(S04E06) If there was a theme this week, it's about nurturing and guiding people with abilities. We followed up with Sylar, now in the nefarious embrace of the Sullivan Brothers Carnival, as well as Peter and Hiro, and by extension Emma. The quest to save Hiro's life from the brain tumor that's killing him even affords Noah the opportunity to atone for his cold past by providing support to a former kid he and the Haitian had "visited" back in his Company days.

We got some very nice character moments this week. I like Hiro in the role of mentor to Emma, as it gives him a focus for his crazy optimism. Plus, we got to see how stopping time makes a magic show even more awesome -- I know that's the kind of crap I'd be doing with that ability. Screw saving the world, watch me make this woman vanish.

Peter & Noah
After Hiro's surprise arrival at Peter's place, he apparently passed out. So when we catch back up with them this week, it's in the hospital. In search of a healer, Peter borrows Hiro's powers and teleports to Noah's bathroom. He figures that if anyone knows where to find one, it's Noah. And he's right.

It's pretty convenient that they explain away using Claire's regenerative powers to heal, as they would only cause the tumor to grow faster. But her blood has healed everything in the series so far. Oh well, that way leads to no drama. This way leads to Jeremy Greer.

Four years ago, Greer was a young kid with the ability to heal. So Noah and the Haitian wiped his memory because ... well, that's what they did. This follow-up trip allowed Noah to take a more "fatherly" approach to Jeremy's state of being. Especially considering that the kid's parents may not have died if Noah hadn't erased his memories of his own ability. Maybe he would have learned to control it better by then.

I feel even worse for Peter. Now that he has just the ability he needed to save Hiro, Hiro's gone. And he's going to have to hang onto this ability until he finds him. Unfortunately, without Hiro's ability there's no way for Peter to go where he's gone.

Sylar
If there were any doubts as to Samuel's motives before now, they can be put aside. The man is definitely up to no good at all. Why else would he want to bring Sylar back to his full abilities and memories. The real question is how Samuel can be so confident that he and his carnival "family" can survive such a thing.

And poor Sylar, he's still all messed up inside with Nathan's memories, but he's instinctively using Sylar's abilities now so it's just a mental block at this point. I'm still not 100% sure why Peter doesn't have the ability anymore to tap into all the abilities he's absorbed at will. It feels like it's more of a mental block from what his father did to him than a physical limitation on his ability. But I digress.

I don't think Samuel has a good enough grasp on the situation brewing between Edgar (Ray Parks), Lydia and Sylar. There appears to be a jealousy brewing, and if Samuel really believes that "boys will be boys" is enough to take care of this problem, he's got another thing coming. And as Edgar is the new character on Heroes, I'd say the odds are on the far more powerful and far more psychotic Sylar. Especially if Samuel succeeds in unlocking his full potential.

And the fact that Samuel thinks he can build a better Sylar proves that he may have as much trouble surviving the season as Edgar will. If there's one thing we've learned is that no one ever succeeds in controlling Sylar. And eventually, Sylar gets pissed. When he gets pissed, he gets even. And that usually involves the top of your head coming off.

Hiro & Emma
While you had Noah taking on a more nurturing role to help Jeremy, and Samuel taking on a nurturing role with Sylar, Hiro took on that role for Emma. I'm still not sure where we're going with Emma, or what she can do with her ability other than play instruments and break stuff, but I guess it matters.

It was an interesting question when she asked if he'd brought the cello to her apartment. It means that someone did, so someone knows about her ability and is working some kind of an angle. And Samuel has been working angles on everyone since the season began.

Maybe he just wants everyone with abilities to join his family and all live happily ever after. The problem with that is that many of those people have a sense of morality, which could prove problematic to shacking up with Sylar and Edgar, after what he did to poor Ernie Hudson this week, and Samuel himself. Or he just wants control over them all, one way or the other.


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