Reviews @ PXDCO

This guy could not get any cooler. Seriously."In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight"  That's how the Green Lantern's oath begins, and I thought it appropriate since "The Eclipse, Part 2" focuses on that, both literally and figuratively.  Sure, the event itself may not have been as momentous as the NBC advertising would have led us to believe, but it did kick the show in the pants, moving it towards what could make for a very interesting mid-season finale;  let's not forget that the second half of the season will be an arc called "Fugitives".  Let's light 'em up, Lanterns. 

Fear Leads to Anger, Anger Leads to Haiti:  The brothers Petrelli are having vacation worthy of the Griswolds.  Peter's running through the jungle with the Haitian, while Nathan is being held in chains by a self-proclaimed living god.  Peter and the Haitian are still feeling from Samedi's men, and the Haitian is having doubts about whether or not he will be able to bring down his indestructible brother.  Peter feels that this is the perfect time, because everyone is powerless.  They can prove to the villagers that Samedi's not a god.  The Haitian questions why Peter wants to help, to which he responds that he needs to prove to himself that he can be a hero even without his powers.  No, I don't want to play “Saw” with you.

Nathan is being held in a cell with two young girls.  Nathan tries to comfort them by introducing himself.  Samedi enters and says that he shouldn't talk to them, and that by telling them his name, it gives him strength (what?).  Nathan throws that back in his face, saying Samedi does that by calling himself a god, but Nathan too does that - the title of Senator is in the same realm.  Samedi orders one of the girls be sold into slavery (prostitution), and this really pisses Nathan off.  Samedi says that the girls do what he tells them to because they truly believe he is their god.  

Peter and the Haitian get to Samedi's encampment.  They manage to free the girl being forced into slavery, and she asks them to save her sister as well.  Samedi finds them, but they manage to subdue him.  They tie him up and leave to find Nathan.  

Nathan tries to comfort the remaining girl, but ends up confessing to her that he's supposed to be there to protect people like her.  He's sorry that he couldn't.  Just then, the Haitian and Peter enter.  They free Nathan and the girl and make a break for it.  Outside, they hear that Samedi's been found and freed by his men.  Peter says that he will stay behind and hold them off - Nathan and the Haitian are too important in the plan to stop Arthur Petrelli, and Peter's the most expendable one.  He grabs an assault rifle and tells Nathan to have a little faith in him.  

Next time, we're going to Disneyland.The eclipse has now ended.  Peter assaults the compound on his own, firing round after round at Samedi's men.  He ducks behind a jeep and sees that he's out of ammo.  Peter has no choice but to surrender.  He emerges from behind the jeep, holding his rifle above his head.  Just then, Nathan and the Haitian return and hold the soldiers at gunpoint.  Samedi appears and tells Nathan that this isn't his fight.  Nathan disagrees - now that the eclipse is over, their powers are back.  Nathan flies straight into Samedi and slams him into a car.  Unfortunately, Samedi is invincible once more.  The Haitian must be the one to finish this.  He grabs his brothers head and screams.  It is unclear if he just removed his brother's power, or if he used his ability to remove memories, but either way, Samedi is defeated.  

Night falls, and the Haitian reunites the captive sisters.  Nathan talks to Peter and says that he respects Peter for always making his own decisions and following his heart.  He is going to go to Pinehearst because he now believes that his father is right to a certain extent.  Today, they proved that people should be given abilities as long as they use them for good.  The Haitian is the perfect example of this, because he used his gifts to stop a monster.  There are war torn places all over the world that could use people like them.  Peter disagrees, but Nathan flies away, leaving Peter behind.  

Putting the Mo in Monster:  Mohinder is still trying to figure out the correlation between the abilities and the eclipse - more of a "how" rather than a "why".  While skimming his science texts, he sneaks a peak at Maya's address - now that he's "cured", they can be together.  Too bad for him that Flint is standing guard, playing with a lighter - just because he can't make his own fire for now doesn't mean the little pyro is helpless.  Arthur enters the lab and wants some results.  Unfortunately, Mo's stumped.  There are too many variables to figure out the connection, if there even is one.  Arthur's getting mad because he's powerless and that means vulnerable.  Mo says that he's paranoid, to which Arthur does not deny by any means.  However, he's still a man of authority, and commands Flint to make sure Mo stays put.  Flint uses his lighter and burns Mo's hand.  

