Heroes: Hysterical Blindness

This week, our heroes begin coming together as the big picture gets clearer. Let’s jump right into it because I really enjoyed this episode, and I’ve ragged on Heroes enough these past few weeks!

“I don‘t make a habit of locking myself in with unrestrained lunatics.” - Captain Lubbock
Captain Lubbock (Ernie Hudson) found Sylar walking along the road, confused and disheveled. He then meets Dr. Madeline Gibson (Christine Adams) who’s supposed to help figure out who Mr. NoName is. She doesn’t get much respect since she’s new, and this is her first criminal psych consult, but it doesn’t stop her from getting through to Sylar NoName, and she promises to help him put the pieces together.

Sylar confesses to Madeline that everything he’s experiencing feels new. It’s almost like déjà vu. Madeline says that it’s common in people who’ve have traumatic experiences, but it also signifies that the old him is still in there somewhere. She asks him to concentrate of the first thing that pops into his mind, but he’s distracted by a ticking clock and her watch (both minute sounds he shouldn’t be able to hear) which he says are not in sync.

Lubbock then sends Madeline away since they figured out that Mr. NoName is actually Gabriel Gray, the watchmaker who killed his own mother. (Oh, what Captain doesn’t know about what this guy’s done.) Sylar unknowingly uses his powers and escapes, finding Madeline in the parking lot and begging for help. You can tell she has an instinct that he’s not a killer, but when Lubbock catches up to them,  he doesn’t take any chances and shoots him when sparks of electricity appear in Sylar’s hand. Madeline tries to get him out of the way and just ends up tumbling down a hill with him. Sylar (magically) gets up, unhurt as the bullets fall out of his body. She can’t understand, but again, she goes with her instincts and tells him to run while he has the chance.

“Why me? Why now?” – Emma Coolidge
Emma gets to spend a lot of time hanging out with her doctor mother since they both work at the same hospital. (It would drive me crazy, but they seem to have a great relationship.) After hearing about the things Emma’s been seeing, Mom suggests she may have conversion disorder, otherwise known as hysterical blindness.

Someone else trying to connect with Mama bear is Peter who meets up with Angela. He’s trying to reconnect with the world, but unfortunately, she only has Nathan on the brain who’s been MIA. It’s quite the opposite at the hospital where Doc Mom wants Emma to join the world. We learn that its been six years since someone named Christopher died, and I can only guess that it was a husband or child.

Emma takes a walk, and, distracted by all the city “sounds,” ends up in front of a bus. Luckily, Peter’s around to save her. He tries to talk with her, but she can’t hear him and combined with her antisocial tendencies, she just ends up leaving withput a word or gesture.

Attempting to get on with his day, Peter tries to break into a super speed run, only to realize there’s no oomph anymore and something new has replaced that power.

At the hospital, Peter is mesmerized by some kids singing and the sights their voices are making before noticing Emma. They both realize they’re seeing the same thing. (And if Peter’s smile is any indication of where things are headed, it’s getting hot in there!) Peter tries to explain to her how there are other people like them with abilities, but apparently, that’s not exciting enough news for her because they decide to play the piano together. (Now, I don’t really get how seeing music interpreted into color can just up and make you a great musician, but I haven’t been this excited about a Heroes episode in a long time, so I’m just going with it.)

Emma can’t grasp why her, but Peter says they’ll figure it out together and get her out of the file room. Her mother said something similar to her earlier, insisting that she could still be a doctor, and Emma joked that her mother would think twice if the files just started disappearing, but this time she takes it personally and leaves.

I’M NOT A STALKER…I JUST CRUSH A LOT
Claire is relishing normal college life with Gretchen, free of serial killers and exploding men. Becky Taylor (Tessa Thompson from Veronica Mars ::tiny tear shed for this show::) stops by their rather empty table to let Claire know about sorority rush. Sandra was in her sorority which makes Claire a legacy, basically a shoe-in. Gretchen tries to discourage her from going since she’s afraid Claire will turn into Stepford Claire, but she’s convinced to tag along, too.

Claire and Gretchen finally show up for rush which Becky calls prospective pledge speed dating. (I have first hand experience with rush, and she’s completely right about that. You’ll never flirt as hard in you life as you do when you’re in a sorority and rushing a frosh.) Somehow with Claire’s lack of normal experiences, she comes off kind of awkward, and Gretchen, who seems to tell everything about Claire to every active she meets, comes off a shining star.

Before heading to their next rush event, a mixer, Claire discovers that Gretchen has been a little nosy. (To be honest, Claire also snooped on her laptop to find out this information, but she’s vulnerable here! I forgive you, Claire.) She finds her own outdated Facebook-like page, some news articles about her and info on murder-suicides. A little Creepy!

As Claire’s “mixing” with Psi Alpha Chi actives, a very sharp flap poll falls from overhead. She pushed the girl she’s talking to out of the way in time, only to see Gretchen looking down from above. Though I wouldn’t agree that this is the best time to make an awkward exit without saying a word, Claire does.

Claire and Gretchen go at it when they get back to their dorm room. Gretchen thinks Claire’s being paranoid, and Claire is starting to see a stalker born before her eyes. What Gretchen says and does next completely takes her by surprise when she confesses she’s crushing on her and kisses her. (That actually makes you less EVEN creepier, girl!) So all the snooping and talking about Claire was because she makes Gretchen nervous, and she’s in love? Not so sure. Too bad none of us get anytime to process all this as PAC girls come in to give them both bids to join the sorority.

“This is my favorite part of the day. It’s full of possibility.” - Samuel Sullivan
According to Samuel, traveling carnival life is all about unconditional love, family, understanding and trust. I didn’t hear anything about truth in his eloquent speech so he hasn’t yet fessed up to what he’s been up to. He promises by the days end their table, which is missing one family member due to his brother Joseph’s death, will be complete. Lydia wants to know what Sam’s been up to, but she comes to realize that he has no clue as well.

Later, all the pieces start to fit together for us when we come to find out that Becky is actually a member of Samuel’s carnie family. She killed Annie, led Claire to find that info on Gretchen’s computer and tossed the flagpole. She even left that suicide note that Claire swore came from thin air. And with Rachel’s invisibility power, it truly did.

WRAP IT UP
So Claire and Gretchen are now sisters. (This has to be the fastest rush I’ve ever seen which makes me jealous that I spent a whole month of my life devoted to it over my four college years.)  Back at their respective homes, Emma begins to play the bass/cello (I can never tell!), and Peter is greeted by Hiro, who collapses in his arms. Emma also realizes that as her anger builds up and she plays even harder, it will manifest itself physically since her pictures fall off the wall. And Sylar escapes, but only because Sam and his carnival appear before him. When Sylar asks where he is, Sam says that he’s home. I think Heroes just got back there too. All in all, best episode in a long time!

Season 4, Episodes 5: Hysterical Blindness (originally aired October 12, 2009)

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Mondays at 9/8C on NBC

Photographs courtesy of IMDbpro