Theory:Nathan Petrelli

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The following fan theories are about Nathan Petrelli.

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Theories

Theory	Citations	Notes
Nathan's power is 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 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. - It has been indicated in several episodes and in the dreams of Angela Petrelli that those who possess the power to self-regenerate can in fact die, either by decapitation, by a severe perforation to the skull, or by being fatally wounded in the presence of someone with the ability of Power negation (e.g. The Haitian).
Nathan doesn't die because the intention of the shooter was only to stop the Company from being revealed, not to kill Nathan.	None.	+ Angela was not visibly upset that her son has been shot indicating she knew Nathan was going to be shot but not killed. - Peter Petrelli told Nathan that he traveled back in time to kill Nathan.
Nathan and Peter Petrelli are brothers with Hiro Nakamura and Sylar.	We don't know who Sylar's father is, so he may be Arthur Petrelli. While Hiro's biological mother may actually be Angela Petrelli, since we know she slept with Kaito Nakamura.	+ Angela's power is similar to Precognition, while Kaito's ability was probability prediction. So then Arthur's power may also be related with probability, since two of the four parents can already predict the future in some kind of way. + All of their children would have similar abilities as well; Sylar (Intuitive aptitude) and Peter (Empathic mimicry) are related, while Hiro (Space-time manipulation) and Nathan (Flight) are also very similar. + It is revealed that Sylar is the Petrellis' brother.
Gerald Dickinson was murdered so that Nathan could take his Senate seat.	none
Sylar will kill Nathan and take his ability.	In a possible future Sylar had acquired Nathan's ability. Many aspects of that future are still coming true, like Sylar killing Candice (though not taking her ability)	+ Sylar would likely see killing Nathan as a good way of getting at Peter. - Now that Nathan is his half brother maybe Sylar won't want him dead. + Considering that this is Sylar we're talking about, that's not saying much.
Nathan was healed by Exposed Timeline, Peter Petrelli and Peter is manipulating him to put him back in his old life. Nathan can see Linderman because Peter absorbs Matt Parkman's ability and uses it to make Nathan see "Linderman" that persuades him to take back his old life and political career. This vision of Linderman bears some of his traits as Nathan saw him before he died.	None	+ Peter closes his eyes and breathes deep with his hand on Nathan right after he dies. Having absorbed Linderman's ability at some point in the past without Peter's knowledge, the guilt/regret emotion he felt for shooting him triggered the healing ability, as Peter would associate the Explosion with Linderman, thus associating Linderman with guilt/regret and guilt/regret with the healing power. After his brother's healing, Peter realized what happened and decides to try and put Nathan back on the path he left when their powers manifested. - In the operating room, when Nathan is supposedly dead, Future-Peter's body language indicates grief and distress; not the kind of body language you would expect to see from someone who knows he can bring his brother back to life. + Nathan states about the chapel incident, "I thought I dreamed that" - If Future-Peter was manipulating Nathan's mind prior to (and during) the chaple scene, then he would not have been surprised to see that Nathan had left his bed when he entered Nathan's hospital room. In fact, he probably would not have even gone to look for Nathan in his hospital room. - If Future-Peter was using a form of advanced-telepathy to manipulate Nathan during the chaple scene, then he would'nt have needed to prepare to shoot Nathan in the chaple to prevent him from revealing the truth about his/everyones abilities. + In the conversation with Peter after the chapel incident, Peter seems to be analyzing Nathan's responses. Once he appears satisfied with what Nathan says, he stands up, and without any type of explanation, says out loud to Nathan's face, "I don't expect you to understand what I did to you, but I hope some day you will forgive me." Immediately after exiting the room, Linderman appears at Nathan's bedside. At this point, Nathan did not know that the Peter he spoke with was from the future, and thus, surely wouldn't know he shot him, or even suspect it. + Both Murray and Matt Parkman's power have been shown to have long lasting changing effects generated from within the victim's mind. Thus, Peter giving the command to Nathan's mind to, "Pick up where you left off and go back to your family. Become the brother I always looked up to." could logically cause Nathan to envision a mentor (Linderman) that would guide and persuade him to make decisions best suited to advance his career without Peter continuing to funnel visions into Nathan's head. + Future Peter was the only one that touched Nathan after he died. - Future-Peter looks genuinely surprised/shocked to see Nathan come back to life on the operating bed. + Nathan awoke immediately after Future Peter touched him.
Nathan will eventually die permanently.	None.	+ In every single alternate future (Explosion, Outbreak, Exposed) except for the Villains Future, which we do not know much about yet, Future Nathan has died. - Everyone will eventually die, permanently.
Linderman is Nathan's totem, or spirit guide.	None.	+ While playing chess in the hospital, Linderman says to Nathan, "She can't see me Nathan, no one can. Only you". - Usutu can see Matt's turtle. + Usutu also said to Matt, "Think about your dream, and you will find your guide". The obvious implication is that ones totem is found in the dream world, not in the physical world. + Matt did not dream about a turtle. + A turtle could be a symbol for something or someone. For example, a person who is protective, patient, who has perseverance, tenacity, self-reliance etc. - Nathan dreamed that God saved him. + Later we find out that it was in fact Linderman who healed him. + It's very likely that Nathan's cultural conditioning was responsible for his interpretation that he was helped by God. If on the other hand he had Utusu's cultural conditioning he probably would have thought that he was helped by an animal totem/archetype. + Linderman appears to want to help lead Nathan. + According to Carl Jung, totems can be seen as an subconscious information portal, depending on the needs of the individual. Jung also says that totems demonstrate a spiritual interconnectedness that helps guide us on our own path of self discovery. + Usutu said to Matt that a totem is a spirit guide that attaches to your unconscious to lead you on your journey - (I Am Become Death) - Usutu also said that totems are in the form of animals. + When Matt asked Utusu what do they look like, Utusu said: "Usually an animal". This doesn't mean a spirit guide can't appear as a human, only that they usually appear as an animal (at least in Utusu's culture). - Matt had to actually find and recognize his totem; Nathan did nothing at all. + Utusu also told Matt to find his totem in his dream. + Nathan also had a dream, and after that dream, Linderman appeared. - Maury Parkman is responsible for manipulating Nathan's mind into believing that he's communicating with Linderman.

See Also

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