TVSquad

(S03E05) "Suresh. Yeah, he's harmless." Nathan telling Tracy that maybe Mohinder can help them.

Ah, the irony. Those who were harmless are suddenly finding themselves much more dangerous. In fact, the three sweetest characters from past seasons, Peter, Mohinder and Claire, are suddenly three of the darkest characters as tonight's episode began. Especially if you factor in their future incarnations. A lot of critics are decrying the meandering plotlines and again overcrowded cast of this show, but I have to say that by the end of this episode, even those naysayers should be on board this train.

The reveal at the end brought together so many elements from the past and really paved an exciting future for us. I was always intrigued by the promise of more attention spent on the first generation of heroes, including Ma Petrelli and Pa Parkman, Linderman and the rest of the "old folks." It looks like we're going to finally see some of that promise come to light and I think it's going to really add something to the mythology being established here.

Linderman
Looks like there's more to the return of Linderman than just Nathan being crazy. Sure, he's still appearing to Nathan and annoying the hell out of him, but now he's appearing to Daphne, too. And it's established that again no one but her can see him. It does make me wonder how the files got there as it appeared they were in a waiting room.

Linderman told her he's looking at a "new world order" in which people with abilities are afforded a much more important position in society. He wants her to recruit a new Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. He's like the X-Men's Magneto. In the files she looked at we saw Knox (fear-based guy) and Suresh.

Mohinder & Maya
"I don't need your drugs. I need you." What happened to Mohinder Suresh? Now he's killing people? I mean, sure that guy might not be dead but he certainly drug his bleeding body across his lab. And then Maya showed up showing him a picture of the abusive husband he stopped last week. Apparently Mohinder is abducting people now and wrapping them up for later, the way spiders do. And he was such a nice boy, too.

Later, Maya learned that it's really difficult to hide from someone who knows your ability when you can't control it. As soon as she started killing Mohinder and his victims with black-eyed love he knew she was there. But then she let him talk her out of killing him so he could attack her. Idiot. She might as well run through the woods in her underwear with him chasing her and then trip over a branch on the ground.

Peter
Peter's transformation to the dark side is nearly complete as he almost Sylar'd his own mother. As for Sylar himself, Claire's ability helped him to unsnap his own neck. This whole idea of Sylar acting like the hero and Peter succumbing so easily to the "hunger," to the point he'd just snap Sylar's neck and kill his own mother so nonchalantly. This guy has been the emotional center of the series and suddenly he's gone completely insane.

Claire
The new dynamic duo decide they need to track down and save Claire. Meanwhile, Claire is off to defeat one of the escapees, Stephen. And she proves about as unprepared and incompetent as you would expect. He's a guy who makes black holes and turns out not to be quite as evil as she expected. She hooks him up with his family so he can try and reconnect. But then her dad and Sylar show up and screw everything up for her and Stephen nearly puts all three of them into a black hole while he makes his escape.

Hiro & Ando
With Hiro popping Adam in and out of the casket so easily, it does make one Wonder why they dug up the grave in the first place. But I have it figured out. He can see exactly where to grab from and put him in when he can see the casket, but guessing at six feet down is much tougher.

Adam smooth talked his way out of the casket and brought Hiro and Ando to a bar that he said was the go-to place for "Specials for Hire." Apparently it was a wretched hive of scum and villainy. Adam used his poor reputation to get himself almost punched, ducking out of the way so Hiro took the hit and he could escape. Unfortunately, Knox was around and a little sharper than our Japanese dynamic duo and Adam found himself captured again.

These two are so naive, now they want to jump on board with Daphne and Knox. And then Hiro agrees to make a sacrifice by gently stabbing Ando in the heart to prove to Knox he is "badass." Of course, he can learn what he needs to and go back in time, but there's no guarantees there. Doesn't he remember the girl in the diner! They made a whole book about that. He can probably find it at Barnes & Noble if he wants to teleport over there.

Nathan & Tracy
Consumed with guilt over what she did to the reporter, Tracy wants to turn herself in. Nathan talks her out of it saying that God has a greater plan for them. God gave him a new focus and purpose in life, so Tracy proceeded to try and shatter that by saying that it was Dr. Zimmerman in California who gave them their powers. That's her theory anyway, though I'd imagine there's more to it than that.

Angela Petrelli revealed that Tracy, Nikki and Barbara were recipients of a program generating synthetic abilities. Apparently, Nathan's ability was given to him as well, which explains why it's nothing like Sylar and Peter's abilities. What this does mean, is that he could potentially manifest a genetic and natural ability as well. Perhaps the Linderman connection could tie into this. Maybe we'll learn that Daphne is another illegitimate daughter and that's why they both can see him. Of course, I'm probably talking out my ass on this one.

• The "Previously On" narrator now refers to Noah as HRG? I thought that was the name the Internets gave him.
• I'm no longer impressed with Claire's mother holding out her hand and showing us fire. We get it. You're cool. Now knock it off.
• Pinehearst. Claire's not a part of it, but Stephen thought she might be once he realized she wasn't with The Company.
• Keeping Maya alive and in a cocoon is a horrible idea, Mohinder. All she has to do is wake up and be scared. Maybe he has her in some kind of venom-based coma, spider guy that he is.
• Doesn't Sylar have super hearing? He killed that woman who had it. How could he have not heard Noah begging Stephen to make Sylar disappear. Or maybe he did and let it play out anyway for his own nefarious purposes.
  
• We may not be done with Stephen yet, as we have no idea where the black holes go. At least he's got a lot of stuff there with him so he doesn't get bored.
• No sign of Parkman this episode, save a file picture. Guess he's still following that turtle.

End of Episode Teasers
Well, we found out where Meredith had been the whole episode, and the power of the bad guy she went to take down. If she knew about his ability, why would she think fire powers are any match for a puppet master? A man who can control your actions with but a thought? Burn first and ask questions later.

Angela had another vision of Tracy and Nathan dead, Peter bloodied and with a pipe in his head, effectively killing him until it should be removed. Then she encounters a man she knows who says she won't be able to stop him because she won't even be able to move. But who is he?

At Pinehearst, Daphne meets Linderman and reports that she has the team he wanted on board, including Hiro. We learn that she's not necessarily a villain, as she doesn't like the idea of killing, But her next task is going to be her most challenging as she has to bring Matt Parkman into the fold.

She also revealed a bit more about Linderman, confirming that whatever he is, he has no physical form and seems able to come and go at will. As it turns out, the elder Parkman is behind the visions of Linderman for both Daphne and Nathan both. And the guy behind it all, comatose and hooked up to machines is Mr. Petrelli. Ah-ha, there is a plan. Suddenly, I'm back on board 100%. This could get good!