Claire

Claire is now sporting a better hairdo as a freshman at college outside Washington DC. She gets an annoying roommate named Annie and a new friend in the form of Gretchen, who recognizes Claire's name from the tragic Odessa murders. I keep thinking Gretchen will end up doing something crazy like Mia Cross but all we get is a slightly better version of Madeline Zima's character on The Nanny. Fortunately for Claire, she's done with cheerleading, though college life isn't without some drama and mystery especially when her competitive roommate kills herself. It's unlikely that Annie committed suicide though and Claire tries to prove that it's murder by conducting a little experiment that involves throwing herself out the dorm window, which is witnessed by Gretchen. So far, I don't really have a problem with the new and improved Claire though I'm not really into the whole college student seemingly turned private investigator. Might as well bring back Kristen Bell to do the job right and fast.

Hiro and Ando

We find the dynamic duo back in Japan focusing on their own business called Dial a Hero, a title that needs no explanation. We also learn of Ando's undying crush on Hiro's sister Kimiko and her hatred of him, plus the fact that Hiro's dying. But the gist of Hiro's storyline this season is his new mission to go back in time to correct the wrong, consequently defying his own principle of never to meddle with the past.

Peter Petrelli

The good Petrelli brother has always took pride in helping people and we find out that he's doing exactly that as Peter returns to his old job as a paramedic. He's actually doing a pretty good job saving lives and it even comes to a point where he becomes somewhat obsessed with it.

HRG

This season, HRG has gained somewhat of a conscience ironically while he starts up the new Company. He's also seemingly turned a new leaf after all that Sylar-Nathan mumbo-jumbo, doubting himself as opposed to being the man with a plan. Ultimately, he decides to help Tracy get her life back by getting the Haitian to erase any memory of Tracy from Danko's brain. Oh and he also calls Tracy because he's lonely. I sure hope romance isn't in the cards for these two.

Nathan Petrelli

Nathan, still a U.S. Senator, is starting to bleed out some remnants of Sylar, reminding us that Sylar is just around the corner. Surprisingly, I didn't really care much about the Nathan-Sylar plot as I thought I would since I found the storyline weak. Still, the way the show handled the whole Nathan in Sylar's body or vice versa was pretty tolerable.

Matt Parkman

Unlike the other Heroes, Matt isn't using his powers anymore and he's determined not to. He's actually back with his family, trying to distance himself from the other Heroes and trying to forget that he made the whole Sylar-Nathan cover-up possible, though not without some creepy visions of Sylar. But I guess I spoke to soon because he eventually does use his powers before the episode ends and then speaks of his abilities like a drug.

Tracy Strauss

We all know that Tracy's back and this time, she's out for revenge, killing all of Danko's men. While the reason behind Tracy miraculous survival after being blast into a thousand pieces wasn't exactly revealed, Tracy did acknowledge the fact that she felt herself shatter and reconstitute with the intent of vengeance.  

The Carnies

New blood doesn't necessarily make a show like Heroes work but thanks to Robert Knepper, it looks as if hope is not entirely loss. Out of all the subplots this season, I'm actually hooked on the Carnies simply because there's just so much to uncover. Evidently, this group has traveled the world for some time now in search of other Heroes to join them. Samuel first puts Hiro on his path of redemption and now wants to roundup Sylar, Claire and Peter. Why? Well, that remains to be seen.



-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
(Image courtesy of HBO)