Zachary Quinto UK

Heroes Affiliates

First Appearances     Sylar as played by Zachary first appeared in episode eight of season one, though he can be seen in episode 2 watching Charlie Andrews in the Burnt Toast Diner. Maurice LaMarche appears as the shadowy Sylar in this episode.  Casting director Natalie Hart talks about casting Zach here.

Powers gained (links to the episode where this occurred) 

• Telekinesis, the ability to move objects with the mind, from Brian Davis
• Freezing, the ability to freeze objects, from James Walker (off screen)
• Eidetic Memory, the ability of enhanced memory,  from Charlie Andrews
• Liquifaction, the ability to break down objects into liquid, from Zane Taylor
• Enhanced hearing, from Dale Smither
• Radioactivity, the power to control radioactive heat, from Ted Sprague
• Precognition, the ability to paint the future, from Isaac Mendez
• Cellular regeneration,self-healing, from Claire Bennett
• Molecular manipulation, changing the state of matter, from Bob Bishop
• Clairsentience, ability to see an object's history, from Bridget Bailey
• Sonic projection, ability to create a deafening sound wall, from Jesse.
• Ballistic telekenesis, ability to shoot without a gun, from Trevor Zeitlan
• Electricity, ability to shoot electric bolts, from Elle Bishop, (killed later)
• Lie detection, from Sue Landers
• Astral Projection from unknown person
• Shapeshifting from James Martin
• Disintegration from Tom Miller

Abilities that Sylar still has are highlighted. Others were lost by the Shanti virus.

Other characters killed (links to the episode where this occurred)

• Mr and Mrs Walker (head trauma and stab wounds, off screen)
• Jackie Wilcox (head trauma after mistaking her for Claire)
• Chandra Suresh (head trauma, to get at his list)
• Eden McCain (killed herself when he attacked her for her power)
• Hank (cause of death unknown, killed to allow Sylar to escape from the lab)
• Virginia Gray (stab wound to heart, accidental)
• Derek (head trauma, to prevent him from calling the police in Mexico)
• Alejandro Herrera (stabbed to death)
• Agents Karina and Cruz (internal injuries, when they tried to capture him)
• Doctor at Pinehearst (slammed onto pipe) 
• Three office workers at Sue Landers' work place (unknown)    
• Arthur Petrelli (gunshot)       
• Five security guards at Primatech (various)
• Danny Pine (Unknown, arm known to be severed)
• Echo (Throat cut)
• Meredith Gordon (stabbed with adrenaline and suspected death by fire)
• Six of Nathan's men (unknown)
• Agent Taub (unknown)

Sylar watches Charlie in the Burnt Toast Diner, whilst a flashback shows a man wearing a Sylar brand watch murdering Chandra Suresh in his taxi. Back in the present day we see Sylar pulling a coffee mug towards him with telekinesis. He later kills Charlie Andrews and takes her power of eidetic memory.

Trivia

Although the episode title refers to the time on Sylar's watch when he kills Chandra Suresh, it also refers to the Doomsday Clock which was a symbol of how close mankind was to causing catostrophic destruction to the earth. It was set at seven minutes to midnight in 1947, midnight representing the end of the world. The clock moved forward 2 minutes in 2007.

Sylar travels to Union Wells High School to kill the regenerating cheerleader but picks on the wrong one. After killing Jackie he goes to kill Claire but has Peter Petrelli to contend with first. The two fight and end up falling from the bleachers to the ground below. Sylar escapes but is intercepted by the Haitian who blocks his powers, and Eden McCain who persuades him to sleep.

Chandra Suresh comes to see Gabriel and leaves a copy of his book. Agreeing that he may have special abilities Chandra begins to test Gabriel, but finds nothing and Gabriel storms out, taking the address of Brian Davis. Believing Gray to be Suresh, Davis comes to Gray and Sons and gets more than he bargained for as Gabriel commits his first murder, and gains his first power - telekinesis. He demonstrates this to Chandra Suresh who agrees that they will find others with abilities together.

Quotes

(To Brian Davis)    "You're broken. I can fix you."

Sylar is imprisoned at the Company HQ where he is undergoing tests. Eden McCain wants to kill him but HRG has orders that he is to be kept alive. HRG taunts Sylar, saying that he's going be tortured to get to the truth of his ability. Eden attempts to persuade Sylar to kill himself but he pulls her through the glass to his cell with his telekinesis and she shoots herself in the head to prevent him from consuming her power.

Quotes

HRG : That's enough, Gabriel.

Sylar : My name is SYLAR!

