“You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain”
I firmly believe that if someone WANTS to change all you have to do is give them a reason to justify their previous actions and they can wrap up that chapter of their lives. [“Yes I was a whore but that was college.” See how easy that is?] A lot of viewers have expressed that they don’t want Sylar to turn good and justify his murderous rampage on the “hunger”.
Let’s break it down. Sylar was obviously a socially awkward child living under the pressure or lack of pressure to succeed in the world. His whole childhood he wanted to be “special.” But unfortunately, as if fullfilling a pattern, he becomes the watchmakers son and continues the cycle.
When given a chance to actually be special EXTRAORDINARY, he revels at the prospect. Young Gabriel Grey. With powers. Who would have thought? Mind you, he never killed an innocent. He killed people that did not embrace their powers, ones that did not know how to handle it. It’s like the stronger lion killing the weak. It’s an evolutionary imperative.
Remember that stint in NY? The bomb? Once he realized he was killing innocents, he stopped. He went home hoping for his mother’s acceptance but she was pretty much batshit crazy and didn’t know how to back off. Pity.
Am I crediting anything to the hunger? Of course. I believe it’s a drug. A extra push if you will for someone that has such strong desire to be “different”. He explained it perfectly – The hunger, it’s the thirst that makes you want more, to know more, and you just can’t stop. Do I believe that Sylar can become Gabriel again? Sure, treading back to my first point. Sure it seems like a cheap excuse, or “it’s not fair” but that’s how the world works. You have to give people a way out. Give them a proper reason for their past actions, so they can start over on a clean slate.
Gabriel doesn’t want to be a monster. He wants to be special. He has already proven that he can make rational decisions and with time control the hunger [as opposed to Peter who is just…dumb.]
And quite appropriately, Heroes doesn’t let you choose sides. Because well…everyone is operating for their own selfish reasons no? Because everyone is out to save their vision of the world. The world always needs saving.
At the end of the day, it’s all perspective isn’t it.
