Pass/Fail

To be quite honest, I didn't really like this episode... at first. The teasers were that of Sylar becoming a softy and telling Claire he doesn't want to be alone. I know that all good characters need to grow and be round by definition, but this all seemed forced and well, a little cheap.

Sylar can't kill as we found out two episodes ago, so he goes to Claire for guidance. He tricks her into meeting him for a study group at college and Puppetmasters her into listening to him. He describes their similarities and says that they are very much the same. He proceeds to want to find out what makes her tick by using Lydia's powers, and the kiss we all saw was just a way to use those powers.

"Her methods were a little hyper-erotic, but..." Whatever. He kisses her and calls her out on building walls between herself and others. He says that she uses her "specialness" as an excuse never to dive into a relationship. She is an invincible girl, yet is the most afraid to be vulnerable or accessible. He says that she, like him, will end up alone if she doesn't change her ways.

Claire stabs Sylar in the eye with a pencil and runs to Gretchen who she found out is tied up in their dorm. She apologizes for everything and they have a cute moment while hiding from Sylar where she discloses her insecurities. She's finally opening up to Gretchen when it turns out that it was Sylar all along. He morphs back into himself and says "That wasn't so hard?" and then just walks out of her life. He just..... he what?

Claire is stunned, but manages to find the real Gretchen and tries for round 2 of apologies and disclosure. They end up in bed together smiling and laughing with candles, so the chat had a positive effect on her life. Thanks.... Sylar......??????

Normally I wouldn't buy the fact that Sylar got a little action, a little clarity, a little cat-n-mouse, and called it a night. That's just not him. But what this season is trying to show us is that he will forever have a little bit of Nathan inside of him. He will always have that good American boy that wants to fight off his homicidal urges and do the right thing. even though he still wants to be evil and powerful, he is curious as to how it's all going to end. Will he end up alone? Will no one mourn his death, like Hiro told him? I guess only time will tell, dear Gabriel....

And speaking of time, we find ourselves at Noah's apartment where I was all ready for a Super-raid on Samuel's carnival by Mohinder, Ando, and Hiro. What happens instead? Mohinder opts out after building a compass because he "made a promise to a girl". Oh my gosh, Mohinder. Be a man. You've already been gone for over 8 weeks. What's another 8 weeks on top of that? She'll understand, and if not... whatever. He leaves and tells Noah that he still has Ando and Hiro to work the compass.

Hiro passes out quickly after Mohinder leaves, jinxing the doctor's words. Ando rushes to his side, and the scene cuts to a hospital where they take him into emergency surgery. The doctors talk about how dangerous this operation is, and Ando watches through the glass as he hopes his friend will make it through.

Hiro wakes up from his fainting spell and finds himself in the Burnt Toast Diner. His dead father, the other waitress that worked with Charlie, Samuel's Grandfather Friend, and Adam Monroe are all there with him. His father is in his Judge robes and makes no kind reference to him at all, forcing him to call him "Your honor". Adam is prosecuting Hiro, and presents Kaito with the case of "The People vs. Hiro Nakamura". Although this is a council of mostly dead people, they are judging whether or not Hiro has used his powers for personal gain... hence the title "Pass/Fail".

Hiro demands a lawyer, and Ando shows up with a lopsided briefcase to defend his best friend against Kensei. Quite humorous, but very symbolic. No one has ever been there for Hiro like Ando has, especially in the reality of the moment as he watches his friend fight for his life.

Monroe brings several witnesses to the stand such as preteen versions of Ando and Kim, an attempt to reach Charlie, and even Sylar. Ando and Monroe banter back and forth while Kaito uses a sugar dispenser as an anvil. Great imagery. What a perfect purgatory comparison. Hiro is outraged at the reactions of his witnesses, and Ando eventually puts him on the stand. He gives a heroic speech about his code, but is still convicted of using his powers selfishly.

He goes into the hallway with all of his judges and jury members following him, and walks towards the light. He pauses for a moment and then looks back at his father. He tells him that he wants to change his plea to guilty. He says that if he is going to go out, he is going to do it heroically. That's the Hiro we all know and love.

Kaito smiles and give his son a sword. Everyone leaves except for Kensei, and the two of them battle it out in a white room. The scene cuts from the epic battle between Hiro and his once-idol to images of resuscitation in the hospital. Ando watches intently and tells Hiro to fight. he tells him that he is a hero, and that the Hiro he knows would never give up. He tells him he has seen him bend the fabric of space and time, and that he cannot die. Very moving stuff, especially as it is voiced over while Hiro fights. I love the Ando/Hiro dynamic.

Hiro ends up beating Kensei, and walks towards the light very slowly. He is pale and cold, and sees the figure of his mother come to shape. She is dressed in a kimono, and looks as beautiful as she did when he saw her before she died. Hiro tells his mother that he is ready to go now, but she tells him that he is not finished. She tells him that she is there to heal him, and that he has much to do. She kisses his forehead and Hiro wakes up in the hospital, alive on the operation table. I kind of saw this coming, but it was still gripping and heartfelt.