Bennet sees Sylar still incarcerated and Hank comments that they have drugged him with glycimerine. The company have only been able to find the codon for telekinesis in Sylar's brain. Bennet re-iterates that the company want to see Sylar kept alive.

Hank says that Sylar's vital signs are dropping and Bennet replies that he must be kept alive. Later he calls Bennet to report that Sylar is dead.  Bennet returns to the company but finds Hank's body under a sheet where Sylar should be. Sylar appears behind him and asks how Claire is.

Having overpowered HRG and locked him in his cell, Sylar takes his driver's license and heads for the Bennet house. Disguised as a Primatech employee Sylar meets Sandra Bennet and even manages to get himself a dinner invite, but when he asks too many questions about Claire, Sandra becomes suspicious. He attacks her but is interruped by HRG and the Haitian. Being slammed into the fridge by the force of HRG's bullets, Sylar escapes nonetheless.

Quotes

(After slamming HRG against the wall) "That was for the haircut."

Sylar finds and kills Zane Taylor, a man who has the ability to melt objects. Passing himself off as Zane, Sylar meets with Mohinder Suresh and convinces him that they should travel together to find the 'special' people.  

Quotes

"I could go with you.  I could help you. Think about it, these people could need convincing, who better to do that?"

Trivia

Zachary requested that he wear Converse All Stars in this and future episodes, but complained that his feet got soaked when filming in the fake snow during 'Unexpected'

Sylar and Mohinder meet Dale Smither, a woman with enhanced hearing. Sylar kills her, and the next day when the two find the body, they beat a hasty retreat as Sylar struggles to deal with the effects of the new power.  

Quotes

"I believe in fate Mohinder, and karma. And I'm not just saying that because you're Indian. I mean, you really came to my rescue. And I won't forget that."

Dale Smither : "That sound, in your heart. What is it?"

Sylar : "Murder."                                             

FAQ

Dale says she didn't hear Sylar's footsteps and he replies that there weren't any, but which power is this? Can he fly?

Sylar's lack of footsteps can be attributed to telekinesis. Although it is more often seen as being able to move solid objects, Sylar can also move himself with this power.

Sylar and Mohinder return to New York where Mohinder, now aware of Sylar's true identity, spikes his drink and restrains him, ready to kill. However, Sylar uses telekinesis to stop Suresh's bullet and escapes his restraints. Peter Petrelli arrives to find Mohinder being pinned to the ceiling by Sylar and the two fight.

Quotes

Mohinder: I finally found it. That's it, these four simple genes, they answer everything. I can make a new list. I can find them, save them.

Sylar: And what about me? Don't I deserve to be saved? Aren't I just a victim, too? I didn't ask for this.

Mohinder: And what would you have me do?

Sylar: Help find a way. Give me salvation. Give me that damn list so I can sink my teeth in! (Mohinder walks over to him.) I'm a natural progression of the species. Evolution is a part of nature, and nature kills. Simple, right?

Mohinder: What you've done is not evolution, it's murder. (holds gun up and points it at Sylar.) What I am doing is revenge. Now I can fulfill my duty as a son. (Sylar closes his eyes, and a gunshot is heard. The bullet is stopped before Sylar's face, then drops to the floor.)

Sylar: I wasn't begging for my life. I was offering you yours. (Sylar's constraints rip off, and he stands.) You are your father's son. So determined you didn't even notice I stopped the IV. But don't worry, you might actually do some good before you die. Starting with that list.

          Sylar: I remember you. You're like me aren't you? I'd like to see how that works.

Links

Storyboards of the fight between Sylar and Peter

Sylar attempts to take Peter's brain but it surprised when he heals himself. He telekinetically picks up shards of glass and hurls them at an invisible Peter, killing him. Mohinder then slams the map into Sylar, knocking him out. When he comes to the laptop with Chandra's list is destroyed. Sylar uses his last scrap of evidence pointing to a Hero, and kills Isaac Mendez. Whilst trying out his new ability, Sylar realises that he may be destined to kill millions of innocent people.  

Quotes

"This is usually the part where people start screaming."

Links

Storyboards of Isaac's death

Five years into the future the world is still mourning the loss of millions of New Yorkers, and blaming Sylar who is thought to be dead. However, he has actuallyl used Candice Willmer's power of illusion to disguise himself as President Nathan Petrelli, and is planning an extermination of people with abilities which would make him uniquely powerful.

Quotes

Future Sylar to Future Claire - "I've waited a long time for this".

As Nathan Petrelli to Mohinder - "I understand how things work".

