Heroes 1.22 Landslide

[bop_radar]

Heroes didn't really do it for me last night, so bear that in mind before you clicky. This episode contained one of my most hated devices. The 'learn martial arts in a day' device. And yes, I know it is ridiculous of me, in a comic-book universe, to fixate on this one piece of implausibility, but it bothered Greg Beeman too, damn it! I read it in his blog! (While shaking my head and thinking 'yeah, you should have listened to that small voice of reason, Greg!') So skip the rest of this para if you don't want to hear me rant. I guess I should have seen it coming... but I was hoping there would at least be a bit more offscreen time. Instead, no, Hiro magically learns to fight in an afternoon. Not only that, but he spouts some philosophy as well! *headdesk* Eeeeeeek! It couldn't get worse. I'm sorry, but it takes years, YEARS, to learn even the basics of a martial art (in my club it was a mantra that black belt was where your learning began), and as for philosophical insights... well those are even harder to come by, and completely meaningless unless you've lived them. I understand that most people will just run with it, but it's one of those things that just always is a sticking point for me. Especially because it is so often avoidable. Why wouldn't Hiro's father have had him train in a martial art (even a different martial art would have helped) as a child? Then he could have just been taking a 'masterclass', so to speak. I could have handwaved that a LOT easier. Of course I understand that heroes will always be shown to be able to absorb the requisite skills/knowledge faster than 'mere mortals', but Hiro's power has got nothing to do with martial arts! And I'm not even sure his cardiovascular capacity is that great. *frowns at him* He'd need to train dammit. Ok. Fine. I'm going to fanwank that he time travelled back to relive the same hour over and over and over and over again, for, like, TEN YEARS. *is slightly appeased*

On to the rest of the episode... I have to admit that I *lol*'d at Peter's last-minute 'wait! don't shoot me in the head like I asked you to!' reaction. Oh, Peter! *facepalm* That was one of the most obvious fakeouts they've had yet. On the other end of the scale, I really loved Sylar acquiring Ted's power and the last sequence with him standing on the rooftop playing with it and saying 'boom'. The melodramatic villainy was fun.

It is, of course, encouraging to see all the heroes drawing closer and closer together and I liked the way they crossed paths in this episode. I'm really glad that Hiro made his appeal to Nathan, and that Nathan turned it down. While I don't think Nathan's choice is the right or noble one, their altercation helped convince me of his position and it seems convincing of his character that he's been swayed by Lindermann. He's not happy about it, but he thinks the future can't be changed. That was the most chilling thing he could possibly say to Hiro, who already has good reason to fear that very fact. But Nathan could have made a different decision, which that scene also showed--that was a possible turning point--and he didn't. So I found the scene powerful and effective, even if it means Nathan's gone over to the 'dark' side.

I thought it was very cool that Lindermann healed Nathan's wife--his power is an incredible one. But he's been killed now? That's a little hard to process. DL punching into his skull was extremely gross. I wished I cared more that DL was dying... I think it's bad news for Micah since I don't believe either Nikki or Jessica is a good parent. He should hang with the shapechanger some more, especially since we finally learnt a bit more about her character--her true form is presumably the one that we saw at the election booth, I assume.

Speaking of the election rigging, I found that kind of stupid and implausible too. Surely there would be an investigation into that kind of turnaround in the election results. Yes, yes, I know--it's a comic book universe--but... but... *frustrated*

The final sequence was more satisfying in its suspensefulness, but I'm really just itching for them to get to the final showdown now. Enough with the developments I have to handwave! Get to the good stuff!

Comments

[birdseyeview.livejournal.com]

Someone on TWoP pointed out that the "learn martial arts in a day!" device is actually a staple of samurai movies. So, even if it bothered Beeman, it is a literary device of sorts.

Also, didn't Hiro have previous sword training? So this was probably more like refining his skills rather than learning from scratch.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Yes. I'm all too aware that it's a device; it's just it's a device I personally hate. I know others won't blink about it--it's just one of those things for me.

didn't Hiro have previous sword training?
Did he? I didn't pick up reference to that, but I'd be more than happy to find out if it's the case.

