Theory:Peter Petrelli

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The following fan theories are about Peter Petrelli.

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Theories

Theory	Citations	Notes
Peter will gain his scar and then reacquire regeneration, but the scar will not go away.	None.	+ Peter can not scar when he has Claire's ability, but Peter no longer has that ability. + Both versions of future Peter had a scar. - Future Peter did not seem to know Arthur is alive and can still retain multiple abilities; he likely never had his abilites stolen by Arthur. • It is possible that exposed future Peter lost his powers to his father and somehow regained them. He knows the only way to stop Arthur, and the Earth from exploding, is to give him access to Sylar's power.
Peter will always "aid" or inconsequentially be the villain.	"The only future I've ever seen is the one caused by you." - Angela to Future Peter in The Second Coming	+ Peter was the bomb in Season One. + Peter almost released the virus in Season Two. • Angela claims that Peter is the cause of all of her futuristic dreams which has a certain implication of dark futures. - Peter was shown dead in Angela's dream of villains in Level 5. + Future Peter causes a Butterfly Effect which leads to Angela's newest foreshadowing of destruction and chaos. + It was because Peter told Claire to stay at home that Sylar obtained her power. Even Angela stated she "wasn't where she was supposed to be." (The Second Coming) - In the exposed timeline, Nathan was the cause of the events of that timeline (e.g. evolved humans in camps, experimentation and being hunted down). + Peter has a ability-control percentile of 27% (Assignment Tracker 2.0, under Gabriel Gray's profile), thus sort of making him predisposed to blundering and losing control.
Peter cannot obtain the the Haitian's power because the Haitian will block Peter's innate ability before Peter can use it.	None.	+ Peter has not displayed the Haitian's ability. - It is just as likely the act of having the Haitian remove his memories allowed Peter to absorb the Haitian's abilities - memory/mind manipulation on self as well as others. - Peter was able to use telekinesis and/or space/time manipulation to stop taser darts shot by Noah Bennet and the Haitian from hitting him despite the fact that the Haitian was close enough to block him from using his abilities, this seems to indicate that Peter was automatically blocking the Haitian from blocking him (Peter at that time didn't know about the Haitian's ability). - If this was the case the Haitian wouldn't be able to erase peters mind or stop him from using whatever ability he was planning on using in Four Months Ago. - The Haitian's ability is inactive if he is dead or unconscious, so Peter could absorb his power, if he can knock him unconscious. - In Resistance, Future Peter says he won't make Claire forget "again". At this point, he apparently has already absorbed and learned to use the Haitian's memory-erasing abilities, if not the power-suppressing ones. + It is more likely that the Haitian's power to block abilities requires his conscious effort to exercise. It would explain why Peter was able to block said darts (even if that placed Peter close enough to acquire the Haitian's ability; but then, no one really knows the range of his mimicry), as well as the reason why, in a recent episode, Daphne was able to flee the theatre while Hiro's ability was blocked. To preempt criticism based on whether the Haitian was awake when Daphne fled, please remember that he had fallen down a flight of steps, and needed to be awake long enough to walk up the stairs again, so it is likely that he was awake when Daphne used her ability, thus making the Haitian's ability not one of innate use, but one that he can direct. - Guillame, Daphne and Hiro were blocked without the Haitian specifically trying to block them specifically. + The Haitian was on an assignment; it would be logical for him to automatically block any ability he might come across, so as long as it's within his reach, every ability would be blocked, even if he didn't know who had an ability and which.
Peter can share his duplicated powers with non-powered people, through an empathic connection.	None.	- If this was true, he could have saved Simone that way. + 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. - When Claude grabs objects, they also turn invisible.
Peter absorbed the power of persuasion from Eden McCain.	When Peter visited Mohinder Suresh's apartment, Eden McCain was present. 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. + He doesn't need to know that someone has a power to absorb it; but still needs some knowledge of what the power is if it is a active power. + He absorbed Bob and Elle Bishop's abilities, Elle used hers on Peter, so he knew what she could do; however he doesn't know Bob can do. + He used D.L. Hawkins phase shifting ability to escape with Adam Monroe, even though Peter hasn't meet him before "How to Stop and Exploding Man". It seems that once he knows how to tap into an ability, he can do it again. - They could've met before in an unaired encounter and he saw him use his phase shifting ability. + Peter seemed immune to Parkman's suggestions in Powerless. - He had telepathy, the same ability that was being used against him.
