Commentary: Heroes 3x17 - Cold Wars

[brighteyedjill]

Previously, Nathan rounds up the mutants, Bennet looms taller than any other man in the cast, Daphne gets pumped full of lead, the Petrellis cuddle (with guns!), and the Bennets suffer marital strife.

At the no-tell motel, Matt and Mohinder are reunited, and chatting about their relative moral grayness.

Peter returns with roofies (and he got them… where?), and Team Heroes Brain Trust is complete. Matt claims they have the moral high ground, because the three of us are squeaky clean. “We did nothing wrong!”… Aside from robbing a gambling den, abandoning your girlfriend in an apocalyptic future, stealing diamonds, illegally transporting dangerous reptiles across international borders, murdering drug dealers and neighbors, experimenting on innocent victims… Yeah, there’s no reason they should be fugitives. The Brain Trust concludes that in extracting information from Bennet, “We’re going to have to get creative.” You mean lure him into a kinky foursome? Yeah. That’s what I thought you meant.

They roofie Bennet while he’s getting all maudlin in his cups. Peter gives the barmaid his winning smile to re-assure her that they’re only going to take Bennet back to the hotel and have their way with him. In the hotel, they begin a very slow striptease (starting with his glasses), and Matt travels to the past, in Bennet’s mind.

In black and white (so we know it’s the past) Bennet and Angela are meeting on a bench in a park. Angela gives Noah a pink slip, along with a watch in commemoration of his years of service. Noah is less than thrilled about being put out to pasture.

Back in color (so we know we’re not in Kansas) Matt, pleased with his success thus far, swears to push on and do whatever it takes, ruin as many people's lives, so long as he can make a name for himself as a telepath, no matter how many friends he loses or people he leaves dead and bloodied along the way, just so long so he can make a name for himself as a telepath, no matter how many friends he loses or people he leaves dead and bloodied along the way.

And now... Cold Wars! An episode in which, strangely enough, Tracey does not appear.

Nathan in a tux! Thank you for the fan service, Heroes. “Face time at state dinners is hard to come by.” Ass time, too, buddy. Sorry you had to miss it. The Hunter admits that he’s spying on his people, and that’s how he knows Bennet is missing. Nathan quickly realizes that The Hunter is watching him, too.

Mohinder tries to talk down Matt from torturing Bennet, and appeal to his better instincts. Peter tries to give the lovers some privacy by busting out his mad nursing skills (i.e. checking his pulse). Eventually, they decide that torturing Bennet is okay because he has the information they need. I’m glad we’ve got that cleared up and won’t continue to argue about it for the rest of the episode.

In the House of Domesticity (in black and white), Sandra helps Noah with a crossword and tells him about their plans for dinner with the neighbors (with whom they are on the PTA at Lyle’s school). Retirement is clearly not agreeing with Bennet.

Nathan comes a callin’, and he’s clearly learned from recent political flap, because he’s rocking the American flag pin. And geez, Bennet really does tower over every other man in the cast, doesn’t he? Adrian Pasdar is short. Compact. Muscular. Aerodynamic. And have you seen his ass? But I digress.

Nathan tells Noah about his plan. “I’ll play whatever role I need to,” says Nathan. Fireman? Cop? Cowboy? Naughty Nurse? No, that’s what Peter’s for. Bennet is secretly chomping at the bit to get back to his job bagging and tagging specials. Nathan wants a chance to make things right, because he’s sorry he almost killed Peter. Or perhaps he’s sorry for his religious phase. It’s unclear. In any case, he’s come to pump Bennet for information. Because what else would he want to pump him for?

7957? Is that some sort of number that should be significant to us? Ah, I see. We’re meant to memorize it so we can use it later. Unlike Lost, the Heroes payoff always comes in the same episode, not three years later.

When Matt reports out that Nathan is the one who planned this, they both look at Peter with all sorts of accusation. Then they get into a screaming match. Peter’s all like, “Guys, get a room. Oh wait… You did. Shit, this is awkward.” Peter, eager to stop being in the middle of a lovers’ screaming match, goes to the storage unit. Luckily, he can still fly, so he gets there quickly. And the combination works! Matt isn’t full of shit! Peter, weapons expert that he is, finds all the guns he needs. Unfortunately for him, the Hunter’s candid cameras catch him in the act. Ruh roh!

Nathan, stripped down to shirtsleeves and suspenders, demands Danko’s team bring him his brother, alive! Because Nathan is many thing, but not a necropheliac. The Hunter says “set phasers to stun,” and wins my heart. His men try to catch Peter, but the weapons-savvy Petrelli throws a smoke bomb, and flies away. No bloodshed! What a nice little morally lily-white nurse.

