Why is it the ones we love we can't trust?

[hackthis_archive]

The only thing better than one night of insomnia is TWO nights of insomnia.

Also, I am turning off all phones on Monday night now, because clearly, even getting texts about what I'll be seeing (without spoilers) is totally setting me off.



THE BAD

I'll say up front I'm completely disappointed in the Nathan-as-Claire's father arc. Crushed. Bitter. Hella angry. Vexed. Thinking about the claw marks on the ceiling and the shoe through TV. Pick one. And now allow me to tell you why:


a) The whole writers paean to cheerleaders thing urks me. Always has. Whether it's on Smallville or Friday Night Lights or Heroes the whole 'Isn't the cheerleader the best thing since sliced bread?!' has always irritated the crap out of me. Maybe it's an American thing I just don't get. Maybe it's all that displaced writer geeky anger about never getting the cheerleader in high school that I just think 'Fucksakes! Get over it!' I really should've known Heroes wouldn't be different – in fact it went to a whole new level with 'Save the Cheerleader, Save the World!'

Man, save me a barf bag.

b) I don’t like Claire. I really just don't. I'm sure the actress is lovely, but as a character I just cannot be bothered. In fact, I feel this way about ALL the actresses on Heroes. There's too much pigeon-holing. Too many archetypes. Oooh, look at the psycho bitch (Jessica)! Oooh, look at the sainted wife (Heidi AND Niki)! Look at the loopy mom (Angela AND Mrs. B) and at the devoted torn girlfriend (Simone) and at the cheating bitch (Mrs. Parkman)!

Apparently nobody told the Heroes writers that women could be more than saintly or psychotic. Go figure.

c) This is an uncharacteristically stupid move on Nathan's part. I don’t care that it was fifteen/sixteen years ago, when chances are he was probably at basic training in Texas and they prolly met at a bar, blah blah blah, fill it in yourselves. He is a Petrelli. You really expect me to believe he doesn't know what a condom is?

d) I think I might've accepted this maybe just a smidgen more if they hadn't been so fucking OBVIOUS about it. The arm across the desk (only Adrian Pasdar could have a sexy wrist, just saying), Claire talking about how she hoped her bio-parents lived in a big penthouse in New York, Pyro!Mama talking about all her travels (you know it couldn't have been on her own dime). I mean, Jesus, make sure the anvil doesn't get your toes on the way down.

e) It was so friggin obvious, I thought 'No, surely not. Nobody is that obvious!' But I was fucking wrong, wasn't I? And I'd developed such a good theory. Damn you, Tim Kring, for fucking me over without protection! In sixteen years our kid is going to coming look for your ass!

e) Overall, I just. You know. No. I will say however that it's a shame you can't kill the cheerleader off, because I would totally take Pyro!Mama anyday. She cracks my shit up. AND – she's real.



THE GOOD

1) Hiro was awesome. I have no issue there. The fact that Ando has a crush (a displaced one) on Hiro's sister cracks my shit up.

2) Oh, Peter, bless you and your emo-ness. Claude, bless you for being an arrogant ass. I didn't get it the first two episodes Claude was there -- I confess. He was an arrogant prick. He was mean to Baby!Emo!Peter. I don't love Peter, but I don't like anybody being mean to him either except Nathan. And then last night it hit me –- Claude is Peter's new Nathan! Claude is the new awesome asshole! And then he pushed Peter off the roof and my brain said, 'Dude, how many times have I wanted to do that? I am so jealous!' I thought he was going to fly. What happened was about fifty times better.

3) Angry!Puppy!Peter is actually kinda hot. *feels moment of shame* *is so over it.*

4) Emo!hair mockery! HAHAHAHAHA Claude, you are made of awesome.

5) And then he bitch!slapped Peter when he went crazy emo again! Claude = <3. I see this now.

6) Where is the missing scene where Peter goes to hone his invisibility control by spying on Nathan. Don't lie! We know it's there and involves nudity!

7) Did I mention the part about Adrian Pasdar having a sexy wrist? Did I mention how much he's totally improved with age? Hot damn. He'll be the first one in when I get that cloning machine working.


THE SPIN! THE SPIN!

* So, Peter doesn't just pick up powers when he's around people he fucking acquires them, huh?. Oh. Well, that's a new and crazily awesome twist. So, Peter really can be anybody. He can fly. He can regenerate. He can become invisible. What's missing here then?

