Ditto on Clare and Hiro. I couldn't watch without them. As for the X-Men connection, with Stan Lee and his Marvel cohorts having a hand in the show, and a definite X-Men style premise to the show, I think that's why my fiance started watching Heroes to start with! Oddly enough, I know a very hardcore X-Men fan who hasn't even given Heroes a chance.
Anywho, I'm stoked about tonight. The phone ringers are being turned off, popcorn is going to be popped, etc. Yea, we're overly excited fans...