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February 26, 2007: I'm Just a Paper Salesman
I had been anxiously awaiting the outcome of the situation we were left with last week: Ted and Matt had HRG up against a wall… his own wall, where his happy little family picture hangs untouched, lying to anyone who enters. Inside the Texas home, questions were rising higher than the heat from Ted's hands. It was cool to see how Ted and Matt got into the house in the first place. That radioactive power comes in pretty handy for B&Es. I loved the scene between Matt and Claire when Matt was slowly piecing together bits of the past and Claire was too scared to say much out loud so her thoughts became Matt's only guidance. Meanwhile, Ted was going ballistic. (I wonder how it felt for Matthew John Armstrong to be pointing a gun at his real-life wife.) Luckily for Parkman, without The Haitian around, HRG's thoughts were a lot clearer. Interesting how quickly the tables turned and HRG and Matt were working together to get Ted to believe them. "If you're not back in an hour, look for the mushroom cloud."
I also liked the black and white flashbacks we got from HRG's past. Fifteen years ago, HRG was comfortable with "morally gray," but I have a feeling he might rethink that position if he could go back and do it over. Fifteen years ago Claude was still doing his invisible tricks. Fifteen years ago, Mr. Nakamura handed HRG a baby. Did anyone else catch that smirk on infant Claire's pudgy face? She still does that little side smile. Little did Hiro know he'd be on a mission to save that baby one day. Did anyone else consider for a minute that George Takei might be Linderman? It crossed my mind, but the previews seem to say differently. We definitely need to see more of Mr. Nakamura's story.
For some reason, I laughed a little when HRG's boss (Eric Roberts) said The Haitian was mute — I guess he found his words when they were really important. HRG may have had enough of a hold on him to keep him quiet all these years, but Claire was important enough to talk to. Also, it was great to see more of Claude's past via HRG's story. "I used to believe in the tooth fairy." Great line. I guess we know why HRG was so surprised to hear that Claude was alive. You can't completely kill an invisible man now, can you?
The look on Mrs. Bennet's face when Claire reappeared was priceless. Ashley Crow actually impressed me tonight. I couldn't have played it any better watching Claire's neck repair itself from Ted's hot hold. It looks like Mom's speech about faith gave Claire a new, less-hating perspective on her dad, though. My question is, how did any of those people within feet of Ted stay alive? With that much radiation pouring out of him, the house up in flames, are we really supposed to believe HRG could hide in the corner and be fine? Nevertheless, it was kind of cool to see Claire have her heroic moment. The cheerleader saved the world. Well, kind of. She saved her family for about two hot seconds before the boss learned about HRG's little secret as Claire walked out of the house, healing with every step.
Things have certainly taken a turn for the worse. The Haitian has been turned in, Ted and Matt are being held captive, and Claire is now on The Organization's wanted list. Who was that silent woman in Matt's room? The one who's supposedly going to clean up HRG's mess? He really was trying to protect his daughter all these years. Some sympathy? Anyone? I'll give him a little. Especially after the flashback in which Claire learned she was adopted and that wearing horn-rimmed glasses wasn't her fate. But still, to this day, she doesn't know her fate. She only knows that the father she's had her whole life just died for her. I'm still fuzzy on The Organization's true purpose. They tag some of the heroes and let them go, yet hold others hostage. What will they do to Ted? All we got from the boss was, "What do you think?" Clearly something unpleasant, if HRG wanted as much of his memory erased as possible so it wouldn't lead them to Claire. As much as HRG frustrated me, I'll miss Jack Coleman's long stares and absurd phrases. My favorite of the night from him: "People are fragile, like teacups." I don't know any paper salesmen who say things like that.
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Feb 26, 2007 10:45 PM
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I guess you don't watch previews, because according to them, HRG is alive and kicking next week. Amazing episode though.
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Feb 26, 2007 11:04 PM
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Ugh! My tape cut off the end of the show. Could anyone recap what happened after HRG gets shot?
To comment on the episode, loved the backstory. I hope there will be more episodes like this in the future.