Arthur has gone and Mo's still running tests.  He asks Flint to assist him - by taking a sample of his blood (because he was born with abilities), it might help answer some questions.  Flint may not be smart but he's not stupid - he knows that Mo was just going to inject him with something to knock him out.  Time for plan B - Mo grabs a microscope and bashes Flint in the head with it!  Mo starts beating the hell out of him and knocks him out.  He steals a Pinehearst key card from Flint's pocket and escapes.  

Naturally, the first place Mo goes is to see Maya.  He knocks on the door, but notices that the scales on his hand have started to return.  Yup, the eclipse has ended.  He can't let Maya see him like this, so he dashes away.  She answers the door to find no one, but she sees the piece of paper with her name and address.  Mohinder returns to Pinehearst with his tail between his legs.  He needs them to find a permanent cure.  Flint is now in critical condition, and Arthur tells him that the eclipse helped show them who they truly are.  Mo will get back to work because he has no where else left to go.  Arthur assures him that they'll find a cure, but as for that monster that lurks inside of Mohinder, that's something he'll have to work out on his own.  

The Field Trip and the Two Wise Men:  Matt is still at Daphne's house, and he asks why she's in leg braces.  It turns out that she has cerebral palsy.  A year ago, she could barely move, and then there was an eclipse.  After that, she was finally able to walk, then run, and then eventually, run incredibly fast.  She tells Matt to read her mind to prove that she isn't lying, but Matt's powers are gone too.  Daphne thinks that it must be Arthur's doing - he does often threaten to take away her abilities - but Matt isn't convinced.  Daphne's riddled with guilt - she deserves to have her powers taken away because she is nothing but a villain (or in Hiro's case, a nemesis).  Matt still believes her to be a good person, but she says there's nothing he can do to help her.  Her dad enters and he's worried about his daughter.   The good news is that it looks like the eclipse is beginning to let up. 

At Sam's Comics, Hiro and Ando need the latest issue of 9th Wonder.  The clerks think that this is some sort of joke - how could the characters from that book actually be in their store?  They need answers, and the best way to get that is from reading the back issues - if Hiro can't remember his past, at least he can read about it.  Insisting that the store isn't a library, they make Hiro pay for all of the comics…as well as an issue of Ultimate X-Men.  My keen eye recognized the cover as an issue from the "Banshee" story arc, which just happened to be written by Aron Eli Coleite, co-writer of tonight's episode!  Hiro's in geek heaven.  "Best.  Day.  Ever."  

Hiro is reading about his past adventures, including how he retrieved the Kensei sword and came face to face with a dinosaur.  He's overly excited, but Ando has to remind him that he was with him the whole time.  Matt enters the store, down about the whole Daphne situation.  Guest star Breckin Meyer (who as far as I can tell did not have a character name) thinks he might know why they are all de-powered.  In Hiro's "origin story", there was an eclipse on the day he discovered his powers.  Maybe their abilities will return when the current eclipse ends.  Duh.  Matt thinks he's right, because he spots a panel of Daphne running at her farm house.  Matt rushes out the door, and the Breckin geeks out - "That was Matt Parkman!"  Seth Green (again, no character name), still doesn't believe that they are who they think they are.  Just then, Hiro gets upset, and insists that he never wants to grow up.  Hiro runs into the bathroom and locks himself in.  Ando picks up the comics and we see the Isaac pictures of Hiro stabbing Sylar, doomed waitress and love interest Charlie, Hiro going toe-to-toe with Adam Monroe (in Japanese armor), and Future Peter lying dead in a pool of blood.  

