I really liked this. It feels like Season 1 again.
I know what you're talking about, I dunno what it is, but something seems to be clicking like it hasn't for the past two years. Maybe just the characters all behaving as though they have a brain (even if their character flaws might lead them astray - that's legit character writing, while making characters dumb for the convenience of the plot is anything but.)
Is Bryan Fuller involved with these episodes? I hope not, since he's gone again, and I'd hate to think he really was the reason the show was ever good.
I don't know if it's been touched upon, the "Sylar" in Parkman's head is his own guilt and for erasing someone's life from existence.
That's the logical way to interpret it - Matt's never shown the ability to suck consciousnesses out of people's brains, so how could he have done that to Sylar. However, I think the writers will ignore logic (like they've never done that

) and when Sylar inevitably gets put back in his body, Sylar will remember everything that happened with Matt.
Why? Because the audience would be corn-fused if Sylar didn't recall sharing a mind with Matt. Ironic, since it makes far more sense the other way, but not corn-fusing the audience always will take precedence. Plus, it's more fun if Sylar and Matt both recall being roommates in Matt's head.
This leads to a damn frightening problem - when Matt puts Sylar back in his own body, logically then he should have Matt's powers. He has them now, after all - he has direct access to Matt's brain without ever having to open up his skull. Does Matt realize this?!? He's going to unleash a psycho who can control pople's minds! At this point, Matt's best option is suicide.
I don't see Hiro as selflessly using his powers for good. I see him more as a selfish nitwit who uses his powers for good so that he and only he (and definitely not Ando) can be a beloved superhero who gets all the glory. The funny thing is, I doubt this is what the writers are trying to convey.
Yeah. Either the writers or the actor or both are botching Hiro badly. He comes off as an overgrown child and it's immensely annoying.
Hiro could easily be "fixed" by simply turning him into FutureHiro.
I never found Future Hiro remotely believable as a badass (like Peter and Claire; you need better actors to be able to pull off that transition.) People bitch about a fine actor like Quinto playing a badass over and over till it gets dull. Masi Oka would wear out his welcome far quicker.
I really wish they had gone with their original concept of each season being a new story with new characters because I find myself really only interested in the new people.
I can't blame the writers for not doing that. It's hard enough to get the right cast to create a hit show the first time. You're asking for lightning to strike twice by going with a completely new cast after only the first season.
Just look at their wretched track record with new characters. Would we get a cast of Adams and Elles, or Mayas and Alejandros? The characters are the only element in this show that has worked consistently (if like me, you like some of them). It would be madness to ditch the show's only strength. What's left, plotting? Their plotlines are mostly failures.