Episode Review for 3.06, “Dying of the Light”. Spoilers Ahoy!!

Hello everyone!  OlyMendez here, reviewing the current week’s episode. In case you wondered, Yuppers, I’m the same OlyMendez from 9th Wonders and Got-Heroes.

Air Date: 20 Oct, 2008

Quick Summary:

-Hiro and Ando (no he’s not dead) visit a nice African Precog who teaches them a thing or two about life

-Daphne recruits Matt, who tries convincing her they’re soul mates (with the help of Toby)

-Tracy and Nathan pay a visit to Mohinder

-Arthur Petrelli, after sucking the force out of Adam, is up and mobile

-Claire, with the help of Sandra, goes to rescue Meredith from Eric Doyle, The Puppet Master

-Daphne tries recruiting Mohinder, which ends badly for the corrupted scientist

-Sylar butts heads with Peter over what to do about their mother

-Peter goes to find the cause, and has a nasty run in with Daddy Dearest, leaving Peter powerless.

Was the Right Path Taken? This question plagues (and I mean totally pelts) our Heroes. Much of this show, since Episode 1 has been the questioning of choices. And ultimately that is what life is about. The writers not only keep us on our toes about where the season is going, but brings us in closer, by giving us themes we can all relate to. Long Winding Paths, losing our way, forging our own courses guided by faith to find a kindred soul, seeking solace in the arms of another, or even removing ourselves from a path to avoid temptation, in some form or another the Heroes journey just as we do. Okay, philosophical, deep chatter done, onwards and upwards!

Technical Aspects: Wendy and Lisa’s soundtrack never ceases to amaze me. Those two can do things with sound that start to make me think they’re Sound Manipulators.  Effects were pretty class this week, didn’t disappoint. The costumes were well done too.  From Tracy’s green sweater and pearls, to Sylar’s “Where can I get that?” jacket, I want a Heroes wardrobe.  Makeup didn’t bother me, save for once at the end, I thought Nathan’s eyeliner and foundation were a bit heavy.

We were hit with a few doozies of some twists this week; so let’s dive right into shall we? Hiro’s best trick by far was faking Ando’s death. Totally Sweet, although he did go back in the past like he said he wouldn’t. Ando played dead pretty well considering it was a last minute sort of role. Daphne and Hiro have an amazing chemistry, acting off of each other Daphne’s rolling eyes and Hiro’s chubby smile work in a nice harmony that makes watching them interact a joy.

Since she had her brain “twisted” (for lack of a more pleasant term) by Sylar, I’ve had more sympathy for Claire as a character, but my favorite Bennet role this season is Sandra. Many of the Heroes stories involve a neglectful mother (Mrs. Gray), little bit crazy mother (Madame Petrelli), trying really hard mother (Niki) but the one Mama that’s been tried and true is Mother Bennet (all the Daddy issues are another story). She’s always there, making waffles, snuggling Mr. Muggles, and supporting her family. After season 1, when the Haitian treatment stopped, and we saw her true colors, it was like magic in my heart.  She was faced with the hardest choice a mother can make, killing her own child. Yes, we know Claire can heal, and we all knew it would happen, but the look of utmost horror as she pulled the trigger and the pain that was in her eyes was heartbreaking.

The Eric Doyle storyline this week was a trip. He seriously creeps me out, which is good. I don’t know what it is, because he’s really almost like a child, the way he likes to play with people and he wants his way. It could be the way he’s obsessed with getting what he wants, and the casual way he plays with people. Thinking on it, these could both stem from his ability and he, like Sylar, has an uncontrollable quirk to do so. If he can get into people’s minds to control them, does he feel any pain inflicted upon them? This was an excellent thread this week, it left a nice option to bring Doyle back as villain, or to lock him away for a bit. I think he needs a cat, something that will love him. Either way, I doubt this will be the last we see of him.

I truly appreciate Utusu. I do, I don’t think he’s anywhere in league with Isaac because as much as I hate to admit it, I think he’s better then Isaac. Utusu has a deeper meaning in his eyes, he doesn’t strike me as being much older then Isaac, but he seems wiser. Perhaps it is more of a human suffering, he lives in the middle of nowhere but still does what he does best, that lends to such a wiser being. He acted as a nice reality check for the series. Every episode we see a display of an ability, but here we have someone trying to prove that it is not all about what you can do, but how you do it, that leads to victory. Did anyone catch what shirt he was wearing?

Mohinder’s goes downhill sadly. I often find myself losing the ‘aww he’s trying ‘ feelings I had about Mohinder. His behavior shuts off the sympathy and opens the pipes for ‘ew what a monster’. But where Mohinder went down this week, Ali Larter got right back up there  on the Awesome Horse.. However, there was little advancement for her character in this episode. We see the ice powers, we see her have a tender moment with Nathan, but we do not see where she’s moving forward to. I can understand a hindrance from Mohinder, but it seemed her character development was on a roll for a few episodes there.

Toby the Turtle and Matt Parkman are the cutest things since Molly and Micah on this show. “High five turtle.” There’s an equal balance of humor and legitimate guidance that comes from having that hard-shelled slowpoke animal around. Daphne and Matt are another pair that has an interesting chemistry. We saw in the future how they were married, but now that Matt knows they do end up, it’s turning into an interesting courtship. Smart turtle.

The saddest part in the episode? Adam’s death. Oh Adam. I’ll miss you, you were the OGV (original gangsta villain), sharp dresser, 400 year lasting accent and delicious way you died still smelling of being locked in that casket for a while (comment dit-on ew?). No, I’m not serious (just .07%) Actually the biggest twist came to us Heroes Style in the last 3 minutes. A lovely Father/Son reunion. Just like all others, you know, they see each other, father apologizes, son looks all grateful, they share a nice manly hug, father strips son of the powers that were the driving force of his character.  Just the usual. (I’m shaking my head now).  But it was an awesome gateway into what Arthur’s up to. I give him a thumbs up for schemes.

All in all, a twisty episode with lovely Acting moments. I can’t wait to see what they dish out next week. See you then!

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