The eclipse has ended, and Matt travels back to the farmhouse.  Mr. Milbrook (Daphne's father) tells him that she's gone - he's holding her crutches, so obviously her powers have returned.  Matt's powers start to kick in and he hears Mr. Milbrook's thoughts - he feels upset that Daphne has left again, without so much as a goodbye or a note.  On the outside, he seems strong, but Matt knows the truth.  Matt also hears Daphne's thoughts not too far away.  He finds her in the middle of the corn field talking to her scarecrow, Ray.  She made Ray when she was 13 - the crops are her family's livelihood and she wanted to protect them.  She credits Ray for saving the field, but Matt tells her that she was the one who did.  They're both flawed, and there's something she has to set right.  She dashes to her dad and gives him a big hug.  

Ando pleads with Hiro through the door, saying that he must grow up.  Hiro is stubborn, saying that the comic book guys haven't grown up - all they do is read comics and eat junk food all day.  Ouch, writers, way to slap your fans on the wrist.  They tell him that saving the world has to come first.  Hiro is discouraged, saying that every time he tries to save the world, he fails, and why should he even bother.  Skeptic Seth Green tells him that heroes give people hope.  Anyone can make a difference, if they just believe.  This is enough for Hiro to emerge.  He thanks him, and Breckin notices something weird in 9th Wonder issue #1.  The comic portrays the scene in the season 1 episode "Company Man" when Kaito Nakamura gives baby Claire to HRG to watch over (all while young Hiro sits there playing Gameboy).  This is an important moment in 9th Wonder because this is the only time Hiro and Claire have appeared together - Kirby Plaza doesn't count because they didn't see each other.  Hidden off to the side, the panel shows teenage Claire and adult Hiro (who is wearing the clothes he currently has on), watching this scene through the window.  That's it!  Hiro needs to find Claire and take them back in time to witness this, and hopefully it will jog Hiro's memory back.  Hiro grabs the comic, and teleports in front of the comic guys, and Seth proclaims "Best.  Day.  Ever!"  

Matt and Daphne show up at Sam's Comics, powers back in full effect.  Hiro's gone, and they can't use 9th Wonder to find where he is - the last posthumous issue by Isaac Mendez has been released.  Seth says that it may have been the last issue, but it may not be the last story.  He heard at a comic convention from a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy that there's a rumor that there is one more story.  On the day he died, Isaac supposedly gave his sketchbook to "a lowly bike messenger", and if they find him, they might find the last story. 

Dead Blondes:  Picking up after last week's emergency, Claire is rushed to the hospital, still bleeding from the gunshot wound in her shoulder. Sandra is terrified, and the ER doctor tells her that the wound has becoming infected.  Not good.  The doctor asks how long ago she had been shot and Sandra tells her it wasn't long ago.  The doctor thinks she's lying, because the infection has spread throughout her body, meaning that either she'd been shot a long while ago, or she's never been sick before in her life.  Oops. 

Veronica ScarsMeanwhile, Sylar and Elle have just HAD SEX ON THE FLOOR at Steven Canfield's house!  I guess HRG was watching through his sniper scope.  The (naked) couple wonders if this is for good - both the loss of their powers and "them" as a couple.  This is a new beginning for them, which of course is interrupted by gun fire.  HRG kicks down the door and the pair run.  Elle grabs her gun and fires back, totally missing.  HRG manages to tag Elle on the butt/thigh, but they escape.  HRG follows the trail of blood outside and in the most bad ass way possible, drops his empty clip and pursues them.  He starts to taunt them, who are hiding behind a car.  They're scared because they're powerless.  HRG declares to himself, "This ends today."  

HRG's phone rings - it's Sandra.  She tells him they're at the hospital, and Claire is in stable condition but isn't doing well.   Also, the doctors are suspicious about the wound - since Claire's never been sick, her body hasn't produced the necessary antibodies to counter sickness.  HRG tells her to do what he'd do - lie.  HRG hangs up when he spots a bloody handprint.  There's more blood to be followed. 

Sylar and Elle sit in the first aid aisle of a drug store, and Sylar patches her wound.  A clerk (who enjoys using a pricing gun like a pistol) finds them and Sylar throws a handful of money at him.  They realize that HRG must be following her trail of blood, and they're a good as dead.  Maybe it would be best if they split up, that way at least one of them gets away.  However, they decide they can use this situation to their advantage and lure him into a trap.  