Realising that he may kill thousands of innocent people, Sylar calls Mohinder for help. When Mohinder attempts to call the police Sylar hangs up and instead visits his mother for reassurance that he doesn't need to be 'special' and could remain a simple watchmaker. She argues to the contrary and suggest that he could even be president. Whilst showing his abilities to his mother he accidentally hurts her and she runs and hides from him. Rather than being impressed by his abilities she calls him 'damned'. When Sylar tries to explain himself she become hysterical and in a struggle she is accidentally killed. Hiro appears and tries to kill Sylar but cannot bring himself to, and Sylar freezes his sword and breaks it. Now reconciled to his fate as a mass murderer, he paints the mushroom cloud in his mother's blood.

Gif by Gamble1993 

Quotes

"I understood it before, the killing. I had a reason - to take what others didn't deserve. It was natural selection."

Sylar uses his enhanced hearing to eavesdrop on Peter and Ted's plan to leave the City. He alerts the FBI to Ted's whereabouts and intercepts the prison van, killing Ted and taking his ability. The episode ends with Sylar testing out his new skill.

Quotes

"Boom."

Sylar has a vision that he face off with Peter Petrelli at Kirby Plaza, which angers him. Ando attempts to kill Sylar alone, believing that Hiro has been persuaded to go back to Japan by his father. Hiro arrives in the nick of time to save Ando, and Sylar sees his own death in the 9th Wonders comic book.

At Kirby Plaza Sylar telekinetically stops Peter and HRG, and turns back Matt's bullets, injuring him. Hiro appears and forces his sword straight through Sylar's body. He falls to the ground but manages to hurl Hiro into a building, where he disappears, before Sylar blacks out, his eyes flashing images of all those he has killed. In the post-script, Sylar's body is gone and a trail of blood leads to a manhole.

Gif by Gamble1993 

Quotes

Ando  - "You cannot take my brain!"

Sylar - "Please, what would I want with your brain?"

Sylar - "Haven't I killed you before?"

Peter - "Didn't take."

Sylar - "Turns out you're the villain Peter, I'm the hero."

 Top

Sylar awakes on a beach in Maui with a redheaded woman who claims that she saved him from Kirby Plaza. She turns out to be Candice Wilmer, and she is casting an illusion. Sylar asks to see the truth and we see him in a filthy room, with his chest bandaged. When Sylar realises he cannot use his abilities he gets angry, and attacks Candice, killing her. However, he soon finds that he cannot take her ability either, and frantically rushes out of the room to find himself in dense jungle.

Quotes

To Candice - "How are you gonna help? You gonna make me some more eggs?"

Links

Zach's commentry for Kindred (Video)

Top

May, Alejandro and Derek find Sylar lying in the road and take him with them on their journey towards New York. He claims to have been walking for three days and when he hears that the twins are looking for Chandra Suresh, offers to take them to Mohinder. On a rest stop, Derek shows Sylar a newspaper which says that the twins are wanted for murder. He tells Derek to call the police but follows him and kills him with a blow to the head. When Sylar tells Maya that Derek knows about them and is calling the police, it triggers her ability. Knowing that the twins both have powers, Sylar says he will drive them to New York himself.

Top

Still travelling, Maya tells Sylar that she wants to be cured of her power, and he tells her that he has lost his and wants to regain them. Alejandro suggests leaving Sylar behind but he says that he can get them across the border and take them Mohinder Suresh. At the border crossing the three are harrassed by local vigilantes and Maya's ability kills them, although Alejandro saves Sylar by using his ability. Later Alejandro and Sylar fight and Alejandro says that Maya must choose between, but she refuses, saying she needs both of them to find Suresh. With Maya out of earshot, and knowing that Alejandro cannot speak English, Sylar tells him of his plan to kill them and take their abilities.

Quotes

"I know you don't understand me. But, I wanna tell you why I am helping you. It's that delicious power. You see, when I get my ability back, I'm gonna kill you. And your sister. And I'm gonna take it all. And, if I don't get my ability back, it's not a total loss - Maya's learning quickly; she's a shiny new toy, and she's all mine."

Top

Sylar and the twins make it to Virginia, and Sylar teaches Maya how to control her ability. Alejandro finds information on Sylar from the internet and tells Maya that he is a killer. She states that she has also killed people and that she is standing by Sylar, and that if Alejandro doesn't like it he can leave. Later that night Alejandro attacks Sylar in his motel room, trying to keep her away from his sister, but Sylar stabs him to death. With Alejandro lying dead in the room, Sylar greets Maya at his motel door and she tells him that she is glad she found him. They kiss as Sylar shuts the motel door, hiding Alejandro's body from sight.

