Oh my god, this episode had me completely in shock... And I'm going to have to spoiler-tag it, because there is no way I can convey why without spoilers, though I'll try and keep it at least slightly non-specific.
It's not like Sylar's parental issues didn't occasionally seem a bit Norman Bates-ish even before this, but this episode, which basically centres on him gradually losing his sanity (such as it was), took that to its ultimately conclusion. At first I thought his conversations with his dead mother were just hallucinations... But when what was really happening became clear I just about screamed out loud -- while at the same time being in awe at just how well they played it.
Heroes has always been at its most interesting when it delves into the psychology of the characters, and Sylar has a more twisted psychology than most to delve into. But this really took it to new heights... or depths, maybe. It's like a walking tour through a particularly fascinating and disturbing madhouse, and the result is both incredibly creepy, and really amazing.
This episode is easily tied with Cold Snap for most impressive of volume 4, which I already found to be overall the best since the original season. Anyone who stopped watching Heroes due to volumes 2 and 3 being a little lackluster really, really needs to get back into it. Now.
The only flaw in this episode is that there was no way the season finale could top it... and it didn't. Otherwise, this was an absolute triumph, and an excellent reminder of why this is pretty much the only series on North American television that I'm really, truly addicted to.
It's not like Sylar's parental issues didn't occasionally seem a bit Norman Bates-ish even before this, but this episode, which basically centres on him gradually losing his sanity (such as it was), took that to its ultimately conclusion. At first I thought his conversations with his dead mother were just hallucinations... But when what was really happening became clear I just about screamed out loud -- while at the same time being in awe at just how well they played it.
Heroes has always been at its most interesting when it delves into the psychology of the characters, and Sylar has a more twisted psychology than most to delve into. But this really took it to new heights... or depths, maybe. It's like a walking tour through a particularly fascinating and disturbing madhouse, and the result is both incredibly creepy, and really amazing.
This episode is easily tied with Cold Snap for most impressive of volume 4, which I already found to be overall the best since the original season. Anyone who stopped watching Heroes due to volumes 2 and 3 being a little lackluster really, really needs to get back into it. Now.
The only flaw in this episode is that there was no way the season finale could top it... and it didn't. Otherwise, this was an absolute triumph, and an excellent reminder of why this is pretty much the only series on North American television that I'm really, truly addicted to.
