I finally got my hands on a copy of the Heroes season finale (1x23, "How to Stop an Exploding Man") and tried watching it while having a phone conversation with

necromage who's halfway across the country. Distance means nothing!

So, as far as season finales go for a foundling series, I enjoyed it, although it felt a bit lacking. Maybe I can attribute this to all the comms I've been following where the excitement's been building during these last few weeks?

I liked a lot, I laughed even more and still found things to gripe about. Full reaction, questions and discussion beneath the cut, which contains heavy spoilers.

I'm all for the Mylar, but from a storytelling POV, I gnash my teeth at the age-old dilemma of THE HEROES NOT DOUBLE-CHECKING THAT THE BAD MAN'S BEEN PUT DOWN. I was (in full-non-Mylar-viewer mode) thinking, yes, Claire you have the gun now pump one into Sylar on your way to Peter if you want to mitigate the second apocalypse once Peter's gone... alas, she was distracted with her exploding uncle.

Sylar lives anyway. The sewer shot and unconfirmed wiki reports tell us so (they have to elaborate on Sylar's brain-eating technique! Come on!). I laughed so hard when Sylar performed Darth Vader's choke hold on Peter (you must use the force!). "Peter, where's your Obi-Wan? Obi-Wan will save you!" I suppose if I was going to mangle someone with my telekinesis, I'd take a note from Anakin's book on villainy.

For all Hiro's training, he just couldn't go for Sylar's heart? I ♥ you, Hiro. You so badass. Feudal Japan, FTW! Yes. You tap that, Hero. I bet Kensei was a man with abilities (unless we're supposed to believe evolution only became apparent in the 20th Century, which, I think speaks ill of evolutionary thery).

aelora seems convinced that Kensei is, in fact, Nakamura-sama (i.e. Hiro's father), but I can't get a good look at Kensei's eyes to confirm or deny this. But if that was true? Ha! George Takei cannot contain much more awesome.

I haven't liked Jessica/Niki much throughout this series, but I really loved their reconciliation and her and D.L.'s showdown with Linderman -- D.L. finally used his power in the killing fashion I'd been waiting to see. Although Linderman himself was such an anti-climax.

Can anyone clarify for me exactly what Niki's power was? Was it some sort of evolution of twins, advancing that 'psychic or intuitive link' that twins are so often reported to share? Except they can jump bodies and literally share a body and headspace? Do you think it could it work in the same fashion when they were alive? Up until I learned Jessica was a real twin, I thought Niki's power was schizophrenic chainsaw massacre. Turns out she just has Xena strength and a twin devil on her shoulder.

Among my favourite moments was when Micah and Molly met ("Awesome, other kid my age with cool ability!") and then D.L. and Niki were sheltering them after the BOOM. Ooh, other surrogate family plot bunnies! But Mohinder is still Molly's guardian. I think there can be no firmer affirmation that Molly's favourite people are Matt and Mohinder, though I'm getting a little tired of Molly telling people, "You're my hero!" Now, if only I 'shipped these two men, we could have a different happy family.

I'm all about the family. And the 'splosions. That was a nice 'splosion, although I was wondering about atmospheric pollution with radiation at the time.

Further on the topic about exploding men -- I never bought the pitch that when Ted or Peter went nuclear it'd kill them (i.e. actually make them explode), rather that they'd just discharge, wreak havoc, but live. Nathan and Peter could so live through that explosion, that is, as long as Nathan flew away fast enough once getting Peter to altitude. Peter can fly/fall back to earth anyway, that was his first sponged ability.

I'm not sure how much Heroes is suggesting it will undo of the suggested future in Five Years Gone. I'm sure Matt will live.

How did you like the season finale?

Your Score: Micah Sanders

You scored 66 Idealism, 29 Nonconformity, 54 Nerdiness

Can we play Scrabble tonight?
Congratulations, you're Micah Sanders! You're good-natured, intelligent, perceptive, and naturally inclined toward technology. You're also quite innocent and loving. You've got a fondness for computers and Scrabble.

Your best quality: You're extremely perceptive
Your worst quality: You can be a little demanding at times

Link: The Heroes Personality Test written by freedomdegrees on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

Why, yes, I *do* love Scrabble. [squishes Micah]