Top

Mohinder retrurns to his apartment to find Sylar and Maya there. Sylar has discovered that Mohinder has the cure he needs, but when Mohinder realises that Sylar has no powers he reasches for a knife and Sylar pulls a gun on him. He takes Mohinder, Maya and Molly hostage and they go to the lab to get the cure. Once there, Mohinder finds that Sylar has the same strain of the virus as Nicki, which means that the Company infected him. When Molly can't locate Alejandro Maya realises that Sylar killed him and reacts, causing Sylar to shoot her. He tells Mohinder to save her life so that he can see that the cure works, and he does so. Elle Bishop arrives and tries to kill Sylar but he escapes, and in the post-script he is seen injecting himself with the cure, and regaining his power of telekinesis.

Quotes

"I'm back"

(After shooting Maya) "Now look what you made me do."

(To Mohinder) "You and I have some serious trust issues."

Top

Sylar returns and after an epi battle, finally manages to gain Claire's power. He reveals that he does not eat the brain when he absorbs powers, and leaves Claire alive after he takes her ability, and a file with details of prisoners at the Company. He tells Claire that now he understands her ability - she can't be killed, and now neither can he.

Quotes 

"Eat your brain? Claire, that's disgusting." 

Zachary on Sylar in Season 2 : ""He finds himself in some unique positions. He's forced to employ qualities of restraint he's never been forced to employ before."

For a full episode recap click here.

Top

Sylar is attacked by Company agents as he leaves the Bennett house but kills them both. Finally reaching Level 5 he allows HRG to shoot him, and demonstrates the power he got from Claire. Sylar shows that he has killed Bob Bishop and attempts to take Elle's power. In her terror she causes a power outage at the facility and the Level 5 villains escape. Sylar is knocked out by the blast and ends up drugged in a cell. Angela Petrelli appears and tell him that she is his biological mother.

Screencaps courtesy of Sylargrrrl

Top

Still reeling from the news that he is a Petrelli, Gabriel is put to work as Noah Bennett's partner, and given a 'gift' by his mother - Bridget Bailey's power of clairsentience. HRG and Sylar go to the bank heist being pulled by the escaped villains. He ignores Noah's instructions to stay away from the action and saves his life, but he cannot control the hunger to take powers and kills Jesse. Back at Level 5 he is made to go back to his cell by Angela, and Noah reveals to the Haitian that he plans to kill his new partner.

Heroes Unmasked : Wendy and Lisa on Sylar's theme

"In episode 3 sylar is showing a different side. We maintain his themes in a gentle way so that you felt he was the same character. We changed the tonal quality rather than the theme we made for him."

 Top

Peter goes forward in time in an attempt to stop the general populace gaining abilities, and finds a very different Sylar to the one he knew. Living in the Bennett's old house with his young son Noah, Gabriel shows Peter how to use his ability properly, but warns that it comes with a hunger for more power. Know, Daphne and Claire attack Peter at the house, and in doing so kill Gabriel's son, leading him to lose control and cause a nuclear explosion which destroys Costa Verde.

Trivia : "I Am Become Death" was a quotation from the Sanskrit text the Bhagavad Gita which was famously used by physicist J.Robert Oppenheimer to describe the devastation caused by nuclear bomb testing. 

Top

Upon hearing that Sylar is his brother, Peter breaks his neck and attacks Angela. but Sylar heals and rescues her. Armed with H.R.G.’s  old files and a taser, Claire attempts to take down her first target — Stephen Canfield, a Level 5 escapee with the ability to create black holes. She is intercepted by Sylar and her father, and is almost sucked into a black hole until she is saved by Sylar grabbing her hand. He reveals that he felt her pain, using Bridget Bailey's power, and apologises to her. Noah tries to blackmail Canfield into killing Sylar, but rather than become a monster Canfield kills himself. Claire sees her father in a different light after his deception and Sylar tells her that Noah will always see those with powers as monsters.

There are more screenshots from this episode here

Top

Daphne speeds into Sylar's cell and tries to recruit him to Pinehearst, but he declines. He frees Peter from his coma and tells him that they have to find out who paralysed their mother. Peter looks into her mind but only gets an image of the Pinehearst logo. Sylar wants them to go there together but Peter refuses, they fight, and Sylar winds up comatose and back in a cell.

