Current mood:

pleased

This week's "Heroes"
I didn't get to watch this week's "Heroes" episode until yesterday, but it was worth the wait. I mentioned previously that the slower, more gradual buildup of plot this season has been working better for me than past story arcs' pacing. Well, this episode combined the slower pace with a couple of great plot twists. Very effective!

I really think focusing only on 2-3 of the main cast each episode is working much better. We see more story development and get a better feel for what's going on that way.

Things I liked in this episode:

1) Mean Ernie Hudson! Ernie Hudson, like bacon, serves only to improve things!
2) Confused Sylar is much more entertaining to watch than Invisible Parkman Brain Sylar.
3) Emma is a great character, and a welcome change of pace from the other cast members. I love all the music/color/sequences, and enjoy her interaction with Peter.
4) The Claire mystery twist was great. Well done for not following the expected route, Heroes writers! And I have to admit, I really like Gretchen. She cracks me up. More of the low-key character development moments is really, really, really improving this season. Oh, and Danko's STILL dead! Hurray!!!!!
5) The carnival gets better and better. I'm kicking myself for not getting the "Something Wicked This Way Comes" parallels sooner. This episode slapped me in the face with it. Great stuff.

Things I didn't like about this episode:
1) Hmmmm.....the psychiatrist helping Sylar seemed mainly motivated by plot rather than any logical or emotional reason. And I liked the psychiatrist character, especially sniping with Ernie Hudson. (Yay Ernie!). It's just it felt like, "Well, I know you are a brain-eating serial killer...but I will help you because I feel sorry for you and we can't move the story forward unless you escape." Phooey.

Just some random Tanuki observations:
1) Why is it I enjoy the show so much more when Ali Larter isn't making apperances?
2) I do kind of miss Micah and Mohinder, though. Mohinder's character has been badly misused in previous seasons by the writers, but I really like him nonetheless.
3) The carnival KEEPS GETTING CREEPIER! With waffles! Exactly as it should!
4) I'm realizing I really am not enjoying the Parkman/Snarky Invisible Sylar scenes. I'm sick of both snarky Sylar and poor-me-I'm-misunderstood Sylar. Let's stick with Confused Sylar for a while, he's infinitely more tolerable.