Season 1: Episode 23 - "How To Stop An Exploding Man"

For Heroes Season 1 "Genesis", this marks the final episode. Here is a recap of the explosive Season 1 Finale to "Heroes" entitled "How to Stop an Exploding Man", originally aired on Monday, May 21, 2007.

Heroes opened with a flashback of various scenes from throughout past episodes. Niki was seen tending to DL who had taken a bullet from Linderman. DL then proceded to stick his hand through the back of Linderman's head to kill him. Niki asked DL to use his power to phase them through the office wall and escape guards who had just broken into the room. Meanwhile, HRG and Matt Parkman had just entered Molly Walker's holding chamber. HRG held a gun towards Molly as Mohinder Suresh clocked Parkman over the back of the head with his gun. HRG told Suresh as long as Molly is alive, 1000's are at risk to die. HRG said killing her will save them. Suresh asked HRG if killing Thompson saved 1000's, and HRG said no it was to save his own life. Just then Matt Parkman, lying on the floor, saw Molly underneath the bed. Molly exclaimed Officer Parkman was back to keep her safe. Parkman said nobody would be harming Molly. Hiro spoke to his father about how all his life Hiro had been viewed as a failure. Hiro's father handed him the sword and Hiro teleported off to go find and save his friend Ando, who had left to battle Sylar by himself. Sylar was seen at Isaac Mendez' apartment painting yet another vision for the future. This painting showed him face to face with Peter Petrelli. Sylar exclaimed "Peter Petrelli" and then used his power to slice the painting of Peter flying in half.

Nathan is in his office sans election victory speech. His mother enters the office to inform him that Linderman was murdered in his office, but that this doesn't change plans, and the bomb will still be going off. Nathan informs her that his wife and kids have landed in Nantucket and that a chopper will be meeting he and his mother on the roof. Nathan tells his mother that the city and nation will need him after this terrible explosion. Niki and DL are searching for Micah in the office building, and DL tells Niki to leave him behind. Niki says she will find their son and come back for him. Meanwhile, Suresh and HRG are moving Thompson's body in a sheet to hide it in another location. Suresh angrily confronts HRG about nearly shooting Molly. HRG explains how the agency he used to work for is now corrupt and his only priority is protecting his family. Suresh explains that he is responsible for Molly's life, since he used his own antibodies to save her. Just then Parkman enters saying something is wrong with Molly, and Suresh rushes to help. HRG receives a cell phone calls from Claire who is traveling with Peter. Claire informs HRG that Sylar got to Ted and killed him. HRG speaks to Peter and tells him he is the only one who can stop Sylar. HRG says he will use a tracking system to locate Sylar, and tells Peter to keep Claire safe at all costs. Peter brings Claire to Nathan who is waiting in a parking garage. Claire gets angry at Peter for lying and bringing her to Nathan. Peter says he is scared and that he wants to do what's best. Peter goes out and talks to Nathan, and tries to explain the bomb is Sylar, who killed Ted Sprague. Peter then hears Nathan thinking that nobody will be able to stop the bomb and everyone will die. Peter turns to get Claire, but sees she has vanished from the car. As Claire is trying to escape, she runs into her grandmother. Nathan goes for Peter, but Peter turns invisible and leaves the scene. As Peter goes out into an empty street yelling for Claire, his hands start glowing with radiation and Peter collapses.

HRG, Parkman and Suresh are bedside with Molly Walker and ask her to locate Sylar. Parkman asks Molly how she is able to locate someone and she says just by thinking about them, and then pointing to them on the map. Parkman asks if she can find anyone, and Molly says just about anyone. Molly tells them there is 1 person, who is worse than the Boogeyman, and when she thinks about him, he can see her. Molly then sticks a pushpin on the map, and HRG and Suresh determine it is Isaac Mendez' loft where Sylar is. HRG tries to call Claire's cell phone to get in touch with Peter, but Claire's grandmother takes the call. She tells HRG they are taking Claire out of harm's way and she suggests HRG do the same. HRG asks to say goodybe to Claire. While on the phone he tells her to go with Nathan and her grandmother, and once she is out of the city to get away from them. HRG asks Claire where Peter is, but Claire says she doesn't know. HRG assures Claire he has a plan. HRG tells Parkman their new priority is to find Peter Petrelli, since he is the only one capable of stopping Sylar. Parkman says that he is a cop and he will go after Sylar on his own. HRG says that Sylar will kill Parkman if he does that, but Parkman leaves anyway with his gun. Peter awakens in a dream state while laying in the street. He sees himself back up on the Deveaux loft, where he is helping care for Charles Deveaux. Peter also sees his mother come through to meet with Mrs. Petrelli. Peter meets Simone Deveaux and assures her he is there to help. Peter in the dream sees his mother talking to Mr Deveaux about the bomb and Linderman. Mr Deveax says he sees hope in Peter because he has heart. Peter's mother tells Deveaux that Peter is weak and ruled by insecurities. Peter's mom says the bomb will go off and Nathan will become a hero. As Peter's mom exits, Mr. Deveaux tells Peter he knows he is there.

