War? Duality? Duel? Nope - It's Dual. After much name changing we finally arrived at the mid-season finale and the end of volume 3 and it sure didn't disappoint. I can't help but think that the writer was handed a bunch of loose-ends and asked firmly but politely to tie them all up. Thankfully he did. In fact, he did it very well. Let's get started shall we?

The Three Stooges:
Finally we get worthy scenes with these guys! I've never really liked Daphne's character much (too much of a whinger) and I've come to find Matt a bit annoying this volume (having previously really liked his contributions) so it was good to see these two (plus Ando) provide some comedy and interest. Ando's: "I am the master of space and time" and Matt's: "Scrunch gently" lines had me laughing out loud!



So Ando finally gets an ability eh? That wasn't obvious was it *smirk* ? I'm glad they didn't just give him a red equivalent of Elle's power (we all knew he would have to have some form of 'red' power given the glimpse we had of him in the future in 'The Second Coming' earlier in the season). I had to laugh when my wife pointed out that Ando is still stuck being a sidekick given that all he can do (at the moment) is 'super-charge' other people's abilities! I like that Ando was able to time travel by increasing Daphne's speed (although we all know that accelerating past the light-speed barrier is not only impossible but forbids bidirectional travel through time). Good try on the writer's part though.

On the subject of running "really fast" (to quote Ando), how do you reckon it works with two people? Do you think Daphne just drags there arse along the ground?

Overall, I'm pleased that Ando now has an ability - I'm looking forwards to seeing if he can use it offensively somehow. Perhaps he can give Hiro back his power (maybe by amplifying any residual power that's left?) or perhaps Hiro will have to be Ando's bitch for a change.

Peter & Nathan:
This episode was the first one since Peter lost his powers that I actually thought he pulled off the tough guy look well. Both "fight" scenes between the two brothers were well written. I especially liked Peter lamping Nathan with a right hook - nice one mate. Nathan really is a wanker isn't he? Not only is his plan dumb (hey, let's give abilities to soldiers and, ultimately, rich people - what a genius) but he's really showing the selfish side that was so prevalent in the first season. I have to hand it to him though - he's fairly cold: beating you're only brother with a steel bar? Brutal.

Peter can now fly (again). I wish Peter hadn't got his powers back from the formula but I totally understand why the writers did it. There would be little point in keeping Peter in the show for the next volume ('Fugitives') if he remained powerless as, well, I guess he wouldn't be a fugitive if he had no ability. What we don't know yet is whether Peter has been given his old ability back. I see three possibilities:

1. He's got all his old powers back


2. He's got his empathy power back and can fly simply because he was near Nathan


3. All he can do is fly

I'm inclined to think that they've just given him back all his old powers (as he'd essentially get them back the next time he walks past Sylar anyway). I guess we'll have to wait and see to find out.

The scene between these two at the end of the episode was great. We've (sort of) got our old Peter back - the one who still loves his family and isn't some cold-hearted brother-killing maniac. We've also got this really rather cold Nathan who summed up his opinion of his brother with his: "It's not what I would have done" line, referring to the fact that he wouldn't have bothered to save Peter if the tables had been turned.

Knox:
Bye bye Knox. I always thought you were a fairly crap character although the way you broke that annoying All American Soldier's neck was pretty cool.

Mohinder:
Have we seen the last of bug boy? Probably I reckon. I wouldn't be surprised if Mohinder still has an ability though - perhaps it'll be an even faker British accent? Did anyone else notice that bathing in the formula seems to work just as well but doesn't cause you to black out or have a seizure? I wonder why they didn't just give all the soldiers a nice bubble-bath in it (could have dodgy connotations I guess).

I wonder what the Professor and Tracy will be getting up to (remember he gets into her car)? Who reckons that they'll try to recreate the formula again? I'm sure this isn't the last we'll see of Ali Larter (Tim Kring must be shagging her or something as they just don't seem to be able to write her out of the show!).

Hiro:
I like Hiro. I really do. I think his character has had one of the most powerful abilities in the show and I liked future badass Hiro. That said, did anyone find powerless Hiro a little too wimpy when he was hanging on to the flag pole? Isn't this guy supposed to know ninja (I think he picked it up in season 1 and probably back in ancient Japan in season 2)? That minor annoyance aside - Hiro's story line was great again. Very clever explaining how the formula was torn in half (I always wondered who did that in the earlier episodes, I couldn't work out why they hadn't just burned it if they wanted to get rid of it). I've got to give it to Kaito too though - he's a pretty masterful swordsman.

Funniest moment of the whole episode had to be at Pinehearst when Hiro (looking at Tracy) bows his head, says: "Excuse me" and knocks her lights out!



The Pinehearst Lockdown:
Sylar is on great form again. This is one consistently good character this season. I think the writers have him pegged just right as the cat toying with mice. I loved the scene when Primatech gets locked down. I'm not sure Sylar did this with TK or if he just pushed a button. Either way it was atmospheric to say the least. Sylar still manages to creep me out, especially with his: "You're not hunting me Noah - I'm hunting you" line. Fabulous.

Although Sylar is a monster and I don't condone what he does I can't help but feel sorry for him. Much of the Primatech story line was centered around Sylar trying to get back at those people who (he sees) made him the way he is. I thought his: "I could have been a nobody, instead of the monster that I am" line quite poignant.

Claire revealing her soft spot was well done. It seemed that even HRG wasn't aware of this weakness as he looked pretty shocked. Yet more goodness from the naughty-but-nice cheerleader with her quip to Angela about Sylar: "I'd like to give him a good spanking". I wonder how many teenagers have replayed that audio over and over and over... We also see Claire find a way to use her ability offensively - she chucks herself through a bullet-proof window. Let's see how far that takes you shall we?

HRG remains on good form. I especially liked him releasing some baddies from level 5 (including Eric Doyle) as 'shark bait'. His smile after that line was great. I wasn't sure how the locked up baddies knew about Sylar. Doyle looked pretty scared when Noah told him that Sylar was loose. Do you think they get some sort of 'Level 5 Newsletter' that keeps them up to date? On the subject of knowing people - does anyone know how Meredith and Eric got to know each other. I'd love to know.

As expected, Sylar kills the bait. I want to know if he takes Doyle's power. Shortly after he frazzles his brain (very reminiscent of Arthur Petrelli vs. The Haitian in 'Our Father') and injects Meredith he says: "One more thing to do...". Now I suspect that was to get her into the prison but what if he stopped to have a peek at Eric's brain too?

I know I'm nit-picking here but didn't the dude with the iron arm/hand die when Mohinder messed up the formula back at Pinehearst a few episodes ago? Also, there is no way that Meredith would have survived having a massive dose of intracardiac adrenaline. Be calm Garry - it's just a TV show...

Focusing on Sylar & Angela:
A good scene between these two. That woman really doesn't like being forced into a corner does she (remember the scene in 'Cautionary Tales' when Matt did something similar)? She is clearly a masterful manipulator. I especially liked her reasoning: "You killed Arthur so you saved the world". Somehow I don't think Sylar bought it. Why does Sylar not want Angela to be the same as him (a monster)? I wonder why he's suddenly so interested in finding the good in the world.

The cliffhanger of the episode was, of course, the "death" of Sylar. Is he dead? Did he regenerate and get out in time? Did somebody save him? Whilst I don't know for sure, I'm pretty certain he'll be back.

Final Body Count:
Three characters were definitely whacked in this episode (Knox, Doyle and super soldier) and potentially three others (Flint, Meredith and Sylar). It's gonna be a rough Christmas for those actors eh?

I can't wait until February for volume 4: 'Fugitives'.