[birdseyeview.livejournal.com]

Several people on TWoP mentioned where it had been previously stated that Hiro had sword lessons as a child.

I only started watching with the last episode so I'm not that knowledgable on the show.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Oh, cool! That appeases my crankiness somewhat! ;-) And it was certainly true that he's well-versed in the mythology surrounding Japanese swordsmanship--that's definitely come up before, but I just don't recall the mention of training.

It's a daft, dorky thing to hate, I know, but I watch a LOT of martial arts movies and I always eyeroll when it comes up. I admire the movies that avoid this device with grace. And I heart the Matrix for having a convincing (and spectacular) speedy-martial-arts-absorption sequence. They're hard to pull off well.

[norwich36.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with you about the whole "learn martial arts in a day" thing--though I actually thought that Hiro's dad was deliberately distracting him so Ando would go off and be killed because it's secretly part of the plan.

I squealed a lot during the episode, at various reveals that were probably obvious to everyone: Sylar following Claire, Peter and Ted; Sylar turning Ted over to the FBI lady, Lindemann healing Heidi, Jessica transferring control to Niki, Lindermann's death. I really can't wait to see what happens next week.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

I actually thought that Hiro's dad was deliberately distracting him so Ando would go off and be killed because it's secretly part of the plan.
Oh dear! Poor Nora! :-( I didn't comment on it. *proud*

I think I've maxed out on the amount of squealing I can do. For some reason most of the reveals fell a bit flat with me this week--I think I've OD'd on them! But Lindermann's death was unexpected and I haven't really thought that one through yet.

[elli.livejournal.com]

I totally agreed about the Martial Arts thing.
It also seemed weird that Hiro would forget Ando is there and that ando would just take off on his own.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I agree it was weird that Ando took off. I have no idea why he would do that. I'm a bit more forgiving of Hiro--as a martial arts nerd, I can sympathise with his excitement and focus on learning. *g* But it is still awfully convenient for the plot.

[latxcvi.livejournal.com]

It also seemed weird that Hiro would forget Ando is there and that ando would just take off on his own.

See, I think that everyone is forgetting is that as far as Ando knows, his own death --not to mention the deaths of *millions* of others -- is going to occur in the next 24-36 hours if someone does not stop Sylar.

We have no idea how long Hiro was in that backroom with his father, but if it was more than an hour, I don't blame Ando for not only getting antsy, but for deciding to take matters into his own hands. Hiro's already spent the better part of their time together in the episode dithering about whether he could make a difference; his encounter with Nathan seemed to completely deflate him. Again, as far as Ando knows, Mr. Nakamura actually isn't down with Hiro's whole "I must save the world," schtick, so from Ando's perspective, it's perfectly reasonable that Mr. N. might convince Hiro to come back to Japan -- that's exactly what the man tried to do the last time they ran into him, and Ando doesn't know that Hiro's father has really just been letting Hiro take a hero's journey with which Mr. N. actually agrees; we didn't know that until 25 minutes into the episode.

If New York's impending explosion was one week away, I'd agree that Ando should've waited. But it's occuring the next day if someone doesn't try to stop it. Remember, Ando doesn't know that Peter & Claire are also trying to avert disaster; he doesn't know that Hiro isn't the only person with a chance of stopping Sylar. As far as he knows, Hiro's the only one who can do it and Hiro's not only insisting that he can't, but he's very possibly in the process of being convinced to stop trying.

