(1) I am extremely satisfied that the Petrelli and the Niki/D.L. storylines were ignored, if only for one episode. I know that Peter is loved here on 9th Wonders, but I myself am the least interested in those two stories specifically. I'm sure they'll be back next week, but hey, it's a cycle.

(2) Anyone else happy there'll be no more SAVE THE CHEERLEADER SAVE THE WORLD after this week (I hope)? I sure am. That weird whispering/semi-seductive subliminal picture of Claire that flashes in the ads and teasers makes my brain itch. And not the good brain itch, like a Sudoku. The bad brain itch.

Yes I can see your point about some characters being more interesting - and they keep raising new plotlines and new characters!
But I am going to give the writers the opportunity to really go somewhere with the characters we don't like as much. I am not into the Niki story as much as the others - but part of that is not really understanding her powers as much as I do the others. Her character is weird. But I reckon we'll come to really enjoy her story.

I personally love the Peter storyline, but not the Niki one. I'm very glad that Peter is finally going to save the cheerleader; it will let the show move further along.

Move along to saving the world.

I think all of the first season will be background for true afficianados...like X-Files, or any great serial, we have to get to know the characters, their flaws, their background before we really start to care for them and things really get going. Frankly, I think the show is doing extremely well for generating so many fans and buzz so early...

Plus, even though this is "comic book science fiction," I really want to believe (like the X-Files, etc.) that these could be real characters, and all of this backstory and pathos works for me. It would be easy to go one-dimensional fantasy, but the producers/writers chose to go real...and these characters are multidimensional, and not just because they have powers.

More Heroes!

And for some reason -- along the lines of the original post -- I really wasn't a big fan of Nathan. But for some reason I'm really drawn to the mystery surrounding why he's the most obstinate about using/recognizing his power. Even though he seems the most "one dimensional" -- I have to remind myself, "That's his job, he's in the public eye, he has to be a smiling clone," -- I think it's an incredible acting job. He has to "act" act fakey. Can't wait to see him in his more dramatic scenes.

More Nathan!

I like the Petrelli storyline just fine.

And I like the Nikki storyline. I just don't like Ali Larter as an actress. I don't particularly like the kid who plays Micah either. It's 2006, no kid has a jheri curl now-a-days! I think DL is pretty cool and the actor that plays DL and the actor that plays Micah work a lot better with eachother than either of them do with Ali Larter. They need to get her to an acting coach... quick. And possibly get her some plastic surgery for her harsh grill.

I'm actually hoping they wind up having her "Hulk out" or turn into some beast, because it would mean less Ali Larter blubbering and more clobberin' time.

I must say I don't understand this. I think Leonard Roberts is not convincing while Ali Larter is doing a great job playing a Jekyll and Hyde character. I mean, she has to switch from one character to another in just seconds and I'm convinced. Whereas DL is just DL and I don't see a lot of acting there. I don't know this guy or anything he has done (no, I've never seen Buffy...). The kid playing Micah is just a kid, but I don't think he is that bad.

I like all storylines, but I found Matt's to be a bit boring so far, but it's shaping up. Mohinder/Eden was at least giving us clues, but this story is getting more interesting now with both of them heading their separate ways for the time being.

This is my first post, so go easy on me when I say that I think all the storylines so far have been interesting in some way. I agree that the Niki storyline is probably my least favorite, but once I see more of where its going, I think it will become more interesting. She can't chase DL forever.

I personally like it when the show kind of focuses on one or two storylines at once. I would much prefer if next weeks episode focuses specifically on Claire, Peter, and the confrontation with Sylar, and most likely HRG, Eden, and Isaac. Hiros storyline, for example, seems to take place more during "6 Months Ago," so should not be brought back up utnil then.

I just feel that when they focus like this, it makes the episode much stronger as a whole, because I become more invested in the characters and feel like theyve developed signifigantly.