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Heroes - Season 1 Recap

23 Episodes

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Individuals across the globe discover they have extraordinary abilities. Claire Bennet heals instantly, Hiro Nakamura can teleport through time and space, and Peter Petrelli can absorb and mimic the powers of others. They are all drawn into a growing conspiracy involving a shadowy organization and a serial killer known as Sylar, who hunts those with powers to steal them.

The central conflict revolves around preventing a catastrophic explosion in New York City, which many believe Peter is destined to cause. Key turning points include Sylar's brutal murders and power absorptions, Peter's struggle to control his evolving abilities, and Claire's constant near-death experiences followed by miraculous recoveries. Sylar's acquisition of Isaac Mendez's precognitive ability and Peter Petrelli's accidental absorption of Ted Sprague's explosive powers escalate the danger.

The season culminates with Peter, now a walking nuclear bomb, confronting Sylar. In a desperate act, Nathan Petrelli sacrifices himself by flying Peter into the atmosphere to detonate safely. Sylar's body vanishes, and Hiro is sent back to feudal Japan.

Season 1 of Heroes covers episodes 1-23. Here's everything that happened:

Season 1, Episode 1: Genesis - Various individuals across the globe discover they have extraordinary abilities. High school cheerleader Claire Bennet heals instantly, artist Isaac Mendez paints the future, and scientist Mohinder Suresh investigates his father's murder. Peter Petrelli dreams of flying, while Niki Sanders exhibits a violent alter ego. The episode concludes with the revelation that Mr. Bennet, Claire's father, is the same man who searched Chandra Suresh's apartment, hinting at a larger conspiracy.

Season 1, Episode 2: Don't Look Back - Peter questions Nathan about their flight, leading to Peter discovering he can hover. Meanwhile, Hiro is arrested for Isaac Mendez's murder, only to teleport back in time to the moment before he left Japan. Claire's father discovers she is one of the "specials," and Matt Parkman, a cop who can hear thoughts, begins investigating a murder. The episode concludes with Hiro witnessing a massive explosion and returning to the train.

Season 1, Episode 3: One Giant Leap - Claire Bennet is seemingly killed by a quarterback after a party, only to revive during her own autopsy. Hiro Nakamura travels to the future and returns with Ando, convinced they must go to America to save the world. Meanwhile, Matt Parkman is recruited by the FBI to hunt Sylar, and Mohinder Suresh discovers Sylar's apartment contains a map of potential superpowered individuals. The episode concludes with Hiro and Ando resolving to prevent a future catastrophe.

Season 1, Episode 4: Collision - Matt Parkman awakens captured and interrogated by Mr. Bennet, who uses a device to block his telepathy. Meanwhile, Claire Bennet, presumed dead, revives in the morgue and escapes. Hiro and Ando's gambling in Las Vegas goes awry, leading to an attack. Niki is coerced into seducing a politician for blackmail. The episode concludes with a future version of Hiro stopping time to deliver a cryptic warning to Peter about saving a cheerleader and being the hero the world needs.

Season 1, Episode 5: Hiros - A future version of Hiro Nakamura appears to Peter, urging him to "Save the cheerleader, save the world." Claire confesses to her father about her encounter with Brody, leading to Brody's memories being completely erased. Meanwhile, Niki wakes up with no memory of the previous night, and Matt uses his telepathy to please his wife. The episode concludes with Peter unable to convince Mohinder of Hiro's existence.

Season 1, Episode 6: Better Halves - Niki's husband, D.L., returns, revealing his phasing ability during a violent confrontation with Niki's alter-ego, Jessica. Meanwhile, Hiro and Ando are coerced into a dangerous poker game in Las Vegas, which ends with all other players being violently slaughtered. Claire meets her biological parents, a meeting orchestrated by Mr. Bennet, while Mohinder decides to abandon his investigation. The episode concludes with Eden visiting Isaac, hinting at further manipulation.

Season 1, Episode 7: Nothing to Hide - Matt Parkman discovers Ted Sprague, a man who emits radiation, and learns his wife died of cancer due to his powers. Claire's younger brother, Lyle, witnesses her healing ability after she staples her hand. Niki unleashes her alter ego, Jessica, to find her son, Micah, who is with his father, D.L. Hiro Nakamura freezes time to save D.L. and Micah from a car explosion, and Isaac Mendez has vanished with his crucial painting.

Season 1, Episode 8: Seven Minutes to Midnight - Hiro travels back in time to save Charlie, only to find she has been murdered by Sylar. Mohinder experiences prophetic dreams about his father's death, and Matt Parkman learns more about his own abilities and the mysterious "Haitian." Mr. Bennet enlists Isaac to paint Claire's impending doom, leading to Charlie's brain being removed by Sylar, and Hiro's failed attempt to prevent it.

Season 1, Episode 9: Homecoming - Claire is unexpectedly voted Homecoming Queen, but her triumph is overshadowed by danger. Sylar attacks the school, fatally stabbing Jackie Wilcox in the locker room. Peter intervenes, and in the ensuing struggle, both he and Sylar fall from a ledge. Peter miraculously survives and demonstrates Claire's healing ability, while Sylar is subdued by Eden and the Haitian. The episode concludes with Peter being arrested by police.

Season 1, Episode 10: Six Months Ago - Hiro travels back in time to save Charlie, but discovers her fate is sealed by a brain tumor. Meanwhile, Gabriel Gray is approached by Chandra Suresh, marking the beginning of his transformation into Sylar, and Claire discovers her healing ability after a cheerleading injury. The episode concludes with these origin stories revealing how the characters' extraordinary lives began.