Meanwhile, in Bennet’s head, The Hunter shuts down Bennet’s power trip. Bennet thought he was going to be in charge of Building 26 (which is pronounced “two six” evidently, since no one in the government can count over ten), but Nathan is all, “Oops, I lied.” Everyone in the cast continues to look up at Jack Coleman’s enormous tallness. When did he become sasquatch? He and Jared Padelecki should hang out and play basketball or something.

Mohinder metas on about the cab-driver-meets-all-the-other-characters trope when he finds himself in a cab (again) with HRG. Bennet lets Mohinder in on some info about what Nathan is doing. Matt is shocked to hear that there’s gambling at Rick’s!

Bennet gets all trixie and drives a wedge (built of deception and trickery!) between matt and Mohinder. Domestic violence breaks out. Mirrors are broken. Matt and Mohinder acquire seven years of bad luck (each!). While they are bickering, Bennet escapes. Mohinder really needs to check his chart for curare dosages, because he doesn’t do so well with keeping people sedated.

Matt-Mo chase after him, but I don’t expect either of them to be a match for him separately, so I’m not sure why they separated. Bennet busts out his McGuyver skills and, using only a toothpick, some gum, and Mohinder’s thong underwear, constructs a car with which to escape. Unfortunately, Peter crashes down on the windshield and stops him in the nick of time.

Matt tattles on Mohinder’s failure to warn them about the plan Bennet told him, but Mohinder claims that he totally, like, thought Bennet was a lying, manipulative bastard. Peter is all “dude, let’s just get on with this.”

At this point, Bennet speaks another language…. Not Russian… So… quo?

In black and white, Bennet goes to visit The Hunter, and The Hunter answers the door with a gun. Bennet tries to seduce him with friendly smiles and alcohol. Danko isn’t much impressed, but he does stay on his high horse. He also wants assurances that Bennet will follow orders. Bennet rolls over (or pretends to) and shows his soft underbelly, and Danko is pacified.

However, Matt has seen Danko’s address, and sends Peter off to try to kill Danko! I’m sure that this plan will go off without a hitch. Bennet seems very opposed to this action, and screams passionately. Peter, unmoved, storms out of the room looking particularly bad-ass, and flies away. Outside, the troops are massing to storm the castle! Oh noes!

Danko is on his way home on his cell phone, and Peter is already there, gun drawn, having made it from Costa Verde to D.C. in record time and with remarkably unruffled hair. Unfortunately, he doesn’t shoot The Hunter right away, which means that he’s not going to. Danko tries to talk him down, first with flattery, then with CRAZY, by judicious application of his forehead to Peter’s gun! He says he’ll get exactly what he wants if Peter kills him, which is confirmation that all specials are evil and need to be destroyed.

Nathan arrives on the scene, and even Danko wonders how he got there so fast. They wave their cocks around a bit (as they are wont to do when in the same room). Finally Peter shoots Danko in the arm (causing Nathan to give a “good for you tiger, I didn’t know you had it in you” look), then flies off to save Matt and Mohinder…somehow…

Matt and Mohinder are trying to figure out how to get out of this pickle, and Matt wants to put an end to Bennet. Bennet dangles the bait the Daphne is alive, and Matt goes in to black-and-white land to find out for sure. And sure enough, as promised in the credits, Brea Grant is writhing on a stretcher, and is Not Quite Dead .

To buy his lover some time, Action!Mohinder kicks some ass, but eventually they take him down with about thirteen tazer darts. They bust in on Matt and Bennet, and Matt confirms that he’s not a killer by neglecting to shoot Bennet when he has the chance. Bennet asks to walk him out… He must have some important info to impart. What could it be?! We will never know, because Peter swoops in cargo-jet style and saves Matt.

In Building 26, Mohinder is chained to a chair (in the manner of many good fanfics), and they throw a bucket of water on him. I guess that assistant must have been previously been in an Irish gang, because I hear that’s the custom for waking up hostages. Who are we kidding here? We want Mohinder to be wet, the writers will deliver some pretext for Wet!Mohinder. I do enjoy a good wet/sweaty, chained-up Heroes cast member, so I will not argue. In fact, I wish there had been a pretext to remove his shirt. Not that I objectify any member of the cast in any way. Certainly not.

Nathan tells Mohinder that if he doesn’t help, Daphne and every other members of the Heroes cast will be rounded up and shot in the head, just like at the end of the Great Escape. Mohinder thinks this is bush-league.

