Theory:Peter Petrelli

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The following fan theories are about Peter Petrelli.

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Theories

Theory	Citations	Notes
Peter can only use one power at a time.	None	+ We have never seen him use two powers at exactly the same time, only one immediately after the other. - We see Peter in the Dark Future, using both telekinesis and invisibility at the same time, very likely with five years of practice. (Five Years Gone) + It has already been confirmed that Peter can only use one power at a time; plus, as Peter started to use telekinesis in Five Years Gone he faded into view. • Peter's inability to use more than one power at a time may not be inherent to his empathy, but merely a lack of control. It was confirmed that he could only use one power at the moment he was about to explode, which does not necessarily apply to the future.
Peter is Linderman's son, through an affair with Angela Petrelli. Linderman is likely unaware of this, and believes Peter to be a full Petrelli.	None.	+ Peter went into nursing, when none of his other relatives did so. Austin/Linderman was also a medic and has the power of healing. + Nathan and Peter look little alike and from what we have seen of Mr. Petrelli, we know that he looks a lot like Nathan. - However, Peter and Nathan share the same dark hair. The other dissimilarities between Peter and Nathan could simply be explained by the fact that Milo Ventimiglia and Adrian Pasdar are not related. + The discovery of his wife's affair with Linderman, could have been the initiative it took Mr. Petrelli to go against the company and attempt to testify against Linderman- and it may have been the root of his depression.
Peter's power is empathy. This would give him the ability to channel powers and would explain his prophetic dreams about Nathan, and explain how he knows what he felt.	None.	+ According to Tim Kring: "Peter’s [power] is based on his empathy and his ability to connect with people and when he’s around them." + This would also match the theory that their abilities are based on their personalities...or personality on abilities. Peter became a nurse to help people, so gaining empathy would just further his wanting to help. + Claude said that Peter was an Empath.
Peter has some unknown additional power that is or causes these dreams and blackouts.	None.	- According to the writers, each character has only one innate power. + The dreams could come from another person whose ability Peter absorbed without realizing it.
Peter's dreams come from his mimicking his mother's power.	None.	+ Since it looks like the first ability he has mimicked, it would have to be from someone that is always around him. Angela would fit the bill. - There is no solid evidence yet that Angela Petrelli has a power. + Ask Ausiello revealed that she has a power. - Judging by what is said by Ausiello it sounds like she has a power that has to do with transportation.
Peter's dreams come from mimicking the powers of Charles Deveaux.	None.	+ Peter was getting prophetic dreams before he encountered many others. He shared a "goodbye dream" with Charles, where Peter showed him he could fly. (Nothing to Hide) - Peter's first vision occurred six months ago, long before he began working for Charles Deveaux. (Six Months Ago) + Charles Deveaux's affiliation with Angela indicates that he may have been around Peter long before Peter became his nurse, though Peter may not have known it at the time. (How to Stop an Exploding Man)
Peter's prophetic dreams come from his empathy mixing with Isaac's power.	None.	+ Before meeting Isaac, Peter's dreams were limited to sensing the feelings of people Peter was close to, such as Nathan and Charles Deveaux. After meeting Isaac, Peter began to dream of people he had yet to meet. - Peter's dreams had premonition qualities before he met Isaac. - Peter's dreams and Isaac's ability have very dissimilar characteristics.
Peter can share his duplicated powers with non-powered people, through an empathic connection.	None.	- Simone would not be dead if this was the case. + In Landslide, Peter grabs Claire and is able to render her invisible, despite her not having that ability. - This may be a function of the power being duplicated, though, as Niki is phased by D.L. during the same episode.
Peter's vision of himself exploding may not be a prophecy; it may be form of empathic communication, like some of his other dream experiences seem to be.	His dream about Charles Deveaux was not prophetic. (Nothing to Hide) His dream about Nathan and Heidi's accident occurred at the same time Peter was asleep. (Six Months Ago)	+ If so, Peter is wrong to think he will be the cause of the explosion. - In Godsend, more of Peter's vision is seen, including scenes with Claude laughing while stealing money. These portions of Peter's vision, at least, have definitely proven to be prophetic. - Peter's dream of him jumping off a building had premonition qualities. - In an interview, Tim Kring states, "he's had dreams before, and they've had premonition qualities to them."
