Heroes: I am Sylar

This was an interesting episode of Heroes and one of the few this part of the season that had most of the major characters but is the title implies it mostly focuses on Sylar.

I enjoy Sylar but one of the problems I have had with the character in the past is that he seemed to have no core personality. In the beginning of the show he was the shadow and killer but in one episode he had become president. He has tried to turn good,  tried to turn worse, tried to stop killing people,  worked as an agent with Noah, fell in love and probably more. Unpredictability is OK, but sometimes it felt as if there was no core at all.

Clearly the writers of heroes have noticed the same thing. I hope that giving him the shape-shifting ability was part of a plan to examine Sylar more carefully as he struggled to understand who he is. Zachary Quinto did a good job with this and it makes sense to me. The ability to take powers can be empathic like Peter’s was, but for Sylar who has never cared for the people who have powers its more about being them. Having the power isn’t all that big of a deal when the power is shooting air pellets or melting things.

Bringing back his mother’s death was a good idea as well and the reveal of what was going on with his mother was creepy and funny at the same time so long as they don’t keep going with it for too long.

Long term for Sylar is the real question. There have been discussions since he got Shapeshifting that he was too powerful to remain on the show. I never really agreed entirly but I saw the point, one that I hope most agree the writers addressed in this episode. The side effects of shapeshifting seem high enough to even out most of its strength. He still doesn’t have a center and as the villain of the show he’s growing a bit old because of that.

This leads to the end of the episode. I am certain that at least a few people will question why Dankos knife to the head trick didn’t stop Sylar. I think they set that up really well assuming that I am right that the knife didn’t stop him because the shapeshifting had changed him too much. That tiny point of the brain just isn’t there anymore.

The end was a great set up for next week too. With most everyone either caught or in some trouble there has to be action. So how will the season end? It seems to me that it has to be a confrontation between Sylar and the other characters.

This gives them a chance to answer mayn questions.  If Peter touches Sylar will he get all the abilities? If he borrows the empath ability will he have his old power again? Are the writers willing to allow him to become that powerful once more? Will Peter touch baby Matt Parkman and then just make Sylars powers stop working? Will Ando finally use his supercharging ability on someone this volume? Is there a cost to stopping time? What is up with Danko? Is there going to be a new company?

Lets hope they answer at least a couple of these.