Tv Shows I'm Watching - Heroes (Episode 20)

Episode 20 - Five Years Gone - **** out of 4

After last week's so-so episode, Five Years Gone puts Heroes back on top with a suspenseful episode filled with all sorts of wonderful moments, real conflict, and most importantly, a sense of fun.

Hiro and Ando travel five years into the future and discover that the world, after New York exploded, is a terrifying place for superheroes. Most of the heroes we have been following have not ended up in good places. Matt Parkman has become a ruthless government agent, Future Hiro is a bitter shell of a man, Nathan is president, Claire's a brunette, and worst of all...Peter Petrelli is in a relationship with Nikki!!! Horrifying.

So, the writers throw in good natured Ando and Hiro and let them completely make a mess of everything.

The reason this episode works so well is that every plotline is connected in one way or another, and as the episode reaches it's frantic conclusion, everything collides in an exciting climax. Unlike many episodes where some characters are given nothing to do but fix bathroom leaks (Yes Matt Parkman, I'm still bitter about that one!), everyone has an important role to play in this complex 45 minute plotline. Alright, Nikki really just does a strip tease, but seriously, that's the most interesting her character has been for a long time.

What's most fascinating is how we now seem to understand these characters even more by looking at what they could become in the future. Matt Parkman has occasionally stepped on the other side of the law (what with that whole diamond thing), but his future self is a cold blooded killer. Suresh may not be the moral compass he appears to be. Even good natured Hiro may have a more bloodthirsty side to him. How many of these character traits will be revealed in upcoming episodes? It's just one of the intriguing questions posed by this episode.

Also, by taking the show into the future, the writers actually manage to add some immediacy to the whole New York is going to blow up storyline as Hiro uncovers (thanks to Isaac) his true purpose in the scheme of things.

My one big complaint has to do with a small letdown in the last ten minutes. Hiro and Peter confront a lobby full of guards, talk a bunch of fighting words, and promise some hard hitting action that we haven't seen on Heroes before. Just as it's about to get really interesting....we cut away.....only to come back at the VERY END of the fight. I know Heroes isn't an action show, but please don't offer such a tantalizing setup if you aren't going to provide any payoff. My only hope is that they are saving the good stuff for the last couple of episodes and didn't want to ruin it too early.

So, overall one of the best episodes of the season!