Claire is conscious and finds her mother watching over her.  She tells her dad's on the way, but Claire knows she's lying.  She laments that she wanted this power gone more than anything else.  Just then, a pair of cops show up, and they tell Sandra they have some questions for her.  Sandra tells Claire to be brave, but Claire admits that she's just a stupid teenager.  Suddenly, Claire starts convulsing - she's coding.   The doctors are going to have to crack open her chest in order to restart her heart!

Back at the store, Elle and Sylar are in the warehouse.  They see HRG on the security monitor.  Sylar hurries Elle into a freight elevator and closes the door behind her - he's going to stay behind to protect her.  He says goodbye and runs at HRG, tackling him.  We go back and forth between the warehouse and the hospital.  The doctors cut Claire open.  HRG regains his composure and beats the hell out of Sylar.  Sylar eggs him on, saying that he's defenseless.  He manages to get a few hits in.  The doctors hook up the paddles to Claire's heart and give her a shock.  HRG kicks Sylar to the ground and spots a box cutter.  He says that Sylar has always thought he was special, but the truth is, he's a nobody.  HRG takes the blade and gives Sylar the old Sweeney Todd Special - he slits his throat!

The eclipse ends and Claire lies dead on the table.  The doctors cover her and Sandra is a wreck.  She lifts the cover to take one last look at her little girl, when Claire's powers return and she returns to life.  Sandra is so happy, but they have to leave right away.  

Claire has returned home and isn't in the best condition, especially when HRG comes to see her.  She's pissed - she needed him and he wasn't there for her again.  He insists he had something to do, but that's not good enough for her.  She says that it's always missions and assignments with him, and that she herself is just another one of his assignments.  She tells him that she died, and HRG panics.  He wants to know when she died and that it matters.  Boy does it ever.  Enter Sylar.  Alive.  Healed.  Covered in his own blood.  Pissed as hell.  Elle is there too, hands sparking.  They've got Sandra and they are mad.  HRG pulls his gun and Sylar telekinetically sends it flying.  He does the same to HRG himself, pinning him to the wall.  Elle zaps Sandra, not enough to kill her but enough to hurt her.  They are there for Claire and that's the end of it.  HRG eggs Sylar on yet again, saying that he's just trying to be a good boy for daddy.  Sylar begins to choke him with his powers.  Claire tells them to stop and that she'll go with them in order to save them.  HRG continues to push Sylar's buttons by telling him that Arthur and Angela aren't really his parents - they're both manipulating him to use him for each of their sides.  He's a weapon.  He says Elle knows this because she's seen his file when she was an agent.  She helped turn him into this monster.  And he also lovingly reminds Elle that Sylar killed her father.  Sylar chokes HRG so hard his neck starts to bleed.  Suddenly, Hiro appears!  "Bad man."  He puts his hand of Sylar and teleports him away.  He pops back in and takes Elle away too.   Once more, Hiro appears, and this time says that now famous line - "save the cheerleader".  He teleports Claire away. 

Sylar and Elle reappear on a beach.  He asks her if HRG was lying about his parents, and Elle says that yes, he was lying and he is a Petrelli.  They kiss on the beach.  Sylar talks about finding themselves in a world free of their parents, something Elle had talked about post coitus in the house earlier.  Unfortunately, she was wrong about him.  Nobody ever changes.  His change was temporary, and he's become his old self now that his powers are back.  They're damaged good.  He looks very creepy at her, and she tells him that he's hurting her.  "I know."  BUZZ.  Goodbye Elle.  I loved you and you never even knew it.  

All together now…Hiro and Claire appear 16 years in the past.  They watch Kaito hand over baby Claire to HRG, following along word-for-word with their issue of 9th Wonder.  To be continued!

Next time - SUPER SOLDIERS!  Steve Rogers, you can never be replaced, but that hasn't stopped many people from trying.  Oh, and did I mention they're on the brink of an all-out war?!