Intuitive aptitude
| Intuitive aptitude | |
|---|---|
 Gabriel diagnoses a problem with Chandra Suresh's watch. | |
| Originally held by: | Gabriel Gray |
| Absorbed by: | Peter Petrelli |
| Ability to: | Analyze complex systems |
Intuitive aptitude is the ability to analyze complex systems and intuitively understand how they work without special education or training.
Characters
- Sylar naturally posesses this ability.
- Peter absorbed this ability from Sylar (I Am Become Death)
Limits
With this ability comes an incredible hunger to see how things work, which can result in an overwhelming urge to take the abilities of other evolved humans. This does not hold true for Sylar alone.
Sylar
Sylar's ability seems to be constantly active, unconsciously helping him to analyze any system that he encounters. For systems that he already understands (like watches), he can detect and identify flaws in the mechanism with only a cursory inspection. Systems that he has never seen before may require more extensive study, but he seems to be able to analyze them far more quickly than any ordinary person could, and he requires far less technological equipment.
Sylar's ability seems to work for analyzing both mechanical and biological systems. Whether it would work on other types of systems (such as electronic hardware or computer software) is not yet known, although he has claimed that it allows him to rapidly analyze human behavior (Fallout).
With this ability, Sylar is able to study the brains of evolved humans to analyze their powers and copy them, adding them to his own.
Peter Petrelli
Upon mimicking this ability, Peter, upon confronting his brother in the future, feels an extreme need to see how Nathan works; to figure out his intentions. He loses control and kills Nathan by telekinetically slicing his head open, but stops halfway through the process with a look of shock and horror on his face.
Examples
- Gray (Sylar) detects a mechanical flaw in Chandra Suresh's wristwatch from across the room within moments of Chandra entering his shop. (Six Months Ago)
- After seeing Brian Davis demonstrate his power of telekinesis, Sylar seems to "listen" to Davis's mind, indicating that he is able to "fix" Davis. Sylar then attacks and kills Davis. Shortly thereafter, Sylar is able to use telekinesis himself. (Six Months Ago)
- After pushing Peter into a wall telekinetically, Sylar notes Peter being "just like me" and wanting to "see how that works". (Parasite)
- Whilst visiting his mother he notes that her clock is not working correctly and proceeds to fix it. (The Hard Part)
- After removing the top of Claire's head, Sylar appears to understand the workings of her brain. He locates which part of the brain controls her power, and after examining it, seems to mentally alter himself. After doing so, he successfully imitates her ability by healing a knife wound. (The Second Coming)
- Angela Petrelli is convinced that Sylar's hunger for new powers and his murderous nature are side effects of his ability, rather than character flaws.
- After learning to access this ability from Sylar in the future, Peter repairs a watch using telekinesis.
- He later reads Future Nathan's mind to tell if he's telling the truth, determining he "thinks [Nathan's] doing the right thing but [he's] not", and is consumed by the hunger to see more of how Nathan's brain works. He attempts to open his skull in the same manner as Sylar but stops before completing it, killing Nathan.
Memorable Quotes
"I can fix it."
"My watch isn't broken."
"Actually it is. Yeah, the self-winding coil is loose. Your watch is running two seconds slow."
"How did you know?"
"Just a talent I have for the way things work, how the parts should go."
- - Sylar, Chandra (Six Months Ago)
"You're broken."
"What?"
"Suresh was right. It's so clear now. How it all works, pieces fitting together. It is in the brain."
"So you can help."
"Don’t worry, Brian. I can fix it. It's an evolutionary imperative."
"I restored timepieces. Do you know why I was so good at it?"
"No, why don't you tell me."
"Because I can see how things work. What makes things ... tick. Like you."
- - Sylar, Mr. Bennet (Fallout)
Notes
- In Sylar's cell, a restrained Sylar feigns his death. When Hank removes the restraints from Sylar, the characteristic "tick-tocking" associated with his power is heard. (The Fix)
- Future Sylar, under the guise of Nathan Petrelli, tells Future Mohinder, "I understand how things work." (Five Years Gone)
- When he first met Gabriel Gray, Chandra did not recognize this ability at all. (Six Months Ago)
- Sylar typically learns to control stolen abilities far more quickly than the people from whom he acquired them. It is possible that his own intuitive aptitude helps him to rapidly analyze and assert control of new powers.
Trivia
- Sylar's dossier describes his intuitive aptitude as "his intuitive understanding of the biological workings of individuals."
- In a podcast interview, Bryan Fuller describes Sylar's intuitive aptitude by saying, "He has an understanding of how others' powers work."
Fan Theories
Please refer to Theory:Intuitive aptitude for fan-created theories and other speculation.
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| Evolutions Abilities |
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| Graphic Novel Abilities |
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