Meanwhile at the carnival, Vanessa wakes up to a new dress from Samuel and goes to breakfast with him in town. She is reluctant, however, because she claims that breakfast turns into lunch which turns into dinner which turns into drinks which turns into... well, you get the picture. Samuel says that all he asks is for breakfast and he will take her home straight away. Nice Irish word, straight away.

The two of them spend the day together, and we see the ridiculous boy that lives inside Samuel. We see that he is a hopeless romantic, and wants nothing more than to be with Vanessa and drink milkshakes and kiss each other and hold hands and skip in a field full of marshmallows. Although it is nice to see a less frightening version of Samuel, one can understand why Vanessa is so reluctant to go along with his charade of happiness. He is one of those guys that seems mysterious and sexy and what-have-you, but when you get into a relationship with him, all he talks about if how pretty you are and how he wants to marry you. These things are good in moderation, don't get me wrong, but not every five seconds.

Samuel begs her to see this one last thing, this 'perfect' thing that she will love, and he will be out of her life is she wants. She agrees to go along with it, and sees what he and Ian have been working on for the past few weeks or so.

"It's what you've always talked about!" His eyes light up with hope as he shows her the cabin she's been describing for years. He holds her close and describes all of the dreams she's told him and how he's made them come true. He tells her that she doesn't have to live at the carnival, because they can live in this house together and be happy, and find pots o' gold, and red balloons, and blue stars and... I digress.

Vanessa is flattered by all that Samuel has done for her, but laughs and says that she cannot live there. She says she has a life, and can't throw it away. She says that Samuel is living in a fantasy.

Samuel's face drops, and his heart is shattered; not broken, but shattered. All of this was because of her. All of these people were there to make him the most powerful being so that he could make this getaway for the two of them, and she can't live there? Who does she think she is? Doesn't she love him? Doesn't she.....??????!!!!!!!!!!

Samuel reacts in a subtle way (for once). he gets choked up and starts talking about taking her back home. His eyes dart across her face and all over the place. You can tell he wants to cry, but is trying very hard not to. Vanessa tells hi that she is sorry, and the two of them share a slew of very passionate kisses. Vanessa is kissing him to tell him she still cares, but can't change her life for him. Samuel is kissing her because it's the best thing in the world, and doesn't want to believe that it's over. Samuel is the one that retracts from her 'loving' lips and walks away. Poor, poor Samuel.

The viewer quickly goes from being sad about Samuel's heartbreak (well I was, anyways) to a realization that this is the fork in the road for him. THIS is what makes him snap. The next scene is pure evidence of this transformation as his entire demeanor has completely changed. There is no more "The name's Samuel, friend" business anymore. There is no time for charming people's pants off so they can visit his carnival. There is just time for pure, uninhibited rage.

Samuel goes back to the diner where he and Vanessa had breakfast that morning and orders the same milkshake. The waitress approaches him and asks if something is wrong. He looks up and says that yes, something is wrong.

"Am I scaring you? Do I look scary?" He asks her and stands up, walking towards her. The poor girl denies that he scares her, and starts backing up, but he presses on. He presses on in a way that he almost loses his Irish accent. He says that he is tired of people like her looking down at him like he isn't good enough. He gets in her face and yells this last line, bringing out the Knepper we all love to hate.

He looks down at his hands and says that he's tired of following everyone else's rules, trying to fit into their world. He starts an earthquake and says that everyone will have to play by his rules from now on. He shakes his hands and the camera pans down from an aerial shot, getting blurry and out of focus to demonstrate how upset he is. This picture below shows just how insane he is with anger at this point, and how abandoned he feels.
This hissy fit ends up taking the whole town down, and Samuel could care less. He has done a complete 180 at this point, and his demeanor, tone of voice, and actions have all shown that quite clearly. The last shot of this episode shows him coming back from the damage he has caused with a look in his eyes I can only describe as pure evil. His head is pointed down and his eyes are up with a sinister smirk painted on his lips. They say there is a fork in the road for every person, whether they choose to take the path of a villain, or to let the hero in them rule their actions is completely up to them. Samuel chose the path of the villain, and we were all waiting to see what would make him into this awful man.

I think my days of loving Samuel Sullivan just might be over. I think that what this show is doing with Sylar seems cheap at the moment, but levels out what they are doing with Samuel. Samuel is going to be a far greater and more dangerous villain than Sylar ever was. Sure, Sylar is the most powerful human on the planet, but he is young, and was lied to, and was misguided. He has Nathan in him now, and wants to make amends and find answers. I think that Sylar could help take Samuel down, although I would like Sam to stay for at least another season.