Man, it's been a long time since I've bothered to write one of these posts, but here goes:

Initial thoughts after the episode aired were a mix of apprehension and disappointment, but now that I've had some time to reflect on it, I think this was a good episode for several reasons.

Thus far, the show's been much like any show that needs to garner attention. It's new, it's different. It's attempting to survive in the wave of new shows that hit the networks every season, and trying to thrive in the new mainstream market of sci fi shows a la Lost. I heard at least five commercials on the radio for the episode tonight, and that was just during the drive to work and back. There's been a huge amount of hype, and quite a bit of advertising. But now, I think, the Heroes' creators are feeling more comfortable, and it's beginning to show.

I thought it began somewhat with last week's episode, when we began to learn more about Matt, and Niki's dual nature became more solid and immediate. The show was still tense nearly every moment, something new was cropping up every time the camera cut to a different character, and there were a number of fresh surprises.

"Nothing to Hide" wasn't much at all like that. Sure, we discovered some secrets about Nathan. Isaac went missing, Linderman's still even more mysterious and Sylar's trail leads to yet another "hero", so to speak. And then, of course, the sweet revelation regarding Micah at the end. But the episode wasn't twisting and turning--it slowed its pace, concentrated a bit more fully on just a few, rather than all the characters, and I, for one, welcomed it.

Matt, for me, is by far the most interesting character. Long before "Heroes" came out, I'd always thought that the most interesting, wonderful, and horrifying special ability would be the ability read minds, and here it is with Matt. So far, he's noticed the wonder of it, but the horror of it for him, or at least it's disturbing nature, is beginning to reveal itself. Yet, even so, his nature and also his vocation has led him to already use his newfound power for good. He's among one of the steadfast characters, one who really outwardly wants to be heroic, like Hiro and Peter. But, IMO, navigating the human mind would be something far more treacherous than the skies above New York City or possibly even the space-time continuum.

There's an interesting parallel, here that's going on with pretty much all the characters. And it's pretty obvious, and also probably intentional. Nathan said something along the lines of (and I'm paraphrasing here because I don't remember the exact line): "If people knew what we could do they would lock us up and throw away the key." It's that immediate understanding that so many of us would have once we realized we had these powers. It's what's kept Claire, more than anything, from confiding in anyone but her best friend. It's what's kept Nathan cautious, besides the fact that he's attempting to protect his political image. It's what keeps Matt, for the most part, inside his head.

It's that old adage, "with great power comes great responsibility", and I like it. So I think what a good chunk of this episode did with Matt--and with Peter, Nathan, D.L. and Claire to a smaller extent--was to begin to seed the idea of what's on the line in more realistic terms for these characters. They have begun to understand, yes, that there's something bigger going on, that they may have some part to play as heroes or saviors, or as VIPs, but they're also beginning to understand what having power is all about. So I thought the pace of this episode was perfect, and I expect the next few episodes to slow things down a bit more. The meat of the season's coming up, and it should be meaningful.

"Nothing to Hide" was a fitting title for the episode, too, not just because Claire's bro found out about her being a "freak", but because of Matt, I think. After all, most people (aside from the creepy Haitian) really *don't* have anything to hide from him.

Of course, Tim Kring and his band of merry comic book fiends could turn this entire analysis on its head and come out with both guns blazing, but that's why I'm so frickin' in love with this show.

Now I'll go post somewhere else about what bugged me with the show. ;p

I think another important theme in this episode, as well, was that the heroes are going to have to work together. We got a concrete example in the Hiro/DL rescue, and it was hinted at as well in both Nathan and Hiro expressing that in order to use their powers more effectively, they needed (or wished for) super strength.

As in they have "nothing to hide" from each other. *nodnods* Okay, maybe I should stop reading into this so much, but it's fun!

Sorry to ruin your argument, but all these episodes have been shot months ago before they even knew if it's going to be picked up for the season.

I agree with your description of those two episodes. Many people said that Better Halves was a slow one, but I found this latest episode to be much slower and less revealing. Not that anything is wrong with that, though. It was a good episode. But Matt's story is doing the least for me right now. Although it has Sylar killings or at least what you think might be such.

I think the show is slowly showing each characters background story and stuff now. They already introduced the characters, now it's time to understand them and what not.

Last week was primarily around Niki/DL and Claire. This week it was Nathan/Peter and Matt. Next week will probably be featured more around Hiro and Ando, Isaac, and Mohinder.

Personally, I'd like to see more of Isaac though. They haven't dived into his character as much as the others!

My favorite part of this show was having a question - "What's Matt's wife's secret?" - actually ANSWERED right away!

Of course, it could turn to be a red herring (the guy could have been WISHING to "nail" Matt's wife), but it still felt good to have something actually given to the audience, instead of being dragged out forever. : )

I'd also like to comment that even if the literal pace of the episodes stay the same, it will start to feel quicker and more exciting as the different "Heroes" start spiraling towards each other. Hiro and Ando haven't consulted their comic for a while, so will they beeline for New York, or Texas? Who will cross paths with who first? The longer they keep them separated, while having different ones meet up temporarily, the more rising action they will give us. Think of it like a watch spring, the more you wind it, the tighter it gets, and the closer it gets to bursting (though I hope that you don't wind your pocket watches too tightly; they aren't easy to get fixed. But you get my point). We are all waiting for the spring to be sprung, and likely in a big way. The longer they have these characters paths twist around each other, the tighter we'll feel it in our chests. And once they are all together, and the action begins, we will feel it flowing through us like ambrosia. Ok, so my poetics just took over for a second, but again, I think you all know what I mean.

I think the writers and creators know what the are doing. The episodes seem slow if you are looking for flashy effects, but the series isn't about super powers. This series is about the people who have super powers. I don't expect a lot of effects in most episodes, the flash is great but the substance is what will keep the public coming back for more.

Of course I, like most superhero freaks, do love effects.

My "are" wasn't meant to truly represent the present tense as it actually exists, but rather how the creators _are_ feeling at this point in the show. They are good at crafting a story--and they've obviously discussed much of it--which is why we have an episode like this, rather than the heart-popping page-turner it had been.

Honestly, I hope Sylar's murders and/or impressions get even darker. I really like the trail he's leaving behind. And the implications make the story less cut and dry--it's really fun to wonder just what Sylar's all about, given what we've seen so far.

Mr. Wed, I like your analysis of the show thus far. I think that you have hit upon some very interesting ideas there.

As for Isaac, it looks like we'll be seeing more of him and HRG in the next two episodes. Maybe all cleaned up and detoxed.

I love this show, so, so much, and I too am looking forward to seeing where Sylar goes next, and what will be revealed shortly.

-darin