US TV

'Heroes' - S03E06: 'Dying Of The Light'

Published Wednesday, Oct 29 2008, 22:46 GMT | By Ben Rawson-Jones | 9 comments

A couple of well-executed 'deaths' and the rise of Arthur Petrelli bolster this solid, if unspectacular instalment. Compared to the brilliance of previous weeks, the episode is sadly hampered by the dullness of the Africa and Mohinder subplots.

Spare a thought for poor Adam Monroe. He's just emerged from being buried alive only for Papa Petrelli to suck the life out of him. Don't expect him to be gone for too long, as his powers of miraculous recuperation are well known. Not only did he survive a fierce explosion in 17th Century Japan, but he also emerged relatively unscathed from the awful love triangle with Hiro and Yaeko.

The manner in which Hiro pretends to dispatch his pal Ando, which provided a real jolt in the previous episode, is cleverly unveiled through a pleasing mixture of time travel, blood bags and fake blades. It also showcases the ambiguity of Daphne, a character working for the supposedly 'bad side' but with enough compassion to berate Hiro for his actions towards Ando. This really wins the audience round to her side, meaning that one can't help but hope that she and Matt Parkman find some kind of domestic bliss together.

Once Hiro hops over to Africa, though, his plot strand quickly falls into tedium. At least the Mohinder 'The Fly' Suresh narrative thread is comparatively consistent. Consistently bad. This week he decides to try to trap Nathan and Tracy, although it's hard to care. Can't he be sent over to Africa to put the prophetic Isaac Mendez rip-off painter in a cocoon?

The character of Doyle is entertaining throughout the rather macabre dinner party with the extended family, although it's rather predictable that Clare ends up being shot, regenerating and saving the day.

The episode ends on a high at least, with the brilliantly cast Robert Forster enabling Arthur Petrelli to rise up once again and even try to trick his own son. We can't wait to see what he has in store for the wife.

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Rachel, on November 8th, 2008
"Don't expect him to be gone for too long, as his powers of miraculous recuperation are well known." Does this mean Adam IS coming back? How? If he's power has been sucked from him, he's a heap of human remains remember? Overall great episode!

Katie, London, on October 31st, 2008
This episode was not very good :( But I can assure everyone that episode 7 kicks ass! Series 2 had many many very poor episodes, but picked up at the end. I'm hoping series 3 builds in momentum to provide a truly wonderful climax. Unfortunately Heroes is still going for "just shove everyone in that we can and ignore a coherant and engaging storyline"> Peter needs to go back to acting school, Clare is more and more bland and pointless, but Sylar and HRG just about manage to sustain my interest.

Ray - Blackpool, on October 31st, 2008
Well series 3 has 26 episodes and at the moment we are just seeing the build up to the big finale. Heroes never disappoints so i am still optimistic for what the next episode has install for us all :) I've been hooked with the series ever since it started series 1 Genesis. Adam will not be back because arthur petrelli took his ability away? and without his ability how can he cellular regenerate? One thing to remember his why did peter take sylar's ability? Could it be because the future peter knew that his father will be back and so if peter loses all abilities, he still know how to work people's minds and maybe take other abilities... But out of the 3 brothers i think nathan has the worse ability. Simply because peter and Sylar can merely take other abilities :) Top notch and Sylar is my fav character

Chris, UK, on October 31st, 2008
"Don't expect him to be gone for too long, as his powers of miraculous recuperation are well known." Er...yes, except he doesn't have those powers anymore. That's the point. Duh.

Victor, London, on October 30th, 2008
To follow up Mike's point: not only can there be two people with the same powers, we've already seen that with Nathan and West (flying), Claire and the now-late Adam (regeneration) and now Peter and Arthur (absorbing other powers... except in very different ways!).

Dan - Birmingham, on October 30th, 2008
Arthur's power is to remove people's abilities. This is why he healed and Adam died (he does not have his ability anymore, which explains the rapid aging)

Mike, Stamford, on October 30th, 2008
I'm sorry but sometimes I do wonder if the reviewers are watching the same programs as the rest of us (Merlin for example)... This episode was not a bad one at all and sets up plenty of things for future weeks - the Mohinder storyline is far from "Consistently bad" and, having seen the US eps ;), develops quite nicely but requires this build up. Whilst not the best episode ever I would rank it as above average and not worth the scathing that seems to be rife in this piece. (BTW - why a Mendez rip-off? Just 'cos we are all different doesn't mean there can't be two people with the same powers or a "scientific" way of releasing the same powers in others!)

ed, SE Eng., on October 30th, 2008
Uh, did you not understand what happened to Adam? He won't be coming back from that.... Overall, good episode - but it's really just keeping me occupied until Lost comes back :)

Dee, Leeds, on October 30th, 2008
One of the better episodes of the series. Because it didn't rely on jumping around timezones. And storylines were merged together.

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