I don't know the Sweet Valley High place -- was Jessica a "Heather"?

Pretty much. She was the bitchy Wakefield twin.

Hee! at the painting of Peter by Milo Ventigmilla. The dude has a sick sense of humour. I like him.

Peter was awesome in the last night's episode. Ahhhh, the Petrellis. So dysfunctional. They're like a fun-to-watch nest of vipers. By the way, the sense I got from Nathan's conversation with Linderman was that he was able to obtain the painting. I don't recall the exact dialog, but it was something like, "you will send it to the gallery then. Thank you." So, is Nathan lying to Peter about the painting and if so, why? Nathan has no idea what the paintings mean. Why keep it from Peter?

I love Micah. The kid actor who plays him is so poised, I don't have any problem believing in his smarts.

Is the tattoo that appeared on Matt's (and the Radioactive Man's) shoulder some kind of branding done by Bennett? It looks different from the single-helix sign we saw on Nikki's shoulder. Or maybe they're just starting to form and will develop into the full sign?

Vonnie -- I got the same feeling and then I couldn't understand why he'd lie about that to Peter. Is that just his kneejerk reaction?

Is the tattoo that appeared on Matt's (and the Radioactive Man's) shoulder some kind of branding done by Bennett? It looks different from the single-helix sign we saw on Nikki's shoulder. Or maybe they're just starting to form and will develop into the full sign?

My friend suggests Matt and RM are branded "good" and ikiN has been branded "bad."

Or maybe they're just starting to form and will develop into the full sign?

that's what I thought.

I'm liking DL a lot, and not just because I thougth that Forrest got robbed. He's a dangerous man, but complex. Not a bad person, though, clearly.

My friend suggests Matt and RM are branded "good" and ikiN has been branded "bad."

Hmmm. I don't know about that. The sign on Niki seemed a lot more elaborate than what we saw on Matt and Radioactive Man for them to be simple "good" and "bad" distinction. And the Radioactive Man's power seems terribly ambivalent for it to be labelled "good", no matter how unintentional his destructive impulses were. I'd like to think that the characters *choose* the way they use their powers, whether for the good or the evil. Having any of them predestined for one side would rob the show of a lot of its drama.

I thought that the tattoo would develop as the person became aware/powers strengthened, which would explain why ikiN has a full tattoo, and Niki's has just started.

The other question I have is what triggered the mutation's effects? These people are all different ages. What has happened that their mutations/powers have suddenly manifested themselves at the same time?

The premiere of the show.

The other question I have is what triggered the mutation's effects? These people are all different ages. What has happened that their mutations/powers have suddenly manifested themselves at the same time?

I was thinking about this. Claire must have manifested something (if not quick healing) back when she was an infant. What if the whole point of Daddy's search (at least in his mind) is simply to find Claire's real parents?

The premiere of the show.

Hahaha. Smartass.

Vortex, I don't think we have been given any explanation as to why the powers are manifesting *now*. The ponderous intro in the pilot said... lemme see...

"In recent days, a seemingly random group of individuals has emerged with what can only be described as 'special' abilities. Although unaware of it now, these individuals will not only save the world, but change it forever. This transformation from ordinary to extraordinary will not occur overnight."

It *is* a little sloppy. Maybe they'll explain further as to why this is happening right now later, but I'm not holding my breath.