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	+ It seems Peter cannot 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 was alive and could still retain multiple abilities; he likely never had his abilities stolen by Arthur. • He could have his memories erased - an ability which Arthur possessed. • 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. • That didn't help much. + Peter's ability only allows him to hold one power at a time now, so he may be scarred when not holding Claire's ability. - Claire's ability can cure damage done before the ability is activated. Her ability healed her when the eclipse was gone and the ability back. + If Peter gets a wound that originates the scar and it heals before he gets Claire's ability, the ability won't heal it, since scar tissue from a healed injury isn't an injured tissue. - In 1961, Linderman heals an old scar on the back of Angela's leg, though it is unsure if his healing ability works similarly to Claire's regeneration. + It has been shown in Turn and Face the Strange by Sylar that Claire's regeneration can be suppressed. + If the wound was cauterized, it might not be able to heal correctly.
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 original 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 always blocks 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. - Peter was able to use telekinesis and possibly 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). + The Haitian was able to erase Peter's mind and stop him from using an ability in Four Months Ago. Having the Haitian's ability might make Peter immune to this. - The Haitian's ability is inactive if he is dead or unconscious, so Peter could absorb his power, if he could 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 ability. + Telepathy can also make people forget. - It is 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, as well as the reason why, in One of Us, One of Them, Daphne was able to flee the theater while Hiro's ability was blocked. + 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. • When blocking Arthur's abilities the Haitian is straining to keep them in check, though this may only be because Arthur is too strong for him to passively block the abilities. - It is possible that the Haitian, as with other heroes with passive abilities, can suppress his power dampening if he wants to.
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. + 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 absorbs the abilities of people he is near. + Peter seemed immune to Parkman's suggestions in Powerless. - He had telepathy, the same ability that was being used against him. • Maury and Matt have trapped each other in illusions made by telepathy. Telepathic illusions aren't an example of ability immunity. • Peter has nowhere near as much experience with the ability as Matt and Maury had.
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. + He had this dream right after the party.
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 could be space-time manipulation. + 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. + Although 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 flier from the future and brought it back to the past with him.
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.
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. - That was suggested by the Company, which couldn't even figure out what his ability could do without an elaborate scheme. Sylar was already a ticking time bomb: the sheer number of traumas and neuroses he had practically guaranteed his going insane eventually. + He's already started to feel the "hunger" that comes with Sylar's power, even killing Nathan in a potential future. - It has been said that the Hunger is a part of Sylar's power, so it only makes sense that Peter would gain this alongside the intuitive aptitude.
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 would not be able to occur for these abilities. + 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. + The sources of Peter's old abilities are likely unimportant to the current story anyway. • Peter has said that he has to remember how the person made him feel to use their power. Most likely, he won't remember how someone made him feel if he only walked by them. • There have been occasions where Peter was able to use his ability without prolonged interaction with the person, such as with D.L. and Claude. + So, let's say he's walking down the street and bumps into a really pretty girl by mistake. Suddenly, a few minutes later, he's being attacked by people and the image of the hot girl pops into his mind, and he uses a power he didn't have before. Well, it is plausible seeing as he remembered how the girl made him feel, even though he only bumped into her.
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)	+ That could work seeing as Hiro was about ten or eleven when his mom died, so perhaps Angela had Hiro, then broke up with Kaito and got together with Arthur, while Kaito fell in love and got married to his wife, who adopted Hiro as her own. - This would only work if Hiro is older than Nathan, which he doesn't really seem to be. - Nathan recalled his father didn't like Kaito. The last time Nathan saw him, Kaito shared a long hug with Angela, something which angered Arthur.
The ability Future Peter used to transform is illusion from Candice Wilmer.	None	+ The effects used are exactly the same. - Future Peter may have acquired the power from another person.
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 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. - Pinehearst could have stuck something in his head to keep him from regenerating. • 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 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 referring 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 mentions in the first episode of Volume 4 that he isn't strong enough, which indicates that if he were stronger he could have kept all of his powers at one time, and saved that person. + Peter doesn't quite know why his ability works the way it does now. If it were an altogether different ability, he should have realized it.
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. + Hiro's ability was similarly affected when he lost his confidence when he could not save Charlie from Sylar. With his trust broken by Nathan, Peter would not be able to hold more than one ability until he regains his confidence and makes amends with his brother.
