Chapter 19, .07 Percent Episode Review (SPOILERS)

(Episode Review by MathSorcerer) — After suffering in the desert of second-rate TV (well, with some exceptions) we finally get our Heroes fix, and in a really big way. Chapter 19, “.07 Percent”, is actually one of the best of Season 1, and I’m not saying that simply because it has been more than a month since the last episode. How did we survive without it?

Peter versus Sylar: not quite the titanic struggle of giants people had hoped for, but interesting nevertheless. I must admit, though, that when it comes to power versus power, creativity usually wins. It appears that Gabriel — Sylar to the rest of us — is more creative than Peter, or at least luckier. The hyper-auditory powers stolen from poor Dale a few episodes back rule out invisibility every time. Poor Peter — that really had to hurt!

The newly developing mystery of Mrs. Petrelli continues to fascinate. Not only is she more informed about everyone’s dual lives and abilities, but also the hint is that she also has powers of her own. Unlike most folks, though, she chooses not to demonstrate her power, or she has a power which cannot be visibly demonstrated. She lived in Paris, but that still doesn’t explain how she speaks Haitian French…unless she is an enhanced polyglot.

Several struggles and confrontations are the order of the day in “.07 Percent”. Not only do we have Peter fighting Sylar, but Nathan fighting Linderman (and acquiescing), and also poor mind-wiped HRG (otherwise known as Mr. Bennet) fighting against his own Company with his new allies Matt Parkman and Theodore Sprague. On a side note, I really like both Matt and Theodore — they are the underdogs for whom I cheer in this show, because others who watch regularly usually give them less-than-stellar reviews. You wait and see — those two will come out on top yet.

The fact that Jessica didn’t realize that underestimating Linderman is a terrible mistake means that she isn’t as smart as I’d thought. Neither is Hana, for all her “rallying the troops” efforts via her website; she, too, is still underestimating Linderman. Personally, I really like Hana’s abilities, but I don’t like the position she has taken against Linderman — she doesn’t have all the facts and is acting rashly. Oh, well…I won’t always agree with everyone on things, now will I?

What concerns me now is this “tracking system” HRG mentions, and how it ties in with Mohinder’s List. Are they one and the same? Do they rely on the same technology and/or knowledge? Common sense says that they must. Now that Mohinder and the Company’s Thompson will be partnering, this tracking system should be perfected.

Personally, I give Company girl Candice about three more episodes before someone kills her. She is simply too smarmy to be allowed to remain alive. Besides, when Jessica finds out she handed Micah over to Linderman, Candice will be lucky to keep her arms attached to her shoulders. Or Gabriel can pay her a visit; I’m sure he can put being a mimic to really good use.

Hiro and Hiro, together at last. As with most situations dealing with meeting yourself, I don’t think Future Hiro likes Present Hiro. What a shame.

Finally, the 0.07% in the episode’s title needs to be addressed. Linderman’s philosophy is expounded a little further here, and like I thought, it’s pure Machiavellian — the ends justifying the means and all that jazz. How ironic that a healer would be the one to directly (or indirectly) cause the deaths of millions of people in addition to the deaths he has caused over the years as a “mobster”. Nevertheless, I would love to have his potpie recipe.

Enough gushiness, it’s time to get serious.

Chapter 19 really showed that the scriptwriters have gotten better. The level of drama has been increased greatly, and if the show gets any more dramatic or grittier, they’ll have to move it to the FX Network. The one truest fact proving they’ve gotten better is this: even I didn’t think about Theodore being able to burn “bright” and create an EMP, and that says a lot. I give a respectful nod to whoever came up with that one; it isn’t every day someone thinks of something I missed.

A hint from the preview:

Nathan says, “I am the most special person there is”…but is it really Nathan? That sounds like Sylar, but how can he look like Nathan…unless…

Well, so much for Candice.