Fans of Heroes have been waiting a long, long time for this. The show that became a must-watch phenomenon has teased us long enough, and finally the wait is over. In the previous episode, Sylar had taken the powers of Ted Sprague, a man with the ability to create nuclear radiation from his own body. With yet another ability under his control, Sylar has not only become more powerful, but he has the potential to become the bomb that is fated to destroy much of New York City.

Peter Petrelli had also gained Ted‘s powers. Unlike Sylar, Peter doesn‘t seem to be able to control the nuclear power. So it’s a race to see who’s really “the bomb.” Peter can’t help if he explodes, and Sylar’s intentions are unclear. Either way, Peter’s brother, Nathan, is willing to stand by and watch the fireworks happen. He’s been promised that the explosion and ensuing tragedy is best for the world.

Meanwhile, Mr. Bennet, Claire’s adoptive father, is trying to devise a plan to stop whoever the bomb turns out to be. Everyone is convinced that Peter will be the one to explode, so the last case remedy is to put a bullet in the back of Peter’s head. At Mr. Claremont’s swordsmith shop, Hiro and his father have concluded their extra quick sparring session, and Mr. Nakamura tells his son that he has to choose between saving his friend and realizing his destiny.

The climax ends up at Kirby Plaza, with Peter facing off against Sylar once again. Some of the heroes get involved in the final showdown, and there are a couple surprising moments before the ultimate payoff. So this is the end of “Volume 1.” The ending was very satisfying, and although I knew what to expect at the end, the fate of all the principal characters is in question.

We know how to stop an exploding man, and the heroes have saved the cheerleader. One question remains, and it’s “where do we go from here?” I would like to see more from Hiro, Mohinder Suresh, Claire and her family, and Claire's blood relatives. Hopefully we will revisit these characters. In any case, I have my calendar set for next “volume,” because Heroes has taken classic comic book ideas and created something fresh and exciting. Heroes is one of the few reasons I have to tune into NBC.

Tidbits from the season finale:

1. Dreams can come true
2. Mr. Bennet AKA Horned Rimmed Glasses, finally gets a first name.
   
3. A new villain is hinted at by the “tracking system,” Holly
4. A snake slithers away, leaving a slimy trail
5. There’s a sneak peek into “Volume 2”