The Fifth Stage
Encyclopedia
"The Fifth Stage" is the eleventh episode of the fourth season of the NBC
science fiction
drama
series Heroes
and seventieth episode overall. The episode aired on November 30, 2009.
goes over what he knows already about the carnival people, he is surprised by Lauren who decided to take him out on a date to the movies instead of the other way around. When she asks about what Noah was doing, he explains his investigation, and in doing so discovers the compass is gone and deduces Claire Bennet
must have taken it. Lauren offers her help by using CIA technology to triangulate her cellphone's location and get a general idea of where Claire is heading. As they attempt to locate her, Noah and Lauren find themselves striking up a conversation about their relationship which leads Noah to reveal the truth about Lauren having the Haitian erase her memories of their breakfasts together among other things. Shortly after, they are interrupted by one of Samuel Sullivan's carnies who has the ability to create multiple copies of himself. They escape into the bathroom and grab some hidden guns. When they return to the main room, the man and his multiple selves are gone along with the Primatech
files Noah was hanging onto.
Angela Petrelli
meets with Peter Petrelli
, informing him he must move to the "fifth stage" and accept that Nathan Petrelli
is dead. Peter intends to confront Sylar
and force Nathan out of him by use of sedatives. The Haitian arrives upon Peter's request and he absorbs his ability as a backup plan. Peter runs into Sylar almost immediately, who had shape-shifted into a nurse, and Peter escapes onto a floor of the hospital undergoing renovations. Sylar dumps all the medical supplies out of his bag, but Peter uses the Haitian's ability to suppress Sylar's abilities. After a brief fist fight, Peter manages to literally pin Sylar to a table with a nail gun. Peter then uses the Haitian's other ability to suppress Sylar's mind deep down, allowing Nathan to resurface. Nathan and Peter take a walk out onto the same roof top that was seen in "Don't Look Back
". Nathan tells Peter he can't keep fighting Sylar and needs to accept his death. Peter refuses, but then Nathan takes a running start and throws himself over the roof. Peter quickly grabs hold of him, but Nathan tells him to let him go. Peter refuses and attempts to pull him up, but Nathan tells him that it's time to let him go. Peter says he can't and Nathan tells him that he has to carry on for the both of them. He asks Peter to tell Angela that he loves her and to take care of Claire. He also tells Peter that he is what's good in the world and that he has to keep fighting the good fight because the world hasn't seen anything yet. Peter says he can't do it without him, but Nathan tells him he can. The two say they love each one last time and knowing Nathan is right, Peter then lets him go and watches as Nathan falls and crashes onto a car below. Sylar morphs back and all traces of Nathan are gone. He quickly heals, and gets up, waving snidely to Peter who glares down at him. Sylar then turns around and walks away.
Lydia informs Samuel that she is aware he killed Joseph, but then states because she has a daughter to look after, she'll keep his secret safe. Meanwhile, after driving for twenty-one hours, Claire and Gretchen reach what the compass seems to reveal to them as being their destination: The Sullivan Bros. Carnival. Claire is unsure to enter, but Gretchen convinces her to go for it by reminding her that this is a journey she has been on her whole life; trying to find a way to fit in, to belong, so she should at the very least take a look. Upon entering they are welcomed by Samuel, who encourages them to walk around free of charge and see what the carnival is like for themselves. They meet Lydia, who tells Claire to take her hand and reveal to her what she needs to see. The ink forms an image of Claire with the moniker "Indestructible Woman" bannered in front of her, which Lydia tells her is the ink manifesting itself into her desire. As they investigate further, they come upon a ball throwing booth where they see a customer taking far too many turns, so the person running the booth uses his telekinesis to make the balls start to miss and drive him away. Gretchen thinks its cruel the people here are using their abilities to swindle people out of their money, but Claire and Gretchen then see they may really be good at heart. When a little girl who was waiting for the man to finish finally takes her turn, the man moves the ball she throws to knock the balls over, so he gives her a prize. Samuel later takes the two back into their living area, where Claire sees a loving family environment. She runs into Eric Doyle, who says he wishes to speak with her later, and is then asked by Samuel to tell the children a bedtime story. When the man from earlier confronts Samuel about being cheated, Claire is surprised to find he does not fight back when the man starts punching him. Enraged, she stands in the way and scares him away with her ability when he cuts her and she heals. Soon after this, she tells Gretchen she will remain at the carnival for the rest of the Thanksgiving holiday before returning to see her. Then in a final glimpse of the carnival we see the enraged man's body in the back of a truck, dead.
