And it's not just about the heroes, is it? There are always those plain old humans that are caught in the firing line. Quite literally, in recent episodes. How many other shows would have the balls to - as far as we know - kill off a major character, and then spend 45 minutes focusing on something totally different? And yet it wasn't until after finishing episode 17 that I noticed the lack of a resolution. But it's impossible to hold the shifting perspectives against the show.

Every character has a dilemma, circumstance, or motivation that we can identify with, sympathise with, or rally against. Super-powered serial killer Sylar is an incredible embodiment of evil; a character who can be universally hated. Psychic cop Matt Parkman has a pregnant wife and no job - you can't help but sympathise with him. But he's one of the primary catalysts for the events of "Company Man", so he's not as clean-cut as we first thought. Peter, Isaac, and Simone's love triangle; Nathan's past coming back to haunt him; D.L.'s trepidation at the prospect of being a proper father; there are so many layers involved, and the characters are developed with more care and depth than anything of this ilk before.

The final moments of Heroes' 17th episode had me crying like a baby. A combination of superb performances, excellent writing, and characters that the audience genuinely care about, resulted in one of television's most incredible moments. It's that kind of perfect symmetry that results in something very special, very meaningful. After everything else that the episode offers - packed as it is with drama, tension, mystery, and explosive action - its conclusion comes as a real punch to the gut.

If the show continues to move forward with the steady hand we've seen so far, we may not have seen that best it has to offer. With the series finale drawing inevitably closer, it's hard not to wonder what's coming. Hiro hasn't found his sword, we've not met Linderman, Nathan hasn't made it into office, Sylar hasn't been stopped; the list goes on and on. And then what will season two offer?

With just a handful of episodes remaining, there are an awful lot of questions left unanswered. Next week really can't come soon enough.