As they take a romantic stroll through the park, Bennet assures The Hunter of his allegiance. “How could I possibly be compromised? After all that? Did you see how I totally got tortured? I almost died! How can you not trust me?!” The Hunter and Bennet plot against Nathan, and we’re all ready to feel betrayed, but wait just a sec.

Angela is in the park, too. All this was a ruse just to get the Hunter’s trust. Angela says he’s going to have to get his hands dirty to make this all work. And of course, he says he’s comfortable with morally gray. Thank you, writers!

Matt is painting is Isaac’s loft. I guess Peter wants to keep his flying power for now (either that or he’s still recovering from back strain from carrying Matt from Costa Verde to NYC), so he’s not participating. Oh crap, now there’s many pictures of an unfortunately chunky Matt going all suicide-bomber, and a new picture of Washington DC blowing up, which Matt has just painted on the floor in quick-dry paint! New season, new city to save from fire and brimstone.

Whew! So, I think this episode was lovely. Focused, character-y, and full of action! Plus, good use of powers. I like where they’re going with Bennet. I’m put in mind of Angel, Season 5, when he has to prove his loyalty to the Black Thorn. Who thinks Bennet could kick Angel’s ass in a fight? Yeah, me too.

Comments

[jaune-chat.livejournal.com]

Oh, you do bring the funny!

Lure Bennet into a kinky foursome? Sweet! I'll be waiting for that story, sweetheart.

I love your assessment of the Heroes Braintrust's rap sheet. It is really quite lengthy and getting longer by the minute. Where DID Peter get that much knock-out drugs? Srsly? Was he out robbing a hospital or a pharmaceuticals company? I can't imagine where else people keep huge bottles of that stuff on hand.

Oh, Nathan in a tux. Though I note that his shots were almost exclusively constructed as to either shoot him from the front or in a long coat. They know the distracting power of this man's posterior. Like why Jared Padeleki and Jensen Ackles always wear no less than three layers in Supernatural.

Seven years of bad luck for both Matt and Momo? Shit, I thought they started that two years ago... They better stock up on lucky rabbits' feet and four leaf clovers.

Noah speaks another language, be still my heart! And he gets all nostalgic for his job, aww... just wants to bag and tag like the old days. Pity Danko's such a bastard.

We really must establish where the snot Danko's apartment is. I hope it's in D.C., because that would make sense. I do love Nathan flying to the rescue though! Flight!hair is sexy as hell. You can take me up any day Nathan, even if you are a bastard sometimes.

[brighteyed-jill.livejournal.com]

Yeah, OT4? Er... Perhaps not.

I'd like to think that Petey-boy charmed his way into an ER and snagged some whatsit. Because he could charm his way into anyone's pantsplace of employment.

Nathan's clothes were distractingly awesome tonight, so I'm not sure their shooting strategy worked! But I agree with the Supernatural strategy of layers and slouching. Otherwise I would never notice the angst for teh pretty.

Yeah, I just want to ruffle Nathan's hair. I sometimes miss the Season Two scruffy!Nathan. He had cupie doll hair.

But yeah, Danko's apartment must be in DC because the Heroes wiki says so (http://heroeswiki.com/Danko%27s_apartment).

[callisto24.livejournal.com]

Peter gives the barmaid his winning smile to re-assure her that they’re only going to take Bennet back to the hotel and have their way with him.

Mwuahaha... you're killing me here.

Nathan in a tux! Thank you for the fan service, Heroes.

Hehehe... oh yes... thank you in advance. I can't wait to see him. :)))

Thanks for the laughing! ;)

[brighteyed-jill.livejournal.com]

Nathan's clothes are awesome this season. I liked seeing him get a little scruffy in Season Two, but I'm not arguing with him in a tux... at all.

Glad I could amuse you :)

[scelto.livejournal.com]

I guess I never realized how disturbingly sasquatchian Bennet really is. Hmm... I shall imdb him.
Wow. Just. Tall... 6'2'' haha... isn't that the exact same height as Jared?

Is it just me or do Angela and Bennet have some sort of freakish ust going on?

[brighteyed-jill.livejournal.com]

I thought Jared might be an inch or two taller, but... Yeah. On Heroes, Sam and Dean would be freakishly tall. They could hang out with Bennet. And hunt down bad guys. It's be sweet.

Yeah, Angela and Noah might have been flirting just a little...

[ender24]

hahha, omg, there should be awards for reviews!
I would totally nominate you!

[brighteyed-jill.livejournal.com]

:D Thanks dear! I just call things like I see them.