Peter's original ability was sympathetic mimicry and Sylar's is empathic.	Each have their own method of gaining abilities.	+ Tim 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.
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. - This is probably only because multiple evolved humans were rarely in Peter's presence at the same time, back then.
If Peter travels back in time and uses his current ability on his past self he can gain back his empathic mimicry.	None	• Time travel is currently impossible. + Hiro has regained the time traveling ability, and another time traveler has been introduced. • Should Peter absorb empathic mimicry, he'd lose it again if he used ability replication on another evolved human. • He could learn to rely only on his original ability.
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. + However, if Ando charged Peter every time he touched someone, Peter could theoretically hold that power in addition to the ones he already has.
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. - The formula might not "give" genes, but unlock those which are inactive in DNA of every non-powered human. + Peter and Sylar alter their DNA, which results in acquiring new abilities. - Mohinder said that a synthetic ability depends upon an individual's unique DNA chemistry. Peter shouldn't have acquired an ability different from the old one. + But Peter's DNA was changed - Arthur must have removed the ability genes from it and insert in his own. Sylar himself refused to kill Peter because the latter had no powers, he couldn't even find them in Peter's brain. • Sylar didn't even look for powers in Peter, he knew Peter had been depowered.
Peter's weakened ability represents his disgust towards himself for acquiring it, as well as his brothers betrayal.	None	+ Peter has a very fragile psyche, and it tends to manifest itself in his powers. He wanted to become a hero without them, yet still had to inject himself with a serum he was trying to destroy to save a brother who only rejected him. This could cause him to lose his empathy, hence the necessity of contact for his new ability to work, as well as make him lose confidence in himself, explaining why it's been weakened. As the writers have said before, it's more about what's in his heart.
Peter will replicate all of Sylar's abilities one by one, at some point gaining Sylar's intuitive aptitude, then use it to empathically gain other evolved humans' powers the same way Sylar does.	None	- Remembering the experience of absorbing intuitive aptitude, Peter might never attempt to acquire it again. + Since Peter doesn't know that Nathan is Sylar, he might accidentally obtain it by coming into contact with him.
Peter's ability is simply in it's early stages, similar to how Peter had to learn to use empathic mimicry.	None	+ Peter had to learn how to recall abilities, this took a great deal of time. + Peter's ability is still the copying of others, assuming his "blood chemistry" hasn't changed his ability should have similar traits to his original. + Abilities evolve over time, telepathy, induced radioactivity, electric manipulation and others have all been shown to increase in power, and have the user develop a higher control over it as time progresses. - Peter has learned to control whether or not he absorbs an ability from someone an evolved human he touches. + As stated earlier, Peter's psyche is somewhat scarred from his brother's betrayal of the evolved humans, and, as such, he may have empathic mimicry but may not be able to totally access it because of this mental strife. Hiro went through a similar weakening of his powers in season one, but recovered them after dealing with his inner turmoil by receiving his father's blessing.
Peter Petrelli's original power was ability replication, and he replicated Sylar's empathic mimicry in "Homecoming".	Peter touched Sylar before becoming proficient with abilities. (Homecoming)	+ Sylar could have mimicked intuitive aptitude from Samson Gray. - Sylar might have been too young for his ability to manifest in order to copy his father's. - Sylar's ability has been explicitly shown to be intuitive aptitude in his assignment tracker profile. + There is no explicit proof that the assignment tracker profiles are 100% correct. As far as we know, they are merely what the Company knows about the person. - Peter hadn't met Sylar when he first flew because of Nathan. + Peter could have used ability replication by touching evolved humans, before coming into contact with Sylar. - Peter's ability has been explicitly shown to be empathic mimicry in the assignment tracker map. + As stated above, there is no explicit proof that the assignment trackers are 100% correct. - In Villains, Angela tells Arthur that Peter will become a very powerful man when his ability manifests. Ability replication can hardly lead to gaining a great power, since it allows to hold only one ability at a time. + It's possible Peter's ability will evolve, and he will be able to replicate multiple abilities. • Then it would only differ from empathic mimicry through the physical contact. + Angela could have foreseen that Peter's would ultimately end up with empathic mimicry. - Peter apparently didn't touch Future Hiro, but successfully mimicked his power. + The Hiro Nakamura from the explosion future demonstrated an immense control over his ability; it's possible