Heroes 1x09 Homecoming

[oyceter]

Heroes! Yay! OMG I feel like it's been so long since I've actually looked forward to watching a show live! (I didn't even watch VMars live b/c I watched the first season on DVD, and S2 wasn't the greatest.)

I was chatting with rachelmanija, who said, "I didn't even notice until the very end that Hiro wasn't even in the episode!" I hadn't noticed either, which is very odd, because Hiro! He is my favoritest bestest character ever!

Still, the entire Homecoming thing was quite fun. Again, this isn't the most sophisticated show ever, but it's throwing me so many surprises that I'm just having tons of fun watching it go along. Ex. I liked how the mistaking of what's-her-face for Claire isn't just random; it's a thematic echo of her theft of Claire's heroism in the very first episodes. And it's interesting that Isaac paints in a somewhat abstract style; I can't tell if Peter and Claire have actually thwarted the future he's painted, or if he really did just paint the other cheerleader with the top of her head cut off. Because if that's so, then we're still not sure if the big explosion over New York can be prevented.

Claire's dad continues to be interesting, and I'm really looking forward to his conversation with Claire in the next episode. Also, all the little bits about Claire missing Homecoming ("She'll survive.") and the double meanings reminded me a wee bit of Buffy, although without the trademark snark and pizzazz.

And Claire! I love her so much, winning the freak vote, punching out other cheerleader. She could be such a cliche -- the popular cheerleader learning via her powers what's it's like to be unpopular -- but the actress is so good and believable that I totally buy it. It's like the fight she had with her younger brother a few episodes ago -- it felt real. I love the little smile she gives Zach when he shows up to break her out, and I really love the acknowledgement that being different isn't that bad, no matter how cliched it is. The other thing that really sold me was how Claire protesting didn't sound like her being afraid of her dad. She sounded like someone who honestly liked and respected her dad, and while fear of punishment was a part of that, I think another part was just disappointing him. The Claire-Mr. Bennet relationship is turning out to be one of my favorites (in a completely non-incestuous way, thankyouverymuch).

The show also made me really happy by not having Claire really be physically rescued by anyone. Sure, Peter shows up eventually, but it's hard to argue that he really saves her. And he certainly wasn't there when Claire and evil cheerleader were being menaced. The other nice note was Claire actually running for help instead of randomly sticking around. And I loved her so much when she tried to insist that she had to go back and help him because he had helped her.

And finally, I don't want to slap Peter in the face! I really liked how they paralleled his choice to go find Claire with Hiro's, how they both believe that you have to do something with your powers. I don't particularly remember if he's acknowledged what his powers are before, but it was nice to have a Peter-Ando bonding moment about not being special amidst a world of heroes. Ando moreso, but still. I like that the show isn't losing sight of that, even with all the cool superpowers. I'm really curious to see what's going to happen and how it's going to affect Nathan's campaign. You just know that Nathan is going to be really pissed off by having a convict brother.

And Hiro and Charlie! EEeeeeeEEEE!!! For a second, I thought Hiro finally returned, but alas, no, Ando must wait some more. Poor Ando.

I wanted to slap Nathan on the side of the head for throwing paint on the painting, not because of the actual action, but because there are about a zillion better ways to make sure the image is destroyed.

DL and Micah alas didn't have that much to do, though I continue to squee about Micah knowing what was happening with Niki. I think one of the things that I like so much about this show is that there aren't that many stupid misunderstandings to drag out the plot. When one person demonstrates his or her superpower, other people end up believing it. It's a nice break from the endless angst of never telling people your superpower oh noes and how you will never be believed ever woe! I also squeed a little to see Niki's title card change from "Niki Sanders" to "Jessica Sanders." Other than that, it looks like DL and Micah's plotline was largely a setup for next week, but I am ok with that, since the show seems to be very good about following up on these things.

Looks like pretty much everyone was wrong about the soccer kid! Unless maybe he's related to Sylar? But it really didn't seem likely, given the small glimpse we get of Sylar's face. And yay, Mohinder is going back! Mohinder gets some angst! I haven't deleted the episode from Tivo yet because I am totally going to pause that shot of all the names and try to write them all down, or something. Or, you know, just find someone who's already taken a screenshot.

Apart from that, I'm very much enjoying how Mohinder's dad is a very present character, despite the fact that he's dead.

And next week, an origins episode! Yay!

Gender notes: One more dead woman, woe. On the other hand, this time am not quite as mad, given that I wanted to slap her. On the other other hand, would like to see Claire with some female friends, instead of just female rivals. Thinking back, it seems like most of the women don't have female friendships, with the exception of Niki. I also almost typed something up about mothers being more absent than fathers on this show before remembering Niki. Duh. Also, I think the Petrelli's mom and Heidi will show up a lot more soon. Am still enjoying Claire greatly. Am hoping that Charlie gets to be more than just Love Interest (also, I totally want her power). Simone, alas, is stil The Girl.