Trivia - The title is taken from the Dylan Thomas poem "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" 

 Top

Angela appears in Sylar's mind and gives him the strength to free himself. He goes to Pinehearst to rescue Peter but is captured by his father Arthur after Peter escapes. Arthur tells Sylar that Angela tried to kill him as a child and that she has been lying to him. Sylar throws Peter out of a window but uses telekinesis to stop his fall and save his life. Arthur discreetly shows that he knew Sylar saved Peter, but he denies it.

Trivia - The episode title is Latin for "You will be what I am".

Top

Hiro goes on a spirit walk and sees Sylar back when he was Gabriel Gray. Wracked with guilt after murdering Brian Davis, Gabriel tries to hang himself, but Elle stops him just in time. She befriends him, but he doesn't know that she's secretly working with HRG for the Company, monitoring him and trying to see how he takes powers. HRG comments that Gabriel's ability is to transfer powers from "one vessel to another". Elle brings Trevor Zeitler to see Gabriel on the pretence of him having someone to talk to about his powers, but goads Gabriel into killing him and taking his ability to shoot without a gun. She reveals to HRG that she has feelings for Gabriel and worries that they have unleashed a monster.

Top

Arthur revelas that he knows Sylar saved Peter from a deadly fall. He says that his son's empathy will allow him to take powers without killing. Elle has been chained up in a cell at Pinehearst but attacks Sylar on sight. He tells her to take her vengeance on him for killing her father and heals as she shoots electricity bolts at him. They have a moment of empathy when Elle breaks down and Sylar absrobs her power. Later, she teaches him how to aim as Arthur watches on a monitor.

Arthur sends Elle and Sylar after Claire. Whilst renting a car Elle tells the clerk that Sylar is a serial killer, trying to goad Sylar into taking what he wants and not follow orders all the time. They find Noah and Claire at Stephen Canfield's old house, but their attack coincides with the Eclipse and Claire is shot trying to protect her father. Sylar's arm is dislocated and Elle pops it back in. They talk about losing their powers and Sylar admits that it's a relief. Sylar kisses Elle, but outside HRG is poised with a sniper rifle and the two in his sites.

There are more images in the screenshots gallery, and behind the scenes pics in the On Set Gallery.

Top

The Heroes continue to discover their true abilities under the influence of the eclipse.  Elle and Sylar face off against a vengeful H.R.G. while Claire struggles to survive. In Haiti, Peter and Nathan join forces with the Haitian to battle the Haitian’s brother, Baron Samedi, and Nathan comes to a shocking decision. In the meantime, Ando, Sam (guest star Seth Green) and Frack (guest star Breckin Meyer) work hard to get Hiro’s memory back with the help of the “9th Wonders” comic books at a local comic bookstore.

Top

Having killed Elle, Sylar burns her body and takes her cellphone, which contains the numbers of others with abilities. He goes to the office of Sue Landers, who has the ability to detect lies, and kills her, along with three office workers who surprise him. Peter fires a gun at Arthur while the Haitian blocks his abilitie, but Sylar stops the bullet with telekinesis. Sylar asks Arthur if he is really his father, but can tell he is lying when he answers yes. He frees the telekinetic grip on the bullett and Arthur falls down dead. Sylar tells Peter he doesn't need to kill him, as he has nothing he wants.

Heroes Unmasked - Wendy and Lisa on Sylar's theme :

"Because of his clock thing he’s got this piano theme, we layered chimes over it. It's almost childlike, that could be a scary guy or a baby."

More images are in the 'On Set' and 'Screenshots' albums in the gallery.

Top

Sylar traps Claire, Angela, HRG and Meredith inside Primatech, trying to find out his true parentage and show them all that they have the capacity to be as monstrous as him. HRG sends Echo, Eric Doyle and Danny Pine as bait but all are killed.

Sylar stabs Meredith with adrenaline meaning she loses control of her powers, and traps HRG in a cell with her. Claire rescues them, and in doing so leaves Angela at Sylar's mercy. His new power of lie detection makes her admit that she is not his mother, but that she does know who his real parents are. She also admits that she never cared about him, only wanting to use him as a weapon against others.

Before he can force Angela to reveal the truth about his parents, Claire stabs him in the back of the head with broken glass and leaves him for dead inside Primatech, which is burning to the ground.

Zach on Sylar : It’s a very cat and mouse feeling at the end of episode13, when maybe Sylar is the mouse, when he thinks he’s the cat.

Quotes

Opening narration : What we choose is never what we really want.

Sylar : You... are not... my mother. Are you? And I can tell if you're lying.

Angela : No, I'm not.

Sylar : For a brief moment, I wished you were.

Trivia   This is the only Heroes episode where Sylar gives the opening narration.

