November 19th, 2007
Heroes Episode Review: Season 2 Episode 9 (2.09) Cautionary Tales
As Season 2 Episode 9, “Cautionary Tales” commences, things are heating up. The connection between Peter and his new buddy Adam Monroe (aka Takezo Kensei) has been revealed in last week’s “Four Months Ago”, as well as the fate of poor D.L. (You would think a guy who can phase anything could handle a bullet, but apparently not so much.) Meanwhile, Mohinder seems to have completely given in to the ways of The Company and his boss, Bob, who is selling himself as a good guy (and succeeding). And let’s not forget, all is not right in the Bennet household — but then again, what’s so new about that?
We begin in Heroes 90210, where Claire and HRG clash over West and Claire’s pep rally because, let’s face it, all the world’s wars can be traced back to what happens at pep rallies. Unbeknownst to the Bickering Bennets, Mohinder and Bob have arrived in sunny California with Elle to deal with the HRG problem. And oh yeah, did I mention that Elle is Bob’s daughter? In any case, they better hurry, because the Bennets are splitting town. Well, that was the original plan, anyway, and when you work (or used to work) for the Company, things have a way of changing fast.
In Japan, a mourning Hiro says goodbye to his father in his own way, by traveling back to the past, to the night of his father’s death. But as we all know by now, Hiro’s past-changing abilities are not exactly, shall we say, foolproof. Hiro, it should be noted, seems to have gain tremendous control over his powers of late, but will that be enough to save Kaito? Father and son have a heart-to-heart — in the past, no less — that will decide Kaito’s fate.
Back in New York, Matt Parkman and a rejuvenated Molly struggle with normalcy. Matt has also discovered a new facet of his power, a new ability he is not entirely reluctant to use on those close to him, like another certain Parkman. The power comes in handy when Matt goes back to an incarcerated Mama Petrelli for some answers. So who exactly is Adam Monroe, and what does he want with the last woman in the picture, the redhead? Victoria Pratt is her name, but what is her game?
“Cautionary Tales” is what we’ve all been waiting for ever since Season 2 commenced nine weeks ago. There is major progression in the HRG-Claire-Company storyline, something we’ve all been waiting for, and the arrival of which comes through like a breath of fresh air. The hectic pacing of the California storyline as HRG struggles to save his family, intercut with the somber, contemplative mood of the Hiro storyline, results in easily the best episode of Season 2 so far.
And how does it end?
Hint: Isaac Mendez hasn’t been wrong yet.
Well, sort of.
MIA for this episode: Sylar and the Wonder Twins, the Petrelli and Sanders clan.
Notables:
Claire is a good speller…
Matt knows how to get his point across…
This is no way to impress your girlfriend’s dad…
They don’t call it Sunny Cali for nothin’…
The mysterious Victoria Pratt…
No one leaves The Company. No one…
