Theory:René

Main Article Theories about the Haitian Main Discussion

The following fan theories are about the Haitian.

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Theories

Theory	Citations	Notes
The Haitian's abilities allow him to control more than power-related brain functions.	None.	+ Matt Parkman is rendered unconscious while the Haitian supposedly negates his telepathy power. This suggests the Haitian invoked a loss of control on Matt's part. - The Haitian did not stop Nathan Petrelli from escaping himself and Mr. Bennet (Hiros) + The Haitian probably let Nathan escape on purpose because he was aware of Linderman's plan. Also, it may be that Bennet and the Haitian were unaware of exactly what Nathan's power was, so the Haitian was not expecting him to fly away. Furthermore, it is suspected that the Haitian can only suppress powers that are connected to mental abilities (like telepathy) rather than physical ones. - He can suppress Daphne's ability, which is physical. + The Haitian was working for Angela Petrelli, who is Nathan's mother. He is likely to know the connection and therefore did not want the son of his employer to be taken in. + Is it coincidence that Sandra Bennet was rendered unconscious after her memory was erased?
The Haitian deliberately allowed Sylar to escape from Primatech and from the Bennets' home. (Distractions)	The Haitian says he receives orders from someone higher than Bennet. (Company Man)	+ People higher in the Company than Mr. Bennet had seen prophetic paintings showing Sylar involved in the explosion. Since the Company - under Linderman - wanted the explosion to occur, they ordered the Haitian to let Sylar escape. + The Haitian could presumably have kept Sylar from using his powers to prevent his escape. According to interviews, he was the reason Sylar hadn't escaped from Primatech sooner. • Mr. Bennet asked permission to execute Sylar, but received orders not to. - When Eden says the Haitian would agree with her recommendation to kill Sylar if he could speak, the Haitian can be seen nodding once. • This could have simply been in order to keep his allegiance and intentions hidden. - The Haitian also fails to stop Ted from going nuclear in Company Man, even though this would appear to be detrimental to all factions involved. - What the Haitian means is God. It is known that he is very religious, so this could be who he is referring to by "someone higher than Mr Bennet". - The Haitian takes orders from Angela Petrelli, who is higher up in the Company than Noah.
The Haitian can perform power theft.	None.	+ Power theft requires extensive knowledge of the brain. The power of mental manipulation can probably grant this understanding in a way similar to intuitive aptitude. + The Haitian can apparently be summoned from anywhere with simple wind chimes. This would require more than mental manipulation. - Presumably, the Haitian was stationed in Odessa with Primatech Paper, and was checking the house to see if the chimes had been hung. - The Haitian never had contact with Dale, and we have no evidence that powers can be stolen from Sylar, unless he actively uses them (Peter has only demonstrated telekinesis, not any other of Sylar's powers. It is possible that Peter has begun to exhibit intuitive aptitude, since he seems to deduce conclusions - such as the location in his Montreal painting - more quickly than normal, possibly invalidating this restriction). + In Graphic Novel:It Takes a Village, Part 3, the Haitian's father tells him the cautionary tale of The Serpent and the Crane, about an ambitious serpent who devours a crane in order to steal its wings. This sounds suspiciously like power theft. - The story of The Serpent and the Crane when told by The Haitian's father referred to himself as he later tells the Haitian that he (Guillame) has lost sight of the ground.
The Haitian must know the kind of memories he is taking.	None.	+ The Haitian must know what he was taking or he would just take random memories. + In The Line, Ivan says that the Haitian is useless for obtaining new information. This suggests that the Haitian cannot find a memory if he doesn't have general information on what that memory is. + Whenever the Haitian removes the memory, he has to have Mr. Bennet or someone else describe the memory for him.
The Haitian can manipulate his own mind, including manipulating and recalling his own memories.	None.	+ In The Crossroads, Mohinder said, "Shouldn't you be writing this down?" to which the Haitian replied, "Memory is not a problem for me".
The Haitian's ability has a secondary effect of enhanced memory.	The Crossroads: "Don't you need to write any of this down?" "Memory is not an issue for me." (Mohinder and the Haitian)	• It is plausible that someone who has demonstrable powers over erasure and recollection would possess this ability as well, unless there is more to enhanced memory than is currently known.
