Theory:Nathan Petrelli

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The following fan theories are about Nathan Petrelli.

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Theories

Theory	Citations	Notes
Nathan's power is aerokinesis, or the ability to control air.	None.	+ This would explain how he flies (propelling himself by riding on air currents), how he protects himself during flight (surrounding himself with a condensed air force field), and how he heard Peter tell Claire, "there is no other way" (How to Stop an Exploding Man). Nathan amplifies the sound waves and carries them to his ears. • If Nathan's power is aerokinesis, then he might be able to do more than fly, but also control air to create focused blasts of wind, keep the air around him warm or cool and direct air currents that carry sounds to his ears. + With this, he could have protected himself from the radioactive blast when he sent Peter into the sky. - Nathan was severely scarred from the explosion in (Four Months Ago). + That was a pretty huge explosion. Nathan's injuries aren't that terrible compared to actually being caught in the explosion. • It is possible that Nathan hasn't considered that application of his power, and thus was not shielding himself at the time. + This could explain how he appears to be able to breathe normally even at higher altitudes.
Nathan can't die because he was injected with Adam's blood.	None.	- Adam can die. Just not very easily. - It has been indicated in several episodes and in the dreams of Angela Petrelli that those who possess the power to self-regenerate can in fact die, either by decapitation, by a severe perforation to the skull, or by being fatally wounded in the presence of someone with the ability of mental manipulation (e.g. The Haitian). - From what we've seen of rapid cellular regeneration, users of the ability are capable of dying, but only for a very, very short while. When Nathan died (temporarily) at the beginning of volume three, he was dead for a considerably longer amount of time than evolved humans who actually do have the ability. - If Nathan can't die, then he should be able to heal his injuries as well.
Nathan and Peter Petrelli are brothers with Hiro Nakamura.	Hiro's biological mother may actually be Angela Petrelli, since we know she slept with Kaito Nakamura. (Lizards)	+ Angela's power is similar to precognition, while Kaito's ability was probability prediction. So then Arthur's power may also be related with probability, since two of the four parents can already predict the future in some kind of way. + All of their children would have similar abilities as well; Sylar (intuitive aptitude) and Peter (empathic mimicry) are related, while Hiro (space-time manipulation) and Nathan (flight) are also very similar. - How the heck are flight and space-time manipulation very similar?
Gerald Dickinson was murdered so that Nathan could take his Senate seat.	None.	+ The Company has been trying to ensure Nathan takes a position of power. This is likely still the plan.
Sylar will kill Nathan and take his ability.	In a possible future Sylar had acquired Nathan's ability. Many aspects of that future are still coming true, like Sylar killing Candice (though not taking her ability)	+ Sylar would likely see killing Nathan as a good way of getting at Peter. - Now that Nathan is his half brother maybe Sylar won't want him dead. + Considering that this is Sylar we're talking about, that's not saying much. - Sylar has learned how to take abilities without killing people. - In the latest possible future, Sylar stops killing people, with Nathan still alive.
Nathan was healed by exposed timeline Peter.	None.	+ Peter closes his eyes and breathes deep with his hand on Nathan right after he dies. Having absorbed Linderman's ability at some point in the past without Peter's knowledge, the guilt/regret emotion he felt for shooting him triggered the healing ability, as Peter would associate the Explosion with Linderman, thus associating Linderman with guilt/regret and guilt/regret with the healing power. After his brother's healing, Peter realized what happened and decides to try and put Nathan back on the path he left when their powers manifested. - In the operating room, when Nathan is supposedly dead, Future-Peter's body language indicates grief and distress; not the kind of body language you would expect to see from someone who knows he can bring his brother back to life. + It was already stated that he might have absorbed healing without even knowing it. + Future Peter was the only one that touched Nathan after he died. - Future-Peter looks genuinely surprised/shocked to see Nathan come back to life on the operating bed. + It was already stated that he might have absorbed healing without even knowing it. + Nathan awoke immediately after Future Peter touched him. + In Villains, Peter was near Linderman, shortly after that, Nathan's accident, which Peter dreamed about happened, meaning he had already manifested his empathic mimicry by the time of the party. - In War Buddies, Part 3 Linderman (Austin) explicitly stated he could not heal the dead. - Because he can't restart the brain. Claire's blood healed her father and he was shot IN THE HEAD after all. - Linderman was very young back then, his powers were probably undeveloped or he did not control them fully.