he controlled the temporal state of Peter as well. - Peter was shown to be immune to time-freezing after mimicking that ability; present day Hiro was unable to freeze him when Peter was helping Adam. • Such a thing was never observed anywhere else. - Peter managed to stop time with Claude, when he had not met any known time stoppers since meeting Sylar. (Unexpected) + But Peter had met Hiro; he may be able to still empathically remember, using his newly replicated ability, to mimic space-time manipulation by memory. - Nothing suggests an ability can be absorbed for use with empathic mimicry without empathic mimicry. + Claude Rains helped Peter control empathic mimicry; he could've also taught him to empathically mimic a replicated ability. - Nothing suggests this is possible. + "According to Draph's Heroes Survival account, Draph can hold on to a maximum of five abilities. A hindering factor of Draph's ability is that each of the five abilities must have a different elemental attribute given to them". Peter didn't "get multiples" from Sylar, because he had empathy before that. So he could with his ability replication, but now he's lost his empathy. Since he can only use one, when he used to have five: empathic mimicry, precognitive dreaming, flight, precognition and space-time manipulation. - Its been stated that Peter manifested ability replication because he lost his ability (psychologically speaking) to connect with people, it wasn't his ability prior to Arthur stealing his powers. Also, Draph's ability replication may have different limitations then Peter's, considering that he is more or less a fan-made character. + Peter did replicate five powers, before mimicking abilities with Sylar's empathic mimicry. So when Arthur stole his powers, the formula only gave him Ability replication. Because it's actually his original ability, but now he's lost his empathy. • So it's still a valid theory, until they disprove it with evidence. - Effects to fan-made Draph are his alone until a writer or someone with equal standing says his limitations apply to Peter. • Occam's Razor says that the right explanation is the simplest explanation. If Draph wasn't mentioned in episodes, the limits of his abilities shouldn't be taken in an already well established character.
The Future Peter from the exposed future had ability replication, not empathic mimicry.	Future Peter did not regenerate, while the Haitian did not stop present-day Peter from killing Nathan. (I Am Become Death)	- The future Peter has displayed more than one ability at a time on numerous occasions. + The future Peter could have learned to attain more than one ability at a time. - Then there would be no reason not to absorb Future Claire's ability when he grabbed her gun. - The future had not been changed yet, so that Peter probably never lost his ability, or injected himself with the formula, getting a new ability. + Future Peter had a scar, which seems to imply that he had lost his ability to regenerate at some point. - Peter from the explosion future had the scar as well, and he was seen to have it in 2007 (Walls, Part 2).
Peter would regain his original ability if he came in contact with Matt Parkman, Jr..	Matt Jr.'s power was able to jumpstart Hiro's ability, even after it was stolen by Arthur. (Cold Snap)	- Peter has already gained a different ability. + Matt Jr.'s ability could enhance Peter's synthetic ability so it would work the same way as his original ability. + Matt Jr.'s ability could also turn Peter's current ability off, then turn his old ability back on. - Matt Jr. would need to be happy. • That won't be difficult. Baby Matt would certainly like Peter.
If Peter engaged in a group hug with other evolved humans, he could retain multiple powers at once.	None	+ He has demonstrated the ability to hold a power upon physical contact. - Peter loses his retained ability when he replicates a new one. + He might be able to retain multiple abilities if he replicates them at the same time. - Peter evidently couldn't hold Sylar's regeneration along with his shape shifting. + Sylar is not multiple people. + Sylar acquired regeneration through ability theft.
Peter did not replicate all of Sylar's abilities because it takes longer to replicate multiple abilities, and Peter could not maintain contact with Sylar long enough to grab them all.	None	+ It is shown throughout the season that it does take him approximately two to three seconds to replicate an ability. It is possible that, when faced with multiple abilities, it takes him two to three seconds per ability to absorb them all. This would explain why he only seemed to absorb shape shifting: he only managed to remain in contact with Sylar long enough to absorb one ability. - Peter can only hold abilities from one "ability grab" at a time. If he took, for example, shape shifting, and then telekenisis, he would only have the latter of the two. Otherwise, in order for Peter to gain more than one ability, he would need to acquire them simultaneously. + A time requirement may be in place with ability replication meaning that broken contact with the individual would result in incomplete replication of abilities. • Even if Peter only got the one ability of shape shifting off Sylar, Sylar is now posing as Nathan and Peter will probably come into contact with Nathan again sometime. He could get the 'multiple powers' then.