Greg Beeman's blog has some interesting information on Zach's scenes

There are more behind the scenes images in the 'On set' Gallery

Top

Sylar travels to Baltimore where he meets his father Martin Gray, who is running a watch repair shop. Martin reveals that Sylar was not his son, but was actually his nephew, and that his brother Samson gave him to Martin and Virginia as a baby. At Samson's house, Sylar sees a photograph of a child like him, but no-one's home. He is attacked by Nathan's men but easily escapes them, and tortures one of the agents to get information.

Trivia The phrase 'a clear and present danger' was first used in a court case to decide whether distributing leaflets opposing the draft during World War 1 was protected by the First Amendment, the US right to free speech. A judge ruled that the words in their context were dangerous, and the phrase became a metaphor for any perceived danger towards US interests and safety.

Insider James Clarke, the Heroes set master, says that we will learn more about the photo of the young boy resembling Sylar in future episodes.

Sylar trusses up Agent Simmons in a house up the street from his fafther, and threatens to torture the occupants, teenager Luke Campbell and his mother Mary. When he finds that Luke has the ability to emit microwaves he becomes more interested in the boy, especially when he kills Agent Simmons. Sylar leaves to find his father, and agrees to take Luke with him when the boy admits he knows where he is.

Quotes

"I let you live, which is kind of a big deal for me" - Sylar to Luke

Sylar and Luke continue their roadtrip and Luke reveals that Samson sold Gabriel for cash when he was a little boy. In the diner where they stop Nathan's men surround them and Sylar escapes in the car, leaving Luke behind. Later, Sylar returns for Luke and the laptop which will show him how he is being traced. They continue on to his father's hideout after Luke gives up the address, hoping that Sylar won't kill him now he's of no further use.

Trivia Building 26 was the name of premises containing US Naval labs in Dayton, Ohio where a top secret World War 2 mission to build code-breaking machinery took place.

Soundtrack The songs playing on the car radio are Steppenwolf's 'Born To Be Wild' and Talking Heads 'Psycho Killer'

Beeman's Blog

Sylar and Luke is a storyline we’re pursuing for several episodes. Luke is played by Dan Byrd. Dan came in and gave a good read, but when he was brought back to go through lines with Zach - the rapport between the two was really noticeable. They played off each other and responded so well, Dan was the kid for the part. Interestingly, Dan is probably recognized from the sitcom ALIENS IN AMERICA – in which he played someone the complete opposite of his serial killer wanna-be in HEROES. Like Hayden, Dan grew up in the business and can bounce between these two extremes. Writers continue to enjoy exploring this dynamic of Sylar and, essentially a young-wanna-be-Sylar. Zach liked it too. On set there was an easy affability between the two. As always, Sergio worked on pace and performance – but the scenes were well written and seemed to flow very easily between the two. Zach Quinto has always been a lovely and very focused guy on set. But my personal observation was that he seemed even more relaxed on this one and that he enjoyed the scene he played with Dan.

Pictures from this episode from Beeman's Blog are in the Gallery.

*Note* Zach does not appear in this episode. 

While being held hostage, HRG is subjected to Matt Parkman’s unique brand of interrogation, revealing how he became involved with Nathan’s government plot to capture those with abilities. Meanwhile, Matt’s discoveries bring Peter face-to-face with The Hunter.

Trivia The Cold War was the state of tension and conflict between the US and USSR in the mid forties up to the early nineties, begun by the two powers being on opposing sides of WW2 and exacerbated by the ownership and control of nuclear arms.

Sylar and Luke continue their roadtrip to find Sylar's dad. On the way Sylar recognises an old run down diner and using his clairsentience ability gets a view into his past. A flashback to 1980 shows that his father killed his mother with a move that became Sylar's trademark after he sold him to his brother Martin.

Sylar gets angry at Luke for making out that his father was a good man and pins him against the wall violently. However he doesn't kill the boy, leaving him slumped against the wall and telling him to go back to his mother. As he leaves Sylar says he is going to find his father and kill him.

Music The music from Sylar's flashback to 1980 is "The Chain" by Fleetwood Mac. In the UK it is famous for being used as the BBC's theme music for its Formula One coverage in the 1980s and 1990s.

Interview with Joshua Rush who played the young Gabriel Gray

Sylar tracks down his father and tries to find out why he killed his mother. When the old man reveals he is dying from cancer, Sylar tells him he can heal and will live forever. Samson attacks Sylar using a power which sends him to sleep and telekinesis to make an incision across his forehead. However, Sylar was faking and frees himself, leaving Samson to die slowly and painfully instead of killing him.

