I enjoyed this episode much more than the last two, and it seems to me that the main reason is the lack of Nikki, DL, and Micah. The last few have been really heavy with their plot lines, and I just wasn't as excited by the show as I had been in the beginning.
However, with this episode, it was like I was watching the pilot again. I was completely drawn in by it and the time flew by. I guess this means I'm an official Nikki hater, kind of sad.
Anybody else feel similar?

very much so, and it's not that i HATE the nikki/dl/micah storyline or the characters... I just want them to quit stalling and build on the rest... we still dont know for shure EXACTLY what Peter can do (which annoys the hell out of me because we pretty much know what everyone else can do and they leave peter in the dark), or what's going on w/ Mohinder..

maybe I'm upset about the lack of Peter time because I sympathize with him more than any other character... *shurgs*

Don't mind Nikki, but like it better when they show multiple storylines like they did tonight.

And agree, it's the fastest hour of the week!

If you're gonna bash Niki, atleast spell her name right

Ditto
The official Niki/Jessica defender on 9thwonders.com!

I don't mind DL and Micah, but Niki just doesn't seem to fit; I just can't see her ever really being a "hero." Jessica is just too vicious for Niki to let her out.

I'm with you in the same boat. Niki is starting to annoy me.

dude your still spelling her name wrong. 1 "k".

and yeah there was a lack of niki/dl/micah. and because of that (and the fact that niki becomes some sort of bounty hunter?) makes me wonder what happens between that family. and how they will fit in and join up with the otehr heroes

I'm not bashing Nikki, I am making a simple observation that I liked this episode much better than the last few which happened to be very Nikki heavy. I'm not saying people who like Nikki are wrong or stupid, she just doesn't appeal to me as a character.

Sorry, about the spelling...but it's just fueling my hatred for her.

Just cause the show is called Heroes, doesn't mean all the people with crazy powers will become Heroes... Sylar has powers and, so far, seems to be a bad guy...

I have to agree.

The lack of Ali Larter's face, voice and acting make for a good episode.

the complete lack of her annoying brat kid was a genuine relief

Have to admit that I am not a big NiKi fan, and I think that sooner or later we will realize she is not on the side of good, right or justice.
I realize that she is supposed to be a tragic character in some ways, having to "sell" her body to take care of her son, but I just haven't found her to be sympathetic yet.
All in all, I enjoyed this episode more than most, and probably because it featured Hiro! more than most have.
Gotta love those wacky Japanese!

I hate to agree, but I'm a Niki hater too. I despise Jessica, but not in the same way I despise a good villain, but in a genuine deep-rooted apathy for her plight, and the fact that it's constant resurfacing steals time from my life. I like the Micah character, and when he's not in constant panic mode, the DL character is nifty, but they and we would be better off if Niki got a Sylarbotomy.

why you guys hating on niki?

I missed her this week micah more so we see his power last week then this week nothing.

No sexy niki makes me sad but despite that this episode was GREAT!

I don't like niki so much i think she's a good actress and her storyline is kinda intersting but there's something about her that doesn't appeal to me as much as the other characters but maybe we're not suppose to like her. I like her son though I think that kid ws on my wife & kids and I think he's a good actor.

Yes, very happy no Niki this episode.

You took the words straight out of my mouth!

Can we really assume she has a power? It just looks like an alternate personality to me.

It's not that I dislike Nikki/DL/Micah and their story, but it's been going on for waaayyy too long and it's a relief to focus on some other characters for a change. This episode felt fresh and very engaging. I was totally digging it.

Whatever just admit it you're a Niki hater. The first few episodes she only got a few minutes here and there while the other characters were developed more. She finally got an episode where it was mostly her (just like almost every other hero has had) and we have people complaining. Now it balances out and she's not in this episode at all (just like with about every other hero) and now this episode was so much better. I mean look at the evidence, you don't like Niki.

I on the other hand enjoyed Niki b/c she's my fav out the bunch (followed very closely by Hiro). To be honest I've enjoyed every episode to date, some more than others of course with next week's probably being the best.

I would say im more of a micah/ dl hater than a niki, Nikis character seems to have a pretty stupid power (like some sort of mental issue) and the only real proof they give us that shes not insane is that jessica has a tattoo. Im interested in her but man i hate spending almost a whole ep on her and getting nothing out of it,WASTE OF TIME

I see that Jessica is going to be coming after some people tonight while they're sleeping.

I lovish my Nikica and I missed them dearly this week. It was like an empty void, but the episode was GREAT 'cause I was digging Charlie, BUT CRAZY Sylar went and killed her! She could have gave Nikica a run for their money and possivbly been a favorite, but the poor dear was killed. :-(

But yeah, I missed Nikica this week, but I TOTALLY get that there needed to be room for other story lines...like the tragic one of sweet Charlie. :-D

But yall better be nice to Nikica, or else someones getting ripped in half tonight!

I just don't understand Micah. For a "genius", he doesn't really seem to be very perceptive to what's happening around him...

whatever Niki is involved in is boring

I don't hate the character of Niki, but her storyline has been dragging a bit IMHO. The best use of her was Linderman blackmailing her to sleep with Nathan, because that seemed to move the plot along.

For the most part, the Niki/Jessica story looks more like a bad movie of the week. It doesn't need to be, but that's what they're doing with it. It took 7 weeks to even get Jessica's name out on the show. It's an ok storyline, but they need to speed it up.

