Rock Bottom: The Racialicious Review of ‘Heroes’ 4.3

jen*: I contemplated just cutting it off early, but instead I played games on facebook for most of the ep. After a fairly strong season opener [as compared to snoozers from most of last season], they immediately dropped back into the formula: Big Start, filler, filler, filler, Big End. Now, I only watch for the Roundtable.

As you know, I’m not a fan of how Gretchen’s character is being presented. But let’s get your thoughts on her.

Mahsino: Ugh. I’m not a fan. That is all.

Diana: She’s like every girl I tried to avoid in college.

Andrea: Ya know, I was sort of sympathetic towards Gretchen at first because she’s came off as socially awkward, even with her boundary-pushing comments about what happened to Claire in Texas. (How many of us haven’t done something similar in a social setting?) My opinion turned in this ep when Gretchen used her struggle with bulimia in order to manipulate the truth–and trust–out of Claire. That–and Gretchen–just aren’t OK with me now.

jen*: I knew she looked familiar! It’s Gracie from The Nanny. Just…not as cute anymore. And way more annoying. I feel like she’s only Claire’s friend right now so she can die in a later episode. Which I’m looking forward to. And no, I wasn’t really into her being a catastrophe-groupie of Claire-Bear’s, either. If these two end up kissing, I think it’s gonna be really skeevy.

On the bright side, as ever, is Sylar. Is it me, or is his quest for a body inadvertently turning him into a more sympathetic character?

Mahsino: Full disclosure time: Sylar, in that episode, is the same brand of asshole I am in real life, so the scenes between him and Matt warmed my cynical heart. The issue I had with the whole “kidnapper” plot was: who cuts out letters for ransom notes anymore? I mean really.

Diana: If he knew the perp was in the closet with a gun, he should know where his body is. I’m just sayin. Sylar gets no sympathy from me.

Mahsino: I think Sylar knows Matt pulled the ol’ switcheroo with his and Nate’s body, but he might not know where Nate is or necessarily how to get back to his old body.

Andrea: Hmph. The only thing I thought while watching him on-screen was, “Zachary Quinto? Don’t you have a Star Trek sequel to film or something?”

jen*: Andrea, I’m with you – Sylar’s in way more of this season than I expected…and I’m liking it way less than I expected. Maybe it’s because he’s in scenes with Parkman. I much prefer his time with/as Nathan. It was nice to see him messing with Matt, but then I felt like my time was wasted with all ‘body-in-the-closet’ business. I could’ve been watching last week’s episode of Psych that I needed to catch up on. (Dule Hill, Kenan Thompson, and Jaleel White? Hello!) However, I kinda like the moments of pure Sycrazy, like when Parkman sees Sylar’s reflection in the mirror, pulls his gun and whips around – as though he’s actually going to shoot him.

And then there’s Samuel. Who knew he was so emo?

Mahsino: Yes, that’s exactly what this show needs: another Hot Topic reject. At least he isn’t sporting the man-bangs to show how deep and complex he is.

Diana: Now, that’s how to leave a party. He may give Sylar a run for his money for the Heroes top body count.

Andrea: Emo? Really? See, what I got was an class stereotype–the embittered working-class stiff with attachment to/rebellion against the ruling class. And Samuel’s vague brogue just adds an air of “exotica” to the upstairs/downstairs/outside dynamic.

jen*: I was just getting the air of ‘spoiled-child-syndrome’. I suppose they’re going to stretch this Carnivale thing out as far as it will go – too bad they haven’t tried getting any of the writers … But carnie-tatt-girl still seems like more of a prop than a person. With such rich subject matter, so much more could be done. Instead, Sam imploded a house. Spectacular – but with no exposition? Still boring.

Open Mic!

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