Episode 06: "Better Halves" discussion thread

[ragdus]

I've read through all the posts (in this thread) to see if anyone else addressed this. Is it just a coincidence that both DL and Niki have powers??

God I hope not. I'm hoping that within the context of the show these type of powers are rare enough to make that statistically impossible.

If it is a coincidence, then it stinks of bad writing.

It's not coincidence. It's about destiny. That why all these people are starting to run into each other.

 

[moguy]

It's not coincidence. It's about destiny. That why all these people are starting to run into each other.

I just hope the writers utilize a stronger explanation than purely destiny to explain all the coincidences. I really do love the show, but all these unexplained coincidences will eventually start to drag it down.

 

[burning-robot]

I dont get what DL did to Niki, his right hand went through her chest and he choked her? People say he grabed her heart but on the close up of Nikis face you could see his right hand around her neck. So he didnt grab her heart right?

And they made a big deal about the tattoo on her back, and showing a blank spot on her back at the very end of the show. But the blank spot was the left side of her back, the tatto is on the right, so the left side was supposed to be blank. I dont get why they made a point of showing the left side of her back.

 

[GhostPoet]

I dont get what DL did to Niki, his right hand went through her chest and he choked her? People say he grabed her heart but on the close up of Nikis face you could see his right hand around her neck. So he didnt grab her heart right?

And they made a big deal about the tattoo on her back, and showing a blank spot on her back at the very end of the show. But the blank spot was the left side of her back, the tatto is on the right, so the left side was supposed to be blank. I dont get why they made a point of showing the left side of her back.

doesn't her tatoo change sides when she's evil and good?

 

[burning-robot]

When has it been on the left side?

 

[AnimeJune]

doesn't her tatoo change sides when she's evil and good?

I haven't noticed, although that would be a pretty cool idea.

 

[Abaddon]

They need to do something more interesting with weiss.

 

[AnimeJune]

They need to do something more interesting with weiss.

Who's Weiss again?

 

[Abaddon]

I mean, Greg Grunberg(the cop)'s character. I still call him Weiss. Matt is his name, I think.

 

[RockSP]

I dont get what DL did to Niki, his right hand went through her chest and he choked her? People say he grabed her heart but on the close up of Nikis face you could see his right hand around her neck. So he didnt grab her heart right?

Before he grabs her neck his hand is in her chest so maybe he grabbed her heart.

 

[RockSP]

He left them alone for six months because he was convicted of murder and he expected her to be civil?

Convicted of murders she committed.

 

[AnimeJune]

Convicted of murders she committed.

Convicted of murders she had no idea she committed, which weren't her fault at all (bad Nikki's fault).

 

[sc12een17am3]

I've read through all the posts (in this thread) to see if anyone else addressed this. Is it just a coincidence that both DL and Niki have powers??

God I hope not. I'm hoping that within the context of the show these type of powers are rare enough to make that statistically impossible.

If it is a coincidence, then it stinks of bad writing.

yeah its about destiny, i remember in a beginning of one episode, 4got which. that the intro said about the spirit calls the Hero and leads them where they have to be. something like, can't remember the exact words.

Convicted of murders she committed.

but u have to remember that he was in a gang, leader in fact. he may not have been the one who done those murders, but im sure that they/he done many other crimes before that. seems that bad Niki is only doing it do get the hell away from DL who's surroundings can influence in Michal's safety, and since she is "bad" Niki shes doing the extreme to do so

 

[StorminNorman]

He left them alone for six months because he was convicted of murder and he expected her to be civil?

Dont forget that she set him up though.


At first though he seemed to accept the fact that she would NOT take him back (he did not start going crazy, he calmy set up to sleep in the living room) - SHE accepted him back though. DL did nothing wrong until after he found HER with the money that sent him up the river for 6 months.

 

[StorminNorman]

Convicted of murders she had no idea she committed, which weren't her fault at all (bad Nikki's fault).

It was not her fault for doing the murders - it WAS her fault for decided to take the case she stole and her kid and running from a man who had shown to be nothing but loyal to his family.

 

[Dread]

I caught the episode last night, I just hadn't had the time to comment until today.

First off, no, the episode wasn't as good as last week's, or even some of the past ones. I wouldn't call it the weakest episode out of the 6 so far, but it wasn't the strongest. Maybe it has to do with it's heavy focus on Nikki, who is the character I care the least about. And they omitted Nathan, a character who after last week started to shine on me, simply for making "flight" look good.

As for the others, Peter answers the call from Hiro & Ando and gives them the "save the cheerleader" comment from his Future self. He also wants to help Isaac track down the painting his ex (and Peter's current) girlfriend sold. Mohinder decides to scatter his dad's ashes and leave, but not without getting a kiss from Eden. Hiro & Ando are hustled into cheating FOR the big cowboy, only to hide in a bathroom when Ando spots a gun on their poker opponent. While in the bathroom, everyone at the table is slaughtered, and Hiro's powers fail to work. Ando has to talk him back into his quest with the idea that when he "masters" his powers fully he can just go back in time and fix this; a "do-over".

