René
| The Haitian | |
|---|---|
| |
| Portrayed by | Jimmy Jean-Louis, Sheku Fofana (young Haitian) |
| First appearance | One Giant Leap |
| In-story stats | |
| Known ability | Mental manipulation |
| Formal name | Unknown |
| Nickname | Boy (by Guillame) |
| Gender | |
| Home | formerly a village in Haiti |
| Occupation | Agent of the Company |
| Parent | Guillame (deceased) |
| Sibling | Baron Samedi |
"The Haitian", a mysterious individual whom Thompson recruited to the Company from Haiti, was partnered with Noah Bennet to aid in the investigation of evolved humans. In time, the Haitian and Noah became firm friends and later, due to emotional frustration and guilt over their actions on behalf of the Company, decide to rebel against their superiors and go on the run. Precious little is known about his past; however, the Haitian is religious and kept a necklace of the Symbol, which he later gave to Peter Petrelli. He is an evolved human with the ability to manipulate people's minds and is considered one of the Company's most valuable resources.
Character History
Season One
For an episode-by-episode summary, see René: Season One History.
The Haitian works as a member of Mr. Bennet's team at Primatech Paper Co. Together, the Haitian and Mr. Bennet bring in Matt Parkman, whose special ability is almost completely blocked by the Haitian. They proceed to attempt a similar abduction routine on Nathan Petrelli, but Nathan escapes. The Haitian assists in many other abductions of people with special abilities, including Ted Sprague, on behalf of an organization known as the Company. With Eden's assistance, the Haitian is able to capture Sylar and bring him back to Primatech, although he eventually escapes. The Haitian uses his power to erase the memories of Mr. Bennet's wife and son and others. Bennet orders him to erase his adopted daughter's memory as well, but he instead takes her into his confidence. When the Company learns of Claire's ability, the Haitian erases Mr. Bennet's memory and takes Claire into hiding. Claire, however, eludes the Haitian and travels to New York City to find Peter Petrelli. The Haitian gets there first and is waiting for Claire at Peter Petrelli's apartment with Claire's biological grandmother.
The Haitian remembers a story about himself as a young boy in his village in Haiti living with his father, Guillame. He discovers his abilities for the first time when he suppresses his father's abilities just by being present. Furthermore, when Guillame attempts to redeem himself, the Haitian wipes clean the minds of many villagers, reducing them to a zombie-like state. Guillame accompanies the Haitian to the crossroads, seeking penance and planning to kill his son. The Haitian becomes one with his father's mind by touching him and causes him to recall the two of them being happy together, such that Guillame commits suicide instead of murder. Afterwards, the Haitian goes back to the village and meets Thompson for the first time.
Season Two
For an episode-by-episode summary, see René: Season Two History.
Shortly after the explosion, the Haitian appears in Bob's office negating Peter's powers. Several months later, he is sent to the docks with Elle to capture Peter and Adam Monroe. He forces Peter into a shipping container to be shipped to Cork, Ireland and takes his memories, but not before revealing that he is on his side and giving Peter his necklace.
Mohinder Suresh is sent on an assignment, which turns out to be a mission to heal the Haitian, who believes the virus he's contracted is a punishment from God. Suresh persuades the Haitian to try the antivirus, which succeeds. When Mohinder explains that he is working for "a company," the Haitian appears to take Mohinder's memory of the entire incident and flees. The Haitian then manages to track down Noah Bennet at the copy shop, and the two men greet each other, smiling.
Noah and the Haitian track a series of eight paintings to Ukraine. The two go to the home of Noah's mentor Ivan to force him to reveal the location of the paintings. Noah threatens to strip Ivan of his family memories if he refuses. When Ivan refuses to cooperate, The Haitian removes Ivan's memories of his first meeting with his wife, and only then does Ivan begin to cooperate. After Ivan reveals the location of the paintings, the Haitian goes with Noah to recover them.
Season Three
One of Us, One of Them
The Haitian is first recognized when Daphne attempts to use her power of super speed to which she, in her confusion, states "I'm slow". She asks Hiro what he's done to her. Ando does the same, and Hiro realizes his power doesn't work also. Daphne runs away normally and Hiro sees the Haitian entering the theater. He tells Ando that he was the man he saw in the future and assumes half of the formula resides in his silver briefcase. Soon thereafter, the Haitian receives Angela's half the formula from an aide of hers. Hiro, disguised as an usher, attempts to retrieve the briefcase while Ando approaches the Haitian and smashes him over the head, sending him plummeting down the stairs unconscious, during which his ability isn't in effect. After Daphne steals the formula from Hiro, he tries to stop time and regain it, but he and Ando are both grabbed by an angered Haitian.
Later on, at Level 5, the Haitian asks Noah if Sylar is his replacement, to which Noah replies only until he finds Sylar's weakness.
I Am Become Death
The Haitian appears in Hiro and Ando's cell in Level 2 just as Hiro successfully breaks open a ceiling shaft, in an attempt to escape. He takes them to Angela Petrelli.
Graphic Novel:Viewpoints
After Sylar recaptured Level 5 escapees Tina Ramierez and Michael Fitzgerald, the Haitian is called to the scene to erase Rachel's memories.
Villains
On the night of Arthur's "suicide", Angela has the Haitian waiting nearby while she dines with Arthur, rendering him unable to use his abilities while they talk.
