Heroes Report on "Four Months Later"

Much like the series premiere, the first episode of season two began the year relatively slow (in relation to the rest of the series), simply resetting the playing field while offering a couple of "wow" moments to keep people glued to the television. And, when you think about just how much information it tried to cover, this episode was a success.

One of the bigger revelations of this flash-forward episode was that we found out who is in charge of the company now with Linderman gone -- and it's a guy that looks like he could get a paper cut from a napkin... and then cry. This guy has been in so many different shows and movies, and he has never looked imposing -- a far cry from Linderman's Malcolm McDowell.

But there's so much to cover, we can't harp on one pencil-pusher. Instead, let's talk about my favorite pencil pusher, HRG. Yes. Noah Bennett is now a pencil pusher, an assistant manager with "Copy Kingdom." And, I don't know which part I liked better -- that he is still working in paper, that he is still working to take the company down, or that he just owned his snot-nosed, kiss-up, college dropout of a manager. Years ago during College when I worked at Toys R Us, I worked with guys like this, and this is proof that HRG fights on the side of good. That said, it sure doesn't look like he or Claire are going to have the self control to stay under cover, especially with her new flying guy friend.

With "the bomb" storyline done, the next big mystery was laid on the table -- who are these other older special people who want Daddy Nakamura and Momma Petrelli dead, and what do they have to do with the man who can see Molly in her dreams? By the way, I'll be shocked if Mr. Sulu stays dead so soon in this season, at a time when Hiro isn't even around.

And speaking of Molly, I loved the idea the writers had, basically having Mohinder and Parkman take joint custody of the kid. After all, one devoted cop or one evolution-spouting kook can't raise a young girl alone, "Three Men and a Little Lady" taught us that. But, you do have to wonder how long it will be until one of Parkman's psychic hunches or Molly's disturbing pictures lands this group in hot water with the mainstream world.

Now, the one thing that confused me about the premiere is, there's no virus facing facing special people? I sure hope there isn't, because they already tried that storyline in X-Men (it was called the Legacy Virus, and it was a poor metaphor for AIDS), and it really sounds more like a season six or seven storyline rather than season two. I am hoping that when Mohinder told HRG that the company "took the bait," it meant there is no virus at all.

Whew, still so much to cover!

Hiro's Hero is, in fact, a Gaijin. And, for those of you who don't love the movie "Mr. Baseball," that means White Guy. Not only that, but he's a scuzzy white guy. The problem with this storyline is, it can only go one of two ways -- 1) Hiro teaches his Hero how to be Heroic, or 2) Hiro actually is his own Hero. Either way, I'm not so interested. I'm more interested in this than this new character Maya, but still not so interested. Hopefully Masi Oka's quality acting carries this storyline.

What I would have liked to have seen from this four-month break is Nathan Petrelli's downfall. Because frankly I don't buy how the world just allows a Congressman disappear. How soon did he come back from wherever he was? If he was unharmed, then wouldn't he have come back to NY immediately? Shouldn't he, then, BE A CONGRESSMAN? I just don't buy his character suddenly falling to pieces and wanting to resemble a hobo. Oh, and I'll be real disappointed if we don't get to see his wife, Rena Sofer, anymore. It's bad enough that we didn't get to see Candice in this episode.

Finally, Peter. If I were anymore of a geek, I would have stood up and applauded the idea to give him amnesia (Haitian-induced amnesia, no less). Sure, it only delays the main problem that Peter (and Sylar, for that matter) is MUCH too powerful, but for now we get what promises to be a great story of Powerful Peter falling into the Wrong Hands. Think about it -- the Heroes' biggest foe may become Peter for a while! And, does this lead to my initial big prediction for the year, that Sylar turns good?

Either way, We have another real strong season (at least this "volume") of shows on our hands, and you have to applaud Tim Kring for resetting the chess pieces so fast.