Peter will be able to use the abilities of evolved humans that he shape shifts into.	Sylar mentioned his DNA reverting.	+ If this ability allows someone to shift their genes then it's plausible that they may shift their genes to mimic those of another evolved human, granting them an identical ability. - According to the death of James Martin, his DNA remained his own, and did not change to Sylar's when he shape shifted into his form. + Sylar was able to shift a "minuscule" part of his brain, the shifting of his DNA just may be just as capable. + Peter has displayed a significant amount of control over his adopted powers. + He display at least the amount of control the initial user of the power had, and so did Sylar.
Peter will attempt to kill Sylar when he discovers he's not Nathan.	None	+ Peter acts out of his emotions. He might want revenge on his brother's murderer. - Peter seems to be okay with this.
Peter could not heal people by injecting them with his own blood even though he had Claire's ability.	None	+ Peter 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 was able to heal himself with Claire's ability, which as far as we know, only works through its possessor's blood. + Abilities are not stored in blood, as stated by Mohinder. - Tell that to HRG and Nathan who where healed by "magic" blood. + Matt's blood won't give anyone telepathy, Isaac's or Usutu's blood - precognition etc. Claire is a special case. • Perhaps an evolved human with poison/disease immunity will make an universal cure out of the blood tho perhaps Claire's blood does the same. - Abilities are not stored in the brain but in the adrenal gland, as stated by Mohinder... he doesn't know how it actually works. • Claire's ability most likely relies own the brain, where the information about the ability is stored, which commands the adrenal glands to secrete some sort of healing hormone, which would account for healing others via blood transfusion.
Peter will gain all of Sylar's abilities through constant physical contact.	None	+ Ability replication copies abilities through physical contact. • Constant physical contact?
Exposed future Peter had shape-shifting instead of illusion.	None	+ Peter's transformations resemble a form of trained shape-shifting. - The smoothness of the transformation suggests it was illusion, shape-shifting wasn't introduced at that point, illusion was. • What the ability looked like is subjective, different people will see different abilities. - It's only now when the writers decided to include clothes morphing in shape shifting.
We will never know how many of Sylar's abilities Peter has replicated.	None	+ Peter may use his ability on any other evolved human, making Sylar's powers vanish. • It's possible that his ability develops, allowing him to retain the abilities he replicates. + Peter displayed Mohinder's enhanced strength and later replicated Edgar's super speed.
A little more time for Peter to regain his empathy, and he will be able to cope with intuitive aptitude if he happens to absorb it again.	None	+ When Peter attacked Future Nathan, he didn't finish opening his skull, he stopped. And Sylar didn't, he proceeded taking Brian Davis's power.
Peter can now choose among his copied abilities and use any one of them at a time, he does not have to only use the last one he absorbed.	Peter begins Volume 5 with Mohinder's super strength, but he presumably ended volume 4 with Sylar's shapeshifting.	- Mohinder and Peter were together at Sylar's funeral. - Peter also knows where Mohinder lives, in New York. - Peter and Mohinder shook hands just before leaving Coyote Sands at which point he may have copied his ability then. • Peter shook hands with Samuel, but didn't get his power. Yet he accidentally gained Emma's power. + Peter is starting to reconnect with people, the return of his empathy might be affecting his ability, he has shown control over acquiring abilities in the past.
Peter is beginning to be able to use multiple abilities.	None	+ During his fight with Edgar, he threw him against the wall before he manifested Edgar's ability. - This yields to show proof as Peter had replicated Mohinder's ability prior to fighting Edgar. - Also, throwing someone against a wall isn't even an example of enhanced strength.
Peter absorbed Edgar's super speed for the second time.	None	+ The innocent bystander in I Am Become Death could have been Edgar. • Everyone had powers in the exposed future, and Peter met at least two speedsters - the pedestrian and Daphne. + Edgar could have been the agent with super speed that Future Peter copied. - That agent is female.
