Heroes Watch: Invisible Touch

@James - glad someone else was angry about the Irish accents. I mean, honestly, there have to be hundreds of good, actual Irish actors out there - cast a couple. Or alternatively, send Peter someplace that is NOT Ireland - I mean, he has amnesia. He could be in Newark and be "lost" to his family.

I'm with you so far - nothing is clicking so far this season for me. Hiro's storyline got better (I loved Masi Oka's pained look when the swordmaker's daughter was waiting to be kissed - he's seriously the heart and soul of this show), and Peter is interesting just because he seems to be the ultimate hero, absorbing everyone's powers (except for the whole losing his memory thing - I'm just hoping it's more that his memory was "wiped" by some villain).

But I think we saw the real salvation of this show towards the end - the reunion of the Haitian and Mr. Bennett. Something about all of Jack Coleman's scenes work amazingly well - the scene with his wife where she demanded that there be no more secrets (did anyone else think he was holding something back), the scene with Claire where she discussed testing her limits....basically, this story could be Peter, Hiro, and Claire/Mr. Bennett and I'd be happier.

That being said, we're one week closer to Kristen Bell....If they write it well, she'll knock it out of the park (in other words, she's no Mohinder).

I think you’re crabby:) I like the fact that they’re taking some time in gathering the strands together. I think it’s smart. The natural inclination for a second season would be to try to whiz-bang the audience to death in the first few episodes, just so the producers could prove they haven’t lost their fast ball. But is that the best way to tell the story? I think the approach, so far, is on point. Eventually we’re gonna need some whiz-bang, but I’m OK with a nice little buildup in the meantime.

@chaddogg: Speaking of Peter's amnesia, someone help me out here: was he ever in a position last year to have acquired the Haitian's power? Could he have given himself amnesia?

I'm just glad that Sark (aka Takezo Kensei) didn't get bumped last night. I thought for a second that he might.

Given that Peter had the Haitian's necklace on when they found him in the cargo container in the first episode, odds are that his "amnesia" was intentional - though whether it was Peter's intent or the Haitian/his handlers' intent, I don't know. Clearly Peter has been busy in more than just the gym since Season one as his borrowed electrical zaps are new - who'd he learn that from? Not to mention DL's phasing as well.

I am surprised no one has mentioned the virus thing. Since Mohinder's sister's case back in the 70s, the only two outbreaks involve Molly, under Company care, and the Haitian, whom last we saw was fully working under Mother(Angela?) Petrelli. It looks to me like someone (formerly?) related to the Company is manipulating Mohinder and the others to join forces to be in a position to take down the Company - or at least the portions of it they don't like.

So despite how "dull" it all seems, I suspect that they are setting things up in the background that we just aren't noticing yet. Those Irish accents are still appalling, though.

@ Diallo - I agree with everything you said!

@ James - I think you're way crabby, but the Irish accents did suck! This week, like last week, was totally awesome for me. I really like the slow-building - it was the same last season, the storylines gradually evolved, the connections and backstory become more clear. I like the slow pace, why in the world do we need earth-shattering action in the second episode? I actually wouldn't have a problem if they didn't have a disaster as big as destroying a city to deal with this season, it would be fine with me if the conflict was on a smaller (or simply different) scale - I think that if they tried to keep topping themselves with the grand scale, rather than just telling a story about cool characters, that people would be even more cranky. I loved all the hints at things to come, I am totally digging Mohinder this season (I couldnt' stand him last season), I loved watching Claire's family try to maintain some semblance of the life they had together last season. I LOVED the twins - oh my god, the bleeding eyes are so cool-looking, and the ressurrection-thing, I am so totally hooked. Hiro back in Japan is so cool, and I think that there will be a lot of connections coming from that that will be important, especially now that we know that Kensei heals himself! This is one of my favorite shows, and I can't believe people are being so fickle about what promises to be a kick-ass season. Give it a chance, people!

The only think I'm not crazy about is Claire's creepystalkerboy. He is oh so lame.

Wow, I must be deaf because I didn't notice a problem with the Irish accents. Other than that I enjoyed the second episode more than the first. I'm expecting a slow build, like last years Lost season.

Sorry if this winds up double-posting - I posted it earlier and it never showed up. . . So hopefully I won't have 2 semi-similar posts coming up at once.

@ Diallo - I agree with everything you just said!

@ James: I think you are way crabby - this season is totally working for me so far. I love the slow, unfolding pace of the storyline, the gradual setup of the conflict, the piecemeal revelation of connections among the characters. Also, I don't care whether or not they have to accomplish something so grand as saving the world - I would rather they focus on characters and stories than on trying to "top" their last season. If their storytelling leads to some epic quest, then that totally rocks, but I would rather it be smaller in scale and not seemed contrived. Then people would be really cranky.

What I loved: Mohinder! I couldn't stand him last season for the most part, but this season he is one of my favorites. He has a mission, he has a purpose, he has a running crew.

I LOVE the twins - the bleeding eyes, the resurrection thing, it is SO cool-looking! So very dramatic and fitting for a tv show that looks and plays out like a comic book.

Hiro's storyline is like sunshine for me, I can't wait to see if this other dude rises to the occasion or if Hiro actually gets to be the hero from the stories. Maybe they combine their powers to build the myth of Kensei. I was so glad that dude wasn't dead, I was just starting to like him!

I also really liked watching Claire's family try to maintain some semblance of their previous life. And how cool was her toe growing back?!?!?! I loved it. The comment from her dad about her being in a much freer cage than the one "they" would put her in was really interesting. Reminded me of a verse from a Bob Dylan song, I believe it is Ballad in Plain D, and goes something like: My friends in the prison, they ask unto me, oh, how good, does it feel to be free, and I answer them most mysteriously, Is the bird free from the chains of the skyway? That is one of my favorite quotes EVER, and very fitting to Claire's situation.