That he can go back and forwards in time.

Oh, I think somebody's going to be making a trip back in time to see his big brother when he was young and stupid and a little more sexually open-minded. (Yes, that is my next story idea).


* Next week there is a lot of Nathan action. Nathan in sunglasses! Nathan getting out of a car! Nathan looking hotass! That I can live with.

Comments

[norah.livejournal.com]

I LOVE YOUR NEXT STORY IDEA. LOVE.

Also, am VERY VERY FOND of Claude these days.

Though, dude, how and why did Peter decide Claude had control over his powers and could teach him? Were there ANY hints in canon about that?

As far as I am concerned (don't hurt me) this whole show is like, the Hiro and Claude show. Everyone else is a side plot. *cowers before your Petrelli-induced righteousness* But, you know, that's what makes a good ensemble show - one or two characters you can't live without, and a cast of others that aren't too objectionable. Freakishly enough, this fandom is CRAZY for Niki and Claire. Like, I went icon-hunting through ninth_wonders yesterday trying to find one of Hiro brandishing the sword in front of the dinosaur skeleton (nothing really clear, WTF fandom) and it was all Claire, and Niki, and some Peter. Clearly, these people are tuning in to a whole different part of the show...

[norah.livejournal.com]

Also, that painting that Simone said was her and Issac - did it, or did it not, look like Hiro's sister and ... possibly Peter? I will have to re-watch. WHAT IS HIRO'S SISTER'S POWER?! I must know!

[anatsuno.livejournal.com]

YES! It *so* totally did NOT look like Simone at all. I could recognize isaac, the second time we got a view of the painting, but the girl really looked like Hiro's sister. And also, sorry, but the scene Peter witnessed on the roof had so little ambiguity in it at all that in Peer's place I'd have been all AHAHAHAAH IDIOT at Claude for trying to make me think she must be cheating. I mean wtf, it was such an Ex- scene.

(I love Nikki, personally, but Hiro comes first in front of all of them, duh. And, now I think I will have to make you caps/icons of the Hiro+Dino thing, huh? What were you looking for exactly?)

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

And also, sorry, but the scene Peter witnessed on the roof had so little ambiguity in it at all that in Peer's place I'd have been all AHAHAHAAH IDIOT at Claude for trying to make me think she must be cheating. I mean wtf, it was such an Ex- scene.


This is a case of 'seeing what you want to see' not necessarily what is *there*. It seemed pretty G rated to me, but Claude could've shown Nathan calling the cops on Peter and Peter would've been able to justify it, because he loves his brother that much, and won't give him up. If someone *has* to go clearly he'd rather been seen to give up Simone than Nathan.

[anatsuno.livejournal.com]

Oh, I agree on that, clearly Peter has it in for Nathan much more than for Simone. Just, if I'd been Claude I don't think that scene on the roof would have made me crow inside with "I told you so's" about Simone, is all.

I take the whole thing as one more element of proof that Claude acts in bad faith - personally I love him, no mistake - probably out of a selfish "ends justify means" or "it is fun" kinda drive.

[norah.livejournal.com]

I went back and looked, and that was definitely Simone's jacket. But it looked like Kimiko. Wishful thinking on my part, perhaps - Simone = SNORE. She hasn't done anything! At all! And I was all excited about her in the pilot because she is pretty. Hmph. The ones I said "oooh pretty" about in the pilot are turning out to all be boring. Anyhow, agreed on the roof scene. Thumbs down. Until he throws Peter over the side YAY.

There's a moment in "Godsend" where Hiro has the (fake) sword and he is pretending to fight a huge T-rex skeleton with it, and there's a moment where his face and the sword are in the foreground, with the dino skull behind him, SO AWESOME. Maybe it is not clear enough to cap? I saw a few icons of it but they were all done with such heavy "effects" that you couldn't really see it.

[anatsuno.livejournal.com]

start here (http://pics.livejournal.com/anatsuno/pic/002283bb/) and go next next ntext to see them all -- i did a bunch of that sequence in hopes to nail what you might want. :-)
If you want one of them brightened or sharpened or whatnot in photoshop, tell me which and I'll make it more "readable" forya. <3

[norah.livejournal.com]

This is totally the one I wanted:
http://pics.livejournal.com/anatsuno/pic/0022910p/g65
OMG SQUEEE!

