Fireworks Due For Heroes' H.R.G.

Jack Coleman, who stars as the mysterious Mr. Bennet (aka Horn-Rimmed Glasses) on the hit NBC series HEROES, told SCI FI Wire that fans can look forward to more emotional fireworks between his character and Bennet's perceptive and distrustful daughter, the invincible cheerleader Claire (Hayden Panettiere). "Any allegiance on this show is subject to change," Coleman teased in a conference call with journalists on Feb. 16. "Certainly, the relationship between H.R.G. and Claire has been very strained lately. In episode 17 ('Company Man,' airing Feb. 26), there is a crisis situation that brings it to a head and possibly a temporary resolution. But I suspect the relationship between Claire and H.R.G. is one of the core values, so to speak, of this show. As twisted as the relationship is, they've said so many lies to each other, but ultimately I think they do really love each other, and there is a tremendous bond there. It's one of the bedrocks they build story on, so I can't imagine they will be at each other's throats and trying to kill each other. I think it's much more of a domestic issue rather than a superhero issue."

In general, Coleman said he's pleasantly surprised at how long his character has survived and evolved over the course of the series. "It's interesting, because it's one of those things that gradually builds," Coleman said. "I don't think there was ever knowledge or intention that this was what was going to happen [to my character]. Episode 11 ('Fallout') was my first episode as a series regular, but I started to get the idea that it might happen a few episodes beforehand."

In the pilot, Mr. Bennet was introduced as a shadowy figure on the hunt for seemingly ordinary people who possess extraordinary powers. Since then, the character, dubbed H.R.G. for his trademark glasses, was revealed to be the adoptive father of Claire and an employee for a front company, Primatech Paper Company. "This character serves so many different stories and can be a catalyst," Coleman actor said of the importance of Mr. Bennet. "He can drive stories for people that are struggling to get hold of their abilities. You need an antagonist and someone to drive them to a crisis. It was that, and I think they liked [my] chemistry with Hayden, and it had a nice emotional resonance, which added to the creepiness of what H.R.G. was doing during his day job. So I think it made sense to keep him around a little while." HEROES airs Mondays on NBC at 9 p.m. ET/PT —Tara DiLullo Bennett