There are actually very few "bad people". Most people have either good or bad qualities that come out in certain situations.

Just something to think about.

I agree, I really don't think there is a clear cut line here between Evildoer and Do-Gooder as there is in your typical comic role.

They are really tryign to humanize these "heroes" as normal people who have all the other aspects of their lives to contend with along with this new extraodinary thing.

The debate over "Extraordinary Power/Extraordinary Responsibility" v. "Just being normal" is definitely brewing in each one of these characters.

Good guys = most all the Heroes*

Bad guys = Sylar, HRG, the Haitian, Eden

* Matt has definitely been compromised by HRG/Haitian
* Can't recall if any other Heroes were caught by HRG/Haitian. Fill us in if you know.

Define "compromised." He was caught, studied, had those memories of being caught and studied erased, then sent back home. Nothing majorly bad happened to him; he could just as easily be dead.

what defines good or evil... the action or the reason for the action.

The action. The ends can never justify the means.

Or he could just as easily have ended up here!

So whoever is blowing up New York doesnt quailfy as bad? Cause it seems to me they would. Even if we dont know who they are right now.

Could have been an accident... who knows? The producers, thats who!

We have yet to prove that HRG and MBG are bad (or that MBG is Haitian). It's true, they may seem evil but there are facts that prove they are not:

-They did not injure Matt
-They had a chance to shoot Nathan, but didn't
-HRG could have killed Claire as a baby, but hasn't
-HRG cares about Claire's well being

The only person we can actually tell is evil, is the guy who tried to steal Molly, who everyone thinks is Sylar (I don't, so don't bother correcting me). In this episode, DL was proven innocent, so we know he isn't "evil". Niki's alternate form (Jessica or something) is pretty bad, but she's only looking out for her and Micah, she's not going around slaughtering people for no reason. So really, there's no way to tell who's good and who's bad.

But a true hero would find another way to save those people WITHOUT having to kill that one person.

Yeah I learned that in 3rd grade too but the fact of the matter is that the ends do justify the means. For example I would kill any single person on the planet if I could save a million lives in the process. Sure its bad that I killed that person but I bet that other million would be pretty darn greatful.

Would you kill a million people to save one?



"A hero kills people, people that wish him harm. A hero is part human and part supernatural. A hero is born out of a childhood trauma, or out of a disaster, and must be avenged." - Dwight Schrute

Seriously though, your definition of hero is tied into your personal definition of "good" and "bad" ( which is what this thread is trying to refute ) which is informed wholly by your own moral philosophy, whatever it may be.

Ugh, flashbacks to theology/morality class at my college.

There are inherently evil actions, sure, but there are times when what seems to be an evil action can be good. (AKA, murder in self defense.)

Don't let me explain further, I did badly in that class, LOL.

I was specifically thinking of HRG when I said this, but it falls for all of our characters.

Some people were thinking that HRG was Sylar himself. But, as we learned more in the show...HRG has shown more human, and even likeable qualities.

I just wanted folks to marinate on that one for a while.

Says the guy with the Punisher avatar..

Strangely enough. I collected the Punisher War Journal myself. Had 1-50ish or something. And I also would have said the same thing ...

To qoute Full Metal Jacket ... something something "Dualaity of man" something something ...

If someone drugged, kidnapped, and erased your memories would you be OK with it?

Or did this to your husband, wife or lover against their will, would that be OK?

Or broke-in, snooped and looted your recently deceased parent's home, would you be OK with that too?

I might as well add rape to it. If the end justified the means would that be OK?

Just some stuff to think about..

Even serial killers, rapist and kidnappers have had spouses that defended them and said their mates were such "good" people.

I agree that some actions such as murder in self-defense can be justified or at least be explained and have a very strong case for it to be morally justifiable. I just haven't seen any strong evidence to persuade me that the acts that HRG has done could have been in any way, justifiable.

Perhaps one of the most controversial things is ordering Brody's memory erased. Who know's what caused Brody to have rapist tendencies. You could use the nature VS nurture arguement. One thing is for sure, it would be very difficult for Brody to redeem himself for his acts. He doesn't have the guilt or sway of moral conscience from his memories that could be caused by him possibly becoming a more compassionate person in the future. I don't know if draining his memories will make him a better person, it may even make him a worse person. He may just go back to his old rapist tendencies too.

In regards to Claire's well being. He certainly cares that she's well, but is it because she is an experiment he is studying and doesn't want interference or because he actually loves her? It may even be a combination of both.

For one that wants to do good they will eventually do something bad, but feel regret for it...Someone evil has no desire to do what is good, looks out for themselves and has no regret or remorse... You will find your heroes and villians with these guidelines.

I've noticed that a lot of people have taken up to Nikki as being a good person that just wants the best for her son. Please don't forget that good and evil are points of view. She is doing things for personal reasons but when looked at by an outsider, she is a bad guy. In my opinion, I hope she never gets her son back. She has killed countless people, she set up her innocent husband who ended up doing 6 months in prison for her before he escaped. She is a bad guy.

I think Niki is good, while ikiN... well, she has her own best interests in mind.

At this point, there is no telling who is good or evil... or took the cookie from the cookie jar. I still blame santa... lousy red suited... anyways, the way that the show is put, no one is really evil except "Sylar" (or who everyone THINKS is Sylar, not me though) and their intentions are not clear. So let's not assume.

And if someone drugged, kidnapped, and erased my memories, I'd have no way of telling... I was drugged kidnapped and erased of my memories, so it wouldn't matter. No one would be the wiser!