I will make it into an icon tonight after work! Thank you!

[anatsuno.livejournal.com]

oopsies, maybe start there (http://pics.livejournal.com/anatsuno/pic/002283bb/g65) rather.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

Damnit I had a whole comment for you, where did it go? *kicks LJ* In a nutshell -- the Hiro and Claude show would be okay -- it wouldn't be the Petrelli show, but I would live. Niki & Claire = Feh. I can only assume it's some blonde fascination, but I don't get that either. I think Kimiko's power is the power to magically have put the canvas back together when she hugged Hiro. Yis.

Also, this story idea just got bumped for this concept: 6) Where is the missing scene where Peter goes to hone his invisibility control by spying on Nathan. Don't lie! We know it's there and involves nudity! but it's still on the table.

It's right next to these concepts (http://sparky77.livejournal.com/426101.html?view=3946101#t3946101) that sparky77 and are discussing.

[norah.livejournal.com]

See, Kimiko. There's a woman I wouldn't mind reading a lot of stories about (if she has a power.) Coolest woman on the show yet.

The blonde fascination - I don't know. I mean, not that there aren't occasionally interesting blonde female characters on telly (cf Starbuck, Rose, Donna, Ainsley) but Niki? Come on. I mean, the actress who plays her is totally rocking that sad tale of a role, but still.

Tomorrow is a Heroes recs set! *excited* You are in it.

And omg, your new story ideas. *guh*

[linaerys.livejournal.com]

Oh, I think somebody's going to be making a trip back in time to see his big brother when he was young and stupid and a little more sexually open-minded. (Yes, that is my next story idea).

OMGDSHGKSHDKJdskljfadlksd.

(That was a yes please. My brain just died a little. That is so wrong and so right and I'm jealous I didn't think of it first.)

Also, if you haven't already, do yourself a favor and pause on Nathan picking up the phone in the preview, with the wrist, and the watch and the pen, and dear GOD his hands and wrist give me vapours.

And YES, when Claude pushed Peter off the building I was like: wow, someone's finally succumbed to that temptation, but I bet he wasn't the first person who wanted to. Even though I love Peter more than I ought, he NEEDED that.

[linaerys.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, and I was going to mention about the cheerleading thing that even born and raised in a small American town, I don't get it. The cheerleaders in my school were kinda dim and pointless. No one gave a crap about them, and we all pointed a laughed when there was a pep assembly we couldn't get out of. Still, in Texas I think it is a big deal. Not so much in the cold North East (and I don't really buy that it would be in Sunnydale either unless they are national competition material, which they didn't seem to be).

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

Also, if you haven't already, do yourself a favor and pause on Nathan picking up the phone in the preview, with the wrist, and the watch and the pen, and dear GOD his hands and wrist give me vapours.

I knew in the promos that it was him. I mean how could you not, with that unbuttoned collar and the ring and the wrist and the -- you know! *fans self* I just, I silently prayed that it was a red herring. But it wasn't. That pissed me right the fuck off.

But then sparky77 started talking about stuff, like the missing scene I have to write where Peter goes to spy on Nathan in an effort to hone his invisibility skills and the awesomeness of when Claude and Nathan fight over Peter, because that shit had BETTER happen. Just saying.

[lankyguy.livejournal.com]

I love Adrain Pasdar and yes, he has improved with age. I loved the twist with the re-Peter's powers - coolness. Didn't much mind the idea that Claire is Nathan's kid and the revelation was a surprise to me. Immediately followed with an 'of course!' ITA about the cheerleader fixation in American culture - I just don't get it. Landry on FNL is so much more interesting than Lyla and he and Riggins actually have chemistry, unlike the prop up doll Minka Kelly.

Back to Heroes. Zach irritates me, just lose him.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

Landry on FNL is so much more interesting than Lyla and he and Riggins actually have chemistry, unlike the prop up doll Minka Kelly.

I agree. Also, I miss Landry. It's been like three weeks. That's totally unacceptable.

[sparky77.livejournal.com]

I just kind of just stick my head in the sand about the terrible depiction of women in Heroes (I might vaguely try to defend Claire, but I understand your point). I feel a bit guilty about it, but then I think about Nathan and I'm mostly okay with it.

