Questions for Heroes' second season

Last week, I finished re-watching the first season of Heroes on DVD, and anyone that tries to tell you the show isn't as good the second time through is lying to your face. The second time was another great experience, with the dramatic irony of knowing all the secrets changing the way each moment is perceived.

But that was last week, and that was last year. Monday night at 9 p.m. the season season begins, with an all-new story (actually two all-new "volumes" of the show this season) and plenty of new secrets to be revealed.

And, I'll reiterate what I wrote here when we first started talking about these superhero shows, I don't read spoilers for either show I blog about, "Heroes" or "The 4400." I don't know why anyone would want to be spoiled. So if you are looking for inside info on "Heroes," my blog is not for you. If you are just looking to read the thoughts each week of an enthusiastic fan just like you, then this is place to be each Monday night after the show.

Now as we enter the second season, some questions come to mind that I'm hoping get answered in the first few weeks. You know, other than the obvious ones about this new villain and how Sylar does what he does...

1) How does somebody go from being a world-saving hero back to a normal schlub? I've always wondered exactly what happens to a normal-person turned super-human after the movie fades to black, and I am hoping Heroes doesn't simply go the two-dimensional route and claim everyone is hunky-doory back in their normal lives.

2) Where did the Haitian go? After he was in Peter's apartment with Momma Pettrelli when Claire arrived, the man vanished. I'm hoping he was off doing something important that we get to see, and he wasn't just a final-act no-show for no reason.

3) Will Peter/Sylar still be so damned powerful? I said this last year, for as great a character as Peter is, I wanted both him and Sylar dead after season one, because they are just too powerful. It's no fun to know that no matter how bad something gets, a character can just say "Oh, we'll get Peter!" like in the "Five Years Later" episode. It's also no fun to have a villain that is too powerful for most to go near. OH, and, don't both characters still have the ability to EXPLODE?

4) Can Sylar become... good? It's very common in a show or a comic to have an early villain to become an eventual ally, and the longer the season went on last year, Sylar became more and more human, almost a sympathetic character. He's beyond forgiveness, but maybe not beyond trying to earn it.

5) Who are the other artists? Mr. Linderman collected MULTIPLE psychic artists, not just Isaac. He said so himself and we saw some of their work in his gallery... so who are they?

6) What does the older generation do? I'm guessing we'll get this answer since the first volume of the season is called "Generations," but we still don't have an answer as to what Momma Pettrelli, Daddy Nakamura or Daddy Deveux does... or did, in Deveux's case.

7) Who's Molly's Daddy now? I'm guessing Molly will be back, for as great a little actress as she is and as great a power as she has, so the question is, who got custody of her? Matt Parkman and Mohinder are her "heroes," the Hawkins family was protecting her during the fight as well, and HRG has a stable home and experience protecting those with powers. I'm hoping it's the Bennetts.

8) What is Hiro's Legacy? When Hiro's dad revealed himself for knowing all about everything, he told Hiro it has been destined that a Nakamura arise and fulfill their Legacy... So what is it? Is it powers in general? Or time-traveling powers specifically? Or is it that Kensei is, in fact, George Takei, and his power is immortality, so he knew a Nakamura would come back in time someday? Wild theory, I know.

9) Who is in control of Linderman's business now? When a billionaire dies, it's not like someone won't step into his place — especially when that billionaire is a mobster. So will we find out that Linderman had an understudy who will take his place? And... wouldn't that person also be keeping "The Company" alive?

10) Is Ando special? At the end of last year, Sylar sparked my interest when he asked Ando incredulously "What would I want with your brain?" ... What indeed, Bogeyman. What indeed.

11) Can the show possibly maintain it's high quality? For as many problems that I had with last year's finale, last season was pretty close to flawless, while the cast and crew were still unsure of how the show would be received. Now, Heroes is all the rage, complete with a six-episode spin-off from the show (Heroes: Origins) and a novelization deal. Will the show's popularity get the better of it? Will NBC milk the show just a little bit too much? I'm actually kind of thinking that this show will die sooner than it should, for these reasons.

Everyone, enjoy the premiere tonight, and remember to come back for a review of each show late Monday nights!