Evolved humans with empathic mimicry are unable to absorb The Haitian's power.	None.	+ Peter has come into contact with the Haitian several times and shown no signs of being able to use his power. + The Haitian can block the mental abilities of others, it is possible this includes the absorbing of other people's powers. • The fact that Peter has not displayed the Haitian's power may suggest that it requires conscious effort to use: when considered with the fact that Peter has accumulated abilities the method of use of which he is unaware, such as Sylar's intuitive aptitude (Peter had been in close proximity to Sylar several times but could not use the ability until he was taught to use it), and the instance where Daphne was able to flee the theatre but Hiro was blocked from teleporting suggests that the Haitian's ability is not one of innate use. To clear any simmering arguments about whether the Haitian was awake when Daphne fled, remember that he had to ascend a flight of steps (and most likely was conscious prior to rising and ascending), likely giving him time to block her ability. • There exist flaws in this theory in that the cited events may simply demonstrate that Peter needs to know what a person's ability is to use it; and/or it may mean that Daphne was out of the Haitian's range to use his ability. - He wasn't able to block Peter from using telekinesis (and possibly space/time manipulation) to stop the taser darts from hitting him, this might be an autonomic use of the Haitian's ability against him as Peter shouldn't be able to use telekinesis (or ANY ability) if it is blocked. + The Haitian may have been out of the range that is required to affect abilities.
When Nathan escaped Mr. Bennet and the Haitian in Hiros, the Haitian wasn't trying to block his ability at all.	None.	+ The Haitian also saves Peter from the Company in Four Months Ago.... - How would he explain to Bennet that he failed, even when he is so close to Nathan? It is more likely that people with a strong will to use their powers can overcome this aspect of the Haitian's powers. - It appears that the Haitian is unable to negate physical abilities. That would also explain why he used infra-red goggles to see Claude and Peter (Unexpected) instead of negating their ability. Also in Four Months Ago, Adam said "If it were possible to kill me, they would have". This would imply that the Haitian could not negate Adam's ability either, which is also a physical ability. - The Haitian was able to stop Daphne from utilizing her super speed, which is a physical ability. - The Haitian is also able to stop Peter from fighting back and probably killing him with super strength in Cork.
The Haitian does not have the ability to block people's powers.	None.	+ He does not stop Matt from reading minds (or remembering how to), he simply stops him from being able to read his own (the Haitian's) and Noah's mind. + When he stops Eden from persuading Noah, he might just be manipulating his own and Noah's mind so the persuasion does not work. + Having, seemingly, 2 different abilities, memory manipulation and power sink, goes against the fact that everyone has "one basic ability". - Maybe that is not a "fact", then. + Abilities stem from the brain, and as the Haitian has demonstrated a degree of power over the brain, his ability to suppress powers likely stems from his one ability of mental manipulation. + He cannot stop Nathan from flying away. - He could have let him escape on Angela's orders. - He is able to block Hiro's power. (Five Years Gone) - He is also able to block some of Peter's absorbed abilities. (Four Months Ago) - In One of Us, One of Them the Haitian blocks Hiro's and Daphne's powers without knowing they are in the near vicinity.
The Haitian will help Bennet round up the escaped prisoners.	None.	+ The Haitian has loyalties to both Angela and Bennet and both people want the prisoners captured. + Bennet wouldn't be stupid enough to track the prisoners down on his own. - He certainly isn't all too willing to let Sylar help him... - The Haitian seems to be connected more to the formula plotline than the villain one. - Noah has only been teamed up with Sylar so far this season; this could be a story arc-long team-up. + Not anymore. • The Haitian went to capture/kill his brother, Baron Samedi (but without Bennet).
The Haitian cannot block synthetic abilities.	None.	+ Nathan was able to successfully fly away in the presence of the Haitian. - Considering he was answering to Angela at that time, he may have let him flee on her orders. • Angela was not in charge till season 3. - She didn't need to be in charge of the entire Company to have the Haitian answer to her. - The Haitian's loyalty to her has been established in early season 2.
The Haitian must be exposed to a power at least once to be able to block it.	None.	+ He didn't stop Peter from using space-time manipulation when he and Noah tried to capture him, but later blocked Hiro from using that same ability.
