Editor’s note: This is to correct an earlier version since Season 3, Volume 4 of Heroes–which will run 12 more episodes, is scheduled to air on February 2 to April 20). Thanks to our readers for pointing this out. We apologize for the confusion.

By Marjorie Gorospe
INQUIRER.net

IF you have extraordinary powers, would you rather become a hero or a villain?

Throughout the third season of Heroes, that dilemma has been the recurring theme. Heroes turned villains. Villains turned heroes. As some heroes desired for more power, some went astray. It was now a question of, “Are you one of us, or one of them.”

As the saying goes, power corrupts. Now, having extraordinary powers, one can be eventually lured to the dark side. In the past seasons, Peter Petrelli has been undoing things his brother Nathan Petrelli had done. But in doing so, he has been changing the future (not once, but many times). Despite his purest intentions, Peter has continued to play god in first half of the Season 3, traveling through time and deleting events that he hope would change the future. But as his mother Angela Petrelli would keep reminding him, there are consequences.

Enter Mohinder Suresh. Just like Peter, he has the purest of intentions. He is searching for the answers to what gives people superhuman abilities. But Suresh finds himself in a quandary. He too desires power, partly because he is angry and curious. His pursuit of science blinds him. Eventually, his self-interest takes over. This leads him to a path, which he most feared—the same path that Sylar has taken—a killer.

Meanwhile, we have Nathan Petrelli. (Remember, Season 2 ended with an unknown assailant who shot him in public while he was about to reveal his true identity). Season 3 opens with the changed Nathan Petrelli. His humbling experience—and supposed death has somehow changed his perspective in life. But he soon found out that it was Peter who shot him and now he’s in the same dilemma. Eventually, his desire to run the most powerful country in the world made him surrender to the evil plans of father Arthur Petrelli (who was earlier known to be dead) and Nancy Strauss (who was the twin sister of Nikki Sanders who died in Season 2).

Volume 3 of Season 3 ends with Nathan giving away the secrets of the Heroes to the highest ranking official of the country. According to reports, Volume 4 of Season 3, which is called “Fugitives,” will unravel more stories in the next few weeks.

Sylar is perhaps the biggest surprise so far. From a hated villain, Sylar becomes one of the “heroes,” as he discovers his true nature and his supposed real parents. To complicate matters, he even partners with Noah Bennet, adoptive father of Claire Bennet, the cheerleader. In Season 2, both characters were on different sides of the fence.

As I watched the first half of Season 3, I found several lessons but one that struck me is about giving people second chances. Sylar was given a second chance, to turn away from his craving for others’ power. He even fell in love. In the end, Sylar’s attempt to turn away from evil fails.

Now, I just can’t wait to see the continuation of Season 3 for more twists and turns in this TV series by Tim Kring.

Watch this teaser: