Lizards is a step back in the right direction, but a tentative one. The episode doesn’t do a whole lot wrong, but the overall pacing is still on the slow side overall, and not the compact focused feel of the first season. The focus of this review will be by storyline.

The Irish gang believe that Peter stole the iPods that were supposed to be in the cargo container he was found in. Peter can’t remember his name, let alone any iPods. Ricky, the leader, are pretty violent towards him although his sister, Caitlin is much more tenable. After they leave, she tends to his wounds and explains the situation.

It seems Ricky is panicked because he was ordered to hit that cargo by someone more powerful who won’t accept failure kindly. Both Caitlin and Peter are shocked to discover that despite all of his blood, there isn’t a scratch on him.

As he concentrates he phases out of his ropes. He is about to leave when some thugs come in to rough up Caitlin. Peter knocks them around with super strength and bursts of energy. Ricky isn’t as impressed as Caitlin is, noting that Peter’s turned a problem into a blood feud. He coerces Peter to help him with a theft with the promise of a box that contained everything that Peter owned. If Peter tries to take it by force, he’ll burn it. It’s still a decent storyline, but already you feel the itch of getting Peter back home. It’s a story that if dragged out too far will get annoying.

Bob sends Mohinder on his first assignment, which turns out to be to go heal the Haitian. In an intriguing look at the Haitian spirituality, he believes he contracted the virus as punishment by God for his past deeds. Mohinder counters that maybe God sent Mohinder with the cure as a way to absolve him. The Haitian agrees to try it. After mentioning that he works for a company, the two connect and just as quickly we flash to Bob questioning Mohinder who seemingly has no memory of his mission or the Haitian.

We learn though that Mohinder is lying as he talks with Bennet later, telling him that he should know soon enough if his trip was productive. Bennet smiles as the Haitian appears in Copy Kingdom. This is definitely the most focused storyline of season 2. We know the people and there is a definite goal in mind.

Earlier, Bennet is shaken when he hears about the death of Kaito and reveals to his wife that Isaac painted eight paintings that had yet to come true. One showed the death of Kaito and he had to find the other seven. Ok, this struck me as a rather lame continuance. I truly hope that these are the last eight paintings of Isaac. Or in season 7 are we going to discover the true last painting of the great Isaac Mendez? Maybe a nit pick, but Heroes should be better than this.

The siblings, Maya and Alejandro continue their struggles to get across the border, and find help in an old family friend. While at the house a healer looks at Maya and then runs away saying that the curse in her could kill the devil. The family friend tries to help them, but Maya becomes emotional when she is separated from Alejandro and she starts Mayaing out. (Come on…it is basically the Hulk combined with the X-Files aliens.) The family friend almost dies, before Alejandro arrives to calm her down. The family friend declares that she is truly cursed and won’t help her anymore.

Parkman, with Detective Fuller are on the roof of the Deveaux building investigating Kaito’s death. They learn through Ando that Angela Petrelli was present and that the symbol over Kaito’s face means Godsend.

They bring Angela in and she alludes to him being a former business partner and lover. Angela though is able to discover that Parkman can read her thoughts so she screams in her head at him to “Get out of my head!”

Parkman greets Nathan who has come to bail her out, even though she won’t want to see him. Suddenly Angela is attacked and the power goes out. They get in and she is terrified, and bleeding but still alone.

Angela is continuing to be a real intriguing character as you just want to know more about her.

Hiro’s story remains amusing, as he impersonates Kensei to try to correct the story. And in one swoop he is able to create a legend and get the girl to love him. Hiro returns to Kensei with the mask and armor and is able to convince Kensei that Hiro can help him become a legend.

The thugs that Hiro defeated though come back and shoot Kensei with arrows, and he falls.

Then he heals…and everyone is amazed.

Claire is struggling more and more with her identity. She learns in genetics about lizards who can regrow lost limbs and wonders if humans could do that someday. The teacher can only go so far, but her interest sparks West to talk to her about it. She continues to try to avoid it though. She continues to petition her father to allow her to help people, but he won’t have it saying if they find out about her she’ll be a freak and they’ll test her limits.

Later that night though she decides to cut off her pinky toe to see if it will grow back. Now she cuts it off with a pair of scissors. Is that really possible?

But regardless…it grows back…

and West sees it from the window he’s looking in. (stalker much?) He runs and Claire runs after him, but all that is left is Chandra Suresh’s book…and Mr. Muggles barking up at the sky.

All in all, it moved things forward a bit, but it still seems to be missing something and I think it’s a focused goal.

B-

Previous – 2.01

Next – 2.03