But, yeah, most of the episode focused on Nikki, who I've never cared for since the pilot. We finally meet her outlaw husband D.L., who appears to have the power to turn intangible at will, which he uses to break into and OUT of places (like jail). He also is the recipient of another tired cliche; the black man imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit. It was tired by the time Luke Cage did it and it's even more tired now. What I find fascinating is how TV shows for mass markets seem to persist in reusing stereotypes and cliches that a lot of COMICS have even abandoned. But aside for that, D.L. was pretty cool; while he's hardly Mr. Law & Order, he cares about his son and wants to find out who set him up by murdering his old crew and fleeing with $2 million. Turns out that it was actually Nikki, or rather her "Were Nikki" form, who also killed the poker-dudes before D.L. could confront them and ask for info. Plus, I'm just glad he has a power that isn't simply super-strength or nigh invulnerability; "brute" type powers that a lot of male black characters end up getting. Nikki finally has a heart-to-heart with her "alter ego", which was at least well done to me (not as good as Defoe's "Norman and Goblin" scene from SPIDER-MAN, though). Her Alter-Ego has appearently been around as long as Nikki has and seems to perhaps represent her Id, doing what she is too weak to do. She wants D.L. out of her life but doesn't know how to do it, so her Alter Ego did it for her by setting him up for murder and now keeping him from possibly clearing his name. However, the more Nikki knows about her Alter Ego, the stronger she seems to become in resisting it, which in a way was her downfall. She gets caught by D.L. going for his cash and when they fight, she easily had the advantage with strength until "Nikki" kept blipping back and forth, especially when their son entered, allowing D.L. to plunge his fist INTO her chest, seemingly killing her. But is Nikki actually dead, or did he simply kill her more PASSIVE personality?

I guess the other big development was Claire, who seemingly met her "birth parents", who may have simply been stooges hired by her father. Her father also gets a call from his agent, who turns out to be Eden, who informs him of the message Mohinder disbelieved from Peter. I liked his coversation with her, noting almost like a fanboy that a time manipulator is "cool" and then flinching in either shock or horror at the "save the cheerleader" line, which he obviously understood. Eden then is sent to talk to Isaac.

Like some posters have questioned, I am wondering if Claire's Dad actually is the "villian", or is someone who has a positive objective but is simply going about it in underhanded ways; much like Zanatos from GARGOYLES or Bishop from TMNT. Isaac, as seen by Hiro, will end up being killed by Syler sometime before the "big bang". If Claire's Dad is involved with Syler, this may be the time it starts coming together. However, he does seem to care about his daughter; whether because of actual love or potential to exploit her powers, or both, is unknown.

D.L. at least provides a good counter to the other male black character who simply acts as a mute slave.

So, like I said, not a bad episode but not as cool as last week's. I have no love lost for Nikki so if the writers actually did plan on offing her it wouldn't offend me, other than we'd have a void to fill (you need at least two females on a "team" with powers these days). Her Alter Ego isn't exactly "evil", just has no qualms about doing nasty things to obtain her objectives, whereas Nikki was more passive and grief stricken. Granted, Green Goblin could be argued as simular, "only doing what is best for Osborn" (least back in the day).

Still hooked on the show and will be watching more. I'd rather they not introduce too many new characters and focus on the ones at hand. Nathan & Matt skipped this one, for instance.

 

[Hiro]

First time through I couldn't really enjoy it because I didn't get what I wanted - Peter with Simone trying to find the missing panel - Hiro getting to NY and meeting Peter and Isaac - The good guys starting to get a clue on where Claire is.

But I just watched it for a second time without the expectations and it was actually pretty good. Next week for the good stuff.

I hope Eden and HRG don't screw up Isaac too much.

 

[AnimeJune]

I liked the whole interaction between Isaac and Peter - they moved quite smoothly out of the "awkwaaaard" phase and into something interesting.

 

[nexgenpresident]

a did anyone catch the part when hiro&ando were in the bathroom.you can hear the poker-dudes..say "hey who invited her" then something else before...well you know what happen to them after that.... thanks for the welcome animejune

 

[ragdus]

Yeah it's pretty obvious that was evil Nikki killing them.... since, um, she mentions doing it later in the show.

 

[nexgenpresident]

yes it is ..but i was just stating the not so obvious hint that shows it was her before she mentioned anything about it...thas all

 

[GhostPoet]

Am I the only one that finds Niki to be a really interesting character? She's got two sides and the evil side seems to have the most control...and infact took control of her for a very short period of time just to SHOW her who is in control here...She's sadistic and selfish.

 

[3 Dev Adam]

I like Niki as well, mainly because of the fact that she looks a helluva lot like Ali Larter.

 

[Hulkfan]

I wish someone would post pics of when DL phased his hand through "second" Nikki.

 

[Nightwing 52]

I wish someone would post pics of when DL phased his hand through "second" Nikki.

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