Ando enters Isaak Mendez' apartment with sword in hand looking for Sylar. On his way over to the painting of Peter facing Sylar, he steps in a puddle. Just then, Sylar appears from behind him. Sylar makes Andos sword fly away, then puts one hand on Ando's throat, and sends him against the wall using telekinesis. Sylar notices that Ando has dropped a 9th Wonder comic, and inside sees the picture of Hiro slicing Sylar with his sword. Sylar asks Ando where Peter Petrelli is and starts cutting into his skull as Ando is screaming. Just then, Hiro appears behind Sylar and grabs the sword from the floor. Hiro yells for Sylar to let him go. Sylar turns and challenges Hiro to try his "little time stop trick" befor Sylar cuts his friends head off. Hiro teleports over to Ando and then teleports the two of them out of the apartment, away from Sylar. Niki finds an open door in the building she is looking for Micah in. As she opens the door, what appears to be Jessica is sitting on a couch. She tells Niki to look at what she's done, and Niki sees Micah lying dead on the ground behind the couch. Niki rushes over and begins to cry as the fake Jessica tells her she is weak. Fake Jessica then knocks Niki out. Meanwhile, Matt Parkman enters Isaak Mendez' apartment to find all of the paintings done by Sylar and Isaak. Parkman finds the painting of Peter facing off with Sylar, and leaves to go to the scene where it will happen. Suresh is trying to rush Molly out of the building, saying he just heard from Officer Parkman that the Boogeyman is on his way. Molly begins to think and then tells Suresh the Boogeyman is already there.

Claire speaks with her grandmother and Nathan in Nathan's office. She yells at them both saying they are insane to let their own son/brother to blowup and kill millions with his explosion. Her Grandmother tells her they will give her everything she's always wanted, including a normal life and family. Claire hugs Nathan and tells them, "I already have a family". Claire bolts towards the window of Nathan's office and jumps straight through the glass out the window. Claire falls many stories and hits the ground below with a thud. Nathan and Mrs. Petrelli rush to the window and see Claire lying on the street, then see Claire get up and walk off. Mrs. Petrelli tells Nathan to "let her go".

Niki battles the fake Jessica in the office apartment. As she falls to the ground, she sees her reflection in the mirro and Jessica tells her that the other woman isn't her. She tells Niki she needs to stop her and get Micah. Niki gains a burst of strength and punches the fake Jessica across the room. Fake Jessica ends up being Candice, the shapeshifter, who is knocked out cold on the ground. The appearance of a dead Micah on the ground also disappears. Niki then hears Micah yelling for help from a nearby locked closet. She rushs over to the door and yanks it open, and then tells Micah it is really her. She says they need to find DL now. Meanwhile as Suresh is bringing Molly Walker out into the building hallway, they stumble upon DL lying there. Suresh goes to tend to DL's wound and asks Molly to be a lookout, because the elevator system is not working.

