Kate, I liked Simone, too. Poor Simone.

I know men have died too (Zane Taylor, Papa Suresh... who else?)

There was that guy with telekinesis Sylar killed in "Six Months Earlier," Brian something. Plus all the men Jessica off'ed, who don't really count. Simone's father, of natural causes. I do concur with your grumbles about all the dead women though. The numbers of deaths aren't that different, but since female characters were underrepresented to begin with, these deaths feel more weighty. Plus, Eden, Charlie, and Simone all had substantial recurring roles (I know Eden's exit was compelled by the actress's contractural issues, but still), not just one-offs like Zane Taylor. It's a good thing they introduced Hana in this episode, otherwise I'd have lots more to complain about.

I thought his abilities only had to do with the mind, so that he can block Matt's mind-reading and Eden's pushing, but not more physical powers like flight and invisibility.

I thought he was there with Eden when she mind-whammied Sylar so that Sylar's abilities could be blocked first, then Eden's Pusher-mojo could work on him. Also, if he couldn't block Peter's and Claude's abilities, why bring him to New York?

he blocked Sylar and he's one powerful mofo.

It's a good thing they introduced Hana in this episode, otherwise I'd have lots more to complain about.

Did they demonstrate her having a power during the ep and I missed it, or is she still an unknown quantity?

I don't care a whit about sexual equality if it would keep Simone on the show. She's just there to be pretty and breathy and fought over. She has very little positive or dramatic agency on the show. Object of desire. Over that.

I wonder--can Peter only use powers he knows about? Suppose he stood next to someone by mistake--or, say, all of Sylar's other powers, ones he didn't use in their fight. Would be interesting in stressful situations.

serial:

Did they demonstrate her having a power during the ep and I missed it, or is she still an unknown quantity?

Her wi-finess? That's how she was introduced in the teaser, IMing RadioWave without his computer being networked.

Did they demonstrate her having a power during the ep and I missed it, or is she still an unknown quantity?

She can hook into the internet without a computer.

They showed her power during the teaser, and there's a lot more background on her in the minicomics.

Did they demonstrate her having a power during the ep and I missed it, or is she still an unknown quantity?

You may have missed the scene right before the previouslies, where they introduced her. She goes by the codename Wireless because she can basically interface with the Wi-Fi. All the electronic information that's beaming back and forth via satellites? She can read it. And she can also send it.

You may have missed the scene right before the previouslies, where they introduced her.

Yep, totally did. Bastards! Why they gotta go putting new stuff BEFORE the previouslies? That's bass-ackwards.