Heroes Episode Review: Season 2 Episode 8 (2.08) Four Months Ago
By Sam | November 12, 2007 (9:09 pm) | More: Heroes Episode Reviews, Heroes Season 2 Spoilers/News
Ah, it’s Fall, when the clock falls back one hour, and Heroes does likewise, only more ambitiously: it rewinds back to four months ago, where we pick up with our heroes as they are coming out of their Season 1 finale haze. Most people said that the finale was too anti-climactic, lacking in the oomph they had been expecting. I disagree. I believed it ended as it should — with a slight bang, but not the wild free-for-all that would have made the show silly or, dare I say it, too “comic booky”. But nevermind all that. Let’s find out what our heroes have been up to — or, actually, what they were up to…
So what exactly happened after Nathan grabbed Peter and flew into the sky? Nothing we didn’t expect. After they reached safety, Nathan let go, Peter went ka-boom, and both brothers, as well as the city, were spared. Peter then used his flying powers, caught Nathan, and took him to the hospital. There, he met Elle and Bob. Or, more precisely, he met one of Elle’s energy blasts.
At the Company’s facility, Peter gets a most indecent proposal from Bob: they can take away his powers for him; all he has to do is agree, which he readily does. We also learn more about Elle, namely that she likes to play, and she’s picked Peter as her new playmate. She’s very friendly that way, Elle is. It’s during his stay at the Company’s facility that Peter meets a new friend. His name is Adam, and he has plans. Big plans. Saving the world type plans.
Still at the hospital, a badly scarred Nathan is confined to his bed, his entire body and face horribly disfigured. Of course, Mama Petrelli is of little help, informing Nathan that Peter is dead, before turning her “charms” on Nathan’s wife, Heidi. It’s a good thing for Nathan that there is someone out there who can survive almost anything, including nuclear radiation scarring and poisoning. Now if only Peter can bring that someone over to Nathan…
The other unanswered question of the episode is: how did poor D.L. bite the bullet? He actually survived that bullet, as it turns out, but surviving Kirby Plaza and Linderman is nothing compared to Niki’s quest to rid her family of Jessica forever. Bob claims to have the answer, but then again, Bob claims lots. Micah, meanwhile, wants to start a superhero group, sort of like the Fantastic Four, minus one. D.L. will have nothing of it, and has already landed a hot job. Literally.
So will we finally learn how D.L. dies? Um, yeah. That tombstone we saw in a previous episode with D.L.’s name on it wasn’t a gag, you know. By the way D.L., have you met Marie? C’ya, brotha.
Finally, we witness the birth of Maya’s powers, and it’s not pretty. Fortunately for our mass murderess, the church is a very understanding place. That is, until Jose Law comes calling. As I heard it, Alejandro has always wanted to go to New York, anyway.
And what of Matt Parkman, everyone’s favorite beat cop who, last we saw, was shot to pieces and dying? Um, I have no idea. Parkman is mysteriously missing from “Four Months Ago”.
Also MIA for this episode: Sylar, Matt Parkman, HRG and family, and Hiro.
Notable moments:
Elle likes to play…
An indecent proposal…
D.L.’s got himself a hot job…
The Takezo Kenshank Redemption…?
The face of the killer…
Elle’s got some serious powers, yo…
"it must be him who shot nathan."
What the hell, did you not read anything I said in the above post? 
I think it was Peter who shot Nathan. Future Peter, I mean. Remember season 1 where they were talking about ...
Thank you! I was wondering if that was him in the video. My husband said it wasn't :op 
i reckon a few characters will turn bad i think peter will turn bad after what happened to nathan i ...
I have a feeling Peter will become a villain, i don't know why but he will be forced to go ...
DNaraku on 12 November 2007:
No Sylar explanation in this episode made me very sad.
a-man on 12 November 2007:
so was those nathans memories he would see in other episodes of himself scarred
andrew on 12 November 2007:
i cant believe what just happen that was one of the best episodes this season and what the heck is matt how did he survive four shots. that sucks DL died that way i mean come on
tenika on 12 November 2007:
This Episode Proves There Are Too Many Characters On Thir Show. They Only Talked About 3 Characters From Last Season!
Shan on 12 November 2007:
Maybe Nathan actually did recieve the scarring he keeps seeing (in mirrors and such) and the company fixed him up, using some of Peter’s blood which of course can heal like Claires….