Only the Haitian can stop Arthur Petrelli and his agents.	None.	+ The Haitian can block Arthur's powers, allowing Peter or someone else to slay Arthur by conventional means (gun, knife, pointed stick, etc.). - If the Haitian can't block synthetic abilities he would actually be a disadvantage since other heroes could fight with their powers. Unless he can turn his power off. + In Our Father, the Haitian played a major role in helping to (apparently) kill Arthur.
The Haitian can return powers to those who've had them stolen by Arthur.	None.	+ The Haitian is capable of stopping powers from working, he may also be able to get them working again. - The Haitian has had plenty of time and many opportunities do this, and he hasn't.
The Haitian cannot block passive powers such as Rapid cell regeneration.	None.	+ Adam Monroe was with Peter in Four Months Ago..., and the Haitian was there as well, actively blocking Peters power. Now, while he was also actively allowing Elle to use her power, it's unlikely he would have the foresight to do the same for Adam. If he had been able to negate Adam's healing ability, he would have turned to dust, just as he did when Arthur stole his power. - Perhaps he wasn't actively allowing Elle to use her power; rather he was actively blocking Peter's (and possibly not actively blocking Adam's power since it was not a direct threat). - It seems as though the Haitian can't completely block a power (Matt could hear static; Arthur was apparently fighting the Haitian's power in Our Father, etc.), so that could have kept Adam from aging quickly, if the Haitian was even directing his power at Adam anyway.
The Haitian will eventually, or may currently be able to return memories to those who have lost them.	None.	+ It has been proven with previous Heroes such as Matt that powers can "evolve."
The Haitian's ability has both innate and active qualities, not two individual abilities.	None.	+ It has been shown that the Haitian can suppress powers without knowing people are near him, but using his memory power is obviously a conscious effort. Most characters (except the ability mimics) have only one power, but it can surface in different ways.
The Haitian has two abilities.	None.	+ The Haitian really has two abilities, mental manipulation (as he has shown by erasing memories) and something that should be called "ability suppression", as he nullifies the powers of others nearby. These should be two distinct abilities. - Manipulating ones mind certainly allows one to erase memories and disrupt the mental processes that activate an ability. • Yes, mental manipulation would allow one to erase or block another's memory, and possibly disrupt mental processes needed to activate an ability. How the Haitian actually suppresses other's abilities is not known. We do not know if he uses some mental power to disrupt mental processes that activate an ability, so his ability to nullify other's powers should be considered a separate ability in itself. + The ability to erase/block memories seems like an active ability, and the "ability suppression" or nullification seems a bit more passive. And they have not been shown to be related powers. + The facebook application "My Hero's Ability" splits his powers into two: Memory Manipulation and Power Nullification. Is this so unreasonable as to think that this was done for a reason? Perhaps being that the Haitian possess two abilities? - Is that even canon? + That being canon or not is irrelevant. It is merely more support for the theory in that others believe the Haitian has two powers as well. + It might be a case of ability byproduct. + It would make sense that he has two separate powers in that Arthur (who has mental manipulation) has not demonstrated the ability suppression ability like the Haitian has, even though it would have been beneficial for him to do so (e.g. cancel out the Haitian's presense in Our Father). + If ability suppression was part of mental manipulation, then others would not be able to take the ability of mental manipulation from someone else, because the use of the ability suppression (as part of mental manipulation) would not allow others to use their powers to take the ability.
The Haitian's surname is Samedi.	None.	+ His brother's name is Baron Samedi, which would make "Samedi" the Haitian's surname. - Peter said that's an alias. - Even if it wasn't an alias, they could have different fathers anyway, and therefore different surnames. + Even though it is an alias, there's still a chance that the surname is the same. Even if they do have different fathers, maybe his assumed surname reflects his brother's. - When someone uses an alias, if they were to actually use part of their real name, they would most likely drop their real surname and use their real first name. Surnames are most likely the part to be aliased. - Baron Samedi is one word on its own. It is on its own a proper noun. Yes, Baron Samedi means Baron/Lord Saturday but it should be accepted as one proper noun instead of one common noun (Baron) and one proper noun (Samedi). - "Baron Samedi" is the name of a Vodou god - that was the reason his brother took the alias from the start. There is of course a chance that "Samedi" also happens to be the Haitian's last name, but then it's purely coincidental. And the chance for this is just as big/small as the chance of any character whose last name is unknown to have "Samedi" as their family name.
