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Heroes - Season 4 Recap

19 Episodes

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This season of "Heroes" centers on a mysterious carnival run by Samuel Sullivan, a powerful individual who can control the earth. Samuel seeks to recruit people with abilities into his carnival, promising them a place to belong. Among those drawn into his orbit are Claire Bennet, a resilient young woman who wants to live a normal life but is constantly pulled into extraordinary events, and Peter Petrelli, a hero struggling with his own powers and the loss of his brother. Sylar, a dangerous villain with the ability to steal powers, is also a central figure, often battling his own fractured psyche and the influence of others.

The core conflict arises as Samuel's true intentions become clear: he plans to unleash his powers on New York City, causing mass destruction. Key turning points include Sylar taking full control of Matt Parkman's body, leading to a dangerous power struggle. Later, Nathan Petrelli dies, a shocking sacrifice that deeply impacts Peter. The season culminates in a massive confrontation where Samuel's plan is ultimately thwarted. In the end, Claire reveals the existence of evolved humans to the world, ushering in a new era.

Season 4 of Heroes covers episodes 1-19. Here's everything that happened:

Season 4, Episode 1: Orientation - Claire starts college, struggling to fit in, while Peter returns to his paramedic job. Meanwhile, Sylar's consciousness continues to plague Matt, and Angela fears Nathan's true identity is slipping. A mysterious carnival owner, Samuel Sullivan, is introduced, and his brother Joseph is buried, hinting at a new threat. The episode concludes with Samuel using Lydia's abilities to foresee future targets, including Claire, Sylar, and Peter.

Season 4, Episode 2: Jump, Push, Fall - Claire investigates her roommate Annie's apparent suicide, testing the "jump, push, fall" theory by jumping from her own window. She discovers Annie did indeed kill herself. Meanwhile, Hiro realizes he is dying and travels back in time to fix a past mistake, and Matt Parkman is tormented by Sylar's mental presence. Danko is brutally murdered by Edgar, and Samuel's carnival gains a mysterious compass.

Season 4, Episode 3: Ink - Peter faces the consequences of his actions and meets Emma, a new hero who sees sound as color. Meanwhile, Matt grapples with Sylar's presence in his mind as he investigates a crime. Claire navigates college life and her revealed ability. The episode concludes with Samuel causing a massive sinkhole that swallows a house, and Peter absorbing abilities from William Hooper, who is revealed to be Samuel.

Season 4, Episode 4: Acceptance - Hiro grapples with his terminal illness, attempting to save a coworker from suicide but ultimately accepting his fate. Angela helps Nathan confront his past, leading to a shocking revelation. Tracy seeks to reclaim her old life but realizes she desires a greater impact. The episode concludes with Sylar clawing his way out of a shallow grave, having survived Nathan's apparent death.

Season 4, Episode 5: Hysterical Blindness - Sylar, suffering from amnesia, is apprehended by police and begins to regain his powers. Claire suspects her roommate Gretchen has a hidden agenda, which is revealed to be a plot by Samuel Sullivan to isolate Claire. Peter inadvertently absorbs Emma's ability to see sounds, and Gretchen is exposed as a pawn in Samuel's plan, with Becky Taylor revealed as the one who pushed Claire's roommate to her death. Sylar is then welcomed into Samuel's carnival.

Season 4, Episode 6: Tabula Rasa - Peter absorbs Hiro's teleportation power to find a healer for Hiro's brain tumor, encountering Jeremy, whose healing touch has become deadly, leading to Jeremy accidentally killing his parents. Meanwhile, Sylar is subjected to a hallucinatory experience in a house of mirrors, forcing him to confront his past murders, and he is ultimately "baptized" into Samuel's carnival family. The episode concludes with Hiro traveling back in time to save Charlie.

Season 4, Episode 7: Strange Attractors - Matt Parkman attempts to defeat Sylar by drinking heavily, only to have Sylar take full control of Matt's body. Meanwhile, Claire and Gretchen are hazed by their sorority sisters, leading to Claire being impaled while saving Gretchen from an invisible attacker. Tracy Strauss is called to help a troubled young boy, Jeremy, who is later killed by a rogue policeman. The episode concludes with Samuel enlisting Tracy to join his carnival and burying the police station.

Season 4, Episode 8: Once Upon a Time in Texas - Hiro travels back in time to save Charlie, enlisting Sylar's help by revealing his future. Despite saving her from her aneurysm, Charlie is ultimately taken by Samuel, who then forces Hiro to return to the present. There, Samuel reveals that his carnival's time traveler trapped Charlie in an unknown time before dying, leaving Hiro to do Samuel's bidding to find her.