There had better be some sort of Claude/Nathan smackdown in which they fight over Peter. And Nathan is shirtless. That's the key part.

I am totally in favor of some sort Peter/Claude/Nathan dirty wrongness with added bonus of invisibility, but
Oh, I think somebody's going to be making a trip back in time to see his big brother when he was young and stupid and a little more sexually open-minded. (Yes, that is my next story idea).
works too.

Also, the reason I'm so excited about Nathan being Claire's father is that it elimated a potential romance on the show, and I love this show so very much for all the hotness and awesomeness and also hotness it has given me, but they cannot do romance at all. Seriously, I'd be in favor of everyone being related and no romance ever.

And I wrote fic! But it's sad and has no porn, so it doesn't really count.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

I just kind of just stick my head in the sand about the terrible depiction of women in Heroes (I might vaguely try to defend Claire, but I understand your point). I feel a bit guilty about it, but then I think about Nathan and I'm mostly okay with it.

I have been ignoring it for the most part, with some pisiness, but last night I had some much rage anyway it just all went BOOM!

There had better be some sort of Claude/Nathan smackdown in which they fight over Peter. And Nathan is shirtless. That's the key part.

We are talking about this in your LJ, but suffice to say I am ALL about that.

Also, the reason I'm so excited about Nathan being Claire's father is that it elimated a potential romance on the show, and I love this show so very much for all the hotness and awesomeness and also hotness it has given me, but they cannot do romance at all. Seriously, I'd be in favor of everyone being related and no romance ever.

True. Although you know there seems to be a lot of romance in people being related. Just saying. I have your fic in an open window, yis!

[moonlitpines.livejournal.com]

You know the first thing Best Friend said last night is Zahra's gonna be *so pissed*.

Hee hee hee.

We know the baby girl well.

Also, check out her fabulous new icon when she inevitably shows up in this entry. It says Petrellicest--not just for the boys, anymore.

Mwuahahahaha.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

We won't even discuss that. Just suffice to say that however pissed you thought I'd get -- it was worse. Racking fracking *grumbles*

As I told linaerys in the above comments though once then sparky77 started talking about stuff, like the missing scene I have to write where Peter goes to spy on Nathan in an effort to hone his invisibility skills, and the awesomeness of when Claude and Nathan fight over Peter, because that shit had BETTER happen (http://sparky77.livejournal.com/426101.html?view=3946101#t3946101), I feel a little better. Not much though. Just saying.

[whatdanidigs.livejournal.com]

I was very disappointed that they had Nathan be Claire's dad. This could have been a great oppurtunity to introduce a new character. I had hoped her father would have been one of the 'old' heroes like Claude.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

I had hoped her father would have been one of the 'old' heroes like Claude.

See! Now THAT would've been made of awesome.

[gene-lee.livejournal.com]

<3 Claude is the new black. Or maybe Peter is the little black dress, he just goes with anything. Srsly, can the guy not do a scene without looking like he's about to make out with his costar? I should not find a bloody, pulpy, pushy, Peter--p'p'pah'-- so equally amusing and hot. *sigh* Kring.

;)

I agree on the much abused cheerleader-archtype in TV [and I didn't mean for that to come out as pun in regards to Claire *g*] but in her character's defense--and Kring's-- I don't think he is using the whole role of the cheerleader in any glorified way. Unless you're talking about gore in the horror-flick-cliche sense, he is so doing that.

In the case of Claire as a person, though, Kring writes her in the first 4 ep-story arc as wanting to be a cheerleader as a means to fit in and feel normal/accepted/popular. She also expresses to her Dad that she knows its superficial and that she's grown away from those group of girls she was once close with. She bluntly says that she's worried about "becoming a bitch". Her renewed relationship with Zach during that story arc also pushes her perception of friends and cliques.

Claire is not my favorite character [still isn't] and I empathize with you if you had fast-forwarded through her scenes in the early part of the series. Her premise didn't interest me and initial scenes didn't hook me at all, but because the show has such an intwined storyline, I went back and found things mentioned in her dialogue that kind of flesh her out beyond idolized/helpless TV cheerleader. If you can stand to watch her earlier storyline again [In your case, I recommend a stick or a leather wallet to bite down on] it might help your acceptance of her as a character.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

Or maybe Peter is the little black dress, he just goes with anything. Srsly, can the guy not do a scene without looking like he's about to make out with his costar? I should not find a bloody, pulpy, pushy, Peter--p'p'pah'-- so equally amusing and hot. *sigh* Kring.

