Heroes: 2x01 Four Months Later

[mimesh]

I'm still catching up with the 2938457 reviews and other parts of my flist and I feel that everything important has already been said.

So I'll just state two unpopular opinions, my favorite crazy theories and provide visual evidence for something we wondered about.

Comments

[wee_warrior]

I think people would have found West less creepy if his power wasn't being able to fly.

*pipes up unasked*

I only find him annoying, not creepy...

[wee_warrior]

Oh, I know. I just wanted to give the different perspective, because, lo, the boy was not popular, and I'd really like to think that was because he was kinda bratty, not because the fandom has suddenly become squeamish in regards to incestuous vibes. Have they never heard of the old idea that people tend to fall in love with versions of our parents?

[oohasparklie]

I'm not sure how I feel about West yet, other than I think his name is awesome. I didn't really think he was creepy (It's possible to want to look at someone you have a crush on at a distance without being a freak) but I found him kind of confrontationally pretentious. And I don't like confrontationally pretentious people. I hope there's more to him than just "the guy who hooks up with Claire."

I'm not yet in love with Kensei.

I thought he was kind of a jerk. But he was a funny and endearing jerk, and that's why people are gravitating towards him. Well that and apparently the actor was beloved on Alias. I'd never seen him before in my life until now, but I think he's pretty cute and charming, myself. And that accent doesn't hurt, either.

I'm betting it's a character we know because that reveal will have the biggest dramatic effect.

True, but I thought that about Sylar and Linderman, as well. Though, I have to admit, Sylar's reveal had a pretty dramatic effect on my ovaries me anyway.

Sylar is much taller than the hoodie killer

[mimesh]

I hope there's more to him than just "the guy who hooks up with Claire."

That's my only worry. He could turn out as a completely creep and I would be okay with that as long as he is not just a plot device and Claire's token romance.

I thought he was kind of a jerk. But he was a funny and endearing jerk, and that's why people are gravitating towards him.

He was charming as Captain Jack Sparrow knock off, I liked him and from what I have seen of the actor off set, he seems very endearing, too. I'm just not as crazy over him as everybody else. But my actual issue is probably that people were determined to love him from the start, before we even saw him in action while being bent on hating Kristen Bell's character at the same time and being so quick to slam West.

True, but I thought that about Sylar and Linderman, as well.

Hah, point taken.

I just thought Peter's amnesia was more due to his, you know, being blown to bits and all. Yeah, I'm leaning towards that theory as well because the Haitian's involvement would mean that there

[selenak]

Actually, so far I'm in the pro-West camp (of two?) as well. As I said elsewhere, I can see the Peter Pan comparison, because Peter Pan as written by Barrie is like that - constantly switching between being full of himself and annoying and then surprisingly charming. ("Oh, how clever I am" might be what many a boy thinks but Peter P. actually says it because he's not socialized to disguise the thought. *g*) I also think it might be refreshing for Claire to be with someone a) her own age, b) not burdened with melodrama of his own, and c) awareness of what it means to have a power. Doesn't mean I want them to hook up post haste or stay a couple, but it could be good for her for a while. And the fact he has black hair and flies like certain other people actually amuses me. Oh, writers. Never change.

[mimesh]

Kring specifically states in the commentary that he wanted West to fly quite differently from Nathan. More floaty and uncertain, in contrast to Nathan's sonic boom. Awesome.

I adore Kring for these details. I also like to view their flying style as expression of their characters with Nathan's straight forward, determined sonic boom and West's playful, swirly floating.

[mimesh]

Actually, so far I'm in the pro-West camp (of two?) as well.

We may be small in numbers but determined. ;)

I also think it might be refreshing for Claire to be with someone a) her own age, b) not burdened with melodrama of his own, and c) awareness of what it means to have a power.