Peter will regain his original ability with the help of Samuel.	None	+ Samuel appears to have a keen understanding of how a lot of powers work and appears to also be attempting to fix Hiro's ability. In Ink, Samuel can be seen talking to Peter about why he became a nurse in the first place, and why he chose to become a paramedic. He staged the lawsuit in an attempt to remind Peter how to feel empathy towards his patients like he used to, and at the end of the episode, Peter can be seen to use Samuel's terrakinesis when a compass tattoo appears on his arm. - Samuel implanted it on his arm. + The tattoo appeared on Peter's arm after he witnessed the sinkhole, possibly due to the amount of grief he probably felt over not being able to save the people inside the building, and when the tattoo appears, Samuel can be seen smiling. Also when Samuel has demonstrated the tattoo ability before, he has required some form of physical contact with the other person. - He needs physical contact only to insert the ink into someone's skin, which he did only when he shook Peter's hand, there was even a sound cue indicating the use of an ability. - As shown with Edgar, Samuel can control the tattoos from afar. - Peter only noticed the tattoo when he saw the sinkhole, it was very clear that he got it when he shook hands with Samuel. • There is no proof of that, as it was not explicitly shown, that is at best an assumption. Until a BTE or the show tells us one way or the other there is no way to be certain of what the significants of Peter's compass tattoo means.
Peter will have ability replication become power absorption, like Arthur, when he learns that Nathan is dead, that Angela had lied to him again, and that Noah (whom Peter has befriend as of late) has lied to him.	None	+ Peter would have difficulty finding empathy with so few people to trust, and this is another possible progression of his power. - Peter will find empathy by the loss of his love interest, just as he became more powerful after losing Simone. + Simone's death was not linked to an increase in Peter's power. Peter had already met Сlaude, and was angry. Peter was linking to Sylar's telekinesis. - Angela and Noah may pretend to not be involved in Nathan's death and Sylar's memory loss, they may blame Matt, who seems to be losing his sanity. A perfect crime. - Noah would most likely come clean: he is on the path to redemption. Peter would suspect Angela since she often tried to cover up things in the past (her sister, for example). Matt is not going to lie to protect the others unless the Sylar consciousness forces him to do so. + It was stated in the special feature, "The Writers Forum" on the Season 3 DVD, that Arthur's ability is a more developed form of Peter's original ability of empathic mimicry and that they are different versions of the same ability. This being said, Peter had empathic mimicry and now has an ability (thanks to the formula) more similar to that of Arthur's. So Peter's ability replication could just be an under-developed form of power absorption which is a different version of his original ability (empathic mimicry). - A behind-the-scenes discussion doesn't make its contents canon, it only suggests how things might be.
Peter will be able to retain more than one ability at a time, with proper training.	None	+ Claude once said "Your body remembers how (to use the abilities), it's just you who's not letting them out". + The circumstances aren't that different. Peter used to be able to only use abilities in the presence of another evolved human. Now he can only hold on to one. It makes sense to have him retrain his ability. - That would eliminate any reason to take away his power in the first place, other than to make it an inconvenient subplot. + Bryan Fuller was introduced to restore Heroes to its original flavor. This might include helping Peter regain his power. Besides Peter's ability might become a touch-mimicry like Rogue from X-Men rather than an absorb by proximity like the mutant Mimic. + The original goal was to make Peter less powerful. Mimic touch rather than mimic proximity makes him considerably weaker as he can absorb only two powers at a time, maximum. + Then maybe he'll only be able to hold two or three abilities. The ability could have a lower 'maximum capacity', so to speak, than empathic mimicry. + If Peter could have Charlie's ability (now she is alive again) he would be able to maximize his capacity to retain abilities. He was probably exposed to that power when he fought Sylar in Homecoming. After that he was progressively able to manager more that one power at the same time. - In the current timeline, Peter was never exposed to Charlie's ability, and he would still have it stolen by his father, nothing indicates that Peter's current ability requires memory to function. Even with his old ability Peter could use mimicked abilities after René wiped his memory.
Peter will become involved romantically with either Emma Coolidge or Caitlin.	Numerous meetings and Peter having seen the beauty of Emma's power with her.	+ The story line between Emma and Peter is a typical fairy-tale love story. + When Hiro returns, Peter may decide to rescue Caitlin. + The season has been about romance: Hiro/Charlie and Claire/Gretchen. Why wouldn't Peter also have one? - Deanne Bray said in an interview Emma won't necessarily have a romance with Peter. + They did seem to flirt sometimes.
Peter will heal Emma and cure her deafness.	None	+ Peter seems to care for Emma, he may want to help her instead of Hiro since the latter disappeared. - Emma may not want to be healed. - Emma is portrayed by Deanne Bray who is profoundly deaf in her right ear, and has an 86 decibel loss in her left ear, so it's very doubtable that they are going to heal Emma cause it would be hard for Deanne Bray not to play a hearing impaired character, with perfect diction. - Peter has discarded Jeremy's ability.