Future Hiro contacted Peter because Peter is the only person who can hold a conversation with him while he has stopped time.	By duplicating Claude's invisibility power, Peter made himself immune to it. (Godsend)	+ Peter's experience with Claude supports the theory. Duplicating Hiro's space-time manipulation power may have a similar effect. - Claude is able to see an invisible Peter, so it's not Peter's power that allowed him to see an invisible Claude. • It is still unclear whether Future Hiro has enough control of his power to exclude other people from the time-stopping effect, although he has shown that he can teleport other people with him, suggesting that he may well be able to allow others to move when time is stopped as well. + If Hiro was able to selectively exclude others from the time-freeze, then keeping time frozen during the jailbreak in Walls, part 1 would not mean he and Peter would "have to drag out a lot of stiff time-frozen bodies".
Peter mimicked the power of suggestion from Eden McCain.	While Peter visited Mohinder Suresh's apartment while Eden McCain was present, there is no indication that he duplicated her suggestion power. However, they were in the same room for some time, even coming in physical contact with each other. (Collision)	+ Eden could use her power at her discretion; it's possible Peter duplicated it and simply didn't know how to activate it. + Additionally, the fact that Peter was able to convince Mohinder to visit Isaac, but later fail to do it again may suggest that Peter tapped into Eden's power, but later did not.
Peter is the character who is killed off this season.	None.	+ Tim Kring mentioned that one of the main characters would be killed off, and that Peter was a possibility. + If this is so, and the explosion is caused by an overload of powers that Peter can not control, then the sword that Hiro needs may be a way to stop it—by killing Peter. + Claude punches Peter during his vision, indicating that Peter's powers can be rendered useless if he is unable to focus on them. (Distractions) If he is overloaded and can not control them, he would not be able to regenerate after being killed. + Peter "dies", but "not in the way you think" because he is resuscitated when Claire removes the glass shard from the back of his head.(.07%) - Peter may have died during How to Stop an Exploding Man but his mother seemed to believe that, thanks to Claire, he would be able to survive The Explosion. It is possible that Peter may survive into Season 2. • In the May 23rd edition of Ask Ausiello at TVGuide.com, Ausiello is asked if either Peter and Nathan are returning next season, and he provides a direct answer. (I am not stating the answer to avoid inadvertently spoiling something on the show.) The above link will take you to the column, and the question is the 4th one from the top.
Peter absorbs personalities as well as powers as a result of having to "feel" another person's presence in order for absorption.	None.	+ In his fight with Isaac, Peter displays an "evil", aggressive nature to him when he uses his telekinetic abilities, which likens to that of Sylar. Peter, being empathetic, needs to experience another person's "essence" in order to use their abilities. Being around Sylar invoked fear and chaos, so using Sylar's powers would inevitably cause Peter to have violent tendencies. - Peter, when stopping Claude's broomstick or dropping the taser gun's darts, did not have a violent outburst. • Peter was getting angry because of all the hit he got from Claude and he did had a angry look on his face when he finally blocked the staff.
Peter can mimic non-superhuman abilities of others.	None.	+ Peter initially seemed only able to draw stick figures, but is able to paint similarly to Isaac when close to him. - In How to Stop an Exploding Man, when Sylar uses Isaac's power he sees the event on the canvas in the form of a picture already - the painting takes no exceptional skill, it is just tracing the lines and filling in the colors. • If this is the case then Sylar must be able to absorb non-superhuman abilities as well, as he can paint as well as Isaac or Peter. • If this was the case surely Sylar would be killing good writers or watchmakers or other skilled people, to gain their abilities. • Peter is an empath, so it makes sense that he can copy talents as well as powers. Since Sylar isn't an empath, it is possible that he can't copy people's talents, only their abilities, and he was just an ok painter on his own.