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Feb 26, 2007 11:15 PM
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**SPOILERS, duh!**
HRG isn't dead. The hatian aimed just below the deadly spot. Then erased his memory.
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Feb 26, 2007 11:16 PM
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I really enjoyed this episode. It was interesting to get a back story on HRG and his connection to some of the other heroes. I think that Matt is going to somehow help the people that HRG works for. Perhaps that is why he wanted the Haitian to erase his memory. Somehow I doubt that Matt would work for the willingly though.
Can't wait for next weeks episode. It looks really good.
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Feb 26, 2007 11:28 PM
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This was a PHENOMENAL episode. Questions answered, but even more asked. Claire coming out of the fire - WONDERFUL, for an hour long show that was a great effect! i finally could see how Matt's fitting into it all-- as HRG new partner?? Eric Robert's character eluded to it.
What's going to happen to Claire's mom & brother? They still remember, right? Because if they erase that lady's memory one more time she'll have an annuerism!
Little Hiro playing video games - Priceless. It took me a minute to close my mouth when I saw Mr Nakamura, I had thought his part was pretty much over - but they fooled me! I can't wait to see how that all gets connected.
Also, is it me or did they do a great job at making Claire look 2 years younger -- guess they stopped putting all that make-up on her!
*****SPOILER*****
What's up with Simone, covered in blood and talking in next weeks episode? Does she also have regenerative powers? Was it someone else pretending to be Simone, who has the ability to mimic people (Channeling X-Men's Mystic) or is someone tripping on Acid & imagining her there?
Because she was in Peter's vision of the future New York exploding...
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Feb 26, 2007 11:33 PM
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First let me say just HOW annoyed I am that I can never see the beginning of CSI Miami anymore because Heroes always runs over.
As to the ep, I thought it was excellent. When little Hiro pushed up his glasses I was like "I love this show."
I did think it was ridiculous that HRG didn't get nuked in that burning house... but what can you do. I was confused at the end. I'm assuming the Haitian is going to make it seem like HE kidnapped Claire away from HRG who was going to do as told and turn her in? I don't know. But I definitely got the impression he wasn't dead but if the Haitian was going to erase his memory why shoot him? I don't know. I didn't watch the preview because I wanted to turn to CSI Miami but either way HRG won't remember Claire so he's losing her anyway which I found sad. Eric Roberts character comes off as less than convincing to me. I guess when you're dealing with a guy who can nuke a whole house I don't feel that afraid of Eric Roberts... what could he have done to protect himself in that house? nothing, unless he's got special powers. And I wonder how Hiro's Father got a hold of Claire in the first place
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Feb 26, 2007 11:59 PM
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I didn't take it at all that HRG is dead. He told the Haitian to shoot him in a spot where it wouldn't be fatal, then he told him to erase his memory down as deep as he could go. I took that to mean so his bosses couldn't get any info from him when they found him alive. This isn't a spoiler. I didn't watch any previews. This is what I thought happened at the end.
Did anyone else find Eric Roberts in black and white to be odd looking? I knew from his voice and parts of his face that it was him, but was there strange make-up to try to make him look younger or what? It didn't do that. He looked like someone from another planet as seen on Star Trek. In the present he looked like himself.
Don't know yet what I thought of this episode. The fire from Ted's power was just weird. That whole neighborhood would have been incinerated or poisoned from radiation at the very least. It just didn't make any sense. And this was another episode where something happens and we don't see how. One minute Matt is standing outside while Ted is presumably killed, and the next minute they're captured and drugged in the "paper plant". Um, how did that happen?
Just a few nitpicks, I guess.
I did enjoy seeing George Takai. That was definitely interesting. And I saw the smirk on baby Claire's face.
Otherwise, except for the ending, I was a little bored. I don't know if it's just me, and why I would be bored, but I did find myself checking on how much longer til it was over. HMMMM.