The episode ends with Samuel addressing his family, including Claire, at Joseph's grave, saying he wishes to start a new homeland for people with abilities at this site. As he speaks, a montage of the other heroes are shown: Peter returning to his mother after accepting Nathan's death; Emma Coolidge playing the cello; Hiro Nakamura
, Ando Masahashi
, and Mohinder Suresh
running through a forest; Sylar donning his signature black hat; and Tracy Strauss
controlling her abilities, apparently at the carnival. Claire watches Samuel with genuine admiration and support; implying that, while oblivious to Samuel's true colors, she may be joining the Carnival after all.
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
series Heroes
Heroes (TV series)
Heroes is an American science fiction television drama series created by Tim Kring that appeared on NBC for four seasons from September 25, 2006 through February 8, 2010. The series tells the stories of ordinary people who discover superhuman abilities, and how these abilities take effect in the...
and seventieth episode overall. The episode aired on November 30, 2009.
Plot
As Noah BennetNoah Bennet
Noah Bennet, also known as the man in horn-rimmed glasses or simply Mr. Bennet, is a fictional character from the NBC drama Heroes played by Jack Coleman. The role was initially recurring, but became regular as of the 11th episode...
goes over what he knows already about the carnival people, he is surprised by Lauren who decided to take him out on a date to the movies instead of the other way around. When she asks about what Noah was doing, he explains his investigation, and in doing so discovers the compass is gone and deduces Claire Bennet
Claire Bennet
Claire Bennet is a fictional character in the NBC science fiction drama series Heroes. She is portrayed by Hayden Panettiere and first appeared on television in the pilot episode of the series, "Genesis" on September 25, 2006...
must have taken it. Lauren offers her help by using CIA technology to triangulate her cellphone's location and get a general idea of where Claire is heading. As they attempt to locate her, Noah and Lauren find themselves striking up a conversation about their relationship which leads Noah to reveal the truth about Lauren having the Haitian erase her memories of their breakfasts together among other things. Shortly after, they are interrupted by one of Samuel Sullivan's carnies who has the ability to create multiple copies of himself. They escape into the bathroom and grab some hidden guns. When they return to the main room, the man and his multiple selves are gone along with the Primatech
The Company (Heroes)
The Company refers to a fictional covert international organization in the NBC drama Heroes. Its primary purpose is to identify, monitor and study those individuals with genetically-derived special abilities. The Company played a central role in the plot of Volume Two, during the second season of...
files Noah was hanging onto.
Angela Petrelli
Angela Petrelli
Angela Petrelli , portrayed by Cristine Rose, is a fictional character featured in the television show Heroes. She is the mother of Nathan and Peter Petrelli. The character is based upon the Angela Lansbury character Mrs. Iselin in the film The Manchurian Candidate...
meets with Peter Petrelli
Peter Petrelli
Peter Petrelli, portrayed by Milo Ventimiglia, is a fictional character on the NBC science fiction drama series Heroes. He is a hospice nurse-turned-paramedic in his mid-20s with the power to absorb and mimic the powers of other people with special abilities, or powers...
, informing him he must move to the "fifth stage" and accept that Nathan Petrelli
Nathan Petrelli
Nathan Petrelli, portrayed by Adrian Pasdar, is a fictional character on the NBC science fiction drama series Heroes. He is a New York lawyer-turned-senator with the power of self-propelled flight. Ambitious and pragmatic, Nathan has a decidedly anti-hero streak, which exacerbates his complex...
is dead. Peter intends to confront Sylar
Sylar
Gabriel Gray, more commonly known by his assumed name of Sylar , is one of the primary antagonists and antiheroes in the NBC drama Heroes. Portrayed by Zachary Quinto, he is a superpowered serial killer who targets other superhumans in order to steal their powers...
and force Nathan out of him by use of sedatives. The Haitian arrives upon Peter's request and he absorbs his ability as a backup plan. Peter runs into Sylar almost immediately, who had shape-shifted into a nurse, and Peter escapes onto a floor of the hospital undergoing renovations. Sylar dumps all the medical supplies out of his bag, but Peter uses the Haitian's ability to suppress Sylar's abilities. After a brief fist fight, Peter manages to literally pin Sylar to a table with a nail gun. Peter then uses the Haitian's other ability to suppress Sylar's mind deep down, allowing Nathan to resurface. Nathan and Peter take a walk out onto the same roof top that was seen in "Don't Look Back
Don't Look Back (Heroes)
"Don't Look Back" is the second episode of the first season of the NBC science fiction drama series Heroes. It was directed by Allan Arkush and written by Tim Kring. The characters deal with the consequences of their actions in "Genesis"...