Season 1, Episode 11: Fallout - In the aftermath of the Homecoming incident, Peter is arrested, while Mr. Bennet has the Haitian attempt to erase Claire's memory. Eden, frustrated with keeping Sylar alive, confronts him and commits suicide to prevent him from taking her powers. Sylar later escapes his containment. Meanwhile, Niki turns herself in to the police, and Isaac paints a new prophecy of an exploding man. The episode concludes with Peter collapsing after being released, seemingly overwhelmed by his powers.

Season 1, Episode 12: Godsend - Two weeks after Peter's near-fatal absorption of powers, he remains in a coma. Nathan seeks Simone's help to understand Peter's visions, while Hiro and Ando pursue a legendary sword depicted in Isaac's paintings. Niki faces legal repercussions for her actions, and Claire attempts to regain Zach's memories. The episode concludes with the introduction of Claude, a new hero with invisibility powers, and Sylar visiting his mother, leading to the accidental death of his mother.

Season 1, Episode 13: The Fix - Claire discovers her biological mother is alive and a pyrokinetic. Matt learns his wife is pregnant, but faces a six-month suspension from the police force. Peter continues to struggle with his powers, seeking guidance from the invisible Claude. Meanwhile, Mr. Bennet checks on Sylar, only to find him resurrected and seemingly recovered. The episode concludes with Hiro's father revealing himself as Hiro's captor.

Season 1, Episode 14: Distractions - Peter struggles to control his powers under Claude's tutelage, leading to an accidental explosion. Claire meets her pyrokinetic mother, Meredith, and learns her biological father is Nathan Petrelli. Sylar escapes captivity, confronting Claire's mother before being forced to flee. Niki's dissociative identity, Jessica, violently escapes a psychiatric facility.

Season 1, Episode 15: Run! - Meredith reveals to Nathan that Claire is alive, leading to Nathan being blackmailed by Meredith for $100,000. Linderman employs Jessica as an assassin, who is tasked with killing a lawyer who stole from him, and later is assigned to kill Nathan. Sylar, posing as Zane Taylor, kills Zane and absorbs his ability to melt metal, then convinces Mohinder to travel with him. Matt, working as a bodyguard, gets caught in a conflict involving Jessica and the stolen diamonds.

Season 1, Episode 16: Unexpected - Ted Sprague and Hana Gitelman team up, discovering their tracking marks are from Primatech. Matt Parkman joins them to confront Mr. Bennet. Meanwhile, Peter Petrelli accidentally absorbs telekinesis and invisibility, leading to Simone being shot and killed by Isaac Mendez. Claude is captured by Mr. Bennet and the Haitian, but Peter intervenes. Sylar, posing as Zane, murders Dale Smither to gain her super-hearing. The episode concludes with Ted, Matt, and Hana holding Mr. Bennet at gunpoint.

Season 1, Episode 17: Company Man - Matt Parkman and Ted Sprague hold the Bennet family hostage, seeking answers about Primatech. Flashbacks reveal Noah Bennet's past with the company and his partner, Claude. Ted Sprague loses control and causes an explosion, but Claire survives due to her healing ability. Noah orchestrates a plan with The Haitian to protect Claire, leading to Noah having his memory erased. The episode concludes with Matt being taken by the Company and Noah and Claire on the run.

Season 1, Episode 18: Parasite - After accidentally killing Simone, Peter escapes an enraged Isaac. Nathan, secretly working with the FBI, meets with Linderman. Hiro successfully steals a crucial sword but teleports to a devastated future, realizing he failed to prevent the explosion. Meanwhile, Mr. Bennet's memory is restored, and he learns Claire is in danger. Candice Wilmer, a new shapeshifting ability user, makes her debut, posing a new threat.

Season 1, Episode 19: .07% - Sylar confronts Peter, while Linderman reveals his plans to Nathan and enlists Jessica. Claire meets her father, and Bennet, Matt, and Ted attempt to escape. Sylar gains Isaac Mendez's precognitive ability after killing him, and Mohinder revives Peter after his near-fatal encounter with Sylar. The episode concludes with Linderman taking Micah to an unknown location.

Season 1, Episode 20: Five Years Gone - Hiro and Ando travel five years into the future to find a devastated New York. They learn that Sylar was responsible for the explosion, but that Peter Petrelli is the true cause of the blast. In this grim future, heroes are hunted, and Matt Parkman is head of Homeland Security. The episode concludes with Hiro returning to his own time, armed with the knowledge that he must kill Sylar to prevent this future, though the true cause of the explosion remains Peter.

Season 1, Episode 21: The Hard Part - Sylar visits his mother, revealing a desire to avoid causing mass destruction, but their encounter ends tragically when Sylar inadvertently kills his mother. Meanwhile, Mohinder discovers a cure for Molly Walker's illness in his own blood. Peter grapples with absorbing Ted's explosive powers, and Claire is given a gun to use if he loses control. The episode concludes with Sylar painting an apocalyptic vision of New York, seemingly embracing his destructive destiny.

Season 1, Episode 22: Landslide - Nathan Petrelli wins the election with Linderman's help, while Sylar absorbs Ted Sprague's radiation power after Ted is arrested. Bennet and Parkman discover Molly Walker is the Company's tracking system, and D.L. Hawkins kills Linderman before succumbing to his own injuries. The episode concludes with Hiro preparing to confront Sylar.

Season 1, Episode 23: How to Stop an Exploding Man - Peter Petrelli grapples with his uncontrollable nuclear powers as he confronts Sylar. Hiro Nakamura intervenes, impaling Sylar with his sword, but Sylar throws Hiro away before Nathan Petrelli sacrifices himself by flying Peter into the atmosphere to detonate safely. Sylar's body disappears, and Hiro is transported to feudal Japan.