Heroes Episode Review: Chapter 18 (2.18) Parasite
By Sam | March 6, 2007 (3:14 pm) | More: Heroes Episode Reviews, Heroes Videos Multimedia Downloads
You can’t escape your destiny. Or can you? That seems to be the question running across Chapter 18, “Like any Parasite” (or according to the episode title card, just “Parasite”). As for our heroes� Hiro’s quest to find his elusive sword and save New York City continues in Vegas, where he bumps into a familiar face, Nathan Petrelli, who has come to Vegas to meet with the elusive Mr. Linderman and give us our first glimpse at Malcolm McDowell in the role (but then again, if you read this site, you already know who is playing Linderman).
Back in New York, in the aftermath of Simone’s death, Isaac gets a visit from The Company’s representatives, HRG and his new partner, Candice Wilmer (Missy Peregrym, who joins the cast). Meanwhile, Claire wants to go hide out with Peter Petrelli in New York, but the Haitian insists her only option is to leave the country; also, the Haitian’s “higher power” can speak French, and it’s someone we have met before. And no, it’s not God as some have speculated.
As the last episode before “Heroes” goes on another long break (5 weeks without a new “Heroes” according to some, 7 weeks according to others), “Parasite” is a keeper. More than that, it’s an edge-of-your-seat “Holy crap, I can’t believe all of this is happening in this one episode!” keeper.
Let’s run down the progressions:
HRG and his wife develop a new rapport that stuns HRG as well as the audience. It goes to show you — the wife always knows more than you think she knows. Keep that in mind, married guys. As well, HRG comes to the realization that he is not as smart as he believes, and The Company is not as dumb as they appear. Should I even mention that Candice Wilmer is going to be fun to follow in future episodes? The girl’s got spunk, not to mention rampant bad girl sex appeal. The guys are gonna be soooo happy with her. (Dear Powers That Be: Don’t you dare pull an Eden with her! You have been warned.)
Peter is getting really, really used to his powers. The man now vanishes and reappears with the ease of his absent mentor, Claude. Speaking of whom, not a single mention or glimpse of our original Invisible Man. Then again, maybe he’s always around but � well, you know. And who would have thought that it would be Hiro who pinpoints the central fault of our other favorite Petrelli, Nathan. For a guy who can barely speak English, Hiro certainly gets to the heart of the matter regarding our “selfish” politician. Oh, and Claire, say “Hi” to Grandma. It isn’t exactly a happy reunion, alas.
As for our favorite schizophrenic killer/concerned mother, things are not nearly as in control as she believes. Niki is beginning to assert herself, and Jessica is starting to think that she’s not the dominant personality as she originally thought. This is lucky for Nathan, who has a not-so-chance second encounter with his one-night fling. Remember their little get-together early in the season? Let’s just say the reunion involves a gun and a punch to the face — not necessarily in that order.
The introduction of Linderman does what it was designed to do: introduce a formidable villain that can sustain the show for an entire season. Linderman is a cunning, ambitious, and devious. And what makes him even more dangerous? He’s extremely intelligent. His confrontation with Nathan, in of all places, a kitchen, is ripe with tension and…cooking?
“Heroes” is going on hiatus for a little while, and won’t be back until sometime April. This means it’s time for everyone who hasn’t been following along to catch up on the episodes they might have missed, or didn’t watch too closely the first time via various outlets. NBC’s website has all the episodes for you to view, as well as daily Friday re-runs on the Sci Fi Channel. And of course, you can always download new episodes from iTunes.
Get ready, folks, because the final 5 episodes is going to be bumpy. And really, we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Wasn't HRG or Peter.
Peter has loves his brother why would he do it, yes he can be influenced but his ...
Guys, it was HRG clearly who shot Nathan, why the heck would Peter do it? 
Yay! They're doing more promos. 
i think that people should leave them alone . i mean that is their
personal lives . i mean , ...
Jon Camp on 6 March 2007:
I know we are all diehard Heroes fans, but damn did u see that Spiderman 3 clip (speechless)
mickey on 6 March 2007:
i can’t believe this is happening, a 5 week hiatus!!!! after watching this episode, please don’t do this us
.
Davey on 7 March 2007:
Linderman is Nathan’s father…..