Hiro and Ando appear back in Japan at the office where they work. Hiro tells Ando that now he must go back alone to face Sylar. Hiro thanks Ando for his friendship and bravery and presents Ando with a sword, saying it is a sign he will be back to see him again. Hiro tells Ando "it is not the sword, it is the man and this man is ready". Hiro then teleports out of the building. Peter speaks to Charles Deveaux in the dream state. Charles tells Peter his heart has the ability to love unconditionally, making Peter special. Just then Charles yells for the version of Peter in the dream to take him to his bed. Peter wakes up at HRG's yelling at him. Peter tells HRG that he needs to leave the city since Peter doesnt feel he can contain his own blast from the radiation. HRG tells Peter he needs to stick around to help Peter because if he goes nuclear that he will shoot him down. Peter thanks him as "Mr. Bennet", but HRG tells Peter to call him "Noah". Molly and Suresh continue to tend to DL, but then Molly tells Suresh the guards are on their way. Niki and Micah rush in, and Suresh yells they have to get out of there. Micah uses his power to manipulate the broken elevator system and make it work. Molly, Mohinder, DL, Micah and Niki get int othe elevator and escape just as the guards come rushing in. Peter and HRG head to the spot where HRG says the tracking system said to go to. Sylar appears from behind HRG and taps him on the shoulder. Sylar then uses telekinesis to toss HRG way back against a building wall, causing HRG to fall to the ground and lose his gun. Peter turns to see Sylar who asks "what took you so long?" and the two face each other, again.

Sylar faces off with Peter yet again, but this time Peter has help. Sylar begins to choke Peter lifting him from his feet telling him he won't stop him this time. Just then Matt Parkman appears and shoots 3 bullets towards Sylar. Sylar freezes the bullets mid air, then sends them straight back at Parkman into his chest/stomach. Just then, Niki, DL, Suresh, Molly and Micah appear as Sylar continues to choke Peter. Sylar uses his power to make a parking meter rip out of the ground, then swings it into Peter knocking him down. Niki sees what is going on and runs over towards Peter. As Sylar is about swing the meter again, Niki grabs it and rips it from Sylar's hand. Niki then swings the meter into Sylar sending him crashing down. Micah yells to Niki that DL needs her help. Peter tells Niki to go back to his family. With his newly gained power of super-strength, Peter basically starts to beat the crap out of Sylar, punching him many times in the face with immense power. Just then, Peter's hands start to glow again. Sylar begins to laugh as he stands up and tells Peter "You're the bad guy, I'm the hero here". Peter continues to emit radiation. Just then, Hiro teleports in behind Sylar. Sylar turns to see Hiro, who yells and charges straight at Sylar with his sword. Hiro jabs the sword into Sylar's gut, then pulls it out, as Sylar falls to the ground. Peter asks Hiro to kill him so he won't explode. Sylar still alive, uses telekinesis to send Hiro flying back through the air towards a building. Hiro manages to teleport himself out just before he is about to hit. Peter continues glowing even more. Sylar's eye does a roullette type trick and shows all of the people Sylar murdered, then eye glosses over.

Claire enteres the scene and sees HRG shot down next to the building. She goes over to him and he convinces her to take his gun and go shoot Peter. Claire approaches Peter with the gun and Peter yells for her to do it. Claire is hesitant and about to shoot Peter, but just then Nathan flys down. He tells Claire the future isn't set in stone, and tells Peter since Peter saved the cheerleader now they have to save the world. Claire tells Nathan he will die if he flies Peter away, but Nathan says he will save millions of people. Nathan grabs Peter and the two fly up high into the stratosphere. An explosion is seen overhead by Claire, HRG, Suresh, DL, Niki, Micah and Molly. Niki asks DL what will happen to them, but everyone seems stunned.

As the events wrap up, HRG tells Claire he is going to take her home. Claire asks where home is, and HRG says wherever our family is together. The two leave with HRG in a sling. Matt Parkman is being taken away on a stretcher and Molly Walker runs over to talk to him. Matt is unconscious, but Molly yells to him he can't die because he is her hero. With ambulances and police on the scene, a trail of blood where Sylar was killed is also seen, and then a manhole cover, which is cracked open, indicating Sylar was either dragged down to the sewer or escaped on his own. Volume 1: Genesis concludes.

A brief 2 minutes into Heroes Season 2: Generations comes at the conclusion of the show. Hiro falls from the air into a grass field, with a bird soaring high over head. Just then a bunch of horses are heard approaching fast. As Hiro gets up, he sees a small army of Samurai warriors in red on horses, and some in front with bow and arrow. The warriors begin to prepare their weapons for battle. It is then revealed that Hiro is in Kyoto Japan, 1671. Hiro exclaims something in Japanese and it is translated as "%#%_(%!". Hiro turns to the other side and sees a single Samurai warrior wearing blue armor. The single Samurai goes to draw his sword. Just then a solar eclipse occurs overhead causing the everyone to become covered in the dark, as the show concludes.

See more: Season 1 Genesis Episode Recaps