Tv Shows I'm Watching - Heroes (Episode 14)

Episode 14 - Distractions - **1/2 out of 4

As if the plot needed to move at a more glacial pace, we are now given an episode entitled Distractions. So, while the destruction of New York is fast approaching everyone decides to deal with their own distractions: family, love, angst. Claire meets her birth mother, Hiro argues with his father over the family business, and Isaac and Simone rekindle a little of that romance I never bothered to mention before because it was (and still is) boring. Oh, and Peter learns valuable life lessons from the angry invisible man.

Fortunately, Sylar is back, and he has a rather suspenseful encounter with Claire’s adoptive mother. It’s amazing how much the show benefits by having him back in the ring. Since nobody seems to care that much about New York being destroyed, these recent episodes have suffered from a severe lack of tension…and conflict. Sylar certainly adds conflict, and as Claire’s adoptive mother slowly realizes what he is capable of, Heroes provides some suspense not seen since the “Save the Cheerleader, Save the World” episodes.

As for George Takei’s much touted cameo as Hiro’s father; well it’s pretty disappointing in this episode. Takei is okay, but his role of a hard-edged Japanese businessman is nothing we haven’t seen in numerous previous movies. I’m hoping there are future plans to bring him back so that we can see more than just a stern business face.

So – still slumping, but getting better.