Chapter 85: Resent Like A Vine Grows

Chapter 85: Resent like a Vine Grows

Life continues without Gabriel there and the others try to carry on while adjusting.

Adding my two cents as a Heroes fic writer and someone that's seen it three times including my first watch back when it aired. I think Elle knew the exact depths of those insecurities because she had the same ones on the opposite side causing her Daddy issues. She was always trying to be enough and to be what he wanted and anytime she tried to be her own person, even a little bit, Bob manipulated her by telling her he was "Very disappointed," in her. The fucked up thing is that Bob gave her those issues intentionally in order to manipulate and control her and there relationship was exponentially more abusive because he had her tortured regularly in the form of experiments as a child. Bennet mentions the fact that she was constantly "Haitianed" so that she wouldn't remember, another form of Bob's control. Thing is, trauma doesn't only exist in memories it's a neurochemical and physiological reaction as well, so Elle was all fucked in the head and had no idea why, which she blamed on herself because she was just like that. It added to her feeling more broken and unworthy because she saw herself as inherently flawed.

I also think the reason she chose to be with Sylar, why she intentionally pushed him to be a killer again and more Sylar like, is because she wanted him to be even more relatable. To be more like herself. However, it was also for him to be a male figure she feared, just like her father was. People choose partners that remind them of the way the individual that had the most influence over them as a child made them feel; this isn't always a good thing. If someone made you feel safe, validated, and loved that's what you seek. If, however, someone regularly made you feel worthless, and afraid of punishment and being abandoned then you'd look for that because the brain craves familiarity. She knew Gabriel had a short fuse and exactly how to provoke him which meant she could earn punishments whenever she wanted them, in the same way she'd occasionally rebel against Bob. That's why she'd flinch any time he touched her, even though he'd never harmed her prior to killing her. She was constantly waiting for him to punish her for what she'd done to him, which is why she chose to lie and manipulate him the same way. She wanted him to. Otherwise she'd have tried to stop him when he killed her, but she didn't resist at all. She was with him because of her daddy issues every bit as much as he was with her because of his mommy issues.

I'm pulling @heroes-trash and @siderealtime tags from my recent post because I want to reply! Why did I place Elle in the 'mommy issues post'?

First, disclaimer: I'm still rewatching, I'm on episode 9 (s3). I don't remember all the plot points (I watched the show more than 10 years ago), so I might be wrong. But I'm interpreting things as I see them unfold on the screen.

Also, this is my excuse to write an essay on Sylar, bear with me.

So, Sylar ...

He's insecure and unloved by his parents, so he craves attention from other people. He wants to be Gabriel Gray, to be enough, to live his life knowing that someone will love him for who he is.

This issue stems from his emotionally abusive relationship with his mother, Virginia.

He said it, Virginia, he doesn't want to be a banker. She doesn't care, because all she cares about is keeping up appearances and making him do what she wants, not what HE wants. "You could be anything you want" my ass.

This further proves the idea that she doesn't care about what he wants. She wants him to be someone Of Great Importance in the eyes of other people. This formed his trauma and shaped how he views relationships with others.

Also, this foreshadows him being a president in the s1 alternative future. Nathan-shaped, he lost his identity and is now following his mama's wishes.

This shot shows how creepy that mother-son relationship is.

The idea of him being 'not enough' is evident to everyone, that's why he's so easily manipulated.

The scene that shows how Elle first met Gabriel proves that the Company has been watching him for some time now.

I believe that they might have been watching his mother's apartment as well, so they know all his triggers.

They send in a girl who can play him like a fiddle by showing him compassion and understanding – something that he couldn't get from his mother.

He calls Elle 'an angel', which is an interesting word choice since he's named Gabriel (archangel) and his mother is Virginia (pure).

Elle is able to manipulate him by resorting to 'mommy tactics'. (Angela did the same)

Let's compare two scenes: the scene in Virginia's apartment and the scene in Gabriel's apartment.

So, both scenes involve 'mother' figures (with updos, lol) and food. In the first scene, Gabriel is forced to eat the sandwich (or else he'll make mommy upset). In the second scene, he's finally presented with something that he actually prefers and he can share it with another person.

Now, the final blow:

Playing on his insecurities and his desire to connect with others, Elle breaks him. Just like his mother did with the whole 'president' speech.

TL;DR: Sylar's desire to be 'special' is based on his trauma and relationship with his mother. The Company (Elle) is able to manipulate him using that against him. Mommy issues prevail.

Addams Family Values — 1993, dir. Barry Sonnenfeld

We've gathered here today in celebration of men with pretty brown eyes

Messaging people for the first time is so hard. What am I supposed to say? Like, "You seem really odd and your blog intrigues me. Do you want to have philosophical conversations or perhaps talk about fictional characters?" What! Whatever. I will just follow you back and stare at your blog with my big beautiful brown eyes.

Le sigh. *Lamenting in author*