“Unexpected” suffers a bit from setupitis. In a show like Heroes it is not uncommon to have sprinkles of excellent revealing or leaping forward episodes in a cycle. That means in between these peaks there is the valley of setting the next one up. It doesn’t mean it’s a bad episode, only that it’s not a can’t miss one either. One flaw is an inconsistency in people’s powers. But I’ll get there.

Ted meets Hana Gitelman, whose power basically is being a human internet connection. She IMs Ted who has no internet. She quickly informs Ted that she was kidnapped by the same people that he was and shows him her scars. She plans to take them down, but she’ll need help, thus Ted. She should be a great asset in the future.

Claire’s mom has a sudden recovery after Claire runs to find her dad or Lyle. When she returns everything is as if it never happened, almost as if she had been faking. It’s presented rather confusingly to be honest. I’m not certain what they were actually implied happened.

Bennet soon learns from Isaac that Peter will be responsible for blowing up the city — and that he’s invisible leading Bennet to make the cryptic reply, that Peter has apparently met an individual that was assumed dead. Bennet recognizes the location of one of the paintings as the roof of the Deveaux building and tells Isaac that Peter may return there before they’ve reached him. Bennet hands him a gun just in case.

Meanwhile Matt used one of the stolen diamonds to make a ring for Janice. Janice is stunned but Matt tells her he knows a guy who let him buy it wholesale. She then tells Matt about Mohinder calling, talking about his DNA. Matt is nervous. It’s a morally gray act for certain but for a guy who’s been through so much, it’s almost forgivable.

Mohinder and “Zane” (Sylar) go to a garage in Montana, that one of the people on Suresh’s father’s list works. They find Dale working on a few cars listening to rap blaring from her ipod. She is very hesitant to go along with Mohinder’s tests, but Sylar, as one of them, is able to convince her. Her power is superhearing.

Gustavson pulls Hiro out of his closet and demands to know where the bag is. Hiro asks to go along so he can find Ando and is able to convince him.

Ted sits at his wife’s grave and he says goodbye to her, leaving her flowers that die almost instantly. The grass beneath him also starts to quickly burn and die, as he says that “they” will pay. It’s dark and ominous but it definitely raises interest in what’s to come.

Claude and Peter begin training in the way only Claude can…by beating the crap out of Peter and yelling at him to stop him. Peter can’t draw his powers as he doesn’t have the fine control until finally he draws upon telekinesis to stop the pole Claude is striking him with. I enjoy the chemistry between the two…maybe simply because Claude is the best addition to the cast in the show’s young life.

Simone keeps pestering Isaac to find Peter by painting him. Isaac claims he thinks he left the city because every painting of Peter he’s tried, has been blank. That brings a question to mind…can Isaac control what he paints. I would say no as it’s supposedly always been kind of a surprise to him. But here he makes it sound like he can focus on something or in this case somone specifically. It’s a little sloppy to be honest, but not a dealbreaker.

Hiro and Gustavson have an interesting conversation regarding partners from people on either side of the equation. Hiro says that partners keep you honest, while Gustavson counters that all they do is put blood on your hand one way or another.

In a wink wink nudge nudge three way conversation between Mohinder, Sylar, and the viewers, Mohinder tells Sylar that he was initially hesitant about bringing Sylar along with him, but he’s been a great help. Sylar probes for information before declaring ominously that it is their destiny to find those with abilities.

After probing her mother a bit more and trying to subtly give her a hint as to what’s going on, especially with her memories, Claire is frightened after Sandra collapses on the floor.

On the rooftop Claude and Peter discuss Darwin’s term of “maximum potential” and indicates that it just might be Peter. Before they get much further Claude is shot with a taser by Bennet. The Haitian shoots darts at Peter who is able to stop the darts midair. He grabs Claude and flies away from the roof.

Back at the Parkman residence the crap hits the fan when Janice finds out from the jeweler who was to resize the ring, told her that the diamond was worth $40,000. Janice calls him out on it, and Parkman admits what happened with the diamonds. Janice gets Matt to say he’ll take them to the precinct to admit as evidence. Before he leaves, he is interrupted by a phone call. Matt seems disturbed and says he has to leave.

Claude wakes up and goes ballistic on Peter, screaming at him for drawing “them” to him. “They” are the reason he went underground. Peter meanwhile has no idea who they even are. Claude storms off, not caring whether Peter explodes or not.

Simone meanwhile approaches Nathan worried about Peter. She tries to get Nathan to go public with their abilities, but Nathan warns against it, worry about the consequences.

Meanwhile Hiro and Gustavson catch up to Ando and Hope and a gunfight ensues with Hiro getting Ando out of the way. Hope looks to shoot them, but Hiro is able to make time reverse and the bullet goes back in the chamber causing it to backfire, and letting Gustavson tackle her.

This again was an inconsistency. If it was Hiro’s power, than reversing time shouldn’t cause the gun to misfire, instead it would simply start again, wouldn’t it? And can Hiro use his powers without knowing he used his powers? Again, slightly confusing.

Dale is working when Sylar floats in. Surprised, Dale rips her headphones off and is shocked, saying she didn’t hear any footsteps. Sylar grinned and said maniacally that there weren’t any. Sylar murders Dale.

Sandra is in the hospital bed and Claire tells the doctor what really happened, but of course she doesn’t believe her. Instead she says, she’ll talk to her father.

Ted and Hana meet with Matt in a graveyard. They tell him about the hypo-needles that caused the scars and that they are being tracked. Matt is eventually convinced to help Ted bring in Bennet and read his mind to find out what’s going on.

As Bennet gets to the hospital, he fails miserably in damage control with Claire. We finally see a crack in Bennet’s armor and for once there is a bit of sympathy from the audience, as in maybe he’s not quite as evil as we thought. It’s an interesting twist to the character, guaranteed to make him more interesting at least.

Mohinder and Sylar go back to see Dale, while Sylar complains of a headache as he obviously is adjusting to his new powers. Mohinder discovers Dale’s body and retches. They quickly get out of there after Sylar convinces Mohinder not to call the police as what would they tell them?

Hiro has taken Gustavson’s advice to heart, and orders Ando to go home, saying he doesn’t want to risk Ando’s life for his mission. Ando attempts to argue, saying that he was in the comic book and everything. Hiro is not to be deterred and goes off sadly. Of course this will set up the moment of Ando’s triumphant return…but although I could predict it, I still enjoyed it.

The Bennets return home and Lyle helps his mom upstairs. Bennet attempts to talk to Claire again but unfortunately Ted and Matt jump out with guns setting up what is being portrayed as a great showdown.

Isaac finishes a painting of Peter standing in his apartment. Isaac turns around and sees Peter standing there. Before too long there is a brawl as Peter blames Isaac for turning him into to Bennet, due to jealousy. In the altercation, Peter turns invisible and Isaac grabs the gun Bennet gave him, shooting twice before realizing that he shot Simone. Peter reappears and catches her as she lay dying in her arms. It’s quite an ending to another wise flawed show. The characters are able to rise above the inconsistencies though which make it worth watching. It is a set up, but overall, it’s a good one.

B-

Previous - 1.15

Next - 1.17