Peter will travel in time to find his old self and will replicate his old ability, then will travel to his father and ask him to steal ability replication, leaving him with empathic mimicry.	None	+ Peter is obsessed with becoming a better paramedic. - Peter knows better than to try messing with his father. - Arthur steals powers he already has, he'd do this to Peter just because he sees him as a threat. • It's unknown if Arthur can remove specific abilities rather than taking them all.
Peter, with the help of Hiro Nakamura will be able to travel to the past together an use Peter's replicated ability of healing touch to save people who have died such as Nathan, Niki, Isaac, etc.	None	+ Hiro seems to be more confident in altering the past than ever before, and Peter has a strong desire to help others. - Saving too many people is too risky, it would change history too much. - The actors might not be available to shoot these scenes. - Hiro is going to be busy working for Samuel. • Peter may be too shortly. - This ability cannot revive dead. • It could easily be used before said characters are killed chronologically. - Peter has discarded healing touch and all on-screen character's possessing the ability are dead.
Peter didn't absorb phasing from D.L., but rather from an unknown Company agent.	None	+ In order to mimic an ability, Peter needed to re-experience feelings an ability's possessor made him feel (not necessarily by remembering the possessor). Peter met D.L. only once, and it's unlikely he felt something toward him, as he was busy fighting Sylar and struggling with his radioactive power. However, Elle and Bob brought Peter to the Company, where a lot of evolved humans worked. Perhaps Peter met a phaser, shared a few words with them and thus was able to absorb their ability. - There were no other known phasers at the Company at that time, or at any other time indicated in the series.
Peter will replicate mental manipulation from René and try to stop Sylar.	None	+ René and Peter often contact. + Good way to block Sylar. + Peter could also use mental manipulation to permanently get rid of Sylar and make Nathan in full control of Sylar's body. • Mental manipulation can be countered by regeneration. - This is Adrian Pasdar's last episode, so everything else makes sense except for that last one.
Peter will not regain empathic mimicry.	None	+ Peter's original ability is simply too powerful, no powerful character with a single ability will remain significant if they run into Peter, as he will be able to do whatever they can and more. This would force the writer's to intentionally keep him away from certain characters, restricting their freedom. + If Peter had never lost his original ability, he would have (in addition to the abilities he had already obtained) power absorption, impenetrable skin, weather control, terrakinesis, shape shifting, poison emission, etc. He would be essentially unstoppable. - However, many of the fans of the show want Peter to be restored to his original ability. Most shows will take action if the wants of the fans are strong enough. + Peter acquired a new ability with the help of the formula, and his father is dead. Until Peter finds another way to lose his power, he cannot reacquire empathic mimicry. + It is rumored that Heroes is going to end soon, so Peter may not regain empathic mimicry.
Peter will replicate intuitive aptitude from Sylar and acquire multiple abilities through empathy.	None	+ This would allow Peter to have multiple abilities without making him all-powerful, as Sylar's empathy appears to actually require an emotional connection, unlike Peter's ineptly named original ability. • This would also give him the Hunger, and drive him to kill other evolved humans. + Peter is not as amoral as Sylar. Also, he has dealt with the Hunger before, and may be prepared to deal with it. + This would also limit him, which is something the writers seem keen on doing.
Peter can only replicate flight from Sylar.	None	+ Peter only see's "Nathan" AKA Sylar as the true Nathan, not Sylar. And since he needs to know who's ability he's copying, for example, Matt's telepathy, or Mohinder's enhanced strength, until Nathan is truly dead, he can only copy flight from Sylar's body. • Peter now does know that "Nathan" is really Sylar, and is therefore aware that he has multiple abilities and what some of them are. • Before knowing Nathan was actually Sylar, he saw him with multiple abilities. He assumed that multiple abilities ran in the family. He knew "Nathan" had multiple abilities.
If Peter replicates empathy from Lydia, he'll be able to use ability replication like empathic mimicry.	None	+ It would be a perfect way for Peter to regain empathy. • Having the ability of empathy does not necessarily make one empathic.
Peter will be the one who defeats Samuel.	None.	+ In Nathan's final scene, he says that Peter's is all that's good about the world, and that they haven't seen anything yet. This implies something big in Peter's future, and since Samuel appears to be this season's antagonist, it is logical to assume that this is what the writers could be alluding to.