to saving the cheerleader.

Niki returns home to find her house swarming with cops, looking for D.L, who was sighted nearby. When someone approaches the back door, guns are drawn – but it is only Ando. She explains that she is not the person he has been ‘chatting’ with online. He asks for her help, but she turns him away. The police leave…and we see D.L., already in the house, lurking in the shadows.

After what appeared to be a very successful lovemaking session, Matt’s trip to a convenience store to get ice cream for the sated Janice ends up being an adventure. First, he stops a thug from holding the place up. Then, overwhelmed by the thoughts of others, he collapses.

Hiro and Ando are united to continue their quest.

Peter finishes the painting as Hiro calls Isaac. Peter and Hiro make phone contact in the present.

Comments

Everything is meshing together nicely, but it’s good to see that the creators are in no hurry to bring everyone together or to solve any of the gray areas.

One of the more interesting characters is Claire’s father, Mr Bennet. He’s a contrast in protectice fatherly love and villanous destruction of whichever heroes he can catch. How he will resolve this with his daughter is anyone’s guess.

Adrian Pasdar’s subtle head movements help to create more than just a one-dimensional character. I never thought much of his acting on the series Mysterious Ways, but he’s excellent here. And he’s got the perfect oversized square head of a superhero.

Nits

In Isaac’s apartment, as Peter finishes the painting, his wisps of hair alternate between covering his right eye and sitting combed back on his head, depending on the camera angle.

Matt is making no effort to hide the fact that he can read Janice’s mind. Surprisingly, she doesn’t seem to be shocked or creeped out by it, she’s just all happy and blissful.

Memorable Moments

• The Haitian’s little sideways glance toward the audience as he closes the curtain on Brody’s memory

Quotable Quotes

"Save the cheerleader, save the world."
- Hiro to Peter

Peter: I don’t know why, but I’m supposed to see you. You’re supposed to have the answer.
Isaac: Is that what, um, I sound like? No wonder she left me.

Brody: You don’t know your daughter.
Mr Bennet: I know her even better than she does.

Hiro: My name is Hiro Nakamura.
Peter: My name is Peter Petrelli. I have a message for you.
(closing line)