In Landslide, Ando's options are stand around wasting precious time they might not have when it's very possible Hiro's going to give up the quest, or, alternatively, do something that might make a difference. Do I think it's unfortunate that Ando lost faith in Hiro at the 11th hour? Absolutely. But I don't think it was unreasonable given what's at stake, the fact that it is the 11th hour, for all intents and purposes, and that Hiro's not communicating with him what's going on.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

That's very well explained. However, I don't think the show did a good job of putting us in Ando's perspective--no doubt because they'd rather have their 50th 'reveal' moment for the ep. (Plus, I'm particularly un-attuned to Ando because I find him a dull and rather insipid little man.) I agree that Mr Nakamura and Hiro were thoughtless and short-sighted in not filling Ando in. If Hiro insists on having a sidekick, he should keep him in the loop! ;-)

I don't think it's unreasonable of Ando to lose faith in Hiro--though I also don't think he did a good job of reasoning with Hiro, bolstering his faith or otherwise offering alternative solutions. Also, surely he could have interrupted them at least once before taking off? *shrugs* If Ando ends up being the one to stop Sylar, I will be very unhappy!

[latxcvi.livejournal.com]

However, I don't think the show did a good job of putting us in Ando's perspective--no doubt because they'd rather have their 50th 'reveal' moment for the ep.

I think it might have helped to hear Ando's conversation with the shop owner -- instead of having a no-doubt abridged version of it paraphrased to us by the shop owner -- but just on a basic emotional level, I can get the sense of creeping panic if you knew your own death was happening in a little over a day and the one person you thought could change it was all, "la la la, rain of blood and toads," instead of addressing the problem. ;-) I agree that it's a bit of a narrative cheat that Hiro didn't think to check on Ando. Especially since, um, he and his dad obviously changed their clothes at some point. I could fanwank it that Mr. N. had the robes in his briefcase and, thus, they didn't have to leave that backroom, but there was still a pause in the proceedings. Hiro couldn't have checked on Ando at that point? Whatever, Tim Kring.

If Ando ends up being the one to stop Sylar, I will be very unhappy!

I'm pretty sure Ando is going to die, mostly because I think the show is playing with an idea of the future where all the small things are immutable -- Sylar still killed Isaac, he still got Ted's powers, he never got Claire's -- but the big thing, the bomb (or rather the effects of it) is mutable. I think the bomb can be stopped or the course of its destruction can be altered, but I think everything else Isaac foretold up until that point of divergence will occur as he foretold it, including Ando's death.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

I think it might have helped to hear Ando's conversation with the shop owner
Yes, I think so. Though I definitely don't find the idea that Ando might want to save his own life unreasonable--I'm sure I'd be doing all I could to stop it too.

I could fanwank it that Mr. N. had the robes in his briefcase and, thus, they didn't have to leave that backroom, but there was still a pause in the proceedings. Hiro couldn't have checked on Ando at that point? Whatever, Tim Kring.
Right! It was all so daft. Apart from my grumbles about the improbability factor, the 'learn martial arts in a day' device has been done so many times, in so many spectacular ways, that you have to be damn good and damn original in your choreography/storytelling to hold my attention--and this wasn't. It just distracted me with its obvious construction.

I think the bomb can be stopped or the course of its destruction can be altered, but I think everything else Isaac foretold up until that point of divergence will occur as he foretold it, including Ando's death
That seems highly probable, yes.

[elli.livejournal.com]

You're right, I didn't think of that. It's interesting how everything leads to a self-fulfilling prophecy.

And I agree. I think Hiro should have gone out from time to time and not forgotten that Ando was there. Same goes for Ando. They should have communicated everything.

I just think that Ando, knowing he will die, shouldn't have rushed into something.

[duskwillow.livejournal.com]

Hm, this is how I saw 'learn martial arts in a day' - it wasn't really about martial arts, it was about making Hiro realize that his emotions are stopping his from doing what he has to do. During the training his father makes him remember the stories he told him when he was a kid, and the one where the hero stabs his heart and gives it to the dragon because "his love isn't there". I thought it was cool for two reasons. First because it's obvious Hiro's father knew all along what Hiro's destiny might be one day and was preparing him for it since he was a kid. And also because he practically half turned him into emotionally closed off FutureHiro in front of our eyes. I liked the sword fighting, but the lesson on how to be the best kensei worrior underneath was more fun for me.

