But how different would it have been had Michael Keaton played Jack and got killed off half way through the pilot (like what was originally planned)?

Personally, I think that would have been awesome.

Personally, I would have watched just to see that happen. (I have repressed White Noise issues).

That said, the guy who plays Jack, he's very pretty. I suspect that's where a lot of the audience goes. Then we have the Charlies. They made an effort to find ways to make people love the characters (which was often 'Hey, he's pretty!!', but still), which all credit to them.

So I rewatched Heroes, and I have to eat my words a bit. I was less tired and cranky this time. It's a lot better than I remember it. I didn't like the first few minutes - a scrolling introduction of self important text about how the world will change, a character being self important yada. That said, after that head trauma is over, the pace evens out, the breaks are well handled (except one), the direction is superb and it starts to hang. Still don't think it'll hit big - they've obviously put a lot of effort into the world from the pilot stage (unlike Lost), so I hope I'm wrong.

The only thing I cared about in Lost was the stupid polar bear (because it's a POLAR BEAR. Polar Bears are cool and on tropical islands they're even cooler) which I'm quite sure will be Weevil's Spy Pen for that show.

I think everything is Weevil's SpyPen on Lost.

That said, I like Jack (still), and Matthew Fox was a good part of the reason I tuned in, in the first place. Also? I hate reality TV, so I felt a little subversive, sort of like, "Ha! Take that, Survivor. I can watch a television show about a bunch of people stranded on an island. Scripted. Like God intended."

So, yeah, I'm still trying to avoid reading the news more than a few times an hour, and when my mind wanders too much to work, I go reading things that are in a completely different world and have completely made-up problems, who manage to keep me interested and in that world long enough. Which is the whiney way for thanking Kristen for putting up Point of Origin and apologize in advance for any ramblings.

Oh, and I'm whitefonting, because, as far as I remember, anyway, this episode wasn't shown in the USA, and I have no idea what the spoiler-font rules are for that, so I'm going to white it out anyway. I don't think I've ever whitefonted a tv discussion in b.org, ever (in fact, it feels kinda strange, now, still, you know?), so congrats to myself on a first time, I think.

I liked how Danny and Mel Followed Rebecca inside, ashes and wrong shoes and all. I would really have liked to see the expression on their faces, too, since the emotions in this could be played in several ways, at least according to my read - were they irritated? Accepting whatever it is they had to do? Maybe (at least Mel) laughing at themselves a bit?

And then, I was sort of glad that I can't actually see the episode, because the description of the fire, the "flailing in an insect and nightmarish way" dark figure, the oh-my-goodness-if_rebecca-is-freaking-out-then-what-on-earth-is-there? thoughts - I probably couldn't have watched that, anyway.

And I liked the way they were a team, in a way, a strange not-really-together sort of way - Danny rushing to Rebecca's help, Paul trusting her instincts and responses enough that he is sure that there's something out-of-the-ordinary in the burnt out place. The opening scenes I've got to read so far are pretty strong.

OK, so Rebecca's reaction - was it just because of the fire, as a fire, or anything specific to that place and that fire? And how come Web knew? In advance? Or did he just want to test his new "toy", as Paul called it, to see what happens when he does this and pressed there? And why are they all staying with him, working for him, if he plays them all, sometimes against each other? What's the dark secret of either of them? And all these questions lead back to Web, but Paul isn't free of any of them, too, right?

Web wouldn't let Rebecca continue without telling him what bothered her so much, and then he does, but demands that she dealt with it in a different way - being again in the place that made her scream. In a way, maybe opening up, talking about something, facing it again, could even help her deal with what's haunting her, so as much as Web seems harsh and playing with her, there may also be something good in his demand. Did I say already that I'm fascinated by Web? In this episode's ramblings, I mean?

I loved the way that Rebecca's description of the man they're looking for was mirrored in that ordinary-looking scene in the TV store - clerks ignoring you, and even when you buy the most expensive item there, you still don't really matter, unless you can engage them in some way. Louis was doing the most flashy thing he could, even came up with a good "I'm such a nice guy" explanation for it, and still was nothing to the store's manager.

And in the middle of what - assuming he's the guy who started the fire - could be his greatest moment of power, when TV, and not just one, but all of them at once, report his deed and show his abilities, the credit card is being declined. Nothing is ever perfect, something spoils his self-party, and again, he's that sort of "nobody" he's trying to get away from.

In the midst of all the fire and poor-Rebecca and all, I was still pleased that Danny got to play with cool toys, in a helicopter and all. It's funny, how little time he got, especially when compared to, say, Paul, and still, I feel like I know his character enough to like him (and, yeah, well, wonder what his dark secret is, but still). And I loved both Mel's and Paul's responses to his fun.