So now Nathan is experiencing flashbacks when he’s feeling a little down.
suthinrx on 12 November 2007:
No Sylar and no Matt? Come on Heroes…..
heroesfan on 12 November 2007:
i think we have established the Peter and the Petrelli family are the most important family members or characters on this show. The entire episode was about him, Nathan and D.L. D.L died in the worst way, i expected Niki/Jessica/or the other girl, to kill him and then her seeing that she has to go with Bob. The other dude just shots him, that’s it…..jesus. Peter is my favorite character but there is so much more that i could do with his character and so much more i could do with this story. Heroes is getting good but it seems that when they say they are trying to be unexpected, well that doesnt mean stupid
Rob on 12 November 2007:
disappointed. thats all i can say, at least last season the filler episode(”Five Years Gone”) eluded to and explained the fates of all the major characters at that point. This season’s filler however seems to prove what the critics have been saying all along: despite its penchant for randomly killing off major characters last season, the show still has too many characters. Even with the flashback, I still don’t care about Maya & Alejandro’s characters or story. Of course until Sylar comes along, but even he’s gotten stale lately. Speaking of Sylar, the promos for this episode that were shown last week and have been posted on the internet, included the line “You have questions….what happened after the bomb?…Where Did Sylar Go?” either the absence was a rewrite due to the effects of having to end the season prematurely, or an oversight on the networks part. Shame on NBC for teasing us like that.
As for the episode elements, it told the story effectively, and filled us in (albeit rather sloppily) on the plot holes left from last seasons finale. I find it strange that Peter is all powerful, yet he gets knocked out by Elle in the hospital, and no one notices he’s gone. It just seems like a quick shift, a cop out. For that matter, the death of DL was something that specifically irked me about this episode. The guy can phase through walls, people’s heads, can have a mans fist phase through him, but yet again he can’t stop a bullet. It’s weak. One has to wonder whether Tim Kring had this episode fleshed out in the beginning or it was written (or rewritten) shortly before it went into production. The episode served its purpose, to fill in the gaps, for the most part, it was successful for what it was—filler and nothing more.
mj on 12 November 2007:
well said rob. who cares about the twins 4 months ago? i hope this strike gives the writers a chance 2 fix the show
h0n on 12 November 2007:
I disagree with you Rob, of course D.L. can do all of that, but he is not a ghost right? he can be solid and touchy too. and in last episode (season1) he chose to be not to use his power to safe niki, remember?
Shan on 12 November 2007:
Kensei is Monroe. fair enough.
Im curious as to why a british guy was cast as a Japanese Warrior. I doubt your going to put a Englishman in ancient Japan without having a pretty valid reason. So has anyone seen any reason why Kensei needed to be British?
Sam on 12 November 2007:
Shan,
The British, and many Europeans, were big traders with Japan and Asia during that period. Making Kensei British makes more sense than making him, say, American, and it’s historically accurate.
Leo on 13 November 2007:
Tonights episode was AWESOME!!!!!!!! starting to understand Elle’s character a little more and her obsession with Peter. Must admit I was a little angry at the fact that they focused on only some of the characters fates and not on all of them……. can’t wait till next weeks episode.
Will on 13 November 2007:
It amazes me how stupid DL’s death was.
I know alot of people would enjoy the adventures of DL Hawkins saving people and pleasing his son instead of having Hiro be annoying in the past or the twins trying to get to the border for 8 eps.
The writers dropped the ball hard with the lame end of DL.
I think Kring and Co. got so excited about bringing in new faces,that they didn’t realize the the potential for the characters they already had.Seriously,read any interview about Season 2 before the season started.All they keep talking about are new faces,blah blah blah.
Big thumbs down.
Way to drop the ball.As much as I love David Anders,truly great addition to this show,I’m not getting my hopes up.Chances of him biting it or written off by season’s end are pretty high considering the spoilers.
Jhonny on 13 November 2007:
Yeah!
Niki is hot!
Niki the best charactere in the show!!!
J on 13 November 2007:
i missed this week’s episode how did DL die?
LCH4 on 13 November 2007:
It was a good episode. True, it didn’t answer all the questions we want to know and even what NBC claimed it would answer, but you know, that’s not all that bad.
There are a lot of characters to keep up with on the program. It also seems this season (atleast until the Nov. 12 episode) the characters aren’t as intertwined as last season, but it can all we resolved as the season unfolds (God willing and the strike don’t rise)…
The bright spot in all this is that I’m again anxiously awaiting Mondays.
