Unlike the first time the heroes banded together, to stop an inadvertent guy from blowing up New York City, this time they come back to the city to stop budding megalomaniac Samuel from killing thousands, maybe millions.

But it's not an easy journey. Many have loose ends to clear up first. Sylar and Peter need to convince Matt Parkman that Sylar is safe to release on the public again. Noah and Claire Bennet are still trapped deep underground in a buried trailer, with the air running out. Emma is Doyle's marionette, forced to play her cello to bring in the crowds, lambs to Samuel's planned slaughter. "Tonight changes everything..." Samuel tells Edgar as he preens before he heads out to wow the crowd.

One hero, Hiro Nakamura, is off on his own quest, to save Charlie from the place where Samuel had her sent--which turns out to be Milwaukee in 1944. Hiro apologizes to her for what happened, and is determined to return her to the cafe in Texas to live the life that was stolen from her. And he, of course, having learned nothing, intends to stay with her and live happily ever after.

Another one who's learned nothing, apparently, is Claire, who is still bummed that there isn't a place where people with powers can just be themselves and accepted by normal people. Has she really forgotten the whole government hunt-down and lock-up thing? That was only a season ago. Her father channels Tommy Lee Jones in Men in Black: "A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it..."  People don't change, Noah says.

Claire sets out to prove him wrong.

Bonus points for most unusual use of a power to rescue people goes to Tracy Strauss, who liquifies herself to get Noah and Claire out from underground.

So the motley crew gathers at the carnival, now in Central Park, just before Samuel is ready for the show to go on. Syalr goes to save Emma, as foretold in the dream, and runs into Doyle, who freezes him.

Hiro tells Charlie he intends to save her, but she turns him down. She's had a great life, she tells him, husband, children, grandchildren. She doesn't want him to change a thing. Disappointed, the tragic Hiro resigns himself to having no more quests. Enter Noah Bennet's anxious cry for help--and he and Ando are off again.

Peter confronts Samuel, and Samuel reminds him they are alike, both growing up in the shadow of a brother. He appeals to their similarities, the need to have special people stand out, take their place in the world. Peter manages to touch him and steals his power as well, ready for the final takedown.

After all is said and done, the media shows up, demanding to know what happened. As Chapter Six begins, Claire pulls a circus-worthy stunt, and Sylar says in wonder, "She's going to change everything."

All in all, the season comes to a satisfying conclusion, with a mix of loose-end tying, action and familiar faces coming together. It seriously lacks the punch of Season One, and takes away one of the more interesting plots of the last several seasons--Samuel and the Carnival. One has to wonder how some characters like Hiro and Claire never seem to "get it", but then when a character does display development, like the new warm and fuzzy Sylar, it's a little troubling.

Where do they go from here? That depends on NBC, which has not yet determined whether the series will be renewed. Possibilities certainly exist. We can hear Jeff Zucker now....

I need a hero, I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light
He’s gotta be sure
And it’s gotta be soon
And he’s gotta be larger than life *

Any ideas?

*(with acknowledgement to Bonnie Tyler)