Andraste

In which one set of plot threads converge and the fandom's other OTP lay eyes on each other for the first time.



As you'll have gathered by now, I've had the joy of watching this show largely unspoiled. However, there were a couple of things that it was impossible to avoid knowing in advance. One was that the Petrelli brothers were ... er, Italian. The other thing was that the half of the fandom that didn't ship Peter with his brother shipped him with his long-lost niece.

(Someone please tell me that the internet is also covered with Hiro/Ando. If it is not, I may lose all faith in humanity, or at least slashers.)

Let's just say that I can see how if you were the kind of person inclined to 'ship fifteen-year-old cheerleaders with men in their twenties, you would be all over this. They certainly have a connection. The first time Peter meets Claire, he saves her life and she saves his. I can't see a romantic relationship between the two of them being a good idea though (as opposed to a plausible one) even without the incest angle.

... and there's that out of the way. On to more important things!

Some of my favourite parts of this episode were Claire's interaction with her schoolmates, both friend and foe. Her storyline really is, in part, a tribute to Buffy the Vampire Slayer with Zach as Xander and Jackie as Cordelia. I admit I cheered when Claire punched her former BFF in the face,which makes Jackie's death in Claire's place even more shocking later. It would be interesting if they subverted the nerd-with-a-crush-on-popular-girl story by having Zach turn out to actually be gay, if only because there seem to be no non-straight characters in this show so far. (Well, as far as we know.)

The other great thing about this story is Mr. Bennett trying to save his little girl without telling anyone else what the hell is going on or why he needs to ground her. He may be evil, but he is a good daddy. Somehow I find it not reassuring at all that Sylar ends up in his hands at the conclusion of the episode.

The other significant first meeting of the episode is between Peter and Ando. Ando instantly identifies what the two of them have in common: "without him, I'm not really anything either." Oh, Ando. You are a hero just for waiting in that diner drinking a bottomless cup of coffee and waiting for your friend to come back.

Alas, the subplots kind of let this episode down. Jessica is about to shoot D.L., and I wish I cared more about anything in that part of the story. Mohinder is beaten repeatedly over his pretty head with visions for the second episode in a row.

You know another thing this show could do without? Cheesy Voiceover Guy. If you need to do a 'previously on Heroes' recap, network, could you please get Sendhil Ramamurthy to do the narration? It would make those bits feel like a more organic part of the show and also less stupid.