Theory:Nathan Petrelli

Main Article Theories about Nathan Petrelli Main Discussion

The following fan theories are about Nathan Petrelli.

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Theories

Theory	Citations	Notes
Nathan's power was aerokinesis, or the ability to control air.	None.	+ This would explain how he flies (propelling himself by riding on air currents), how he protects himself during flight (surrounding himself with a condensed air force field), and how he heard Peter tell Claire, "there is no other way" (How to Stop an Exploding Man). Nathan amplifies the sound waves and carries them to his ears. • If Nathan's power is aerokinesis, then he might be able to do more than fly, but also control air to create focused blasts of wind, keep the air around him warm or cool and direct air currents that carry sounds to his ears. + With this, he could have protected himself from the radioactive blast when he sent Peter into the sky. - Nathan was severely scarred from the explosion in (Four Months Ago). • It is possible that Nathan hasn't considered that application of his power, and thus was not shielding himself at the time. + This could explain how he appears to be able to breathe normally even at higher altitudes.
Peter will attempt to use his blood to save Nathan's life.	Volume Two ends with Nathan dying in Peter's arms.	+ Peter knows that a regenerator's blood can be used to heal others. • Even so, it might not work. - Peter's blood only contains empathetic mimicry, not actual regenerative blood. The user can only mimic regeneration, not the blood itself. • However, the science of how super-powers in the show's universe is still up in the air and it may be possible for Peter - as long as he focuses on one power - to simulate it long enough to save Nathan. • Also, there is no evidence. • If Peter was ever near Linderman, he may have picked up his power of healing and would be able to keep him alive that way.
Nathan is not actually dead.	Last minute of Powerless.	+ The news cast that Angela Petrelli is watching says "Congressman elect Nathan Petrelli was shot." No confirmed news of death. - The news cast said "Was shot by an unknown assassin." 'Assassin' usually implies the victim was killed (assassinated.) Had he merely been wounded, the term 'assailant' would have probably been used. - The news cast seemed only seconds after the shots rang out and could have just been an anchor reporting on what the viewers had just seen. + With medical attention, D.L. survived shots to the chest at non-point blank range. Nathan, too, was shot from a distance. + Nathan's (former) high profile in the community, current proximity to the police, and relationship with Claire could prompt rapid and/or extremely effective medical attention. - D.L was shot in the shoulder, while Nathan was shot by an accurate assassin with lots of time to aim. Thus, Nathan was probably shot in a vital organ. + Nathan may still be under the influence of Adam's blood which could help him heal or just recover faster. - When Nathan punched the mirror after he saw the disfigured version of himself, his wounds from the broken glass did not heal. + Peter could inject his blood into Nathan as it may be able to heal him as he has the same ability as Adam and Claire. - Peter does not have the same ability; he has absorbed the ability. There is no evidence to suggest that his blood has the same effects as Adam's or Claire's, especially since his empathic ability involves mentally connecting with others, not altering his DNA. - If Peter must 'connect' with other people to use his ability he would not have healed after being killed by Sylar because you can't think with a piece of glass in the back of your head. • Nor did he need to mentally connect with anyone in order to use his powers in Ireland, as he didn't remember any of the people he had absorbed powers from. It is likely that his feelings about people was a focus, not a necessity. • There is also no evidence to suggest that Peter's body is not constantly healing itself (on a cellular level), nor is there evidence that his blood would not have the same healing properties as Adam's and Claire's. + Claire could hurry to Odessa after hearing the news and give Nathan some of her blood to heal him. (Noah was completely dead until Claire's blood made him all better again. It seems that lately nobody's been dead for long on this show.) + Matt was shot four times and lived. + Sylar was stabbed through the chest with a samurai sword and lived. + Tim Kring said in an interview regarding Volume Three, that Nathan's fate was "up in the air and will be determined when we come back after the (Writer's Guild) strike." + Nathan may have been aware of the Company's assassination attempt and wore a bullet-proof vest. + The press-conference was in a police station where Nathan could easily procure a vest. + Jack Coleman said in an interview with io9 that "it looks really bad for certain people" in the finale, "but it might not end up that way. And it won't be a 'brought back from the dead' kind of thing, but maybe what we're seeing didn't come to pass as we think it did." This would fit with the notion that Nathan wasn't even shot, although it looks like he was. • It's possible that Nathan was counting on the Company to kill him as part of his plan to expose them.
Nathan can't die because he was injected with Adam's blood.	None.	- Adam can die. Just not very easily. + When Adam was shot by Victoria Pratt, he regenerated (Truth & Consequences). With Nathan having been injected with Adam's blood, maybe he can regenerate as well.

See Also

• For theories about Nathan's shooter in Powerless, see Theory:Nathan's assassin.