". Nathan tells Peter he can't keep fighting Sylar and needs to accept his death. Peter refuses, but then Nathan takes a running start and throws himself over the roof. Peter quickly grabs hold of him, but Nathan tells him to let him go. Peter refuses and attempts to pull him up, but Nathan tells him that it's time to let him go. Peter says he can't and Nathan tells him that he has to carry on for the both of them. He asks Peter to tell Angela that he loves her and to take care of Claire. He also tells Peter that he is what's good in the world and that he has to keep fighting the good fight because the world hasn't seen anything yet. Peter says he can't do it without him, but Nathan tells him he can. The two say they love each one last time and knowing Nathan is right, Peter then lets him go and watches as Nathan falls and crashes onto a car below. Sylar morphs back and all traces of Nathan are gone. He quickly heals, and gets up, waving snidely to Peter who glares down at him. Sylar then turns around and walks away.
Lydia informs Samuel that she is aware he killed Joseph, but then states because she has a daughter to look after, she'll keep his secret safe. Meanwhile, after driving for twenty-one hours, Claire and Gretchen reach what the compass seems to reveal to them as being their destination: The Sullivan Bros. Carnival. Claire is unsure to enter, but Gretchen convinces her to go for it by reminding her that this is a journey she has been on her whole life; trying to find a way to fit in, to belong, so she should at the very least take a look. Upon entering they are welcomed by Samuel, who encourages them to walk around free of charge and see what the carnival is like for themselves. They meet Lydia, who tells Claire to take her hand and reveal to her what she needs to see. The ink forms an image of Claire with the moniker "Indestructible Woman" bannered in front of her, which Lydia tells her is the ink manifesting itself into her desire. As they investigate further, they come upon a ball throwing booth where they see a customer taking far too many turns, so the person running the booth uses his telekinesis to make the balls start to miss and drive him away. Gretchen thinks its cruel the people here are using their abilities to swindle people out of their money, but Claire and Gretchen then see they may really be good at heart. When a little girl who was waiting for the man to finish finally takes her turn, the man moves the ball she throws to knock the balls over, so he gives her a prize. Samuel later takes the two back into their living area, where Claire sees a loving family environment. She runs into Eric Doyle, who says he wishes to speak with her later, and is then asked by Samuel to tell the children a bedtime story. When the man from earlier confronts Samuel about being cheated, Claire is surprised to find he does not fight back when the man starts punching him. Enraged, she stands in the way and scares him away with her ability when he cuts her and she heals. Soon after this, she tells Gretchen she will remain at the carnival for the rest of the Thanksgiving holiday before returning to see her. Then in a final glimpse of the carnival we see the enraged man's body in the back of a truck, dead.
The episode ends with Samuel addressing his family, including Claire, at Joseph's grave, saying he wishes to start a new homeland for people with abilities at this site. As he speaks, a montage of the other heroes are shown: Peter returning to his mother after accepting Nathan's death; Emma Coolidge playing the cello; Hiro Nakamura
Hiro Nakamura
is a fictional character on the NBC fantasy drama Heroes who possesses the ability of space-time manipulation. This means that Hiro is able to alter the flow of time. Previously, his ability allowed him to teleport, stop time, or travel through time, but recent events in the series have prevented...
, Ando Masahashi
Ando Masahashi
is a fictional character on the NBC science fiction television drama series Heroes, portrayed by James Kyson Lee.The character was billed in a recurring role during the first season, and was promoted to series regular in the second...
, and Mohinder Suresh
Mohinder Suresh
Mohinder Suresh is a fictional character on the NBC drama Heroes, portrayed by Sendhil Ramamurthy. He is from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India and is a genetics professor at the University of Madras who holds a PhD in parapsychology...
running through a forest; Sylar donning his signature black hat; and Tracy Strauss
Tracy Strauss
Tracy Strauss, portrayed by Ali Larter, is a fictional character on the NBC science fiction drama series Heroes. She has the ability to freeze anything that she touches. As the series progresses, her ability evolved to include water mimicry. Introduced in the third season, she is an adviser to the...
controlling her abilities, apparently at the carnival. Claire watches Samuel with genuine admiration and support; implying that, while oblivious to Samuel's true colors, she may be joining the Carnival after all.