Nathan will eventually die permanently.	None.	+ In every single alternate future (Explosion, Outbreak, Exposed), Future Nathan has died. + Nathan does seem to be quite prone to accidents and attempts on his life (hit-and-run six months before the series started, injuries at the end of volume one, assassination attempt at the end of volume two). It's probably only a matter of time before he is unsuccessful at escaping }death. + Everyone will eventually die permanently. • It goes without saying this theory indicates a plot-affecting death... • Adam would have lived forever (had Arthur not taken his ability). Same with Claire and Sylar. - Just because Nathan died in the alternate futures doesn't mean he will die in every future. + Try to note that he has died in every future so far.
Nathan is not blood related to Sylar or Peter.	None.	+ Sylar, Peter and Arthur all have similar powers. + Peter and Sylar were born with abilities, Nathan was not. - Nathan's ability could have been taken from him by Arthur.
Nathan was actually born with a power, but Arthur detected it before anyone else and (for whatever reason) stole it.	None.	+ Based on the powered families in the show, more often than not, two people with powers appear to produce a child with powers. + Nathan could have had a very dangerous ability which could destroy Arthur.
Nathan is a villain.	Shortly before you see Kaito receive his death threat, Ando bumps into him on the street. ("Four Months Later")	+ The writers like to seed possible plot-lines all over the place. + Most fans would speculate that all these possible connections are random. - Nathan has, on many occasions, gone against what he believes is evil, even if it is at the last moment. + But he was still tempted by Linderman and Angela. He could still go evil. - Kaito's death threat was from Adam Monroe. • In the Exposed Future, Nathan's intentions are unclear.
The Haitian removed any memories Nathan would have had of Sylar from when they were children.	We know that Nathan is the eldest of the three (he took his first steps near the end of the Vietnam War).	+ It would be hard for Angela to hide a second pregnancy and second born child from a nine or ten year old Nathan. + Peter believed that Nathan was his only sibling. • We have not seen Nathan learn that Sylar is his brother.
The Haitian could not prevent Nathan from flying away because he can not stop synthetic abilities.	None.
The sailor seen at the end of the graphic novel Playing with Fire looking at Meredith is Nathan.	None.	+ Nathan served as a U.S. Navy pilot, according to VotePetrelli.com. + If you follow the years correctly, Meredith and Nathan would have met about the time of this graphic novel.
Nathan is the son of Maury.	None.	+ Sylar, Peter and Arthur all have similar powers. - That doesn't mean that Nathan is Maury's son. It would be as likely as Angela being Maury's sister. + Matt has the same power as his father. • Arthur also displays this ability. - Nathan does not. • Nathan's ability could have been taken from him by Arthur. • Nathan was given a synthetic ability. Arthur could have felt bad about stealing his ability and gave him a new one. + Angela has alluded to have cheated on Arthur before. - Nothing has been confirmed.
Nathan is Linderman's son.	None.	+ Linderman's ability of healing shows again in Nathan's daughter Claire, third generation. - Rapid cell regeneration and healing, though similar, are not the same ability. + If Nathan -and by that Claire- were the offspring of Angela Petrelli and Linderman, this would perfectly explain why Nathan does not share the ability with the rest of Petrelli male line (Arthur, Peter, Sylar). - Nathan's power is synthetic so his difference between his powers and the rest of his family is irrelevant. + Angela and Linderman are close. Angela had affairs before (e.g. Kaito). + Linderman took issue with Arthur when he was ordered to assault Nathan, because he knew/guessed. • /(- ) See theory above: "Arthur took Nathans ability." But this isn't really a pro or contra, because Arthur could have taken it anyhow. - Linderman was confirmed not to have children in a BTE interview.
Nathan will be the main villain in Fugitives	None.	+ In an interview, Aron Coleite and Joe Pokaski give a hint that the villain of Volume 4 will be someone we already know, and that we'll see a big part of his "turn" in The Eclipse, Part 2. Nathan seemed top be leaning toward villainy with his words to Peter about taking power. + In every season, Nathan has been on the cusp of being a villain. - After the events of The Eclipse, Part 2, it appears Sylar is a full-fledged villain once again, so he may be whop the writers were referring to in the aforementioned interview.

See Also

• For theories about Nathan's shooter in Powerless, see Theory:Nathan's assassin.