Ep 7. June 13th - Part One

On "June 13th - Part One," the seventh episode of Heroes Reborn's first season, the series takes a step back in time to flesh out what happened during the events of the fateful day that ultimately split the world into different timelines. The bulk of the episode follows the perspective of a handful of characters as they go about their daily business in Odessa, Texas — seemingly unaware of just how pivotal their actions will prove to be.

We catch up with Noah Bennet, a.k.a. HRG (played by returning cast member Jack Coleman) as he wakes up in his home, struggling to shake off some sort of memory loss or hangover. He visits his daughter, Claire, at Primatech HQ and the two talk about her budding romance with classmate Zach, as well as Noah's concerns regarding Gabriel Gray, a.k.a. Sylar, who is still at large.

Meanwhile, we also follow the morning rituals of Micah Sanders, who has been living with his aunt and uncle since his mother's death. Micah discovers that a man has broken into his home, prompting him to use his technopathic abilities to try to defend his territory. He eventually learns that the intruder is actually his cousin, D.L., who has recently been released from prison and hopes to rebuild his bond with Micah.

As the day progresses, we are introduced to several other key characters who will play a major role in the events of June 13th. There's Miko Otomo, a Japanese gamer who is still trying to unravel the mystery surrounding her father's disappearance and the video game portal that may hold the key to his whereabouts. There's also Carlos Gutierrez, a former soldier who is now working as a medic in a local hospital, helping the many casualties that are coming through the doors due to a Manganese leak in the nearby river.

Perhaps most intriguing, though, is the character of Tommy Clark, an EVO teenager who has the power to teleport from one location to another. We see glimpses of his relationship with his mother, Anne, and his attempts to fit in at a new school in Odessa. It's clear that he's struggling to keep his powers a secret, and we soon learn that he's been using them to do some good around town — helping people in danger and even saving a young girl from a burning building.

Of course, all of these various plot threads are building towards a fateful event that we know is coming — the terrorist attack that will leave Odessa in ruins and set off a chain of events that will determine the fate of the world. As we approach the end of the episode, we see various characters converging on the Odessa Unity Summit, an event that is meant to celebrate the unity between EVOs and humans but will ultimately end in tragedy.

Overall, "June 13th - Part One" is a solid episode that does a good job of setting the stage for the big finale that we know is coming. While it's a little disorienting to see familiar characters in different contexts (HRG is working for Primatech again, for example), the show does a good job of making it all feel cohesive and necessary to the story. As we see these characters go about their lives, it's clear that they are all connected in some way, and the episode does a good job of teasing out those connections without giving too much away too soon.

While it's hard to say how this episode will fare when viewed in the context of the full season, it's definitely a highlight so far. It's a little slower-paced than some of the other episodes, but that's to be expected given that it's primarily concerned with setting up the big event that will define the season. Nonetheless, there are plenty of intriguing character moments and small shocks throughout, and it ends on a cliffhanger that will have audiences clamoring for more. All in all, "June 13th - Part One" is a must-watch for fans of the series.