Review: Heroes - Turn and Face the Stranger

Merrily (or reluctantly depending on your thoughts on this season) we march toward the conclusion of the fourth installment of the show Heroes. And really, I'm still kind of confused with all the characters, powers and storylines. Did this week's episode do anything to allay my worries and clear my perception of the show? HRG isn't so sure that Sylar is really dead, as the episode opens up with an autopsy of his own. The autopsy was going well until his wife showed up at Building 16. How did she know where it was? It doesn't seem like HRG to let her know where he would be operating out of. I mean, she's smart and all, but this is supposed to be a super secret clandestine operation. Does everyone know about it now? In any case, she's still looking for Claire. Or is she? See, apparently Sylar has shifted into her. Earlier, he revealed his plan to Danko to "destroy" Noah. And serving him forged divorce papers is the perfect way to go about doing it. Will the writers please tell us how Sylar knew that Noah was having marital problems? And he shapeshifted into her, but I thought he got that power from touching someone? Sylar added the Sandra shapeshift to his collection by shaking her hand as fake Danko when she first arrived and was let into Building 16 just because Noah said it was ok. I really hope that this shapeshifting thing doesn't get out of hand. I mean, when Noah confronted Danko about Sylar, Danko told him who Sylar was parading as. But when Noah confronted Sylar (shifted into someone else), Danko denied ever telling him that, prompting Noah to shoot the guy in the back of the head to prove his point. The guy doesn't get up, prompting Noah to flee for thinking he killed an innocent man. Nope! Turns out Sylar has a new power where he can completely bleed out to make it look like he died. This scene I know the writers wanted you to think that the Danko Noah talked to was really Sylar, and Noah really did kill an innocent person. But now we have to question every single person in this show because it could be Sylar, which might start to get really annoying. Matt has decided to go all sixteen in the clip and one in the hole against Danko for Daphne's death. First he's going to screw with his mind. He sends Danko (Jakob) to see the person he cares about most who is in danger. And that person turns out to be an incredibly hot girlfriend named Elena that brings out the softer side of Danko. She used to be an escort. Fun. Parkman takes it upon himself to enlighten her about the true side of Danko in an act of vengeance for killing Daphne. Parkman forces him (Jakob) to tell Elena about his true life, and upon confronting Elena he destroys their relationship. Parkman draws the gun to kill Elena, but finds that he can't. Danko's bullet is stopped by Hiro showing up and introducing Matt to his son. It was revealed earlier that when he's upset things stop working (opposite when he's happy). I understand that realizing you have a child is an emotional scene, but Parkman gave it no second thought when Hiro and Ando presented the kid to him. It could have been any random child they found on the street and said it was his kid. I did think it was a really nice touch though to have the big car and the little car racing circles around Parkman as he held his son, who was clearly extremely happy. The Petrellis are trying to get to Coyote Sands for the big family reunion and to get answers. Those answers involve digging with some conveniently placed shovels to seek the remains of who knows who. Right as Peter and Mrs. Petrelli arrive, Nathan and Claire swoop in from above, bringing up the standard Peter hissyfit about not trusting Nathan. The two reconcile somewhat and start digging while Mrs. Petrelli looks on. Noah gets there during the digging after fleeing New York. I really don't like the introduction of the shapeshifter thing. It gives the writers too much of a blank check, and Sylar is even more powerful with no clear balance in the immediate future. Sure, I'll guess that Peter will encounter the baby, who will have his power amplfied by Ando giving Peter all his powers back. The mass graveyard they're digging up is supposed to have some relevance, but it's lost on me at the moment. We're set for another shocking revelation next week where we'll no doubt meet another character who is vital to the heroes survival for whatever reason (pick one). And I really could have done without the Japanese Spanish cowboy from Lubbock Texas. Seriously guys? Only three more episodes left in this season. The writers have their work cut out for them. Overall score: 84 out of 100