And squee - that last Sylar scene! So awesome!
It was so pretty comic book like it reminded me of Vessel and Zod on the LuthorCorp building roof.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

I'm glad the scene worked for you. For me, it would have been more effective without the martial arts--recalling the stories his father had read to him was cool, and a good way of showing that Hiro had the knowledge he needed all along. But I found it really hard to 'buy' that moment where Hiro says 'I have to be willing to cut out my heart' because there's a world of difference between realising what you need to do and being able to do it, and it felt like the show was conflating the two.

Yes! Very Zod-like! (Though Zod had a sweeping leather coat so he gets extra points!)

[asta77.livejournal.com]

I only really watched the last half hour due to an overlap with Dancing with the Stars, but I saw enough to think your points are very valid. And considering your background it makes perfect sense that the 'Learn martial arts in a night!' program would be very irritating. I got cranky with an episode of Ugly Betty because of the way they depicted the accounting department and their procedures (I do accounts payable work ;).

The thing that amused me was after me complaining most of the season about the cast being too big they suddenly decided to thin out the herd in the penultimate ep!

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

I got cranky with an episode of Ugly Betty because of the way they depicted the accounting department and their procedures (I do accounts payable work ;).
Heee! Thank you. I'm glad I'm not the only one that finds it harder to suspend disbelief when shows take liberties in an area you know well.

The cast IS big! I like big casts, but I don't feel I get invested in any of the characters on Heroes--we're flitting around too much. But so far they seem to have bumped off all the characters I don't like--Eden, Simone, Ted ... Ando's looking probable...

[latxcvi.livejournal.com]

My big moment of "OMGWTFAREYOUDOINGTIMKRINGSTOPIT!" came when Nathan checked the election results and saw that he'd won --

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY.

Um. No. The polls haven't even closed yet, so there is no way that at, like, 2:00 or 3:00 in the afternoon any news agency worth its credentials would be predicting anything, let alone actually calling the election. It drove me nuts that it was broad daylight when Nathan checked the results because they don't start posting election results until the precincts start reporting in -- and they don't start doing that until the polls close and the polls DON'T CLOSE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREAKIN' DAY.

*cough*

Sorry.

Anyway, yes, I LMAO at Peter's "Oh, wait, I totally have it under control now," at the beginning of the episode because (a) Peter's such a drama queen sometimes and (2) way to make your niece second-guess herself in the midst of impending crisis, Pete. Man, he's so lucky he won me over during Homecoming because now when I mock, it's entirely with love instead of growling irritation.

I, too, found the Nathan-Hiro scene very compelling and effective because Hiro's always been able, in the past, to kind of push past Nathan's reserves and his inability to do so here, his inability to sway Nathan in any way, contributed to making Nathan's choice feel so inevitable and immutable. Nathan could still surprise all of us -- after all, there's one more hour of story to go and no one anticipated that he was working with the FBI to take Linderman down earlier in the season until we were given that reveal -- but I'd be lying if I said that I'm not disappointed in him right now.

[katiebugs18.livejournal.com]

HAHAHA...I caught that too. I work in politics and trust me...I've stayed up into the wee hours of the morning waiting for results. You don't get them in the middle of the afternoon/early evening.

The other part that really bothered me was the whole "landslide" victory. You can't make it a landslide if polls are consistently showing Nathan behind. You can have him win, that's not a shock, but a landslide...someone is going to ask questions. Even if they are the lunatic fringe.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

the polls DON'T CLOSE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREAKIN' DAY
I love it! I have to say the election results really bugged me too, but I didn't want to get into it in case the US system was just a whole lot weirder and more different than I knew! But I work as an election official here in Australia, and it's a loooooooong day!

(a) Peter's such a drama queen sometimes and (2) way to make your niece second-guess herself in the midst of impending crisis, Pete.
Exactly! He's lucky Claire's a smart and thoughtful little cookie, otherwise he'd have been offed already. As uncles go, he kinda sucks!

he's so lucky he won me over during Homecoming because now when I mock, it's entirely with love instead of growling irritation
*nods* Truly!