The Irish accents weren't that bad, and I loved watching Peter rediscovering his powers. And watching Ma Petrelli get the butt-whoopin' she seriously deserves was an added bonus! Question: If it is an invisible dude that did the butt-whoopin', then could it be Claude Raines? He certainly has reason to hold a grudge about things that happened to him, and he is, well, invisible. I don't remember to what extent we have seen connections between him and the Nakamura/Petrelli/Linderman old-school hero crew, but we know he's been around with powers for a long time.

The only thing I don't like is Claire's creepystalkerboy West. he is still Oh So Very Lame. Perhaps he will improve upon further acquaintance.

So, have we started calling them the "Wonder Twins" yet? It's only a matter of time.

@ Spot/Weld: On EW.com, the reviewer lady there used the phrase Honduran Wonder Twins.

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20091102_2,00.html

Again, really sorry for the doubleposting above - I thought my internet had screwed up that first time!!!

I hadn't seen the votepetrelli site before:

http://votepetrelli.com/

There is a letter from Nathan declining the senator seat he won there.

OK, not to revert to the TIME magazine politics-nerd stereotype, but...

Was Nathan Petrelli running for Senate or Congress? Even the votepetrelli.com site isn't consistent about it. Wasn't he running for the fictional 30th House district? Therefore, he would have no "junior Senate seat" to resign.

OK, you all can drag me to the bathroom and give me a swirlie now.

Quick question. Could Peter shoot the blue hand thing at people last season? I seem to remember last season that he could, but I have read lots of blog comments today with people saying that this was something new. I just remember some battle last season with one person shooting red energy and someone else (I thought Peter) shooting blue. Could be completely remembering wrong. . .

Jen C: Haven't bothered to look this up, but am almost certain you're thinking of the flash-forward episode. So temporally, the power was "new" to him last night, though we saw it before.

So far I'm as underwhelmed as I was at the end of last season. I still find Wes or West or Whateverhisnameis to be totally creepy and not at all "mysterious" as I think they're trying to make him. I was glad to see the Haitian return, he and the Invisible Man were my favorites last season.

There's something about Ventimiglia that I just can't get behind. I can't buy him as a tough guy, he always seems like he's just a grown up bully, acting tough from his own front yard. There's no guilt or remorse over his great power. All the best comic book heroes - Wolverine, Spiderman, Batman, etc - have all had a kind of inner turmoil with the light and dark sides of their powers. Peter seems to lack this.

Justin,

That could be because Peter is himself something of an innocent still. Even Peter Parker didn't have that turmoil at first.

Why doesn't Peter throw electricity at the Irish guy and get his identity back?

When will the heroes speak in hushed tones in public places?

So far the biggest mystery this season is who stole Claire's car.

i agree this has been a weak beginning, not giving up, but nervous...

but have to disagree on one thing, i am hating the hiro in japan story arc...

You think the Irish accents are bad for you well I'm from Cork, Ireland so they're much harder for me to take. Though it is cool that cork is featured in my favourite program, usually when tv shows use Ireland they just use Dublin.

I think people are expecting too much after only a couple episodes. While I do think the Hiro plotline is corny, predictable, and a distraction, they may find a way to tie it in more organically with the present-day story (such as making Kensei related to the Petrellis and Claire, since he looks like he has Claire's power, or maybe actually bringing him into the present for something). While it's certainly silly that Peter just doesn't take the box telekenetically and get the heck out of there, I'm happy to watch that plot as long as we get to see more of Ventimiglia's gym body

And the best part so far? No Nikki! Too bad she's coming back. I really wish Micah had been orphaned in the 1st season finale and was living in the Mohinder/Parkman household instead. Who needs another Nikki loser plot? I prefer the Wonder Twins, and I'm not even crazy about them.

Heh. I'm from Cork too.

The accents are hilariously bad. Apparently, one of the Irish radio stations were playing clips from the episode this morning, and phoning up Cork people to see if they could translate.

So, anyone not think Kensei's going to still be alive in the present?

Cork, represent! Mrs. Tuned In and I spent some time there on our honeymoon. People we met couldn't believe Americans went there on their honeymoons--especially Jewish Americans with no familial ties to Ireland.

Personally I prefer the slow approach that they are taking unlike lost where every episode something big happened it got a bit ridicules.

Oirish Accents.
Apparently there's a particular Irish accent that originates somewhere around Hollywood CA. And it's real bad.
For the genuine article, possibly slightly out of the Heroes budget, check out Cork actor, Cillian Murphy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fgxlWaRtwg.
Please tell me we won't have to listen to these hammy accents all season!?

It wasn't just the irish accents that are appalling, the 'irish' sets are so in accurate. I'm married to Irish woman and live in Ireland and I spotted the following issues:

1) All the police and security guards are wearing American styled uniforms - nothing like you get in Ireland.

2) Irish license plates have a particular structure, font style and colour. Front and rear plates are both white - however in Heroes Ireland the rear plates are shown a yellow. This would be accurate in the UK (inc. Northern Ireland) but not in Cork.

3) the security van is based on the International CTX - not available in Ireland and the import duty (tax) on importing one would be very high.

4) the 'Give Way' sign that can be seen out of the window in the 'pub' is a British not Irish - they use Yield instead.

5) the interior of the 'pub' is more like an American 'Irish Bar' than an Irish Bar. If you get my drift.

6) The accents are inconsistent and not Cork accents - the likelihood is that you would not be able to understand a proper cork accent.

7) the pub had a smokey look and feel to it. Smoking in pubs has been illegal in Ireland for the last few years now.

I really like Heroes but how much would it have cost to send even a single researcher to Cork to get this right.