The Haitian killed Baron Samedi.	None.	+ It would be the only way to stop Samedi for good. - He might have put him in a vegetative state. - He might have done to him what he did to the villagers in It Takes a Village, Part 4. + Samedi was nowhere to be seen with the group if they intended to take him back to Level 5. + The Haitian seemed completely filled with rage and very irrational when he shunned his brother's pleas for mercy. - It's not irrational to ignore the pleas of someone who murders, rapes and plunders en masse, even if he is family. + The Haitian is usually an extremely calm and collected character. Even so, if his brother was a genocidal rapist, the Haitian has kept his cool with people just as bad, if not worse.
The Haitian's power is not mental manipulation but has something to do with breaking synapses.	All the times he erased/disabled the mind.	+ Ability suppression would be performed by weakening the bonds between neurons responsible for powers. Erasing memories would happen the same way. This is a super explication for why he seems to have two powers. • It also would explain why he can't suppress artificial abilities since the source is not in the brain. - Then how could Sylar copy powers artificially induced like in the explosion future in which he took Nathan's ability? + He may have gotten flight from someone else and just pretended to be Nathan for his political status. + When he suppressed Arthur he had to concentrate a lot since Arthur "was too powerful", meaning Arthur could have strengthened his synapses (perhaps using Claire's or Adam's regeneration). - The Haitian has blocked Peter more than once, all of which after he mimicked regeneration. + Every time a person with erased memories was healed, the links between the neurons was restored. Claire's mother had amnesia since too many bonds were broken or the bonds responsible with the "needed to be erased" information had other uses. - Breaking synapses doesn't necessarily mean it's not mental manipulation, maybe that's the way mental manipulation works to begin with. - Mental manipulation means the manipulation of the mind, which is an abstract thing. This theory could be named neuron manipulation. He could restore the broken links, augment them (to boost powers), or even copy links (copy powers).
Nobody except for the Haitian himself and his family members knows his real name.	None.	+ Literally, everyone refers to the Haitian as such, even the Company, who uses the name "The Haitian" in the Assignment Tracker profile for Baron Samedi.
Sylar killed the Haitian and stole his ability while leaving Pinehearst.	Sylar is able to resist Eric Doyle's ability despite not having telepathy.	+ How else would Sylar have been able to escape when Peter sent the Haitian after him? - The Haitian could have lost Sylar in Pinehearst. - Sylar arrived at Primatech in a very short amount of time, so it's highly plausible that he just left Pinehearst without doing anything. + We aren't told precisely how much time it takes for Sylar to arrive at Primatech. Besides, Fort Lee, NJ, and Brooklyn, NY, are reasonably close anyway. - It is apparent he arrived there in a very short amount of time, considering he had time to kill all of the guards in Primatech. + All that is apparent is that we weren't shown him killing the guards in Primatech. That still is not enough to establish a precise time table. Besides, Sylar doesn't waste much time in killing the non-powered, and he was shown in "Dual" to care very little about killing the powered as well. He was only interested in toying with Claire and her family. Also, recall how short-staffed Primatech has been since the Evs Dropper fiasco. - Nobody said anything about precision, but common sense states that since even for a guy like Sylar with all his powers, it would still take quite a while for him to kill the guards in Primatech considering the sheer size of the facility and the number of employees in it. Also remember that Noah and the others getting trapped in Primatech happens right after Peter and Nathan fight (if not concurrently, but just shown afterwards), which in itself takes place only a few minutes after Sylar kills Arthur, considering that at the beginning of Dual, Peter is still crouching over his father's body. Given this timeline, which already requires a suspension of disbelief considering that Sylar does not yet have an enhanced transportation ability such as flight, super speed, or space-time manipulation, it makes even less sense that Sylar wasted even a few minutes overpowering the Haitian (who most certainly would have tried to held Sylar over with his ability) and taking his ability. As for the Evs Dropper fiasco, only actual field agents were killed in the battles, not dime-a-dozen guards that Sylar has killed in Primatech. It is highly probable that there was a large amount of them still in the facility, given, again, its size and the nature of its operations.