Nathan could still surprise all of us -- after all, there's one more hour of story to go and no one anticipated that he was working with the FBI to take Linderman down earlier in the season until we were given that reveal -- but I'd be lying if I said that I'm not disappointed in him right now.
True. I think he might still surprise us, and if that's the case I'm still glad that the Nathan/Hiro scene played the way it did--it would have been too easy for Hiro to run up and persuade him. In the battle for Nathan's conscience it's Hiro versus Nathan's mother, institutional power and political influence--Nathan likes Hiro but that's not enough to sway him. I don't think Nathan's abandonned his conscience entirely--I think he just believes that political means are his best way of exercising influence. However, what I wouuld really really love is for him to use his flying powers to save the world, after all. He's dismissed them, and they've been mocked, but... I hold out hope.

[katiebugs18.livejournal.com]

I agree with pretty much everything you said. I actually said, out loud, 'do they actually have time for a whole do jo lesson when the world is about go to boom?' And I didn't get the part about Hiro having previously trained with a sword either. Though it would make sense given that most Asian children (I forgot where he's from) train in martial arts from a young age.

Hiro's reaction to Nathan - "You villain" - was cute and all but is he still really that naive? Maybe Ando really does need to die for Hiro to finally grow up.

If Ando ends up being the one to stop Sylar, I will be very unhappy!

Ummm, I think I might throw something if that happens. And the show will have completely lost me because they've been building Peter v. Sylar for nearly the entire season and if they suddenly back away from that...I'm gone. It's one thing to pull a "shocking twist" it's another to completely blow a season's worth of plot/build-up out of the water for that twist.

I thought it was very cool that Lindermann healed Nathan's wife--his power is an incredible one. But he's been killed now? That's a little hard to process.

Yes it was very nice of Lindermann to heal Nathan's wife but COME ON! She's suddenly healed after Lindermann told her he was giving her a gift and held her hand and she doesn't ask questions?! She doesn't think it's strange? She just takes Nathan's word that it's a miracle?! As far as we know she's completely in the dark about the Petrelli family abilities (especially Nathan's) so wouldn't this be a little, oh I don't know, shocking and suspicious for her? Just asking.

And I don't really buy Linderman really being dead either. If Claire can heal herself hours after she's died and was cut open; if Peter can come back from a big shard of glass to his brain then it's quite probably that Linderman could heal as well. Of course his brain got ripped out (and was that really necessary?) but still, Claire was practically burned alive so...guess that'll be the first BIG REVEAL of next week.

Is it bad that I'm suddenly so cynical? Next week has a lot riding on it.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Hiro's from Japan. I think there's a world of difference between learning a martial art as part of a standard school program (kind of like PE) and training properly, but I won't get started on that again...

It's one thing to pull a "shocking twist" it's another to completely blow a season's worth of plot/build-up out of the water for that twist.
Oh, I really don't think they'll do that! Fear not. I was just toying with my worst case scenarios in my own mind. ;-)

She doesn't think it's strange? She just takes Nathan's word that it's a miracle?! As far as we know she's completely in the dark about the Petrelli family abilities (especially Nathan's) so wouldn't this be a little, oh I don't know, shocking and suspicious for her? Just asking.
Completely valid questions! I think, for me, I'm running with the idea that Heidi knows a lot more than she's letting on. There's something about the actress that implies she's quite clued on... but to be honest there's no real textual sign of that on the show. *sigh* If it turns out she truly knows nothing, then yes, that is RIDICULOUS. You would at least get yourself along to a doctor if you were suddenly able to move, surely!

Is it bad that I'm suddenly so cynical? Next week has a lot riding on it.
I've definitely hit cynicism where Heroes is concerned. I think I maxed out on the number of reveals I can be impressed by. It's a bit sad, really... but next week I want BOOM! \o/