I'm kind of shocked at all these sex!vibes Peter's giving off to the men I have to admit. He and Simone are like cold fish, but hell, last week even Mohinder was trying to get in on the action.

Claire is not my favorite character [still isn't] and I empathize with you if you had fast-forwarded through her scenes in the early part of the series. Her premise didn't interest me and initial scenes didn't hook me at all,

It's entirely possible this has something to do with it. The first four episodes I didn't pay that much attention, because, well, a) dense and b) I couldn't see where it was going. It was only around four or five that I picked up the Petrelli thread and since then it's been The Nathan & Peter and some random other people show.

[In your case, I recommend a stick or a leather wallet to bite down on] it might help your acceptance of her as a character.


Or, like, Adrian Pasdar, I would totally bite him if he wanted me to. Also, Claude as the bitter queen is totally working for me. The smackdown was just epically awesome.

[gene-lee.livejournal.com]

Or, like, Adrian Pasdar, I would totally bite him if he wanted me to. Also, Claude as the bitter queen is totally working for me. The smackdown was just epically awesome.

Ha! Did you notice how many references to dogs/puppies/collars/leashes were made both visually and verbally in that episode alone? On top of the whole "Nathan is an alpha dog" from the pilot episode, my mind has gone to a deep, dark place, not surprisingly, filled with scented candles and massage oil.

I think TPTB are not exactly being subtle with the possibility that our heroes are bred, not born. Or they're just awesome perverts.

[lastsummersiris.livejournal.com]

I know you want to vomit up your own head with disgust right now, but Mom #1 and I talked about this last week after the promo and we thought, yes, perhaps they will make Nathan Claire's daddy, but won't it be worth it when Nathan discovers incontrovertible proof that Peter is actually Linderman's son... and he destroys it? Peep? Hope?

[lastsummersiris.livejournal.com]

(you know, because he refuses to give up his brother. Even for Linderman.)

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

*refuses to laugh at icon* *stiffles* *sneezes*

I was bit-ter. Still am. Will continue to be so for quite some time. *sighs resignedly* They could've done so much awesomeness there but NO! *stomps off* *hollers back* They could've made CLAUDE her dad! That would've been awesome, but nooooooooo! Tim is so sleeping on the sofa.

[torchthisnow.livejournal.com]

I totally love your next story idea. Do it. Because I'm in the camp that thinks Nathan being Claire's father is REALLY stupid, too.

I was at a panel at school last night where we screened the episode and then Tim Kring, Hiro, and a couple of the other writers were there to talk about it, and the question I mostly wanted to ask was "WHY? WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS? THIS WAS A BAD, BAD IDEA. BAD." (I'm really glad I didn't text you, though. I thought about it and then realized you probably hadn't seen it and I hate it when people do that shit to me.)

Apparently nobody told the Heroes writers that women could be more than saintly or psychotic. Go figure.

I think that tends to be something that occurs a lot in comics, and most of the Heroes writers come from the comic world. I mean, back when I was more into comics, I read a couple books with really great female characters - Emma Frost, Snow, Death, etc. But on the whole, the comic world is a TOTAL Madonna/whore world, and that seems to have crossed over to here, too. Claire's pretty much the only one I consider a strong female character, and it took her awhile to grow on me.

Peter getting thrown off the roof made up for a lot with me, though. "I COULD HAVE DIED!" "Well, you could have FLOWN." Oh Claude, you are made of awesome.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

Claude and his puppy metaphor and the emo smackdown are the only reason I'm not calling the divorce lawyers right now, for real. I was PISSED! I mean there were so many awesome things that could've been done. Linderman could've been her dad! Or dead Papa Petrelli! Or fucking CLAUDE (like whatdanidigs said)!

*stomps off again*

[msloserrific.livejournal.com]

I have missed this entire season of Heroes (new job on Mondays), but i don't feel like reading long recaps on TWoP. (Stupid non-working torrents!)

Who's Claude?