Race notes: Rachel noted that the principal of the school was black (yay!); I also have no idea how accurate the portrayal of India is, though Rachel has been saying that it feels pretty real. I have been fanwanking Mohinder's British accent and the English-speaking-to-exclusion-of-other-languages in India as Mohinder maybe being raised in the UK and having gone to school there. Or something. Villainous Haitian man appears again (still would like to know how Matt and co. know he's Haitian), though given Mr. Bennet's agenda changes, he may not be that villainous after all. DL and Micah. Simone still doesn't get much to do. Don't remember if the school was very multi-racial.

Comments

[ponygirl2000.livejournal.com]

One more dead woman, woe. On the other hand, this time am not quite as mad, given that I wanted to slap her.

I was actually pretty impressed with dead cheerleader's last words being to tell Claire to run. The show could have just let her be nasty but she didn't seem irredeemable - except that she's now kinda dead. Also on the gender side I thought it was neat that Eden defeated the previously unstoppable Sylar, she had some help but she seemed so casual about taking him on. I actually want to go back and re-watch the early episodes, Eden really annoyed me with her pixie cut perkiness but I wonder how it would look knowing her agenda and power.

I was just so happy with the school scenes last night - just seeing that the high school has a freak population and it's not just cheerleaders and football players... it's the reason I can't get into the highly worthy Friday Night Lights, where are all the snarky goths and sorta-punks making fun of the football?

[habiliments.livejournal.com]

but I wonder how it would look knowing her agenda and power.

It suddenly occurs to me - do you think she ever magic-talked Mohinder? I'm guessing not, since she seemed very reluctant to use her power at first (and Mr. Bennett had that creepy line last week about remembering what she was when he found her - and how DID he find her) - but now that we know she's like Pixie-Wan Kenobi, I have to wonder.

I guess she would have convinced him to stay in NYC, though. I keep expecting his power to be to dispell all the other powers.

[ponygirl2000.livejournal.com]

She seemed surprised that he was really leaving NYC so I wonder if she tried it with him and failed. However if she was using Jedi mind tricks on him (I love Pixie-Wan Kenobi) it would make Mohinder seem like less of a doofus for never suspecting something was up with the girl who conveniently knew everything about his murdered-by-an-unknown-conspiracy father.

[oyceter]

I keep expecting his power to be to dispell all the other powers.

That would be awesome!

I keep thinking that she might have been thinking of trying it when he was going to leave, but decided against it. But I don't remember enough from their other conversations (largely because I was bored....).

[oyceter]

Oh, I totally missed that re: Jackie's lat words!

I also totally forgot to mention Eden in black leather, which was awesome and made me cheer. I like that she defeats him without even having to lay a finger on him; it's a neat contrast to Niki/Jessica, who is very good at the physical violence.

The freak population made me cheer so much! As did Claire's slow grin when she realized just what had happened!

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

Bitchy Cheerleader # 2 was black, as was at least one of the football players.

The India parts do look pretty much like India, with the caveat that I've never been to Chennai; but the little details like the slow fan and the kids playing soccer in the street are dead-on. The biggest issue, as mentioned before, is that everyone speaks English, but I will fan-wank that as Mohinder only speaking English. (Too bad his friend didn't have to translate for him occasionally.)

DL and Micah's storyline, though not action-packed, did make a huge bit of progress, which was that the two of them leveled with each other, and DL seemed to either agree to or at least seriously consider Micah's point about returning to Niki/Jessica.

[oyceter]

I am totally fanwanking Mohinder's English as well. Possibly there should be fic, but I am too lazy. Mostly I'm making googly eyes at Yuletide, since there's probably going to be at least a few Heroes fic for it!

I really liked the DL and Micah parts, particularly because DL was actually listening to Micah, even if he didn't necessarily agree with him.

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

Oh, also: Isaac's painting of Peter dead at 8:12 did come true, only not as expected: he was only mostly dead, due to borrowing Claire's invulnerability. I like that the paintings are stylized enough that we don't really know if they've come true or not: Peter mangled but not dead; a blonde cheerleader dead, but was it Claire or whatserface?

[almeda.livejournal.com]

Correction: the painting was of Peter lying awkwardly on the steps staring blank-faced into 'the camera' -- everyone just assumed it MEANT he was dead.

Of course, assumption and detail are usually the triplines in prophecy. At least if your DM's any good.

[oyceter]

Yeah! It's a really cool thing about his paintings. I'm wondering how that'll fit in with the giant explosion, particularly since Hiro's already seen it.

[thomasyan.livejournal.com]

Huh. Everyone assumes the explosion is a bad thing and must be prevented. What if the explosion is to prevent something worse from happening?

I don't think that's likely, but this thread made me think of this possibility.

[shati.livejournal.com]

I have been fanwanking Mohinder's British accent and the English-speaking-to-exclusion-of-other-languages in India as Mohinder maybe being raised in the UK and having gone to school there.

Me too. Which adds interesting layers to his India vs. NYC angst, too! I'll be sad if the show contradicts it.

(still would like to know how Matt and co. know he's Haitian)

I think this is my favorite suggestion:

bookelfe: I still just want ONE SHOT to explain why everyone knows he's Haitian.
bookelfe: ONE SHOT of his T-shirt
bookelfe: "Kiss me, I'm Haitian!"

[oyceter]

Yes, I really hope we get good plot for Mohinder soon! The poor guy has been exposition guy for so long...