And, finally, the most familiar piece of this week's puzzle: Kristen Bell. Let's see...a little slip of a blond thing who talks like a sorority girl but turns deadly serious when its time to get down? Where have I seen this before? Buffy, perhaps? Or — wait for it — Veronica Mars. What's even more frustrating is that she didn't do anything. She tracked Peter from the docks to a bar. Toasted an Irish thug (off screen). Called ''Daddy'' to report her failure. (My guess: Daddy is Bob. But wouldn't it be cool if it was H.R.G.? So cool, it won't happen.) This is what we were waiting for? She was supposed to summon the cool from thin air like a bolt of lightning. Where was it?

As my colleague Joy Piedmont noted, last season's fifth episode was where Hiro delivered the ''Save the Cheerleader, Save the World'' directive. And with that, the show got focused. Pieces began to fall into place as characters were inexorably drawn together to save said cheerleader. This was the fifth episode of this season. Do you feel the same way? Do you sense a mission driving everyone to action? 'Cause I sure don't.

Here's the thing: We were fine with giving the first season of Heroes those five episodes before the plot kicked into gear because everything about it felt new. Not only were we meeting these characters for the first time; we were learning what the show would and would not do. It was like the first couple of dates. Now, we're on our 28th. Gotta try something to keep things fresh. Maybe a little role-playing, perhaps.

Don't waste my time with Hiro's consistently ridiculous story line. Even at a scant couple of minutes, it just doesn't work. Peter is just spinning his wheels. At least they've dropped that nonsense about his not wanting to know who he is. (Who doesn't want to know his own secret identity?) But why didn't Peter pick up a phone and dial New York City information for a Petrelli phone number? Break out some Google-fu? Something tells me you'd get a hit off your brother who ran for senator.

The Monica and Micah show. WTF? And don't even get me started on Mohinder showing up at Monica's door. By making him so complete a tool, in every sense of the word, the producers have managed to make a marginal character even more so.

''Maybe we're supposed to be doing something with these [powers],'' Monica said to Micah.

You said it, sister. Because sitting around definitely isn't working out.

What do you think? Were you disappointed with Kristen Bell's debut? Are any of the other new characters working for you? And can you see the various characters' plotlines coming together again?

Want more Heroes? Don't miss EW's Ultimate Heroes Fan Guide, where you can join with other members of the Heroes community to fill in new details of season 2.

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