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Feb 26, 2007 11:59 PM
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If you're going to do recaps, it would help if you paid SOME attention. HRG is not dead---he asked to be shot 2 inches below where he would be killed. He is still alive, which is why the Haitian has to remove his memory. If he's dead, it wouldn't really matter, would it? And, he was clearly seen in the previews for the upcoming episodes. It's not that hard to pay attention. Isn't that what you get paid for?
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Feb 27, 2007 12:05 AM
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Nooooo my tape cut out just as HRG, Haitian, and Claire were standing on the bridge. I was devastated, especially after reading what happened. Sounds intense! Now hopefully the preview for the next episode will be on Youtube ASAP!
I absolutely loved this episode. It was nice to see one where things didn't jump around, especially since this storyline was so compelling. I didn't really miss any of the other characters at all. Not to say that I'd want every episode to be like this, but it was a nice change of pace.
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Feb 27, 2007 12:24 AM
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When I saw HRG with Invsible guy that was a mild surpise, then all wound up on that very familiar rooftop - that was a "things that make you go Hmm" moment, then George Takei is standing there with baby Claire - that was fall out of chair time.
Loved seeing Claire pick out the glasses for her father. The whole conversation between HRG and his disappearing partner was great.
The one thing that bothered me was, why wasn't Hana part of the raid on casa de Bennett? She could have gotten any information ou of the computer easily. For a while I was wondering if she had somehow set up Matt and Ted.
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Feb 27, 2007 12:33 AM
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Why is everyone being so rude? I didn't take the Original Poster to be saying HRG died. I'm assuming that she thought as I did, that with his memory wiped, he would be gone from the show and his families' lives forever, as part of his plan. If you want to debate with her what she took from it, by all means do so, but quit the rudeness.
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Feb 27, 2007 12:38 AM
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Why is everyone being so rude?
Everyone is being rude? I guess I don't know what rude is. I saw one post that could be construed as rude, yet I understand the frustration that seemed to be behind the post. To quote from the original post: "She only knows the father she's had her whole life just died for her...As much as HRG frustrated me, I'll miss Jack Coleman's long stares and absurd phrases." Losing his memory and dying aren't the same thing. And if he has lost his memory of Claire, why would that preclude Jack Coleman from being on the show, long stares, absurd phrases, and all?
Yes, the error could have been pointed out more diplomatically (and was, by several others.) And while I'm not a fan of rudeness, I admit that I was tempted to ask similar questions.
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Feb 27, 2007 12:57 AM
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To all the people who's tape cut off, NBC does replay the episode on NBC.com. That has happened to me many times and thank god they started putting eps online.
I started to cry when the Haitain shot H.R.G. and took away his memory. Even though he was a surrogate father, Claire was his daughter afterall. So sad and for next weeks episode, Simone is alive! I thought she was dead. I love new suprises. I can't wait for next week to come!
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Feb 27, 2007 1:23 AM
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It seemed clear to me she thought Mr Bennet had died and would not be around any longer. I too was tempted to ask that question.
Did anyone else consider for a minute that George Takei might be Linderman? It crossed my mind, but the previews seem to say differently.
SPOILER ALERT: AA @ TV Guide let the cat out of the bag weeks ago about who Linderman is going to be played by, so we've known it is not Takei. I guess Megan just tries to avoid spoilers like some others do. For some odd reason, I seek them out constantly.
I had been losing interest in the show since the "Save the Cheerleader, Save the World" arc completed. Tonight's show however, brought me right back into the mix of things. I thought it was an awesome episode and I was so happy to get more info on Bennet, Claire, Claude, etc.
pinkie: "One minute Matt is standing outside while Ted is presumably killed,"
Ted was never presumably killed. Claire shot him up with the tranquilizer that Bennet brought from the "paper factory." This led to him not completely going nuclear and then the organization was able to take him for further study. That may not have been what you were asking though.
I was not sure why Parkman went though. It seemed that he must have gone there of his free will. There were many law enforcement officers around and I doubt he could have been taken against his will with all of the police there. Maybe he just wants answers??
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Feb 27, 2007 1:26 AM
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