As Danko arrives back at his apartment after finding out that Nathan has powers, Sylar can be seen hiding.

Quote

Sylar -"Is that why you killed my mother, why you abandoned me?"

Samson - "I don't even remember. Didn't matter to me. So few things do."

Sylar leaves a gift for Danko at his apartment  - Eric Doyle, the puppet master.

Nathan and Danko butt heads for the last time as Nathan's ability is revealed and Claire's free pass expires. Tracy manages to escape and frees Mohinder, matt and Daphne, who is dying. Matt and Mohinder take Daphne to the hospital but she dies from an infection in the gundshot wound she received.

Tracy goes on the run, assisted by Micah who is unveiled as 'Rebel'. Unfortunately Noah Bennet and Danko are hot on her trail and close her down to a spectacular stand-off where she is killed by Danko as Micah escapes. Meanwhile Peter swoops in to save Angela from the government men, and Hiro and Ando rescue Matt Parkman Jr - who manages to kick start Hiro's powers.

Sylar appears in Danko's car and offers to work with him to capture some fugitives with abilties. After hesitating, Danko agrees, admitting he has had little luck catching James Martin ; a shapeshifter who has killed three of his men. Together they track Martin to a club where he has taken Danko's appearance and is busy trying to pick up women.

Martin spots them and shifts to look like Sylar, but Danko realises and shoots him, allowing Sylar to take his ability before he dies. The body is removed with Danko's knife buried in the 'sweet spot', making everyone, including Bennet, think that Sylar is dead. Sylar demonstrates his shapeshifting ability, and he and Danko drive away.

Quotes

Danko "You'll be the only one left."

Sylar "Funny how that works."

Greg Beeman's Blog

Sylar continues working undercover as an agent using his shapeshifting ability, but Noah Bennet begins to suspect thatthe body he's seen isn't Sylar's. Determined to destroy Bennet Sylar masquerades as Danko and then Sandra to mess with his head and force him to almost kill his wife. Bennet figures out the deal between Danko and Sylar and pretends that he is Sylar disguised as himself to fool Danko into admitting it. Danko tells him that Sylar is appearing as Agent Donner, and Bennet shoots the man in the back. When he doesn't come back to life Noah goes on the run, and Sylar reveals he really was Donner all along.

Trivia  The episode title is a lyric from David Bowie's song 'Changes'.

Sylar does not appear in this episode (unless you count him as shapeshifting Nathan!) 

Angela, Claire, Noah, Peter and Nathan continue digging up graves at Coyote Sands as Angela relates the story of what happened there in 1961. She reveals that she was taken there as  a 16 year old and met up with Charles Deveaux, Bob Bishop and Daniel Linderman, who banded together to escape the facility when they suspected Dr Suresh of not being on the level. Angela promised her younger sister Alice, who had the ability to control the weather, that she would come back for her, but they never did. When the weather starts to change unexpectedly Angela realises that Alice is nearby and goes to find her, but gets swallowed in a sand storm.

She wakes up in an underground shelter where Alice has been living ever since 1961,but when she reveals that she lied about coming back Alice reacts violently and calls up lightening which injures Mohinder, who has come to Coyote Sands to get more information on his father's work. After finding a film of Chandra's work with specials Mohinder carries on looking whilst the others leave. Alice disappears and a flashback reveals that her actions led to the deaths of many people at Coyote Sands.

In a nearby diner the Petrellis, Claire and Noah assemble and discuss the formation of a new Company which will not repeat the mistakes of the old one. However as they hear Nathan supposedly giving a press conference in Washington, they realise that Sylar is masquerading as him to get to the President.

Danko asks Sylar to take on the form of Agent Trowbe to stay undetected but when Sylar goes to sleep as himself and wakes up as Trowbe he starts to worry he's losing his grip on his identity. Add to that an extra tooth and an eye which won't stay brown and Sylar snaps, breaking cover to seek out a power and kill the owner old skool style, painting I Am Sylar on the walls in blood. 

He manages to get hold of his mother's DNA from the scissors he killed her with so he can shift into her and they can have a creep heart to heart chat. Later Sylar joins Danko's men as Agent Trowbe in taking down Micah but when the boy suggests that Sylar take Nathan's form and convince the president to call off the hunt for specials, he lets him go, shifting into Micah to convince Danko and the agents that they have killed him.

Sylar gets Nathan's DNA from a toothbrush at his office and takes his form. The real Nathan shows up after seeing Sylar give an address as him on television and Danko takes him down. Danko feels that Sylar has gotten too cocky and stabs him in the back of the head. However, after a few seconds Sylar gets up and pulls out the knife sayinf "That hurt!"