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 was quite eager to telekinetically strangle Will in Kindred, suggesting that the use of Sylar's telekinesis makes him more violent like Sylar. - 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 hits he got from Claude and he did had a angry look on his face when he finally blocked the staff. Plus, Future Peter was often angry/aggressive while using his telekinesis. + Peter nearly killed when he was using his telekinesis in Kindred. + In Kindred, after Peter pinned Will to the wall, he tells Caitlin that he wanted to kill him. This reflects Elle's personality.
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. - Peter may have only been able to draw stick figures because of the limited art supplies available. When given paint and canvas, he has been known to draw more accurate paintings (such as the Montreal painting). If he were able to mimic non-superhuman abilities, then he would have been able to paint or sketch a good picture regardless of his proximity to Isaac. - When Peter drew the stick figures, he was drawing from a dream he had using Angela’s power. His eyes were normal and he was not currently seeing into the future. Every time he has used Isaac’s power, his eyes have become completely white and he has painted just as well as Isaac could. - 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 is the case though, then Sylar would have been able to control Dale's ability right away and would not have been so disoriented by the amplified sounds. • 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 okay painter on his own. • Peter, Sylar and Issac's paintings are all very different in style, Tim Sale only produced Isaac's paintings, with the others being done by different artists. This would suggest that the ability taken from Isaac includes the artistic ability.
In the original timeline (Nov 8, 2007), Peter Petrelli mimicked density manipulation from one of the Moab prison ambush agents.	Graphic Novel snapshot:	+ In 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. - There is little evidence of anything from the shadows of the image. That being said, it is clear that the female agent with super speed is running towards the source of light while Peter is running perpendicular to the source of light. Furthermore, people rarely draw jet-trails on shadows. Instead, the shape and size of the shadows are exaggerated to give the illusion of being "in two places at once".
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, Sue Storm, Matt Murdock, Scott Summers, Warren Worthington, Bruce Banner, Stephen Strange). • Many characters in DC Comics also have this naming convention, with most characters having initials L.L., not to mention characters like Guy Gardner (the Green Lantern) and J'onn J'onzz (Martian Manhunter). + 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. • Yet many Comics have entered many other forms of media including film, T.V, games, etc. Why a few characters have a "superstar" fame such as Spider-man or Batman, is unlikely that Kring has not come across a comic character in any media form. - It's not just Marvel that uses this style of name; in fact, the first to do so was Detective Comics, with Clark Kent, Lex Luthor, Lois Lane, Lana Lang, etc. Alliterative names are very common because they are easy to remember and sound nice.
Peter absorbed the power to heal from Linderman at some point in the past.	This could be how Nathan was healed from the brink of death.	- 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. + Future Peter may have used this ability to heal Nathan in The Second Coming. - Future Peter had four years to absorb this ability elsewhere. - Nathan believes God directly healed him, and the writers say they are sticking with that explanation. + Since it seems to have taken Linderman years to perfect his power, Peter might not be skilled enough to use it, and if he can, not very well. - Peter has absorbed abilities from others who haven't been able to control it well and he uses it fine. + He could have absorbed it at Arthur and Angela's 41st anniversary party in Villains. - Peter's absorption may not have manifested yet at this point. Peter's earliest known power use was in April 2006, when he used his mother's ability to see Heidi and Nathan's accident. + And an unknown healing absorption is possible cause that's a power which has criteria to be used (an injured person), and even after learning of his abilities, it takes a while for him to learn to use a power out of the original holder's presence, so wouldn't have been able to use it. + He could have had the ability for years, only not known he had it until he healed Nathan. As far as we know, he didn't know Linderman had the ability, so he wouldn't have realized he absorbed it.
Claude was right about how Peter can call back his powers.	Claude said that in order for Peter to use his mimicked powers without the original owner present he had to block them out.	+ When he didn't remember anyone from his past, Peter had effectively "blocked them out". That being said, he could still use the powers that he has absorbed. • What Peter actually said is that he needed to remember how the people from whom he copied powers "made him feel". It's possible to recall the emotion without recalling the person. • In a Behind the Eclipse interview, Joe Pokaski and Aron Coleite stated that "Peter has learned and will continue to learn that's it's more about his heart than his memory."
Peter could have been able to use Charlie's enhanced memory through his contact with Sylar.	None.	+ His mother told him to remember, and shortly after he appeared to remember all the moments that he spent with his mother in his entire life. (Out of Time) - Adam helped Peter remember who he was and how they got to Montreal by simply explaining his brain cells needed to heal. The instance in the future seems more along the lines of the same principle.