Tom

While I haven't been the biggest fan of how slowly some of the Niki/Jessica storylines have played out, I will say that I'm at least interested in her character.

As for the question of her having any powers at all, I don't think that Niki has enough power behind her to have any hope of flinging DL across as room like Jessica did.

With all of the split personality issues, even including the anger and loss of control in one form, I don't think it's ridiculous to think that Niki/Jessica could become a hero eventually. Some control would be appreciated, but I don't think we can assume that she's going to be a villain.

I mean, it's rather clear where some of this character's inspiration had to come from. "JESSICA SMASH," anyone?

I have to agree that their storyline slows things down. As for Niki/Jessica she reminds me of some cases in my h.s. psych class we studied. Without the slight physical transformation of the tattoo I'd think (and have thought) that her alter ego just has more adrenaline than regular Niki. Not so much like the Hulk.
As for her being good/bad its hard to tell. But if Jessica is willing to set DL (her OWN husband) up to steal 2 million dollars then I don't think she'd be good. Jessica IS Niki's superpower and Jessica is the one who wanted power and money. Otherwise if it was a case of 'my husband is into some bad drug/gang dealings and I want to get out' Niki could have just left DL. Instead she messed him over by framing him for killing his friends and stealing 2 million dollars. Huh doesn't sound like a hero to me.

Those of us who are not Niki-haters need to band together. I am glad to say that at least people on this thread are giving reasons for disliking her besides thinking she is a whore like they all did in the past. I think the past hatin-on-Niki threads were all women who were threatened by her power and jealous of her body.

I have to admit, I think the Niki storyline isn't so good yet, but it has potential. Actually, I don't like Petrelli vs. Petrelli story line either. It seems to me that the family based sotry lines are sort of the least interesting, maybe because they are less epic.

With Peter, Hiro, Chearleader, HRGG, Isaac, Eden, we are already in "the big story" mode, with Niki, her hubby, her kid, and to a lesser extent Nathan, we are still sort of stuck in interpersonal limbo. Its like they are the ones that haven't yet "groked" that they are more than just "oddities" and we wisht hey would get on with it and join the big plot.

How much adrenaline does it take to rip people in half?

For my $0.02...I like Niki; she's not my favorite, but I like her (Matt and Peter...not so much). I find it interesting how the writers have given us a character (Nathan's another one) who isn't especially likeable, but might still be heroic.

Clearly, this show asks us to think about what we ultimately believe about good and evil. There are superheroes that kill (Batman, Punisher, et al.) and those who are more in the knight-in-shining-armor mode (a la Superman). Ordinary people with ordinary problems (just like we all go through...single parents, unfaithful spouses, campaign bribes from mob bosses...) suddenly find their lives more complicated. Hiro's my favorite of them all, but you'd better believe that he'll be losing that Mighty Mouse attitude of his soon.

I think that's what a lot of people don't like about Niki...her character is nowhere near as black-and-white as we're accustomed to our heroes being. But yeah...speed up her storyline just a tad, and get her butt (yowza) to Texas!

I don't agree with you at all. I missed Niki so much because she is my favorite character and I would have liked to see what happened to her and Micah but I guess we're going to see that on Monday. At least I hope so.

I'm unsure why but I was glad to have a break from Niki too. I guess if she were more involved with the cheerleader saving storyline I'd like her more.I like Ali Larters acting as Jessica less so with Niki

My husband finds her too whiny, and says she never closes her mouth.He's even started calling her "Jessica Rabbit", but not for the flattering reasons

Off topic - I did miss the Petrelli Brothers, I love their chemistry and the plotline tie in with Hiro and Isaac


Roll on Next Week!

Not true. It seems pretty sure at this point that he's a siphon of some kind. He flies when he's near Nathan, and goes into a painting trance when near Issac.

No?

Back to the topic; I can't deny that the Niki line is divergent from the main story (stylistically different too), but I guess I'm not as affected by it as others seem to be. Frankly I'm really interested to see if the trio works things out and become a team (probably doubtful), or ... whatever. I just believe that it'll end up somewhere good.

i pretty much loved that Niki/DL/Micah weren't in this episode they come off as a scifi flavored lifetime movie of the week to me.. plus i can't stand that that she framed DL, as he seems to be the better parent. and well we are all ready to see save the cheerleader, and save the world, and well thier story doesnt seem to have any appearent tie ins like the petrelli bros. personally if they dropped her charactor i dont think anyone would notice.

Then you haven't been paying attention. My post right before yours mentions that I'm interested in 'em.

I love Niki and Jessica (and Mika and DL are cool) but I am glad for an episode with neither her and Peter(and bearly any Claire) because the show seems to share out the storylines equaly compared to say "lost" where Jack and Locke are constantly there and Claire only pops up every now or then. I like the way Heroes ballences it out a little more.

well okay after time i don't think people would care she just isn that exciting... mostly that is her power's fault or well how it's displayed, if it was a full change in appearance ( ie have a complete differant actor play her alter ego) or a full "hulk" like change then ya i'd say right on, but a tattoo? thats just kinda sad

right now she just has a muliple personality disorder... yawn

heck with a diff actress playing her alterego... we could of had alot of fun going... "omg they are the same person!"

I like Nikki's storyline. I like Jessica and am curious to see how far she'll go. There are no rules with her and so that, if the writers are smart, means it's no holds barred with her.

The whole Peter and Simone storyline on the other hand: zzzzzz.'


x

Up until now, "Seven Minutes To Midnight" was the episode I enjoyed the least. I wonder why.