Quotes

Sylar : How can I be special when I killed the only woman who ever loved me?

Tom : Are you rebel?

Sylar : I'm 'a' rebel.

Sylar stows a comatose Nathan and manages to get Danko arrested by his own men, leaving the path to the President clear. He takes Nathan's form and heads for the Presidential address, with Claire in tow. She soon realises he's not really Nathan but it's too late and there follows a creepy 'date' where Sylar tells her that their mutual invulnerability should mean they're together forever.

Peter and Nathan arrive and attack Sylar but he manages to take Nathan's flying power and leave Peter bleeding, fighting Nathan in mid-air. As Peter and Claire run to try and get to the president first Sylar returns and kills Nathan by cutting his throat.

He shifts into the President's chief of staff and succeeds in shaking his hand, but it's actually Peter, who stole his shapeshifting ability. Peter injects him with a powerful sedative and delivers him to Angela, Noah and Matt Parkman.

Parkman is asked to bring back Nathan by getting inside Sylar's head. He tells Sylar that he and Gabriel Gray are dead and that he is now Nathan Petrelli. The other characters take the James Martin version of Sylar's body from the Building 26 morgue and burn it at coyote sands, with only Angela, Matt and Noah knowing the truth. 

Six weeks later we jump to 'Nathan' in his office, except he's not feeling himself. His mother comes to take him to dinner and he gets distracted by a clock which he says is running one and a half seconds slow...

Quotes

(After killing Nathan) "Oh, Claire is going to be so mad at me..."

Angela Petrelli has a dream in which she sees Sylar as Nathan. When 'Nathan' arrives for lunch with her she is peturbed that he is acting strangely, mis-remembering things and taling about becoming a 'better' version of himself. She calls Matt Parkman and tries to get him to come and fix the apparent glitch, but he says he doesn't want to do it anymore. Later, 'Nathan' realises he can move objects with his mind, and electricity crackles in his hands. 

Meanwhile,Matt Parkman looks for his son Matt Jr. and finds him in the arms of Sylar....

Matt sees Sylar holding his son, and saying he wants his body back. Sylar throws the baby to Matt but when Janice interrupts them he sees it's all in his head and Matt Jr is asleep in his cot. Matt continues to see Sylar at his addiction support group, yelling into thin air as the 'ghost' taunts him into abandoning his cold turkey recovery. Later, Sylar succeeds when Matt used his powers to convince a potential love rival to stay away from Janice.

At the carnival Samuel shows three people who he wants to recruit and they appear on Lydia's back as tattoos - Claire, Peter and Sylar.

Sylar is in Matt's head - which doesn't help when Matt is trying to search the house of a known drug dealer. Sylar helps Matt to find the hiding criminal but it transpires that the house may be being used for much worse things than drugs. Matt finds a stuffed rabbit and a ransom note which says a girl will be killed. 

Spurred on by Sylar Matt uses his power to pull the girl's location out of the drug dealer's head, and finds her lifeless body under the stairs. He beats the man to a bloody pulp before his partner walks in and pulls him away. When they check, there is no girl under the stairs - Sylar has used Matt's power against him, and now Parkman could be in deep trouble.

Desperate, Matt uses his power to convince his partner that he has done nothing wrong, and Sylar counts it as a victory, telling Matt that every day of his life could be like this unless they go and find his body together.

Sylar!Nathan touches a baseball cap brought to him by his mother, who is attempting to make him fill in his own memories with clairsentience. He flashes back to a girlfriend of his dying in a pool accident, and realises it was covered up by his mother and his memory wiped.

Wracked with guilt he goes to tell the girl's mother, a friend of Angela's. She claims not to believe him but later puts a contract on his life. Gunned down in a car park as Nathan, he awakes in a shallow grave as Sylar, and claws his way out.

Sylar digs himself out of a shallow grave and runs into the woodland road where a police detective picks him up. After he says he has no memory of who he is, a psychiatrist called Dr Madeline Gibson promises to help him. He begins to gain some clarity after the ticking of the clocks distracts him from his memory exercises, but the doctor is sent home when the detective identifies Sylar from his fingerprints and tells him that he is wanted for murder.

When the detective threatens him Sylar inadvertently sends him flying through the interrogation room glass and escapes. He convinces the doctor to help him escape in her car, but they are caught by the police and chased into the woods. She tells Gabriel to run after seeing how he heals from the police officers' bullets.

Sylar begins to settle into his new surroundings with help from Lydia. More soon.