Someone wanted Peter to come into contact with Ricky's gang.	Ricky commented on the unlikeliness of Peter showing up in the one container that they were set to rob. (Lizards)	+ Ricky and his gang specifically planned to break into one container out of the hundreds in the storage lot. It would be a ridiculous coincidence if Peter just happened to be in that container. + Peter's container was empty, but, according to Ricky, it was supposed to be filled with iPods. + Peter is often considered to be the most powerful hero, due to his ability to absorb the powers of others. It is therefore likely that someone hopes to manipulate him into helping them. + The Company was able to trace Peter to Ireland, without Molly or radioactive isotopes. - Why would Ricky try to hide Peter from Elle if they were on the same side? - Why would Elle kill Ricky if they were on the same side? + Ricky and his gang are not necessarily the ones manipulated the situation. The Haitian or some other character may have wanted Peter to interact with Ricky's gang for reasons of his own, possibly something to do with Caitlin. - The Haitian trapped Peter in a random container, it was just pure luck. • If Arthur Petrelli does have the ability of luck manipulation, this could just explain the pure luck. - Elle was looking for containers at the dock first. If she knew Ricky and his gang had him, she would have gone there first. • This is assuming that the Haitian was working with the company.
Peter exhibited a new use of his dream power by bringing back the evacuation notice in Truth and Consequences.	None.	+ Peter has used this dream power before in connection with Charles Deveaux (see Theory:Charles Deveaux), however this time he brought back a physical object from that place/time. Thus, he is not just a astral projection, but can physically interact with that location. + This can not be an example of space-time manipulation because Adam does not see him "leave" his present location in the building in Montreal. In a sense, he is in two places at once. - Peter could have simply returned to the exact time he left. + Adam claims to have heard Peter screaming Caitlin's name while Peter was gone - this could not have happened if time was frozen because he would have been gone and back in an instant. • Peter continued to yell her name when he was with Adam in the present. • Adam heard Peter, but neither Caitlin nor the version of Peter with her seemed to hear Peter, which may indicate some sort of transcendent or dream-like state because he was apparently audible and physically present for Adam, but he obtained a flyer from the future and brought it back to the past with him.
The Haitian, by removing Peter's memories, has irreversibly enabled Peter to access multiple powers at a single time.	In many episodes (Kindred, Truth and Consequences, Powerless, etc.), Peter has used multiple abilities at once.	- This could have initially been an ability to use all passive abilities (or a constant use of all passive abilities), because rapid cell regeneration, immunity to space-time freezing, and immunity to telepathic suggestion do not necessarily require the intent to use an ability. + Peter was able to actively simultaneously implant a thought into Matt's head and telekinetically throw Matt backwards in Powerless. • Peter was not able to recover his memory until Adam told him to use his ability. • This may have been a use of the Haitian's ability, reversing damage, but it also could have been Adam's rapid cell regeneration.
Peter can only use some powers to do whatever the "source" of it can do and if he encounters them when they have refined control of it, the ability he has is refined as well.	None.	+ When Peter first met Matt Parkman in Fallout and absorbed his telepathy, he could only read minds as that's all Matt could do at that time while in Powerless, he may have gained the thought transmission / mind control aspect of that ability from meeting Matt near the vault. + Adam Monroe has refined control of his regenerative ability (due to approximately 350 years of experience), this stronger regenerative capability could've be absorbed by Peter when they meet in Four Months Later (once the "Haitian Pills" were out of his system). - It appears Peter's refinement may be independent as Peter was able to see (not hear) Angela's thoughts without running into Matt Parkman another time.
Peter absorbed Candice's illusion ability, Micah's technopathy and Molly's clairvoyance.	He was quite close to them both during the final scene of "How To Stop An Exploding Man".	+ Peter absorbed phasing from D.L. by only being in the same general area. D.L. was sitting with Micah and Molly at the time. + Candice dragged Sylar away. - Candice only dragged Sylar after Nathan flew with Peter, so she was probably out of his mimicking range. + Future Peter was able to cast illusions (The Second Coming). Maybe he learned to access Candice's ability like he learned to access Sylar's intuitive aptitude.
Peter will go insane.	None.	+ It has been suggested that the numerous alterations to Sylar's DNA has unbalanced his mind. The same might happen to Peter. + He's already started to feel the "hunger" that comes with Sylar's power, even killing Nathan in a potential future.
