I've got to confess, Sylar is definitely my favorite Hero. Only because I don't know him personally and I don't have anything he wants. For real. But whenever Sylar/Zachary Quinto's on screen, he just oozes bad boy in one hell of an appealing way.

This episode was no exception. At the end of the last episode, Sylar had pulled a fast one--he's managed to switch into control of Matt Parkman's body, leaving Parkman the helpless voice of conscience on the outside. He heads for New York to find out what's happened to his real body, and that's where the fun starts.
 
Turns out Parkman isn't totally helpless. He has enough control over the body that he can do things like make his body slip a gun into Sylar's carry-on bag. Great fun at the airport!! He can make his body reach for a gun--not so much fun in the long run. He goes to desperate lengths to try to outwit Sylar, who does maintain substantial control.

Sylar has his own bits of fun, as he kills some Good Samaritan, pointing out that he didn't do it, as far as the outside world is concerned, but Matt Parkman did. (Remember Matt Parkman? The guy who was wired to blow up D.C. last spring? Dangerous man with a rep!) He uses this throughout the episode on his cross-country body hunt.

Funny thing about his body, though. It isn't where he left it. Or where Samuel had left it either, safe at the carnival. Sylar's body wakes up as Nathan, panics and flies home to Peter.

 Peter has his own issues as his quest to heal the world continues, somewhat aided by the healing ability he stole from Jeremy. He finds it hard to stay charged enough to keep working on a day when a huge train wreck sends hundreds of victims to the hospital. But Emma lends a hand, revealing that she had been a medical student in residency at one time, until her nephew drowned in her care. She gives Peter credit for healing her as well, and makes plans to return to doctoring.

Samuel is off chasing other butterflies, though, as he sets his sights on Claire as the next convert to his carnival family. Becky's work at the slaughterhouse has succeeded; Gretchen is terrified she's going to die and hops a plane for home, leaving Claire vulnerable and alone. Samuel reveals to Claire that Becky does have a grudge, but not against her--against her father, H.R.G., who killed Becky's father when she was five. Samuel tells Claire that her father will never really understand those with abilities, and that those with abilities should stick together.

H.R.G. shows up to see Claire and finds Samuel there, and is prepared to take him in when Becky "shows up," unseen, and sets him loose. H.R.G. goes to taze Becky, and Claire tries to stop him from hurting either Samuel or the invisible girl. Is this the beginning of the end for Claire and her dad?

The previews for next episode tend to sabotage the reality of all the recent deaths on the show. I guess we'll have to wait till the season finale to find out who's really dead.

Or not.