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
Residences	Mansion in Hyde Park, NY
Occupations	formerly a U.S. Congressman, formerly a district attorney, formerly a Navy officer
Significant others	formerly 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 an aspiring politician who, inspired by his late father, seeks to one day help the world by occupying a high position in the government. Through a long and painful struggle, Nathan succeeded in becoming a Congressman for the state of New York. After the apparent death of his beloved younger brother Peter, he resigned and is currently alone, jobless, and wallowing in his sadness. He is an evolved human with 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

On the streets of New York, Ando Masahashi bumps into a bearded Nathan.

Later, Angela stands in Peter's apartment looking at a photograph of her sons when Nathan walks in and asks why she is there. She tells Nathan that it's time to accept Peter's death, but Nathan refuses to believe it. As they struggle and break the glass in the photo frame, Angela realizes that Nathan is drunk and tells him that she is happy his father isn't here to see him like that.

Later on, Nathan is drinking at a bar when he receives a call from Claire, who tells him she is tired of not being herself. He tells her he can't help her. After he hangs up, he catches his reflection and sees a horribly disfigured, scarred visage looking back at him.

It is revealed that in the course of the four months, Nathan's wife left him, taking the children, and he lost his job and Congressman status.

Lizards

Nathan is greeted by Matt while waiting to pickup his mother, Angela, from the police station. He tells Matt that his mother only called him because she has no one else to turn to. The lights flicker and Angela screams. Nathan and Matt run to the door of the interrogation room, but cannot get in. Nathan calls out to his mother. Matt breaks through the glass mirror in an adjacent room. Nathan rushes to his mother, cradling her in his arms.

The Kindness of Strangers

At a school in Washington, D.C., Nathan visits his young boys, Simon and Monty. The boys dislike Nathan's beard and convince him to shave it. In the middle of the conversation, a school teacher interrupts and asks Nathan to leave since he's not allowed to see his children.

Later that day, Nathan comes to visit his mother in hospital, and talks with Matt about the murder of Kaito. Matt tells Nathan that his mother confessed the murder of Kaito Nakamura, but Matt says he knows Angela is innocent. Nathan asks how he knows this, and Matt reveals that he has the ability to read minds, and he also knows that Nathan can fly.

After he talks with Matt, Nathan tries to convince his mother that she could use his help. Angela refuses her son's offer, telling him to get sober and get his family back, and that she doesn't want to risk Nathan's life by getting him involved. Angela is arrested for the murder.

Later that day, Nathan meets with Matt to give him some information about a familiar photo, and reveals some of people in the group--one is Angela, another is Nathan's late father.

Later, Nathan looks at some old photos of Peter, and again sees a disfigured reflection in the mirror. Nathan hits the mirror and breaks it.

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 (Hiros), he is 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)

"I'm not a cargo plane."

- Nathan (to Matt) (Fight or Flight)

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 Evolutions)
• 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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