Emily on 13 November 2007:
They even insinuated that they were going to discuss Sylar’s four month adventures with “What happened to Sylar?” in the preview for “Four Months Ago.” Yet, we still never find out. All of his scenes must have been cut. Lame.
Keith on 13 November 2007:
Nobody, noticed that the promo said they have 3 episodes left?
I figured people be all over that.
Whitney on 13 November 2007:
it annoys me how that there are only 11 episodes!!!! ARGH!!! i wonder when the second season comes to DVD…i love heroes and everything but this season really makes me p.o.ed!
Marv on 13 November 2007:
3 more episodes! What a rip-off!
Mm on 13 November 2007:
I felt a strong desire to turn the TV off when Niki saw yet another alter-ego. If there was ever a character to kill off, it was her.
And bear in mind that I actually *liked* her storyline from last season, especially towards the end. But for cripes sake her character is lame, even more so without DL.
It’s sad that Bob is probably the most interesting person this season, followed closely by West. It’s just sad.
Bella on 13 November 2007:
Niki is the best charactere in the show!
She will never die!
Because if she dies the series ends!
Niki is interesting.
Niki forever!
Yvonne on 13 November 2007:
did u not watch the episode?
a-man on 13 November 2007:
i think the only reason they answered some of these questions is because, there will be lot more questions soon
Kris on 13 November 2007:
OK so Elle is Claires sister. Im thinking when Elle was 8 she said she burned down her grandmothers house. Im thinking this is the same fire that Claire supposedly died in when she was 18 months, and the same fire her mother supposedly died in. Up until now I think we all asummed her fire-starter mom did it by accident, but what if it was Elle? Meredith, young with two daughters on her own is living ar her mothers. With her 8 year old, Elle and 18 month old Claire, she see her oldest start to manifest powers. Elle starts a fire by accident and the house burns down killing her grandmother and supposedly her baby sister. Meredith, fearing her and Elles powers will be discovered, runs. Elle has increasing fits causing the blackout, showing her phychopathic tendencies, so Meredith abandns her. Fast forward and Meredith is still on the run, Elle has been raised by Bob and the company and Claire is raised by the Bennetts.
Im thinking a sisterly reunion is coming.
Also, there are some minor math issues, like Elle was supposedly 7 when she burned the house down, and that was 14-15 years ago, putting her age closer to 22-23, not the 24 she told Peter she is… It does match with Claires age just right, 16, on the edge of 17.
The other thing is if Elle is 23, Heroes Wiki says Meredith was 21 when she supposedly died in the fire, if Elle was 7 that means Meredith was about 14 when Elle was born? Any thoughts?
Dennis on 13 November 2007:
Does anyone know what song they’re playing at about 36:15, when Niki and DL walks down the stairs the moment before he gets shot?
mimi on 13 November 2007:
I thought last night’s episode was very interesting, a lot of flashbacks though which got a little confusing at certain times. I, too, can’t believe how D.L. actually died this time, WHY couldn’t he have dodged the bullet….will that be explained later on perhaps? And who was his killer exactly, HOW did Niki/”Gina” know the Skanky Drug guy and what’s their backstory, who is that guy? He’s an up and coming actor, Jason Foster, who played him, and I’ve seen him in other works before, but there has to be more story between the three of them that that!! (I have to say, even though he killed D.L., he was a hot killer to say the least! I say bring him back and explain more of that story!!)
Richie on 14 November 2007:
“Does anyone know what song they’re playing at about 36:15, when Niki and DL walks down the stairs the moment before he gets shot?”
That song was Coburn - “We Interrupt This Program (Interrupted Vocal Mix)” very fitting if you ask me!
And I personally felt the Episode was everything that it had to be…they’ll keep filling in the blanks…it’s just too bad episodes are only 42 minutes long!
Dennis on 14 November 2007:
Thx Richie!
RoN on 15 November 2007:
Not many questions were answered in this episode either. How did DL not escape that bloody bullet?
And what of Sylar? How did Parkman gobble so many bullets? Nothing about both. The dudes at NBC made false promises on their promo. Also, I’m suprised to see that Adam Monroe is actually looking clean. Maybe he isn’t the next Sylar but then who is the villain? It still a puzzle….
Hero boi on 15 November 2007:
watching that episode was good but i don’t think D.L is really Dead, or the company played a role in his death, because why fase the punch but not the gunshot.
miguel on 18 November 2007:
wicked