And, at least (hopefully), the Peter/Claire shipping can end.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

Claude (who i can't seem to stop typing as Clause) is played by Christopher Eccleston. He's the invisible man, err, hero and has been for the last 15 years. He apparently had a past with Mr. Bennett, but more importantly Peter has decided Claude is going to be his mentor (we have no idea how he got this idea, but Claude appeared in his dreams so(?)). Anyway, he tracked him down and now Claude's teaching Peter how to control all the powers he's acquired. Last night he threw him off the roof -- it was pretty damn awesome.

[asha-dreamweave.livejournal.com]

I totally agree. Claude is awesome, Peter is hot and Kring is SO wrong to have made Nathan be Claire's father! I thought that because they made it SO obvious in the previews that it was Nathan, that they wouldn't go that way, but they did. Words cannot express the wrongness.

And now the two biggest ships for the show are cesty. Unbelievable. Somewhere, Kring is laughing.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

I totally agree. Claude is awesome, Peter is hot and Kring is SO wrong to have made Nathan be Claire's father! I thought that because they made it SO obvious in the previews that it was Nathan, that they wouldn't go that way, but they did. Words cannot express the wrongness.


Word. Yes, that is all.

[elyssadc.livejournal.com]

I am so shocked by the negative reactions to the reveal! I was so fervently praying that Nathan would be Claire's dad I was actually shouting out loud with glee when I saw it wasn't just a red herring. Why? Because the absolutely best stories (and by best I mean the most sick and wrong and hot) I've seen in this fandom were Nathan/Peter/Claire with Claire being Nathan's daughter. I mean the 'cestiness on this show is off the scales! The fanfic possibilities this opens up absolutely rock my world. Not to mention how much more screentime this is going to mean for my favorite magnificent bastard. Hopefully people will come around to this idea and the LJs will be flooded with 3-way Petrelli smut. I'll just be here with my fingers crossed.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

It may come from other people, but I assure you it won't be from me.

[elyssadc.livejournal.com]

Because Claire is underage or some other reason? Just curious. No matter what you write I'm sure it will kick ass and I'll still eat it up with a spoon. For me, the threesome is intruiging because of the man that Nathan is. I see him as doing anything to protect his family, but his idea of protection comes with a very intense sense of ownership. So, would that include Claire or would he be fighting his own jealousy over her connection with Peter and his refusal to share Peter with anyone? All very intruiging. However, the greatest thing about fanfic is that everyone can take what they want from the characters and leave the rest.

Now, your idea for a little trip back in time? Makes me swoon.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

So, would that include Claire or would he be fighting his own jealousy over her connection with Peter and his refusal to share Peter with anyone?

I see you trying to be slick and appeal to my inner Nathan, stop that! *shakes head* I'm sure I'll end up mentioning Claire in a peripheral sense, it's not as though I can ignore that the reveal has been made (although I really wish I could and will surely AU at some point), but as I said in my post the character herself leaves me cold. We don't mesh. I feel nothing compelling in her direction. My primary motivation for any character I write is trying to understand why they do the things they do. What's their motivation. How do you get to the points they've gotten to -- with Claire, I just don't care.

The underage thing -- I used to write Smallville. I can't get moral there -- and if I like a character it won't matter if they're eighty-five or fifteen, Claire just makes me go 'feh' and move on.

[elyssadc.livejournal.com]

Ahhh. I feel ya. Here's a little something for us all to hope for...maybe Nathan being in her life will actually make her character kick a little more ass. ;-)

[fivil.livejournal.com]

I like Heroes girls but their storylines are getting tad dull to me as the show progresses. Niki was more awesome when I didn't really know much about her character. Claire, yeah, this new twist amuses me because of the "hi, welcome to incestville!" twist on fandom favourite Peter/Claire ship. Still, it hasn't really sunk in yet. Some are saying it's a red herring, I don't know about that but it is weird. Of course, people always over-theorize Heroes.. Now people are also claiming Peter's adopted, handily removing all incest aspects of the show in one neat brush.

I really dig Claude, bastard though he may be to Emo!Peter. Your New Nathan theory rings very true and Peter's powers are currently the coolest in the show, IMO.

Hiro and Ando - consistently bringing the funny. "Did you put on cologne?", heh. Hiro's sister was kickass, too. I also had no idea Hiro's dad owned the company he worked at.

