Heroes
NBC, Monday, 9PM
“Eris Quod Sum”
Written by Jesse Alexander
Directed by Jeannot Szwarc
Warning: this review contains some spoilers. If you’d rather not know what the story is going to include, bookmark this page and read it after viewing.
Heroes gets it right with the episode “Eris Quod Sum” by hitting the sweet spot between action, story building, and character development. This is the type of episode that built Heroes‘ reputation during season one and it’s the type of episode that can put the show back on top.
“Eris Quod Sum” begins innocently enough with Hiro being told that he must choose his path or it will be chosen for him. Sadly, Hiro has been put on the sidelines with a slow, clunky storyline and choices that are out of character for him. However, we finally get a glimpse that the Hiro we know and love may be returning to the fold. Rather than risking the past by traveling back in time to discover the weaknesses of his enemies, he has taken another route. This seems to be a smart choice and much more in keeping with his character that any point in the season so far.
The real fun begins when Peter wakes up handcuffed to a gurney. His father, Arthur Petrelli, super villain extraordinaire, sits patiently reading a book while Peter sleeps. Upon waking, Peter swears he will stop his father at all costs. A threat to which Arthur responds, “Son, until you change that attitude, you’re grounded.” From his every action, Arthur demonstrates that he is a bad man who is out to serve his own ends no matter the cost to others. The only exception appears to be where his sons are involved, and even there his motives are not entirely clear.
Of all the new characters introduced in season three, Arthur Petrelli is the most valuable addition. His introduction feels a little tardy since his late appearance forced some of the storylines to be artificially prolonged. However, the machinations of the writers are finally bearing fruit. Arthur’s presence connects all of the threads in one way or another, bringing everyone together. As a result, past alliances are broken, new relationships are formed, and the definition of what makes a hero will be tested. This is the type of writing that makes Heroes a great show to watch.
In addition to the creative storytelling in this episode, the characters have much wittier lines that allow their characters to express humor—something that was sorely missing from previous episodes. The addition of humor lightens the darker scenes, giving more depth to the characters and their stories. This is an excellent change from the persistent doom and gloom feeling of previous episodes, and allows the show to not take itself too seriously.
With the introduction of a super villain who makes Sylar look like a puppy dog, there is finally something at stake for all of the central characters, a change that will hopefully draw the audience back to the show. As a result of the shifting power structure, Sylar has the opportunity for real change. All he has ever wanted was to feel loved and accepted for who he was, and he seemed to find that need fulfilled by his mother, Angela Petrelli. However, when he meets his father, that knowledge is put in doubt, as Arthur provides a darker version of why Sylar was put up for adoption—information that has yet to be proven as true. The one thing Sylar learns for certain is that he and Peter have a connection, and that Peter risked his life to save Sylar from their father. In turn, Sylar saves Peter by using his power to throw his brother through a plate glass window, seven stories down to the pavement, without letting him die from the fall. Although it’s not explicitly stated, both Peter and Arthur suspect that Sylar cushioned Peter’s fall.
Other storylines are also coming together. For instance, Matt and Daphne’s relationship takes an interesting turn. Suspecting that Matt read Daphne’s mind and chose to stay away from the Pinehurst group, Arthur kills Matt’s father in order to make Daphne realize she is next on the chopping block if she doesn’t convince Matt to come to Pinehurst. The scene continues with Daphne going to Matt to kill him, but instead they hatch a scheme to make it look as if Knox kills them both. However, Daphne’s secretive call to Pinehurst reveals that this is all part of Arthur’s larger plan, which has yet to be revealed. There is a lot more going on beneath the surface of this scene that remains unseen, and it should provide interesting fodder for future episodes. Is Matt’s father really dead? Does Matt know it was all just a big scheme? Is he going along with it to see how it plays out? Will Matt and Daphne find love between all of the lies they are weaving? What is it that Arthur has over Daphne that makes her do whatever he says?
There are also quite a few season three themes that are beginning to resonate in this episode. The most powerful scene echoes back to the power-packed first episode of the season. The theme of shifting loyalties has been strengthened to the point that former enemies are able to find common ground, forming new alliances. Claire and Elle join forces and go to Pinehurst. Peter and Sylar come to an unspoken agreement regarding where they stand with each other. Suresh and Arthur Petrelli join forces to produce the perfect power-giving serum. Matt and Daphne work to keep him safe—at least on the surface of things. The only major character that seems stuck in limbo is Hiro. He continues to be the weakest character in the show, which is out of character and needs to be resolved soon in order to keep his storyline credible. Hopefully, the next episode will put Hiro back into hero status.
The lines are being redrawn and the characters are shifting sides in ways that have altered what we were led to expect during our peeks into the future. Although we may know in generalities what is coming, the future is not set in stone, because Future Peter caused enough change to alter the outcome before being killed by Future Claire. With the characters in place, Heroes season three is finally hitting pay dirt, and has the potential to finish the season with a bang. Heroes is a show to keep your eye on, since it’s likely to provide a “can’t miss” finale, especially if “Eris Quod Sum” is any indication of what the future episodes will hold.