Radiant on 7 March 2007:
I think Peter will knock Sylar out….First of all if he wants Peter can even just kill Sylar….PETER is like DEM?GOD or we can even say like god :)…. Sylar had stolen lots of powers but while near him..Peter has them,too…and if Peter dies…i wont watch heroes anymore i guess…..PETER ROCKSS
Seth on 7 March 2007:
davey NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SMART ONE
stefan on 9 March 2007:
hey RADIANT guy.wat u talking man !!!!!!!.peter is like GOD.Someone had to creat peter too.no offense but that’s a bit offff to me !i LIkE PETER VERY much & sure does rock.
stefan on 9 March 2007:
is it that true “Heroes” is off for 7 Weeks; how am suppose to cope
chris on 9 March 2007:
you are wrong radiant…. peter can use sylar’s powers anywhere…. didnt you see the episode 16?
Stacy Macpherson on 12 March 2007:
I can’t believe that Heroes is not going to air tonight.
b-M-d on 12 March 2007:
hey Radiant, it seems like you didn’t listen to all the dialogue, especially in the episode when Claude (the invisible man) was teaching Peter how to control his powers. He doesn’t need to be near another hero for his abilities to work, he only has to be near one when they use their powers once, after that, he can use any power of any other hero he’s met. Yes he rocks, BUT, Peter is only starting to be able to use his powers. Sylar has had way more practice and experience using his powers and the ones he took from others. Peter obviously has his hands full. Sylar still has the advantage right now because he is more used to using his powers.
b-M-d on 12 March 2007:
Oh, and one more thing RADIANT… Nathan and Peter’s father is deceased… remember? early in the series?? Nathan and Peter were planning to go against Mr Linderman when Nathan was still working with the District Attorney. Mr Linderman is not, and can not be Nathan and Peter’s father… I suggest you watch all the other episodes again. RECAP, and please do listen to the dialogue… its not all about the visuals. *sigh*
b-M-d on 12 March 2007:
my mistake Radiant, I got mixed up, was referring to Davey’s comment. Linderman is NOT Nathan and Peter’s father… not unless he faked his death and changed his face.
b-M-d on 13 March 2007:
As a matter of fact, the thought just crossed my mind, my guess is that Mr. Linderman and Mr. Petrelli (Nathan and Peter’s father) must have been working together in the group of heroes mentioned in the episode 19 spoilers (from another site) that would explain why Mr Linderman and the late Mr Petrelli were friends… they probably fought together in the past. It fits right in perfectly.
intercon on 14 March 2007:
Just finished watching all the epis over again - 2nd time around is so much more informative!
Thought: did anyone notice that from the beginning, Peter has 2 abilities - the ability to absorb other’s abilities AND the ability to dream the future. We haven’t officially met the Hero with this dream ability. Could this be his Mom? She did say he was her favourite so he must have spent a lot of time around her as a kid and reverts to his safe feelings of being around her when he sleeps.
About Peter and Sylar, Peter will win for sure - he’s stronger. Syler is smarter (his drive is to learn how things “tick”) so he learns how to use other abilities faster, but Peter just needs to feel them to use them.
intercon on 14 March 2007:
Oh! just had another thought…didn’t Simone’s dad have dreams? Maybe Peter got the ability to dream futures from him. There must be some connection. Also, in all the future scenes with the bomb, Simone is present and clearly alive. Is she special too? Perhaps her dad was a member of the old Heros group with Lindreman and Peterilli’s fater? Why else would Claude (invisible guy) be hiding out on his roof top?
Donald on 7 April 2007:
Peter and Hiro are probably the 2 most important Heros in the show. The first episode begins with Peter on a ledge, I think he’ll be the ultimate Hero in the end. Future Hiro tells him to be the they need when he visits Peter in the subway. Peter cannot die, he’s the only one, so far, with major potential besides Hiro.
enno on 22 April 2007:
hi ! in this episode gabrielle is really…real..reall.reallly.reallly.really HANSOM!
and i loved it!
Angie on 23 April 2007:
I think that Nathan will punch Niki, he seems like a man who would hit a woman
Happiness or meaning…..you have to choose? « Heroes Not Zombies on 5 December 2007:
[...] 5, 2007 by bobleckridge Catching up on some episodes of Heroes last night, and was watching Chapter 18, “Parasite”. This is the one where Nathan confronts Lindeman and Lindeman says to Nathan that he has to choose [...]