On one hand, I totally agree with you about most of your Heroes points- especially on how easily Claire gave in to West upon finding out he had a power, that creeped me out hardcore as well- but I did want to add something about Candice (whose real name is Betty, if I remember correctly.)
Much like "meteor mutations" on Smallville, people's abilities often seem to function as a sort of monkey's paw for their inner selves and deepest desires. Claire's a teenager who probably thought of herself as immortal- and now she very possibly is. Micah liked computers, so he interfaces with them. DL needed to escape, so he could walk through walls. Niki felt powerless, and so grew superstrong. Eden had an abusive family and was too terrified to speak her entire life, and so when she finally did, her words carried more impact than most. And so on, and so forth.
West, much like Nathan, probably honestly believes that he's above the rest of the human race- he's an "alien," the rest of them are "robots"- and so he, also like Nathan, flies literally above the rest of us. And Candice developed her power when she was fat, ugly, unhappy, and a total outcast in the middle of a small town that hated her, so it's hardly surprising that she developed the ability not just to become whoever she wanted- but also to screw with the heads of the people who hurt and humiliated her.
I don't know if you read the comics online or not, but if you don't, I'd recommend it. It doesn't necessarily make you like the characters more, or make a certain narrative choice any less creepy and wrong, but it definitely takes the show to a deeper level than they seem to be able to manage on-screen.
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Much like "meteor mutations" on Smallville, people's abilities often seem to function as a sort of monkey's paw for their inner selves and deepest desires. Claire's a teenager who probably thought of herself as immortal- and now she very possibly is. Micah liked computers, so he interfaces with them. DL needed to escape, so he could walk through walls. Niki felt powerless, and so grew superstrong. Eden had an abusive family and was too terrified to speak her entire life, and so when she finally did, her words carried more impact than most. And so on, and so forth.
West, much like Nathan, probably honestly believes that he's above the rest of the human race- he's an "alien," the rest of them are "robots"- and so he, also like Nathan, flies literally above the rest of us. And Candice developed her power when she was fat, ugly, unhappy, and a total outcast in the middle of a small town that hated her, so it's hardly surprising that she developed the ability not just to become whoever she wanted- but also to screw with the heads of the people who hurt and humiliated her.
I don't know if you read the comics online or not, but if you don't, I'd recommend it. It doesn't necessarily make you like the characters more, or make a certain narrative choice any less creepy and wrong, but it definitely takes the show to a deeper level than they seem to be able to manage on-screen.
And I go back to my corner now, don't mind me...