Episode:Villains
| Villains | |
|---|---|
| Season: | Three |
| Episode number: | 308 |
| First aired: | November 10, 2008 |
| File:0308-list-episode-image-300x169.jpg | |
| Written by: | Rob Fresco |
| Directed by: | Allan Arkush |
| Previous episode: | Eris Quod Sum |
| A child is born to innocence. A child is drawn towards good. Why then do so many among us go so horribly wrong? What makes some walk the path of darkness, while others choose the light? Is it will? Is it destiny? Can we ever hope to understand the force that shapes the soul? To fight evil, one must know evil. One must journey back through time and find that fork in the road, where heroes turn one way and villains turn another |
Summary
- Hiro goes on his vision quest, seeking the origins of the villains.
- A year ago, Elle forms a relationship with Gabriel Gray.
- The Petrellis' lives change, according to Linderman's plan.
- Meredith and Flint are separated by the Company.
- In Africa, Usutu's hut falls under Pinehearst's shadow.
Story Development
Synopsis
Usutu gives Hiro the food that grants a spirit quest. Hiro’s eyes turn white and he collapses, as Hiro calls out his name.
New York City, 18 months ago: Arthur Petrelli hosts a party and offers a toast to his family. Peter and Nathan look on as Angela and Arthur kiss. Linderman offers his congratulations and asks Nathan if his office is launching an investigation into his business. Nathan warns him to prepare for handcuffs and walks away. Linderman has Arthur scan Nathan’s mind using telepathy and Arthur says that Nathan won’t back down. Arthur warns that when father battles son, only one is left standing. However, he says he owes Nathan one last conversation.
Memphis, TN, one year ago: Flint is robbing a store and popping Jiffy Pop popcorn using his pyrokinesis. Meredith is with him and says they have to leave. Flint is unimpressed and spots a man casually standing and reading a magazine. The man, Thompson, turns and sprays Flint with fire suppressant. She throws a fireball and Thompson ducks, then draws a taser and forces her to surrender. Flint runs out of the store and into the night.
Brooklyn, NY, one year ago: Gabriel Gray is making a noose and remembering how he killed Brian Davis for his power. Elle comes into the shop as Sylar puts the noose around his neck and jumps off a chair. She comes from behind him and breaks the rope with her lightning. She says that everyone does bad things and talking about it might help. She assures him that he’ll get through it and he’s not a bad person. She holds up the rope, saying it broke by accident, and says that it’s a sign. She then goes outside to a Primatech van where Noah Bennet is running surveillance. Elle doesn’t understand why they don’t capture Gabriel, and he says that their orders are to observe Gabriel in his own environment. He suggests that Elle get Gabriel to demonstrate his abilities by giving him pie.
At Primatech, Thompson reviews Meredith’s records, noting she’s burned down four group homes in seven years. She wants to know what he wants and he offers to train her as a Company agent. She’s skeptical and he asks why she hates the Company so much. She doesn’t give him an answer and he asks her to put the reasons aside and make a sensible decision or spend the rest of her life imprisoned. She states one condition: the Company lets Flint go free. Thompson refuses to bargain and Meredith accepts his offer.
Angela visits Arthur in the garden and they discuss Peter’s graduation party. She says to be patient with Peter, as he’ll be a great man once his powers manifest. Nathan arrives and Arthur suggests he hand off the Linderman case to another ADA so he doesn’t put undue pressure on the Petrelli family. Nathan refuses, warning that Linderman is toxic for the family. As Nathan leaves, Arthur stares at him intensely, but simply notes he looks good in a suit.
One year ago: Arthur and Heidi Petrelli are driving home when a van drives them off the road. Nathan’s flight activates and he hovers above the car as it rams into an embankment. At the hospital, Arthur and Angela arrive and an angry Nathan insists that Linderman’s men ran his car off the road. Peter pulls Nathan away and tries to calm him down. Nathan warns that he’s going after Linderman and Arthur needs to choose a side.