I agree on all accounts. After first trying to deny her specialness for so long in S1 and all the drama that ensued when she finally met other powered people I'm so looking forward to see her interacting with a powered equal sans emotional luggage. This probably won't be a long term thing and there is still the possibility that he turns out evil but I'm all for this short, lighthearted interlude.

And the fact he has black hair and flies like certain other people actually amuses me.

I would joke that now all we need is Peter to hook up with a petite blonde if it weren't actually a real possibility... *g*

[malicat]

I like West.

I'm not the only one,yay ^^ You know,when I watched this scene were he looks in Claire's room I didn't thought for a moment that this is creepy. Afterwards I read a lot of reviews and all were like "Eeeek,this was so creepy". But I still like West. Let's hope that he doesn't turn out to be a really bad guy ^^

[mimesh]

I was really surprised how extremely people reacted to him. Sure, he is a bit odd but the bashing he got for hoovering outside her window was way over the top in my opinion. Now, after I defended him, he will probably turn out to be completely evil, of course... ;)

[cadesama]

Ohh, nice catch with the coat. I'd say the significance of Nathan wearing the coat where he first saved Peter by flying points to him specifically blaming himself for something he did while flying in the finale. Just like the reflection in the mirror showed what Nathan felt he should have looked like if he'd held on to Peter longer, the coat represents what he should have done. And maybe a desire to get rescued himself?

As to Peter's amnesia, right now I'm siding with it being entirely psychological. I don't think it's induced by any power (his own, Ted's, or an outside influence). Blowing up and whatever came next were simply so traumatic that he went into a fugue state and repressed it all. Which means it's entirely reversible! \o/

[mimesh]

I'd say the significance of Nathan wearing the coat where he first saved Peter by flying points to him specifically blaming himself for something he did while flying in the finale.

I'm starting to wonder about that myself. The state he is in even four months after the explosion and the amount of guilt he is carrying with himself seems too much for just survivor's guilt or blaming himself for not acting earlier. I mean, he did everything in his power with flying Peter away in the end although Nathan would not take Peter's "death" or just absence lightly no matter what.

As to Peter's amnesia, right now I'm siding with it being entirely psychological.

Yes, I liked the two mind-wipe theories because they were so crazy but I would never want it to be like that on the show. And like you said, a psychological cause would mean it's reversible and it has to be!

[cadesama]

The state he is in even four months after the explosion and the amount of guilt he is carrying with himself seems too much for just survivor's guilt or blaming himself for not acting earlier. I mean, he did everything in his power with flying Peter away in the end although Nathan would not take Peter's "death" or just absence lightly no matter what.

Everything in his power, as far as we know. Now, I do think that the villain messing with Molly is also messing with Nathan -- but I don't think he's using anything that's not already there. Something must have happened. Presumably, Peter pushed Nathan away (as we all speculated), so that Nathan would survive. And now Nathan thinks that if he'd held on the whole time, Peter would be alive, and the villain is just reinforcing this belief by haunting Nathan with visions of what he "ought" to look like.

And like you said, a psychological cause would mean it's reversible and it has to be!Psychological also means it can be gradual! Peter can have dream sequences, or moments of

[mimesh]

Now, I do think that the villain messing with Molly is also messing with Nathan -- but I don't think he's using anything that's not already there. Something must have happened. Presumably, Peter pushed Nathan away (as we all speculated), so that Nathan would survive. And now Nathan thinks that if he'd held on the whole time, Peter would be alive, and the villain is just reinforcing this belief by haunting Nathan with visions of what he "ought" to look like.

This makes and awful lot of sense and could even be one of the reasons why Nathan is drinking so much in addition to his grief. If the villain haunts him with scary visions and nightmares, he'll try hard to pass out from drinking, hoping for a dreamless sleep.

Peter can have dream sequences, or moments of remembering, without doing a whole flood of memories cheesily returning at the same instant.Yes! And moments when his instincts kick in and he gets the ominous feeling he should know that person or place. Being driven by his emotions and impulses could come handy for him for