10/12/2009

in

NBC's 'Heroes' hits all the right chords after its fifth episode signals a comeback.

Joseph Gentile

Beset by its initial fits and starts, Heroes' found harmony Monday night as the multiple story arcs of "Hysterical Blindness" serenaded each other. Now if NBC's writers can stir Sylar's hunger again, then their rhythm shall be restored. In the meantime, an intriguing murderess named Becky (Tessa Thompson) reveals herself as Samuel's mole, and reminds everyone about the latent evil beneath sororities.  
  
Strangely enough, it seems the potentiality behind Season 4 suddenly blossoms with Sylar's physical return. Buried alive underneath heavy layers of subtext, his reemergence onto the scene signifies a crucial step forward. Sure, it took Heroes' five episodes before it eventually turned the corner, but that is speedy compared to Tim Kring's second season.  
  
Even without a memory, Sylar is still armed and dangerous with an arsenal of superhuman abilities. Fortunately for the cop that finds him first, Sylar appears as helpless as a kitten. It is not until later, after he inadvertently hurls the guy through an interrogation cell window, that Sylar sharpens his claws and whips the entire city of Baltimore's police department.  
  
Meanwhile at college, Gretchen finds herself competing with other "normal girls" that want to sink their teeth into Claire. Reluctantly accepting an invitation from Becky to rush a sorority with Claire, Gretchen tags along for moral support, but is not ready to surrender her best friend to these "Stepfords." It also gets insinuated that Gretchen might go so far as murder to isolate Claire after an unfortunate incident at the sorority mixer nearly leaves another girl impaled.  
  
Peter instead fares much better at making friends by stopping Emma from getting flattened by a city bus. Much to his surprise afterward, the superhuman speed that he somehow inherited vanishes, and is replaced by Emma's spectacular ability to understand sound as color.  
  
Sure, Emma's gift might appear about as useful as the iTunes visualizer, but do not doubt her capacity to inflict harm. Her ability later becomes a destructive force after she damages her apartment with an intense cello recital.  
  
Now that these two finally understand each other, it seems to be the writers' intent that Peter and Emma could inevitably create beautiful music together as a couple.  
  
It shall also be unique to see how Gretchen's crush alters the dynamic between Claire and her. Will Claire reject Gretchen's feelings? Might Claire possibly reciprocate them? Or, does Gretchen follow Zach (Thomas Dekker)  Claire's allegedly gay best friend from Season 1  and disappear altogether?  
  
If any hope for love exists, it should be expected that Becky shall do her damnedest to crush it by getting Claire alone. Because of her secret invisibility, Becky can be anywhere at anytime. Whether it's pushing Claire's first roommate out their window, and staging it as a suicide, or implicating Gretchen for the flagpole mishap - Becky isn't afraid to go there.  
  
Besides, since Sylar has suddenly discovered her carnie family, they might also be competing with each other for the highest body count. How does that sound for carnival games?