Okay, so that was pretty kickass, though I could have done with about 65% less portentous VO & dialogue. I think the season ended as it began, actually, with some pacing issues and some leaden writing, but with enough character love and cool moments to carry it off. Still, there weren't as many "fuck yeah!" moments as I was expecting -- a few of the mid-season episodes worked much better in that regard. Though I did LOVE Claire jumping out the window.

Wait. Why was it better for both men to die instead of Claire killing just one? I mean, yay Nathan being heroic, but how is this better?

I think Peter is meant to survive the explosion -- so it was Nathan sacrificing himself so that Peter could live. If Claire had shot him, I think we're meant to believe he would have been no-coming-back dead, whereas now he'll be able to regenerate.

I'm doubtful that Peter could actually survive that explosion, at least on the strength of Claire's recuperative abilities alone.

But didn't we learn in "5 Years Gone" that Peter survived the explosion? I thought it was stated pretty explicitly. I don't know how -- some combo of Claire's abilities and Ted's natural immunity that must have transferred to Peter as well -- but I didn't even question that Peter would survive until I came here.

And what did all that stuff Charles was saying about Peter's ability to love unconditionally have to do with anything at all? Looks like it was Nathan who loved unconditionally.

I kind of like the thought that both Charles and Mama Petrelli were wrong, but not in the way that either of them expected.

here's hoping he runs into Molly's worse-than-Sylar in the first few episodes of season 2 and gets a rude surprise.

Ha, that would be excellent. I was a little disappointed that he survived.

Really, the body count wasn't as high as I was expecting. Even Matt's not dead for sure.

Yeah, I agree. As much as I'm glad that D.L. and Ando and Mr. Bennet (Noah!) and even Matt are still alive, I was sure that one of them was gonna bite it. Or Sylar, at least! So the only person who died for sure is Nathan, right?

I approve if Sylar is still alive, because it means he can occasionally drunk-dial Mohinder.

Hahahahaha, okay, I'm looking forward to that!

When Peter and Claude were ambushed by Bennet and the Haitian, didn't Peter fly while invisible?

Did he, though? I thought he turned invisible long enough to toss Claude off the roof and jump after him, but then when he flew he was visible again. Am I misremembering?

Also, is Niki all integrated with Jessica now? I feel like I'm missing some chunks of that storyline. Was there much more about Niki in the comics?

But didn't we learn in "5 Years Gone" that Peter survived the explosion?

He did, but he probably didn't explode in the stratosphere during explosion Take 1. Now he's gotta deal with regenerating after the bomb AND falling from how many thousands of feet up in the air.

So the only person who died for sure is Nathan, right?

Maybe I've seen one too many soap operas, but unless I see it on the screen, I ain't believin' it.

I thought he turned invisible long enough to toss Claude off the roof and jump after him, but then when he flew he was visible again. Am I misremembering?

You're right. Noah Bennett (hee! I just wanna say it) and the Haitian watched him fly off with Claude.

Here's the thing, though: If Nathan survives, his heroic sacrifice meant nothing (narratively speaking). Conversely, if Peter *doesn't* survive, then Nathan's heroic sacrifice, again, meant nothing, because it just meant that both Petrellis died instead of just one. So while I'm sad to see Nathan go, I expect I'll be somewhat irritated if he turns up alive next season after all.

Kate, your recollection of the flying is the same as mine.

I would have liked that moment with the Petrelli brothers more if I hadn't been saying, "Wait. Wait, what? No, that's dumb! And where are you going to take him, and that doesn't make sense." It was a nice wrap up, but largely "as expected", to me (insert comment about SPN. Left vague for spoilyness).

Peter's so back. If you have Sylar, you must have Peter. The Haitian was my first thought for the big bad, but I'm willing to be wrong, especially if we get an "annying one" moment.

More of my thoughts:

I < heart > Ando. He started off the season a cynical horndog, and he ended it a man -- just a man -- who was willing to do what it took to save the world. I love that Hiro didn't just save him, he also teleported his friend back to Yamagato Industries, on the other side of the world, tucking him away where he knew Ando would definitely be safe.

And I love that Ando not only tells his friend how proud he is, but also has the presence of mind to tell him he looks "bad ass." It's undoubtedly the first time Hiro has ever heard that, and it probably served to inspire him just as much as Ando's earlier heartfelt words of meaning did. Because it's one thing to be prepared to do what must be done. But I like to think that being told that he looked like a bad ass helped him believe that maybe -- just maybe, he could be a bad ass.

And as much as I won't believe Nathan's dead until season two wraps and I haven't seen Adrian's razor-sharp cheekbones on-screen all season? That was just a beautiful ending to the season-long story of the love and faith of two brothers.

Ever since we've known them, Peter has found his strength in his big brother, and Nathan has looked to his little brother for hope and light. In the end, with some help from Claire, they came together -- literally -- to face their fate. I liked how Nathan, who earlier this season lamented to Peter that he didn't know what he was without him, acknowledged that Peter had saved the cheerleader -- his daughter -- so they could save the world.

Although, I still wanna see Adrian back next year. He purty.

Looks like it was Nathan who loved unconditionally.

not!Shaft said "in the end, all that really matters is love". And it was Nathan's love that saved him, but also I think Nathan knowing that Peter would have done the same for him, would have loved him no matter what.

Here's the thing, though: If Nathan survives, his heroic sacrifice meant nothing (narratively speaking).

doesn't it mean something that he thought that he would die, even if he survives?

So the only person who died for sure is Nathan, right?

I'm with Monique on the Soap Opera School -- don't believe it unless you see a body. And even then, plastic surgery can do wonders when the character fakes their death and comes back with a new actor face. (and let's not forget the Days of Our Lives classic when a new actor came back with amnesia, realized he was Roman Brady, then the original actor wanted to come back so substitute actor was revealed to not actually be Roman Brady, but the original character from the amnesia, and behold, the orginal actor came back as Roman Brady. but, I digress)

Just rewatched, and again, I really was not feeling Nathan's speech. It just felt contrived to me. Was it the writing or the delivery?

Here's the thing, though: If Nathan survives, his heroic sacrifice meant nothing (narratively speaking).

Except that he was on a path to being a bad guy and that by going to his death (even if it didn't take) he's a good guy.

Definitely some kick-ass moments: Claire jumping out of the window; Micah n' Molly - so cute; anything with Ando; D.L., Nikki, Micah and Molly forming the perfect Brangelina multi-culti family. But the Broyay, good heavens the broyay conquers all. It would've been perfect if Matt had really croaked. Stupider than Mohinder and not even half the pretty.

Was that Hiro's dad on that horse in 16th century Japan? Because that would be a rockin' S2 set up.

It would've been perfect if Matt had really croaked. Stupider than Mohinder and not even half the pretty.

yeah, but he has a heart like a lion. Knowing what Sylar was capable of, he still went after him. Not smart, but sweet.

I have to rewatch, because I was somewhat distracted by school stuff tonight, but I hate to admit I was sort of dissappointed by this episode. There were some great little moments, but some things to be wrapped up a little better. I hate still having more questions after a season finale. It also makes no sense to me that Nathan would have to fly Peter off like that. What happened to shooting him dead and then removing the bullet, so he could use his Claire healing power? That plan made a lot more sense to me than what Nathan did. Also, what was the whole point of Peter learning to start controlling his powers with Claude if it didn't even matter in the end? If Peter and Nathan are both dead, the show isn't going to be as interesting for me next season.