Theory:Series of eight (painting)

Main Article Theories about the series of eight paintings Main Discussion

The following fan theories are about the series of eight paintings.

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Theories

Theory	Citations	Notes
The dead man in the 8th painting is not Noah Bennet.	None	+ Other paintings have shown the results of illusions, e.g. The President Stands Alone turned out to be Sylar, masquerading as Nathan. + It could be that Noah's father is still alive and is the one shown dead in 8/8. • Noah's father may have been a member of the group of twelve. - The only two shown with glasses in the Group of Twelve are known to be Mr. Petrelli and Bob. • It can also be someone who didn't wear glasses at the time the picture was taken but wears glasses now. + The man in the painting appears to be wearing plaid. Mr. Bennet seems like the kind of man who wouldn't be caught dead in plaid. So to speak. + Future events painted by Isaac have been prevented, e.g. the bomb did not go off in the middle of New York City in our current timeline. (How to Stop an Exploding Man). + Isaac could have altered the painting after he initially painted it. + The painting could depict events in someone's nightmare, as induced by Maury Parkman.
The painting portraying Noah's death is a fake planted by the Company.	None	+ It is very convenient that this was the only painting left for Mohinder to find. • This implies that the Company knows about Noah and Mohinder's alliance.
The 8th painting does not actually picture Claire.	None	+ Lack of facial detail caused confusion of which cheerleader was murdered on the part of Peter and HRG. + The painting could depict any of a number of other blonde characters.
The figure embracing Claire in the picture is West.	None.	+ West is currently in a romantic relationship with Claire. + If the dead body depicted is indeed Noah Bennet, West is a likely suspect in the murder: West was once "bagged and tagged" by Noah when the latter worked at the Company, and may want revenge. The picture may be depicting the immediate aftermath of Noah's death. - The blonde girl in the picture may not be Claire, and it is unlikely that, if West were present, he would be embracing someone else. - The two figures embracing in the painting are roughly the same height. West is shown to be quite a bit taller than Claire, if the blonde girl is indeed Claire. + The two people kissing in painting 8/8 are not the same height. West has to bend his knees to kiss the girl.
Jessica is the blonde girl in the painting of Noah's death. Mohinder is the shadowy character, and is also the one who killed Noah.	None.	+ Mohinder is becoming increasingly unwilling to follow the will of Mr. Bennet, as evidenced in The Line. + Painting 7/8 in the series of eight depicts Mohinder holding a smoking gun. (The Line) In painting 8/8, Mr. Bennet is obviously dead due to a gunshot wound in his eye. • The person who Mohinder believes to be Niki at the end of The Line might actually be Jessica, as Niki/Jessica's sudden recovery, employment by the Company, and coming on to Mohinder seems uncharacteristic of Niki. + Niki/Jessica is wearing the same black outfit that Jessica is seen wearing previously in the series. + Jessica has shown that she is capable of using her sex appeal to manipulate others. She could manipulate Mohinder into killing Noah. + Niki/Jessica claims that she is working for the Company now. (The Line) Since Noah is working to bring down the Company, Niki/Jessica would want him eliminated. + The two people kissing in painting 8/8 are roughly the same height. Jessica and Mohinder are roughly the same height. - The two people kissing in painting 8/8 are not the same height. The shadowy figure has to bend his knees to kiss the girl.
The shadowy figure holding Claire in the 8th painting is Sylar, after having regained full use of his abilities including Candice's power of Illusion. The painting shows another attempt by Sylar to steal Claire's ability through an elaborate illusion, perhaps making her believe that Sylar had disguised himself as her father and is now neutralized.	None.	+ As seen in ("Five Years Gone") Sylar highly values Claire's power of regeneration and has been shown to use illusions in order to steal her ability. + The silhouette of the shadowy figure has hair similar to Sylar's (i.e. spiky in front). + Sylar has been depicted as the shadowy figure in Isaac's paintings before, e.g. the painting of Clair running and the painting Peter finished.
The painting 6/8 is set in the present.	None.	+ Isaac paints the future, not the past. + Hiro might bring Takezo in to the future, accidentally or not. • No one knows what happened with Takezo Kensei. + Takezo might still be alive. + The painting at least appear to be in chronological order, and it would be weird that the event was placed in the far different past and be numbered after Kaito's death (1/8) - Both are wearing clothes from feudal Japan. + It is likely that they start fighting shortly after being transported.
Mohinder will accidentally kill Mr. Bennet.	None.	+ If the paintings were chronologically ordered, Mohinder, in painting 7/8, may shoot Mr. Bennet, in painting 8/8. + Sylar, posing as Mr. Bennet, may attack Mohinder, and let Mohinder kill him. This may lead to Sylar taking Claire's ability, leaving Mohinder shocked and disappointed at his mistake.