Peter has absorbed the powers of people that were walking down the street, at stores and other public places near him.	None.	- This would be a poor explanation by the writers, as many potentially exciting plot twists will no longer be able to occur. + It might not give the show the same story line development, but the person he walks by could be a character we will meet later, like Harry Fletcher or Sparrow Redhouse; perhaps even someone we have seen but Peter has not met.
Peter cannot heal people by injecting them with his own blood even though he has absorbed Claire's ability.	None.	+ Peter has absorbed the powers of many other people, altering his DNA. This may make the bodies of other humans reject transfusions of his blood. + Adam Monroe knew of Peter's abilities yet he healed post-explosion Nathan himself instead of telling Peter how to do it. - This (Adam not telling Peter about the ability) may simply have been a function of Adam's endeavor to make Peter think he needs Adam, and nothing more. + Peter didn't think to heal Nathan with his own blood after he was shot, even though Claire suggested that she herself do it. - This was future Peter. He didn't want Nathan to reveal the existence of abilities. - Peter acts out of emotion, he wouldn't think of what he can do in a very logic manner. - Peter is able to heal himself with Claire's ability, which as far as we know, only works through its possessor's blood.
Peter, and Nathan Petrelli are brothers with Hiro Nakamura.	Hiro's biological mother may actually be Angela Petrelli, since we know she slept with Kaito Nakamura. (Lizards)
The ability Future Peter used to transform is illusion from Candice Wilmer.	None.	+ The effects used are exactly the same. + When Peter first met Sylar, he absorbed all of his abilities, yet he was only recently able to access intuitive aptitude. The same may apply to Candice's illusions. - Future Peter may have acquired the power from another person.
By trapping Peter in Jesse's body, the future was changed because he absorbed pyrokinesis from Flint, not Meredith.	None.	+ Peter uses blue flames in I Am Become Death, but in Five Years Gone his fire is red. - Peter didn't absorb it while stuck in Jesse, but when Future Peter took him out and they talked in the time frozen bank. + Peter would not have been in Flint's presence if he had not been in Jesse's body.
Peter will have to kill himself in the past to stop the exposed future from happening.	None.	Future Peter references stepping on too many butterflies. In The Butterfly Effect (movie) (directors cut), the main character Evan Treborn (Ashton Kutcher) realizes that the only way to save everyone is to eliminate himself and goes back to his birth and kills himself. - The phrase "Butterfly Effect" predates the film, and the writers stealing the film's plot is unlikely. - That might cause a paradox. + Paradoxes have never been shown to exist in Heroes. - The formula, the main problem with the exposed future, has already been destroyed.
Peter is able to use Sylar's telekinesis and intuitive aptitude because he sees Sylar and Gabriel Gray as two separate persons.	Peter did not know of or use intuitive aptitude until he met Sylar in the exposed future.	+ The first (and only) power Peter mimicked from Sylar had been telekinesis (Unexpected), until Gabriel Gray taught him how to use intuitive aptitude. He may forever associate telekinesis with Sylar and intuitive aptitude with Gabriel Gray. - Peter never knew of intuitive aptitude, and therefore never tried to use it, until I Am Become Death.
Peter still has intuitive aptitude.	None.	+ The Company was unable to detect it in Sylar (Godsend), so the ability may be undetectable to Arthur as well. - Arthur may not have to detect all of Peter's copied abilities to absorb them.
Peter has kept his mother's precognitive dreaming ability.	Peter had visions after losing his powers.	+ This is the first power Peter copied, which may have made it his "natural power" or simply made it have a stronger link to him. + The first power Sylar stole was telekinesis and this was the only ability The Company was able to detect in him, despite having others. - Sylar retained his telekinesis because of latent guilt over killing Brian Davis; Peter does not feel guilty about taking his mother's ability. + Despite the Shanti virus, Sylar was able to regain telekinesis, as well as his natural ability. - Sylar did not regain telekinesis until his other ability was restored. - This is because Sylar absorbed telekinesis through empathy; the abilities Peter lost were gained through empathic mimicry. - The visions were flashbacks to help further the plot.
Peter automatically 'connects' with everyone he meets.	None.	+ Peter is able to use the powers of anyone he meets, regardless of how long he knows them. + His parents may have treated him the way they did in order to make him ultra-sensitive so that he'd absorb powers easily. • In a Behind the Eclipse interview, Joe Pokaski and Aron Coleite stated that "Peter has learned and will continue to learn that's it's more about his heart than his memory". + Peter has an empathic personality; Charles says Peter can love unconditionally.
