Samuel really manipulated Hiro just as he did with Peter. After Hiro saved her, he trapped her in time. Now, Hiro has to help him in order to get her out of that time prison he placed her in. Samuel is definately the master manipulator and what makes him a great villain. He makes Sylar look like lawn mulch and he makes Angela's manipulation look like a pleasure cruise. I can't wait for our Heroes to take him down once and for all.

Agreed. I laughed when Lydia said he could convince an apple that it is an orange.

That raises a problem for me though. Blackmail is something you do if you can't convince someone to do what you want. A master manipulater wouldn't need to resort to blackmail and if they did it would be a last resort, not option #1.

Well, in this case I wouldn't say he manipulated Hiro-----blackmailed is more fitting; unless we know that Hiro saving her was Samuel's ultimate goal; what he was waiting for to then spring his trap. Which, I don't think is the case.

I'm not sure I see the blackmail angle. Kidnap and hold for ransom, that's the way I would describe it.

Hmmm, since this has to do with Sam saving face, not being disgraced, that's why I think this is blackmail----not in the traditonal sense, yes and with a mixture of kidnap/randsom too.