Angela talks to Arthur and asks him if he ordered Linderman to kill Nathan. Arthur firmly denies it and she accepts his answer.
Austin, TX: Thompson and Meredith go to a shantytown and approach Danny Pine, a Vietnam vet. Meredith asks if she should use her power but Thompson tells her it’s a training mission and she should wait for his orders. Thompson approaches Pine and identifies himself as a representative from the V.A. Pine wonders what happened to his previous V.A. representative and Meredith hastily steps in. Pine doesn’t believe them, turns his hand into solid metal, and knocks Thompson down. Meredith superheats his hand and takes Thompson’s taser, then stuns Pine. Impressed, Thompson welcomes her to the Company.
Queens, NY, one year ago: Noah watches Gabriel in his apartment on a hidden camera as he goes over maps and the List. Elle arrives with a pie and Gabriel invites her in. She notices the List and he casually dismisses it. Elle tries to get a look at it but Gabriel throws it in the garbage. He then explains that he has an extraordinary ability and demonstrates it, moving a dish rack and a fork with telekinesis. He says that other people on the List can do things as well. She asks about the others but Gabriel serves himself a piece of pie.
Thompson and Meredith take Pike to a holding facility and Meredith asks if she’s now an agent. Thompson explains that once she proves her loyalty and can follow any orders without question, she can be called “Agent Gordon.” Meredith sees Flint in a cell and he says that he was captured by an “invisible man,” and the Company has offered him a job as an agent. Thompson asks Meredith if there’s a problem and she says there isn’t.
Noah watches as Elle and Gabriel have pie and he admits that his power is addictive. He admits that since meeting her he feels he can be normal, but Elle assures him he’s special the way he is. She meets with Noah outside and he sarcastically comments on her fake sympathy. He wants to kick the plan into high gear and make sure they can witness Gabriel killing someone. Elle thinks his suicide attempt was a wake-up call and Noah realizes she likes Gabriel. Noah suggests they set Gabriel up with Trevor Zeitlan and see what happens. When Elle refuses, Noah suggests she goes off on her own, and warns that if she doesn’t follow orders then she’ll be on her own.
Linderman meets with Arthur and apologizes for failing at his first attempt. Arthur doesn’t want to postpone the New York plan and Linderman says he doesn’t wish to. He offers to find a guy in Montreal to dispose of Nathan once and for all, and Angela overhears their conversation. She runs to the kitchen and grabs a knife. Arthur uses his telepathy and alters her thoughts, convincing her that Nathan has to die.
In the present, Hiro sits up and says “Murder!” Ando tries to wake him up but Usutu warns that it’s dangerous since Hiro is trapped between the two worlds and could be stuck there if awakened. Usutu realizes something has disturbed Hiro’s dream time. He has Ando hold a bowl with fumes and exposes Hiro to them. Hiro collapses and returns to his visions.
Meredith goes to Flint’s cell and gets him out, saying there’s a train yard that they can catch to Houston. Meredith tells him that the Company is tricking him and they have to escape. They get on the train, filled with volatile substances, and plan to hide in Mexico. Meredith warns Flint that he can never trust the Company. Thompson emerges from hiding and tasers Meredith unconscious. Flint thinks she’s dead and retreats. Once Thompson has gone after her brother, Meredith wakes up and goes after both of them. She calls out to Flint and Thompson turns back and goes after her. Flint approaches Thompson who prepares to taser him. Meredith struggles with him and Flint jumps off of the train. Thompson asks why Meredith had to screw it up, saying they could have given him a purpose but now Flint is their sworn enemy. Meredith fires a blast at him and runs past, while the cargo ignites. She and Thompson both jump clear of the train when its contents explode.
Linderman pays a visit to Angela while Arthur is downtown. She asks what’s on his mind and Linderman says that he has a shred of morality and can’t stand by while Arthur damages her mind. He offers to heal the scars of all the thoughts and memories that Arthur has tampered with, and warns that Arthur plans to kill Nathan. Linderman asks if Angela wants to live in blind obedience or know the truth. After a few moments of thought she places Linderman’s hands on her head.
