Ando Masahashi
Template:Heroes character box Ando Masahashi is a character on the NBC drama Heroes, played by James Kyson Lee. He is a friend and co-worker of Hiro Nakamura, and accompanies him to the United States.
Character overview
Ando is initially skeptical of his friend's powers, and, after Hiro teleports into a women's restroom in Genesis, tells him to stop trying to be special. In the next episode, Don't Look Back, when Hiro calls from New York City five weeks in the future, Ando answers the phone. In One Giant Leap comes to accept Hiro's powers after realizing that Hiro possesed a comic book from the future and watching Hiro stop time to save a schoolgirl from a traffic accident. He agrees to accompany Hiro on his travels to the United States to "fulfill their destiny."
In the United States
The pair run into trouble in Las Vegas in Collision when he convinces Hiro to use his powers to cheat at gambling, and the two are later beaten up by their victims. After an argument, Ando leaves Hiro to visit Niki Sanders, whom he has watched strip online back in Japan. When he realizes that he and Niki didn't have a real relationship, he returns to accompany Hiro on his hero's journey. The two separate again in "Seven Minutes to Midnight", when Hiro fails to return from the past, where he has gone to save Charlie Andrews, a waitress killed at a diner they visited on the way to New York. Ando is still waiting for Hiro to return in "Homecoming" when Peter Petrelli arrives to complete his own personal mission to save Claire Bennet from Sylar. Ando admits to Peter that he cannot do much without Hiro. When Hiro returns to present-day Midland in "Fallout", Ando accompanies him to meet Isaac Mendez.
Two weeks later, in "Godsend", Hiro and Ando arrive in New York, where they go to the Museum of Natural History and examine a katana once owned by Tazeko Kensei. Hiro believes the sword will help him control his powers and steals the one on the display. However, this one turns out to be a replica made by Mr. Linderman. Back at Isaac's loft, they meet Simone Deveaux, an art dealer who sells many of Isaac's paintings to Linderman. Simone recommends Hiro travel back to Las Vegas and meet Linderman. In Run!, Ando and Hiro meet Hope, who convinces them to retrieve a bag from the hotel room of her violent lover. With Ando's urging, the pair breaks into the room by impersonating room service. When Hiro recommends they leave, Ando locks him out of the room and continues searching for the bag. He then accompanies Hope, without Hiro, out of the hotel, and it is revealed that the bag really contained gambling chips belonging to Steve Gustavson. In "Unexpected", Ando is shot in the arm in a shootout between Hope and Steve Gustavson. After this, Hiro tells Ando to go back to Japan. Later, in "Parasite", it is revealed that Ando followed Hiro instead of going back to Japan. Ando impersonates one of Linderman's guards and helps Hiro obtain the sword. Then they both travel to post-apocalyptic New York City.
Personality and role in plot
Ando has an easygoing personality and a witty sense of humor, but is capable of recognizing situations of gravity and responding accordingly. He is a great admirer of the beauty of American women, but has shown a certain level of ineptitude in his interactions with them. He is fiercely loyal to his friend. A theme often associated with the character is Hiro's assertion in the episode Better Halves that one does not need super powers to be a hero. He is also not afraid to use Hiro's ability for personal gain. In the episode Collision, during a game of poker, he convinces Hiro to stop time and give him the best cards, thus winning the game.
Trivia
- Ando is by far the most prominent character not listed in the main cast. He was present in every episode through the sixteenth, Unexpected, his first absence being in the episode Company Man. James Kyson Lee has had more total lines than several members of the regular cast.