The Eclipse, Part 1
Nathan and Peter Petrelli travel to Haiti, seeking help from the Haitian. When they arrive, the Eclipse occurs, rendering their powers unusable. After walking through the rainforest, the Haitian appears and tells them that he is trying to stop his brother, Baron Samedi. Samedi used his power to make people believe he is a Vodou god, and then built an army ruled with fear. It was stated by Peter that he was involved in drug trafficking, kidnapping and slavery.
Suddenly, Baron Samedi and his militia start firing on Peter, Nathan and the Haitian. Peter and the Haitian escape, but Nathan gets caught by Samedi's militia. Nathan starts speaking in French to Samedi telling him that he is an American named Nathan Petrelli, but Samedi interrupts Nathan calling him "Senator Petrelli" and tells him that Arthur had warned him that they were coming. Nathan asks Samedi what his father told him, and he responds by hitting Nathan across the face with the butt of his gun, knocking him out. Samedi then says that Arthur told him to "be [him]self."
The Eclipse, Part 2
Samedi had Nathan tied up and locked in a sort of prison, with two sisters who will be sold as slaves, or otherwise serve Samedi. He paid Nathan a visit in his cell, and tells him he can't stop him, as he is just a man. He then takes one of the girls, the eldest of the sisters into a hut with the intention of raping her, but was stopped by The Haitian who knocked him down later. After Peter, Nathan and the Haitian had taken down all his men, a still-conscious Samedi comes to them and tells them he is a god, and they can't kill him. Nathan flies into him and crushes him into a car, but he stands up, unharmed due to his impenetrable skin. The Haitian comes to him, and clamps his hand on Samedi's head for some kind of mental attack, disregarding Samedi's assertion that he's the Haitian's brother.
Our Father
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Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow. THIS COULD INCLUDE UNCONFIRMED MATERIAL FROM UNAIRED EPISODES OR PREVIEWS. For more spoilers about Heroes and Heroes Reborn, see here. |
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Together with Peter, the Haitan tries to fight Arthur once and for all, but they are stopped by Sylar.
Evolved Human Abilities
The Haitian has the power to manipulate people's minds. He can selectively interfere with the use of special abilities and selectively erase memories. He uses his power in conjunction with hand-to-hand combat skills to subdue other evolved humans, as shown in Four Months Ago... when he defeated and restrained Peter Petrelli.
Memorable Quotes
"He sent me here to make you forget. Like he sent me to your friend, and your brother, and your mother so many times. He'll be here soon, expecting that you won't remember anything, but it is very important that you do. Tell me Claire, can you keep a secret?"
"What you can do, what I can do--that is God. Respect it accordingly."
"Of course, there is always a company..."
"Don't you need to write any of this down?"
"Memory is not an issue for me."
- - Mohinder, the Haitian (The Crossroads)
Notes
- The Haitian rarely speaks. In fact, Thompson was initially under the erroneous impression that he couldn't speak, as were Mr. Bennet and Eden McCain and presumably other agents of the Company until the events of Company Man. He finally broke his silence by speaking to Claire Bennet (Fallout). The Haitian also speaks French, as is customary in Haiti (Parasite).
- The Haitian has been called "The Man at the Bar", "Mysterious Man", "Mystery Man", "Mysterious Black Guy", "MBG", "Mr. Mute", "Memory Wiper", "Mr. Bennet's Assistant", "Mr. Bennet's Cleaner", "Spooky Euro-Dude", and "SED".
- He is also jokingly referred to as "The Haitian Sensation That's Sweeping the Nation" by Jack Coleman (Mr. Bennet) during cast commentaries.
- In the commentary for Parasite, it was revealed that before the casting of Jimmy Jean-Louis, the Haitian was originally intended to be a Maori warrior from New Zealand. Jimmy said he supposed the switch was made because Jimmy himself is from Haiti.
- Some fans--and even a photo caption on NBC.com--initially confused the Haitian with D.L. Hawkins because of their similar appearances.
- While the Haitian's name is still unknown, seven different times his father Guillame addresses him as "Boy". (It Takes a Village Parts 1, 2, 3, 4), and (The Crossroads)
- In The Eclipse, Part 1 it was revealed that the Haitian has a brother, Baron Samedi, which may suggest that they share the surname.
- The Haitian says that he is his father's only son (It Takes a Village, Part 4), though later he says that Baron Samedi is his brother (The Eclipse, Part 1). Writers Joe Pokaski and Aron Coleite explained that this issue was actually addressed in a line that was cut. "The Haitian only discovered his brother after he was recruited into the Company. Seems that Voodoo priest father liked to use his ability to sleep around. However, the line was cut because it was deemed 'confusing'."
- The Haitian appears to be personally loyal to Angela Petrelli, although he has occasionally defied her. He demonstrates loyalty to other members of the Petrelli family as well.
Trivia
- The Haitian's license plate number is 791 M72. (Parasite)
- The Haitian was presumed to be mute at a time. "Mute Haitian" is a pun for "mutation". Chandra Suresh believed that the powers of evolved humans result from a particular mutation of the brain.
See Also
- For other uses of Haitian, see Haitian (disambig).
- For René's history in the "explosion future", see René (explosion future).
- For René's history in the "exposed future", see René (exposed future).
- For images of the Haitian, see Images of the Haitian.
Fan Theories
Please refer to Theory:René for fan-created theories and other speculation.