Thompson and a captured Meredith watch as firemen arrive to deal with the train wreck. Meredith explains that 14 years ago the Company caught up to her and killed her baby daughter Claire. Realizing who Meredith’s daughter is, he frees Meredith and tells her to go before he changes his mind. As Meredith leaves, below Claire approaches the burning debris and rescues a fireman.
Elle is meeting with Gabriel and there’s a knock on the door. Trevor arrives and Elle says it’s good that Gabriel meet with others who have powers. Trevor demonstrates his ability to shatter objects by pointing at them and concentrating.
Arthur is enjoying Angela’s family soup recipe and wonders why she seems far away. She asks if he’d know her without his power. The Haitian enters the dining room, neutralizing Arthur’s telepathy. She asks him if he can tell if she’s going to kiss him or kill him.
Trevor continues to demonstrate his power as Elle expresses her admiration. An increasingly jealous Gabriel shoves Trevor against the wall using telekinesis. Elle stops him momentarily using lightning but Gabriel shoves her back and tells her to get out. As she runs to the van, Gabriel starts to slice open Trevor’s skull. Noah watches in fascination as Gabriel finishes using his power and flees.
Angela wonders when Arthur lost his soul and he refuses to apologize for his great plan. Arthur clutches at his stomach in pain and realizes that the soup is poisoned. He falls to the floor, dying. Angela tells the Haitian to incinerate Arthur’s body but Nathan comes in and sees Arthur. He assumes his father is having a heart attack and calls the EMTs.
Noah reports to his superiors saying they have wrapped up the mission and he has one more thing to deal with. Elle is still angry but Noah says they’ll be tracking him down one day. Elle feels Gabriel could have been saved but Noah insists that wasn’t the assignment and they follow orders. He sees a cab and says “His ride is here,” and gets into the cab as Peter Petrelli gets out. Mohinder is driving the cab and Noah tells him to proceed to JFK Airport.
Angela and Nathan wait at the hospital and Dr. Livitz tells them Arthur is dead due to a heart attack. Angela asks for a cremation and Livitz tells them to go home and get some rest, and they’ll deal with the paperwork in the morning. Livitz goes back into the room and tells Arthur, lying in a hospital bed, that it’s done. Arthur speaks to him telepathically, giving him instructions to find another body for the cremation. Livitz informs Arthur that the poison damaged his nervous system, and the paralysis is permanent.
At the funeral, Nathan and Peter remember their family dog Izzy, and how it was the only thing that ever disobeyed Arthur. As they speak fondly of him, Angela says that Arthur wasn’t a god and they shouldn’t idolize him: he was deeply flawed in ways they’ll never know.
In the present, Hiro wakes up and says they have to warn Angela and Nathan that Arthur is still alive. He also thinks they should contact Meredith to deal with her brother. Ando tells him to slow down and they hear a scream. Running out of Usutu’s hut, they see his headless body outside. Hiro notices Usutu’s head nearby. As he goes to examine it, Arthur appears behind him and says that Hiro’s been dreaming about him. He grabs Hiro’s head and Hiro screams in pain as Ando looks on in horror.
Memorable Quotes
"All right, get a room."
"After forty-one years of marriage, you take it where you can get it."
"It's time to choose a side, dad. A client... or your family?"
- - Nathan
"You know what Daddy used to say; 'God gave you a big sister instead of a brain.'"
Character Appearances
Trivia
- This episode contains a number of scenes from Genesis and Six Months Ago, and shows events surrounding those scenes.
- According to Beeman's blog, this episode was supposed to feature a subplot involving a connection between Knox and Matt. It was dropped for time.
See Also
- For other uses of villains, see villains (disambig).
Spoilers
For spoilers about Villains, please refer to the following link.
| previous: Eris Quod Sum | Villains | next: It's Coming |
| See Also: Volume One Episodes • Volume Two Episodes • Volume Three Episodes • Volume Four Episodes • Volume Five Episodes • Heroes Reborn Episodes • All Episodes |
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