How refreshing! An episode that takes the time to focus on one story plot.
Picking up where the last episode ended, we find Mohinder Suresh (Sendhil Ramamurthy), Peter Petrelli (Mino Ventimiglia) and Matt Parkman (Greg Grunberg) carting Noah Bennet (Jack Coleman) off to a local hotel for a special interrogation.
The trio want to know who is behind this plan to round up all people with powers so they can put a stop to it. Therefore, Matt is going inside HRG's drugged mind to pick up memories.
The first memory is from five weeks ago. HRG meets with Angela Petrelli (Cristine Rose) at a park bench. HRG wants to continue the mission of The Company, but Angela says no. She gives him a severance package, a gold watch and some advice to spend time with his family.
Memory #2: HRG is not adjusting to retirement well. He's working on crossword puzzles and getting bored. There is a knock on the door. It is Nathan Petrelli (Adrian Pasdar). He wants HRG to join him on his new project. HRG agrees because he partially agrees with the mission, and because he wants to keep Claire safe.
As Matt peels back the layers of memory, we learn that the Hunter (Zeljko Ivanek) does not trust HRG. He feels that HRG is not properly focused on the mission because of his parental feelings for Claire.
We also learn that HRG has stored all (most?) of the files and weapons he had access to from The Company in a storage locker.
Meanwhile, Mohinder is having second thoughts about the interrogation. It is obviously painful and he feels that two wrongs don't make it right. But Matt is a man on a mission, and they start bickering about it. Peter takes the combination to the storage locker from Matt and flies off to see what he can find.
Of course, The Hunter has the place under surveillance. In come the commandos, but Peter is able to fly away anyway.
Meanwhile, Matt has uncovered a memory where HRG approached Mohinder to join him in his new mission. Matt and Mohinder get in a fight -- why didn't he warn them?
While they are fighting, HRG escapes. But Peter finds him and brings him back. But now they are under pressure. The commandos probably know where they are and are on their way.
That's when HRG tells them that Daphne is still alive. Matt confirms this by uncovering the memory of HRG injecting her IV with something to keep her under sedation.
Now that they know the Hunter is behind their troubles, Peter flies off to confront him. Mohinder tries to fend off the commandos while Matt continues to grill HRG about Daphne.
In the end, Mohinder is captured. So is Matt, but Peter rescues him. Peter threatens to kill the Hunter but is talked down by Nathan (raising suspicion in the Hunter's mind -- how did Nathan get there so fast?). The Hunter and HRG have what probably passes for a heart-to-heart talk for the Hunter. He is beginning to trust HRG and suggests they may have to complete the mission even in ways that Nathan disapproves.
As the Hunter drives away, HRG turns and walks up to a park bench where Angela Petrelli is waiting. She warns him not to underestimate the Hunter (whose name is Danko, by they way). I guess the spirit of The Company has risen from the ashes.
The episode closes with Matt and Peter back at Issac's loft. Matt is in a trance and finishing up the last of a string of paintings. He has painted images of himself wearing a vest of explosives and, upon the floor, is a large painting of Washington, DC, blowing up.
What Worked
The episode's focus on a single story line gave the story much more time to gel and lent a certain intensity to the plot.
I also enjoyed the use of black and white photography for the memories -- it helped remind you this was a memory (which can be false) and not a flash back. There is a seed of doubt as to how much of those memories were pure truth. Not only did Mohinder bring the concept up during one of the arguments, but the connection between Angela and Noah revealed near the end suggests that not all the truths were uncovered.
What Didn't Work
Honestly, this was such a strong episode, I find it difficult to come up with something that didn't work. I supposed the reveal of Daphne was a little off. She was brought in on a gurney, obviously afraid and in pain. But why wasn't she sedated? Surely they knew she was a person with powers and protocol has been to shove that drug tube up their nose upon capture. Yeah, a minor detail, but I had to come up with something!
Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due
"Trust and Blood" was written by Christopher Zatta, Joe Pokaski and Aron Eli Coleite, and directed by Seith Mann. "Heroes" airs on NBC, Mondays at 9 p.m. ET.
About the Author:
Carma Spence-Pothitt is a columnist and writer for Airlock Alpha and the BlipNetwork. She has been a science-fiction and fantasy fan since childhood, and runs two Web sites of her own that are focused on genre topics. She currently lives in Phoenix.