Nathan Petrelli

Nathan Petrelli
Portrayed by	Adrian Pasdar
First appearance	Genesis
In-story stats
Known ability	Flight
Nickname	"Flying Man"
Gender
Home	Hyde Park, NY
Residence	Nathan Petrelli's home
Occupations	U.S. Congressman, former district attorney, former Navy officer
Significant others	Heidi Petrelli, formerly Meredith Gordon
Parents	Angela Petrelli, unnamed father (deceased)
Children	Simon Petrelli, Monty Petrelli, Claire Bennet
Sibling	Peter Petrelli (younger brother)

Nathan Petrelli is a politician recently elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He lives in Hyde Park, New York, with his wife and two sons. He discovers he has the ability to fly.

About

Nathan places a high value on his election campaign, often above that of his family. He masks his brother's dreams and attempts to fly by telling the media that Peter has tried to commit suicide. Nathan also tells his mother to "get over" her husband's recent death. Nathan is also willing to abide by his election committee's decision to keep his wife, recently crippled, away from the media spotlight to avoid appearing "weak."

Nathan downplays the existence of his flying power, despite having flown several times, both intentionally and unintentionally.

Character History

Season One

For an episode-by-episode summary, see Nathan Petrelli: Season One History.

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Four Months Later

As Ando is bringing Kaito Nakamura when Ando bumps into a man he says sorry but the Man gives Ando an annoyed look, the man is Nathan. Angela is standing in Peter's apartment looking at a picture of Peter and Nathan when Nathan walks in he asks her why she is here. But she tells Nathan that is is over that peter is dead but Nathan refuses to believe it telling her to leave his stuff alone and that peter will want it when he gets back after a struggle they break the picture. Angela realizes that Nathan is drunk and tells him that she is happy his father isn't here to see him like that, Nathan just sends her insult back at her. He later receives a call from Claire who tells him she is tired of not being herself, after he hangs up he looks in the mirror at the bar he is in to see himself with severe burns (apparently Radiation Burns) he turns away and looks back to see his normal appearance.

Powers

Nathan has the ability to fly. It is currently unknown how he propels himself or what speeds or altitudes he is capable of achieving, but judging by the sound of his flight when escaping from Mr. Bennet and The Haitian, he is quite fast, probably supersonic.

Memorable Quotes

"Most of what we are is what people expect us to be. I mean, if you take them away, nothing means anything."

-- Nathan (to Peter) (.07%)

"Your father was weak."

"My father was my hero."

- Linderman, Nathan (Landslide)

"Tell me there's another way. Please."

"Shoot me. There is no other way."

"Yes there is, Claire. The future isn't written in stone."

- Claire, Peter, Nathan (How to Stop an Exploding Man)

"I took his power, Nathan. I can't control it. I can't do anything."

"I'm not leaving you, Peter. There's another way to end this and you know it."

"I can't let you die."

"And I can't let everyone else. You saved the cheerleader, so we could save the world.''"

"I love you, Nathan."

"I love you too."

- Peter, Nathan (How to Stop an Exploding Man)

Notes

• An ad for Nathan's campaign airs on the television in Isaac's loft. It states that Nathan "served his country" in Bosnia, Serbia, and Rwanda (Genesis). votepetrelli.com further notes that these tours of duty were as a pilot in the US Navy.
• According to Don't Look Back, Nathan is running to represent New York's 14th congressional district (an actual district in New York City). However, votepetrelli.com says Nathan is running in the 30th district (an obsolete seat since 2000).
• Nathan tells Peter that his power will only be useful for rescuing cats from trees (Nothing to Hide). Of course, he's already put it to better use by rescuing a woman from a burning building (Trial by Fire).
• Nathan took his first steps sometime before November 8, 1968 (War Buddies, Part 2). Children usually take their first steps around their first birthday, so Nathan would have been at least a year old at this time. Though his exact age is unknown, this would mean that as of the election on November 7, 2006, Nathan will be roughly 39 years old.
• Nathan is on the list.
• In a possible future timeline, Nathan blamed Sylar for the explosion to protect Peter. Nathan subsequently became President, and was murdered by Sylar, who used Candice Willmer's power to impersonate him. (Five Years Gone)
• In a deleted scene in Genesis, Nathan prosecutes D.L. Hawkins's case and wins, continuing a winning streak Nathan appears to have been enjoying.

Trivia

• In an interview, Jason La Padura said that Peter and Nathan were originally written to be twins.
• In the script for the unaired pilot, Nathan's name was originally "Harrison Campbell" and he was 34 years old.

External Links

• Nathan Petrelli Tribute Video
• Nathan's Blog (spoof fan site)
• Nathan Petrelli's Official Campaign Page (Heroes 360)
• Nathan Petrelli's Official Campaign Page - French Version

See Also

• For articles related to Nathan, see Related Articles:Nathan.
• For images of Nathan, see Category:Images of Nathan Petrelli.
• For Sylar impersonating Nathan in the dark future, see Sylar (future).
• For other members of the Petrelli family, see Petrelli (disambig).
• For others that could be considered Claire's parents, see Claire's parents (disambig).

Fan Theories

Please refer to Theory:Nathan Petrelli for fan-created theories and other speculation.

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