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Oh, I loved it that Louis used the timers of the sprinklers in order to set all the fires at once - he took the thing that humiliated him, made him worse than a noboy, a weak target of mocking, and used it to be "better than us" as Web (!) says. How appropriate of him. I mean, it obviously has the second layer (or, rather, first, for the characters who couldn't see the scene with the sprinklers and the kids) of the thing that times water being used to time fire, but that makes it even more interesting, to me.

I loved the description in the script of the way the background music mirrors and then negates what's going on in Louis' heart and mind when he meets Rosie and later, her boyfriend. Obviously, I have no idea what song played there, but I could totally hear it in my mind's ears, nonetheless, just by the description of how it accompanies the emotions and responses, both when it fit, as well as when it was the opposite. And usually, music is the last thing I manage to notice (yeah, I'm sorry about it, too - I realize that I miss so much), so the description of it illuminated it for me, possibly, more than actually listening.

And the exact same thing that happened with Rosie, happens now in a much bigger scale with Paul's press conference: Louis thinks he has them at, playing his game, giving him all the attention and power he needs in order to dare to try, despite everything, to communicate with Rosie, and then it's taken away from him, exactly where it was supposed to be the peak of his achievement. Growing circles.

Oh, I loved Danny being the "suspect"! He must have had so much fun this episode, both with the toys as well as with the costume.

Rebecca seems to be taking this way more personally than any other case - saying how things would be her fault, for example, which I can't remember her saying in the past. Again, the most interesting part of the story, at least for me, is not the actual crme plot, but the light it sheds on the characters themselves.

Web talking about how only somebody who knows the power in a match may be able to figure out the arsonist's moves - well, Rebeca did describe him accurately on each and every step of the way, without a single error. And yet, could it be that he wasn't 100% sure, and used that case in order to test his conjecture? Or both? Testing Rebecca's strength, using her (fire being related to her past, traumatic for her either way), while at the same time trying to make sure his theory is correct? Oh, and maybe, just a tiny maybe, because I'm a sap and because Web can't have only possibly two intriguing motives alone, he also gives her - willingly or not - the opportunity to face that past demon and maybe be able to move forward a bit?

Oh, and I love it that Paul, with all his trying-to-do-the-right-thing, being angry at Web and all, got to this information in a really not-so clean way, hiding things, using protected passwords for purposes he wasn't supposed to, and so forth.

I love the Mel-Danny relationship, and I want to hear the delivery of both "I'm offended on your behalf" as well as "I was going for stupid".

Louis talked, a moment before he sat himself on fire, about how there's a chemical that bursts into flames when it comes in contact with water. Mel smelled it. It was all right there in front of everybody, but they didn't see it until it happened. I bet that the place of the next fire is like this, too. Also, I'm quite thankful I didn't get to watch all these flames and screamings and the like - I'm way too much of a wuss for that.

I loved how the name of the episode plays in several meanings all throughout it. It's the physical spot in which a fire starts (that was even mentioned, using the exact phrase, in the episode), but also the beginning. And just like Rebecca said, the first attempt, the point of origin, where it all began, would lead them to the solution. But it works for her, personally, too - in a way, that fire that she might have started was the thing that set her - or, rather, Becky - free, that started her life - and that trauma and guilt - all over again.

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And when going to Rosie's place, Web wants Rebecca away from the actual fire, and she is the one who insists on going there with Paul. Things got reversed. And she's the one rushing into the point of origin of the fire, Rosie's apartment. And in doing it, on her choice, she also manages to go through the image of the Pony Man who scared her so much at the beginning of the episode, and even more than that - seeing his image burn, beating that inner demon who still haunts her.

So Web - and at least Paul - know that Rebecca was, in a way, responsible for the deaths of those three people found in that motel. And t least Web seems to offer her comfort regarding that, even beyond her young age and the certainty that she had had no idea what would have happened as a result of the fire that she had started. It's a grey comfort, regarding the possible future victims, perhaps, of her kidnapper (in a way, similar to the Pre-Filer of an earlier episode, who wasn't that different from him killing that serial killer in the very first episode), but still.

And then Rebecca - for the first time, right? - tells his something from her inner world, on her own, by her initiative. Something is different, isn't it? And Web, as manipulative play-at-people as he is, brought that change on.

Oh, and I knew we're going to see the Pony Man again, as soon as Web mentioned that he wasn't at all sure that Becky's kidnapper was one of the bodies. Only, how did Web, again, know? It all comes back to him, even when it's all about Rebecca's past.

OK, back to reality, I guess, for this round, at least. Thanks for the distraction.

Just caught Done The Impossible. Tim is very cute, and makes the best joke in it.

I'm downloading it now!

Also, Kevin, I saw you post something at Whedonesque:

10) The extensive efforts made by the Save Firefly people.

Surprisingly, although this is covered, I thought it gave the impression other people had ran the campaign.

Not having seen the documentary yet, I was just curious about what that meant.