Peter's abilities reside in the long-term memory portion of his brain and are not a part of his genetic code. His empathic powers are therefore susceptible to the Haitian's ability. In contrast, Sylar changes his genetics with each power theft.	None.	+ By the end of Unexpected, Peter demonstrates he has the power to dominate any foe. Unbridled, his powers will only increase. Peter's powers must be abated for there to be any suspense in a Peter vs. anyone duel. - However, just like all powers, it seems an individual cannot use their own power against themselves. If Peter were around the Haitian, he would mimic his ability, meaning he would be immune to his powers, similar to the way in which he can see Claude when Claude is invisible. - Mohinder has explicitly said to Peter that his ability comes from his DNA's ability to re-sequence itself to mimic that of others, almost like an "automatic" version of Sylar's genetic manipulation.
Peter Petrelli has absorbed all of Sylar's obtained abilities.	None.	+ In an interview with the show's creators and writers, they stated that Peter has absorbed all of Sylar's abilities. • He is probably unaware of these powers because he has to concentrate on a power to use it and he does not know what powers Sylar has stolen apart from telekinesis and liquefaction.
In the original timeline (Nov 8, 2007), Peter Petrelli mimicked density manipulation from one of the Moab prison ambush agents.	Graphic Novel snapshot:	+ In this scene from Walls, Part 2, everyone is accounted for except for Peter and the agent with enhanced speed. + The agent looks to be stepping backwards (not running), and the silhouette for Peter resembles the image of the larger ambush agent. + If Peter was using enhanced speed, the artist would have drawn jet-trails to indicate this.
Peter Petrelli's name is a reference to the many Marvel characters having first and last names that begin with the same letter.	None.	+ Many of the Marvel comics characters have names beginning with the same letter (e.g. Peter Parker, Reed Richards). + The show's writers have referenced popular culture with other character names: Claude Rains is a reference to the original actor to play a character who was invisible. - Tim Kring does not read comics.
Peter did not die when he exploded. (How to Stop an Exploding Man)	None.	+ Nathan definitely believed it, as he said exactly that several times. + Heroes have been shown to be immune to their own powers. Ted was immune to his own radiation. Peter would be immune to the explosion. + More specifically, Ted was twice shown to explode (Company Man and during his escape from the FBI) with no noticeable injuries or wounds. + Peter still has Claire's regeneration. + Future Peter caused the explosion in his timeline and survived. • Peter's survival would require him to either regain consciousness and fly, consciously use Telekinesis to slow his fall, teleport, or land in such a way as to avoid injury to or the obliteration of his skull and brain. • Exploding would not necessarily have caused Peter to fall unconscious.
Peter is, or has some connection, to the 'rock monster'	None.	+ Both his first name and last name, Peter and Petrelli, come from the Latin term petra meaning "rock".
Peter absorbed the power to heal from Linderman at some point in the past.	None.	+ Linderman was in close contact with the Petrellis ever since War Buddies, and it is at least possible that he met Linderman at some point in his life, before the indictment. - Peter has never shown that he can use Linderman's power. + It may simply be dormant, if Peter is either unaware Linderman had a power or is somehow unable to empathize with Linderman, and, thus, cannot use his power.
Until Peter learns to control his power of radiation, there is a risk he might explode again.	None.
If Peter was able to tap into Sylar's Intuitive Aptitude he would instantly be able to use all the powers he absorbs.	None.	+ Whenever Sylar takes a power he is almost instantaneously shown using the power he just absorbed even ones that took the original owner quite a while to gain control over (i.e. Isaac's Precognition)
If Peter has all of Sylar's powers and the powers of all he has come into contact with, its possible that he can only access them consciously if he is in the presence of that person when they are using their power. If they do not use their power, he will absorb it but only be able to access it subconsciously, though its more likely that regardless of interviews, that Peter really only absorbs powers when he is near as they are used.	None.	+ Peter turns invisible without realizing when Claude walks by him invisible. + Claire's regeneration is constant and would have been healing when in Peter's presence in Odessa, thus he gains constant regeneration. + Peter does not fly until after Nathan flies. + Peter never shows a power, at least not at full capacity, of those he has been in contact with if they have not actively used their powers in his presence. He doesn't use Eden's persuasion power when arguing with people.