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Detailed episode review: Kindred

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  • Detailed episode review: Kindred

    Oh, this episode started out by bothering me greatly. Peter is still being a whiny amnesiac in Ireland, and Alejandro is attempting to steal cars in broad daylight across the street from a bunch of cops. Seriously, where did all the great writing go? This is terrible. If only this was the end of Alejandro when he gets arrested. But no. Maya has to go bust him out. Silly sister. But we'll get to that.

    DL's dead? Huh. Okay. Because in the season one finale he looked dead, then looked a little better, then he looked a lot better and ended up walking around with his family like he was fine. But now he's dead? He must have gone downhill fast after we cut away from Kirby Plaza. But I can't say I'm too sad--DL had been boring for awhile. The character could have been cool if given the opportunity, but they just weren't using him.

    And just as I was planning a letter writing campaign to NBC for the return of Sylar, who is in the very next scene? None other than our stabbed villain from season one. And a new version of Candace, Michelle. I wish they'd kept the same actress, but at least this one does a good impression of the character the last one had created. I like the illusion of the two of them in Maui, and it's nice to be able to see a slightly fake looking CGI background and be able to completely write it off as being a little wrong because it's Michelle!Candace creating it. It's also nice to see that Sylar didn't bounce right back from his injuries. His convalescence is a good storyline, but I could tell right off the bat that it was going to get tedious if they didn't hurry up his healing and get him back into the action relatively quickly. I think my favorite detail of this scene is that Michelle!Candace even has the ability to illusion away Sylar's pain. Very interesting. Only problem I have is that his wound migrates. Doesn't look like it's in the same place as it was initially.

    I love the coupley hushed argument Matt and Mohinder have in their kitchen. They're very cute in a dysfunctional domestic way. And Molly's adorable as usual. Problem: Mohinder shouldn't say he's never leaving again. That sounded like a promise, and you just don't promise kids that sort of thing when you work for The Company.

    Ando... why couldn't we have left him in season one? And his boss is bordering on a highly obnoxious stereotype. I'm not sure whether I think it's funny that he's so cartoonish, or whether it's almost a little offensive. But this is where the Hiro storyline starts to bother me. I don't like that he communicates with Ando through the secret compartment in the sword, and I really don't like that Hiro is still kind of spinning his wheels and getting nowhere back in 1671. I do like the funny exchange between Hiro and Kensei when Hiro pulls the arrows out, grinning like an idiot. That's a decently cute moment.

    And we're suddenly back to Peter in Ireland, shirtlessly trying to illicit his powers by yelling and pumping his arm. Milo's good looking and all, but this seems like pandering to have him bare-chested again. When it's warranted, fine, but when it's just for the sake of attractive-lead-without-a-shirt I think it's dumb, and somewhat lazy. Also: where did he get this new electricity power? And where did he get a haircut? Did the shipping container fairy do it? Oh, and I still dislike Caitlin.

    Favorite line of the episode comes from Derek, the American kid in the jail cell next to Alejandro: "Dude. You look like ass." Agreed, Derek. Alejandro, please fore go all future screen time--please.

    Are there really so few people at this high school that two kids lifting off and flying away from a platform on school grounds goes completely unnoticed? The flying was actually some of the best I've seen, but the whole scenario is forced, and honestly I think it's lazy of you guys to cast a Clark Kent look-a-like as the kid who can fly. Oh, and it's kind of Elektra-complex-y that Claire falls for the boy with the same power as her father. Ew. Please don't let them be related.

    Milo's performance after the job as Peter gets shot and then proceeds to choke the traitor is very well done. He takes the hit well, and when he stands up--and gets his throttle on--his face is very expressive: almost reveling in his power and the violence, and when Caitlin yells, it's as if he comes back to himself. Like he'd gotten so wrapped up in using his powers he forgot where he was and that there was anyone else in the room. Kudos, Milo, you managed about 6 different emotions within 15 seconds, and you did them all convincingly.

    There should have been a better reason for Hiro to stay in 1671 Japan. Knowing what I do now after watching the whole season, I understand why he needed to stay, but why include his slow-moving storyline of indecision about returning? They should have sped up this storyline. If you haven't got anything interesting for them to do, don't write a scene for them just for the sake of having the characters in the episode. We're a smart audience: we won't forget who they are if we don't see them in every episode.

    Poor powerless Sylar. But where did the powers go? Are they really related to the stab wound? Is he infected with the virus? I think the Have A Nice Day coffee mug is a cute touch. Michelle!Candace references "the people" she works for: does this mean The Company? The Company is keeping Sylar alive now and trying to heal him? Why? The "whoever you want me to be" moment is kind of creepy, too, although I wouldn't say no to there being two Zachary Quintos in the world. However, I'm sure once he looked outside, Sylar was quite disappointed. Talk about 20/20 hindsight. Maybe I shouldn't have killed the only person who knows where we are... Problem I have with the scene is that Sylar doesn't cut open Michelle!Candace's head. Doesn't he have to remove the brain to figure out their power? Plot hole...

    Bits and Pieces:

    * If West likes Claire, and if West has a power as well, why the hell is he trying to embarrass her in front of the whole class? Dumb writing, people!
    * The Pinky's Sportsbook job was dumb. All of it.
    * I love David's performance as he asks Hiro to stay. Nice delivery: "You're like my conscience. If only I'd take heed of you."
    * Yay! They didn't get rid of Isaac's loft. That's a lovely set, I'm glad they kept it.
    * Oh boy, this New Orleans storyline bothered me, too. I'm really unimpressed with the majority of season two so far, guys.
    * Alejandro did not need to get arrested for them to hook up with Derek. This could have been stream lined. And why have Derek be the kid who stole Claire's car if it's never going to be mentioned and there will never be consequences for it?
    * What's wrong with Peter that he doesn't open the box? Come on! There's no reason for them to write this. Just advance the storyline and quit yanking us around.
    * Looks like the writers are trying very hard to dispel all the Paire rumors. We've got back-to-back kissing scenes, Peter and Caitlin followed by Claire and West. "See, general public? We didn't mean for there to be sexual tension between blood relations..."
    * Nicholas D'Agosto (West) is 27 playing a high schooler. That's as ridiculous as Charisma Carpenter when she was on Buffy.
    * West is a Company abductee? This should get interesting. "Oh, by the way, honey, my daddy is the guy who experimented on you. Love ya!"
    * The 8th painting is a dead Noah with Claire smooching some dude (West?) in the background? Yikes. Will they go through with it? Of all the characters I could see them feasibly killing off, Noah was not on my list.
    * And boy, both Claire and Noah have terrible poker faces in that last scene. Suspicion was literally dripping down the walls of that room.

    Thanks for reading, and check out my site for more reviews--you can find the address in my profile.
    GG
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