"The Fifth Stage" saw Claire (Hayden Panettiere) and Gretchen (Madeline Zima) arrive at the Sullivan Brothers' carnival, where they're greeted by Samuel (Robert Knepper) and given his smarmy conman routine to try and persuade her to stay. You know, the spiel about family and acceptance that he gives every other week. But given the fact Samuel still doesn't know his earth-moving powers are increased by the presence of other "specials", I'm not sure why he's so committed to swelling their ranks in this way. This was assumedly a style of recruitment Joseph would never have made standard practice, as he knew the danger that could arise if too many people with abilities surrounded his brother, so I guess it's just bad luck that Samuel's endangering everyone unwittingly? Damn, I'm thinking again...
While Gretchen is skeptical about the carnival, after seeing the staff exploiting their powers to trick people out of their money. The only evidence of this is that one stall holder prevented a bad-tempered man winning a prize, but allowed a cute girl to win -- which doesn't seem so bad to me (or Claire), but Gretchen's very principled it would seem. Claire's eventually persuaded to join the carnival on a trial basis, thanks to a combination of Lydia (Dawn Olivieri) literally illustrating her desire to become "The Indestructible Girl" with a tattoo, meeting reformed nemesis Eric "Puppetmaster" Doyle (David H. Lawrence), and seeing Samuel tell stories to a group of kids before bedtime.
The more interesting storyline followed Peter (Milo Ventimiglia), who went in search of Sylar (Zachary Quinto), armed with the Haitian's (Jimmy Jean-Louis) abilities of power-dampening and mind-erasure, determined to get his brother Nathan (Adrian Pasdar) back --- mind, body and soul. This led to another Peter/Sylar fist-fight, minus any super-powers (although Sylar somehow managed to shape-shift in Peter's presence to surprise him in an elevator), and a gruesome, unsubtle scene of Peter literally crucifying Sylar to wooden beams with a nail gun to entice Nathan to the surface.
Thank heavens for Pasdar (an actor who's far too good for the likes of Heroes), as he managed the impossible and made Nathan's farewell rather tender and emotional as the two Petrelli's said their goodbyes on a rooftop, with Nathan determined to commit suicide in order to end his existential suffering. It was a moment that almost worked perfectly, but was swiftly spoiled by chintzy special-effects of Nathan falling to his death in cheesy slow-motion. And then the fact Sylar simply walked away from this fall, the victor of this extended battle for his body, left you puzzled that Nathan's plan was so one-sided. Did he know his jump would only result in his death and not Sylar's? And why would that be the case anyway? I see no reason for Nathan dying if Sylar didn't, as they share the same body. Oh well. A major character has died and it didn't really land the gut-punch it once could have -- and am I alone in thinking Pasdar could be back anyway, considering the fact his real body is in cold storage? There's bound to be someone around who can resurrect the dead, or can transfer their spirit into a dead body to allow Pasdar the chance to play a different character. I guess it depends how well his career continues after Heroes.
There really wasn't much else going on in this episode, although Mr. Bennet (Jack Coleman) and Lauren (Elisabeth Röhm) shared a scene where he revealed that they had a sexual relationship before she "Haitian'd" herself Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind-style. Hey, don't sweat it Lauren, this romance was news to everyone watching up until a few episodes ago, too! Incidentally, doesn't the existence of the Haitian opens people up to abusive mind games? I mean, Lauren only has Bennet's word that they were once close lovers. I wonder how many Company relationships were started by employees convincing each other they were once madly in love but the Haitian got drunk and mind-wiped them at the Christmas party?
Overall, "The Fifth Stage" wasn't much of a mid-season finale, as nothing was particularly shocking or exciting enough to have you counting the days till its January return -- although I quite like the addition of Eli (Todd Stashwick), Samuel's new right-hand man who has the power to multiply his body. But this entire season has been more measured and deliberate than Heroes has ever been before, trading season 1's pace and season 3's craziness for something more slow-burning. It's worked quite well, but those who fell in love with Heroes because of its high-tempo and jaw-dropping surprises are probably a little bored, while those with patience are being given too much time to notice the undertow of silliness and directionless characters (like deaf Emma, who is yet to factor into the story in any meaningful way.)
30 November 2009
NBC, 9/8c
written by: Tim Kring directed by: Kevin Dowling starring: Jack Coleman (Mr. Bennet), Hayden Panettiere (Claire), Adrian Pasdar (Nathan), Zachary Quinto (Sylar), Milo Ventimiglia (Peter), Jimmy Jean-Louis (The Haitian), Robert Knepper (Samuel), Madeline Zima (Gretchen), Elisabeth Röhm (Lauren Gilmore), Dawn Olivieri (Lydia), Cristine Rose (Angela), Todd Stashwick (Eli), Bryan Krasner (Burly Guy), David H. Lawrence (Eric Doyle) & John Lee Ames (Game Operator)