[romancandles.livejournal.com]

I'm not on board with Nathan-as-the-father either. Maybe some day, but it's just a lame horrible twist that explains the "science" even LESS than it did originally. Like what--the Flying Man and the Firestarter give birth to... Invincible Girl? Is there ever going to be a common point between all the Heroes? Why is Peter so special? SO MANY QUESTIONS.

I'm actually a fan of many of the women--Niki and Simone being notable exceptions. Claire's story is interesting and I give the actress credit for delivering some truly awful lines this week.

Claude is growing on me steadily.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

The only woman I like on Heroes is Mrs. Petrelli. Everybody else makes me -- well, we can see what they make me do. And we are having this conversation in your LJ, but dude, the Claude as Claire's dad thing is steadily becoming more solid in my brain. I've been discussing this quite avidly with another friend of mine and we've got these varied theories about Claude being partners with Mr. B and looking for people with powers and something happening with Pyro!Mama and Claire. I say that Claude and Pyro!Mama were involved, and Claude knew about her powers and didn't tell Mr. B, but he found out anyway and then there was some huge blow-out where Pyro!Mama burned down the house to throw Mr. B off the trail and thought Claire and Claude had died, but hey, they didn't and Mr. B took the kid. My friend's theory started mine, she says that Clare and Pyro!Mama were a job gone wrong. Either way, shit, Claude is totally becoming the man. OMG, maybe he dies for Claire in the finale!

[chicklet-girl.livejournal.com]

I really should've known Heroes wouldn't be different – in fact it went to a whole new level with 'Save the Cheerleader, Save the World!'

I've just been chalking it up to Claire being from Texas, where they are crazynutspsycho about the awesomeness of cheerleaders. Coupled with the things gene_lee pointed out upthread and my love of the irony of the cheerleader (blonde, usually considered vapid, inconsequential, and weak) being indestructible. Plus, unlike other teen characters in some shows I don't watch anymore *coughsmallvillecough*, Claire can dissemble and lie without giving away the game. Which I love, and also means she's totally Nathan's daughter. *g*

I have lots of reasons I'm okay with the development, but most of them are centered around the story possibilities they open up for the show. There's also the fact that I don't ship any pairings on Heroes, just individual characters, so I wasn't invested in Peter/Claire.

It does, however, bring up the age-old issue of authorial/actorly intent vs. fan interpretation, because according to this TV Guide interview, Kring always had Nathan as Claire's biological father, and both Pasdar and Panettiere have known about it for a long time. (Interview contains spoilers for future episodes.) And Ventimiglia seems to have known about it before the pilot aired. (No spoilers in that second one.) Specifically about Peter and Claire, TV Guide asked the big question:

TV Guide: Wasn't there a hint of a romantic spark between Claire and Peter? Now that we know they're related, it's kinda creepy.
Kring: That wasn't my intention, but I can see why some viewers took it that way. You get two very attractive young people on screen together, and people naturally go there. She looked to him as a hero, her knight in shining armor, and I think people translated that into romance. But it wasn't ever the plan. First of all, there's the age thing: Claire is 16 years old, and Peter is a good 10 years older. And now that he's her uncle, it changes everything.

So... I don't know. Part of me thinks this is an object lesson about not becoming attached to your interpretation of characters, which, yeah: HELLA BITCHY on my part, and easy to say because of my aforementioned lack of investment in Peter/Claire. Maybe it's because I'm so m/m slash-oriented: my pairings *never* become canon, so I've never had a pairing cut out from under me quite like this.

Hmmm. I feel like this comment is both way too long and paradoxically not explanatory enough of my thoughts. But I can't talk anymore, because I have to eat dinner before class. Stupid real life. *kicks desk*

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

Oh, I couldn't care less about the Claire/Peter thing. She's never interested me and my only interest in him is in his dynamic with Nathan. And more recently how Claude delivered the emo!smackdown. THAT made me happy, and amused, and also, I developed a little Peter sympathy. Perhaps.

[eisoj5]

Okay, now I *have* to friend you, for the arglefargle Nathan-is-Claire's-dad stuff. (And for the awesome fics, of course. *g*)

I mean, I'll adapt, and trollprincess has written a fic that could even make me like certain ways it could have played out, but my initial and still lasting reaction is similar to yours.