Season 4, Episode 9: Shadowboxing - Claire discovers the sorority attacks were orchestrated by Becky seeking revenge on Noah for her father's death. Meanwhile, Sylar, now believing he is Nathan, escapes Matt's body, and Gretchen leaves Claire after the traumatic events. The episode concludes with Samuel revealing his intentions to Claire and Noah confronting Becky.

Season 4, Episode 10: Brother's Keeper - Sylar re-inhabits Nathan's body, leading to a confrontation with Peter. Hiro travels back in time to retrieve a crucial film for Samuel, inadvertently saving Mohinder from death but then trapping him in an asylum. Tracy struggles with her powers, and Sylar fully takes control of Nathan's body, leaving Peter to face his corrupted brother. The episode concludes with Peter realizing the horrifying truth about Nathan's fate.

Season 4, Episode 11: Thanksgiving - During a tense family dinner, Claire contemplates leaving college. Meanwhile, Hiro and Lydia travel to the past, witnessing Samuel murder his brother Joseph. Hiro later saves Edgar from Samuel's wrath, and Claire, using Samuel's compass, decides to seek answers. Peter vows to find his brother Nathan after Nathan briefly resurfaces from Sylar's control.

Season 4, Episode 12: The Fifth Stage - Peter, using the Haitian's power, confronts Sylar and manages to bring Nathan back, only for Nathan to sacrifice himself by jumping off a roof. Nathan Petrelli dies, and Sylar re-emerges. Meanwhile, Claire joins Samuel's carnival, finding a sense of belonging. The episode concludes with Samuel rallying his carnival members to assert dominance.

Season 4, Episode 13: Upon This Rock - Claire grows suspicious of Samuel's motives after finding Primatech files in his trailer. Meanwhile, Sylar returns to the carnival, unable to kill, and receives a tattoo revealing Claire as his destiny. The episode culminates with Nathan Petrelli's funeral, publicly disguised as a plane crash, and Sylar hovering outside Claire's window.

Season 4, Episode 14: Let It Bleed - Noah interrogates Edgar, who escapes after revealing carnival secrets. Peter, struggling with Nathan's death, absorbs Claire's healing ability after being shot while trying to de-escalate a hostage situation. Sylar discovers his destiny is tied to Claire through a tattoo. The episode concludes with Sylar watching Claire through her dorm window, and Peter grappling with his grief and newfound ability.

Season 4, Episode 15: Close to You - Hiro and Ando rescue Mohinder from a mental institution, restoring his mind with an electrical shock. Noah and Matt attempt to use Samuel's former love, Vanessa, to lure him into a trap, but Samuel escapes with her. Meanwhile, Peter, after experiencing a vision of Emma causing mass destruction, destroys her cello, leading to Emma turning against him. The episode concludes with Hiro, Ando, and Mohinder arriving at Noah's apartment.

Season 4, Episode 16: Pass/Fail - Hiro's life is endangered by his brain tumor, leading him to a dream trial where he must defend his past actions. Claire is visited by an amnesiac Sylar, who seeks answers about his identity. Meanwhile, Samuel's attempt to impress Vanessa takes a dark turn, culminating in Lydia's death and Samuel framing Noah for the act. Hiro ultimately survives his ordeal, seemingly healed.

Season 4, Episode 17: The Art of Deception - Samuel frames Noah Bennet for a shooting at the carnival, leading to Claire and Noah being trapped by Samuel. Meanwhile, Sylar, seeking to suppress his powers, manipulates Matt Parkman into trapping him in a mental prison. Peter intervenes, entering Sylar's mind to help him escape, and they break through a mental wall. The episode concludes with Samuel rallying the carnival-goers against the perceived threat of Noah Bennet.

Season 4, Episode 18: The Wall - Peter enters Sylar's mindscape, a desolate city, to free him from his self-imposed prison. Meanwhile, Samuel attempts to turn Claire against her father by revealing Noah Bennet's dark past, including the murder of his first wife. Samuel traps Claire and Noah in a sinking RV, and declares his intention to unleash his powers on New York City. Peter and Sylar eventually break through the symbolic "wall" of Sylar's guilt, escaping his mental prison.

Season 4, Episode 19: Brave New World - Trapped underground by Samuel, Claire and Noah face their potential demise as oxygen dwindles. Peter and Sylar work together to save Emma from danger. Meanwhile, Hiro says goodbye to an aged Charlie, and the heroes unite to stop Samuel's plan to harm thousands. Samuel's scheme is thwarted, and he is apprehended. The episode concludes with Claire revealing the existence of evolved humans to the world, setting the stage for a new era.