When Future Peter brought his present self to 2011, he lost his powers at once.	None.	+ By bringing his present self along, Future Peter forced him to acquire intuitive aptitude. Thus present-day Peter became aggressive and impatient, he went to Pinehearst and lost his powers. This could have affected Future Peter as well, so when they time traveled to 2011, he rendered himself powerless. - By traveling to the explosion future, Hiro became determined to stop it, and succeeded. By the same logic, Future Hiro should have been affected as well, forgetting that he was from the explosion future. + Future Peter did not heal from the bullet to his chest. - The Haitian was suppressing his ability. That's what allowed Claire to kill him. She even said, "Trying to teleport? That won't work with my friend here." + Future Peter wasn't shot in his head. And he was shown laying on a table dead without the Haitian present. Obviously he didn't have regeneration. - Future Peter was physically close to Future Claire in the first scene of Volume Three, if he didn't have regeneration until then he had it after that moment. • This could be because Peter needs his empathic mimicry in order to use his acquired abilities, and if the Haitian suppresses it and he dies, he can no longer tap into it. If he dies and his mimicry is working, then he can come back to life due to his passive powers being constantly active. + Peter was able to come back to life when Claire removed the shard of glass from his head. Dead evolved humans cannot access their abilities, so the Haitian had nothing to block.
Peter's synthetic ability is a new form of mimicry that can only absorb synthetic abilities.	None.	+ Peter has gained only synthetic abilities thus far. + Peter has not absorbed "real" powers such as Claire's.
Peter's empathic mimicry is still the same, it appears to work differently because he no longer connects to people like he used to.	He didn't want to get involved when Claire was on the phone and now he can only mimic an ability through touch.	+ Being betrayed by your brother after having to kill the father who is a manipulative villain could very well make Peter less willing to connect with people. + Hiro's ability weakened when he lost confidence in himself, proving abilities can be affected by ones state of mind. + Arthur said that he would regain his abilities. - Arthur said something like "You'll regain your abilities", yours refering to Peter's abilities. - If Peter's DNA changes like Sylar's when he gains a new ability, then the changes in Peter's DNA could have affected his original ability. + Peter had already mimicked several abilities, none of which affected his original ability. + Peter's ability is changing his DNA to incorporate new abilities, not altering the DNA responsible for his original ability.
Peter has consciously or subconsciously limited the scope of his ability to prevent himself from acquiring new abilities, ensuring he has a better control over the abilities he chooses to acquire.	Peter made a choice to get Mohinder's ability.	+ The events on the airplane can lead to this theory. - Peter told Tracy about the limitation of his new ability (one power for another). + If the effect is due to a subconscious decision, Peter might not be aware of that, he might be limiting his ability without knowing.
Peter's original ability was sympathetic mimicry and Sylar's is empathic.	Each have their own method of gaining abilities.	+ Time Kring described Peter and Sylar as "two halves of a similar coin." + Arthur Petrelli described Sylar's ability as "accessing his empathy". Empathy usually applies when you share a trait with someone. + Peter never had to touch people to gain their abilities. He simply could absorb them. Sympathizing does not require you to share a trait with other people. - Sylar's Assignment tracker page specifically lists his ability as Intuitive aptitude. - What Kring may have referred to was Peter's heart, Sylar's lack of one, and their shared ability of copying/taking abilities.
If Peter meets Arthur again (if he is alive or using some form of time travel) Peter could use his current ability to copy the power-stealing power and steal back all of his powers.	None.	• He could also have his current mimicry stolen first.
Aside from the fact Peter has to touch a person to get their powers, Peter's new power works the same as his original power.	None.	+ He could only use one power at a time until Claude taught him how to access multiple powers at the same time, and out of the absorbee presence.
If Peter travels back in time and uses his current ability on his past self he can gain back his empathic mimicry.	None.	• This would only be possible if Hiro gains back his Space-time manipulation ability back or Peter meets another time traveler.
If Peter has Ando supercharge his ability, he will be able to retain multiple abilities at once.	None.	+ Supercharging enhances abilities, so it only makes sense that if you supercharge ability replication, you would end up with at least the ability to hold multiple powers at once. • So far, the Ando's enhancements of others abilities are temporary.
When Arthur stole Peter's ability he removed the ability genes from his DNA. And when he used the formula, it gave him new ability genes which gave him his current ability.	None.	- Alternatively, he could have turned the DNA responsible for Peter's ability in non-coding DNA, a.k.a. junk DNA.