Theory:Sylar

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The following fan theories are about Sylar.

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Theories

Theory	Citations	Notes
The Company kept Sylar alive with Adam's blood while they tested him.	Mr. Bennet told Hank to keep bringing Sylar back if he died.	+ It appears that the Company has done the same with HRG. + Sylar hasn't demonstrated any other ability that would allow him to recover from death. If he did, he probably wouldn't have needed Claire. • This might also explain why Sylar no longer needs glasses. - If the healing effect did cure Sylar of his bad eyesight, then he would surely use his ability to find out how Claire or Adam's ability works. • Sylar wears glasses in the exposed future. • Claire's blood does not seem to have restored Noah's eyesight. - If the Company has a stock of Adam's blood, they wouldn't need Claire's blood - and they would have cured Sylar after the Kirby plaza event instead of letting him cure by himself under the guard of Candice. + They could have ran out of Adam's blood, and by the time they went to get some more, Adam had already escaped. + Bob seemed to be confident of Claire's blood's regenerative powers. This could be because he saw Adam's blood have the same effect. + Adam could have found out about his blood's healing properties through this. - HRG's instructions could have simply referred to bringing Sylar back by conventional methods, for example cardiac resuscitation.
Sylar's life has been repeatedly saved by a shadow-faction within the Company - not by the Company itself.	We learned in Fallout that orders came from someone high-up in the Company to prevent Sylar from being killed after his capture in Odessa, despite their usual policy of killing those with dangerous powers who could not be controlled. Someone high up in the Company arranged and paid for Sylar to receive treatment for his injuries and for Candice to keep an eye on him. (Kindred)	+ The background given for Sylar in his updated profile on Assignment Tracker 2.0 ends with his escape from the Primatech facility in Odessa and a note that Sylar's "current location is unknown". Apart from speculation that he may have been responsible for killing Ted Sprague, no mention is made of Sylar's role in the later events of Volume One - much less the events of Volume Two. This suggests that whoever has been using the Company's resources to aid Sylar has been doing so without their approval. + Granting that the Company has been consistently arrogant in which threats they could control (locking up Adam Monroe, putting Maury Parkman in a coma, etc.) they have also had a record of killing those empowered people who were too unstable or too dangerous to be controlled. It goes against their mission to keep saving Sylar's life regardless of how much could be learned by studying him. + In Powerless, it seems that Elle was surprised to see Sylar alive and well. Given that she knew who Sylar was, it also seems likely she would have known if Sylar was being preserved somewhere using Company resources if it were an official Company operation. + Additionally, somebody at The Company would probably have checked up on Candice and found out about her death and Sylar's escape had she not been working in secrecy.
Sylar is meant to be Peter's literary/thematic antithesis.	None.	+ He has a similar motivation (to be special), similar looks, (perhaps) similar powers, both have mothers that don't believe in them, and both men have even talked to a Suresh who ultimately gave up on him before he could prove that he was special. One major difference between them is that Sylar's main power depends upon logic and Peter's power depends upon emotion - a common theme in many literary conflicts. + In Five Years Gone, when Sylar and Peter fight, Sylar uses cryokinesis while Peter uses the power of pyrokinesis. In other words, Sylar is cold and emotionless ice, while Peter is hot and passionate fire. + The cast commentary confirms that it was "fire and ice". + Peter and Sylar have the same initials as a well-known pair of comic book nemeses: Peter Parker (Spider-Man) and the Green Goblin. + Furthermore, numerous references to other comics outside the Heroes universe have been mentioned, like the Hulk and Captain America. ("It's Coming")
Sylar may also be a thematic foil to evolution itself.	None.	+ His profession of watchmaker is often used as an analogue to an intelligent designer. Rather than following an evolutionary imperative, he appears to be redesigning himself using existing powers as a template which he then improves upon. + Evolution requires reproduction of the fittest, not merely survival of the fittest. So, unless he starts trying to have babies, he can't affect evolution at all. In fact, by taking so many evolved people out of the gene pool, he is actually slowing down evolution. + With all the alterations to his DNA, it is possible that he will cease to be genetically human and will therefore be unable to reproduce. - But, would that then render Peter and Arthur Petrelli as inhuman as well, were they to absorb numerous powers? It would seem that, with the other Petrellis being natural sponges, Sylar himself could absorb a (theoretically) unlimited number of abilities.
Sylar can be identified with some supernatural harbinger of the end of the world.	None.	+ Sylar builds and restores watches. The notion of supernatural "watchmaker", setting the laws of science in place then letting them tick away, is one frequent symbol for God (a rather apt one for a show centering around apparently God-directed evolution). + Sylar, like the biblical Lucifer/Satan, became dissatisfied with his status in life, wanting desperately to be more important, more special. By acquiring more and more superhuman powers, he appears to be making himself God-like, an act of supreme hubris. + "Gabriel" is the name of the archangel supposed to arrive immediately prior to the apocalypse. • The first episode of the first season (Genesis) and the first episode after the mid-season break (Godsend) both had titles of religious significance, the first being "Genesis" and the next being "Godsend". The Haitian associates these powers with being from God, and Jessica's character flippantly rejects the need for God's help at the end of Godsend. There are many religious references (predominantly Christian) throughout the show, which could be hints that Sylar plays a significant role in a supernatural scheme. • Both Genesis and Godsend begin with a G, as do both of Sylar's real names (Gabriel Gray).
Sylar may have a secondary ability that works with his intuitive aptitude to alter his genetics.	None.	+ Sylar takes brains and does something with them, but we don't know what. + Sylar somehow altered his own body to mimic death when he was in the cell at Primatech. + Several evolved humans seem to have multiple, related abilities (Hiro bends time and space, the Haitian removes memories negates abilities of those around him). - Noah Bennet said that all the evolved humans with whom the Company has come in contact have only had one power each. Whatever Sylar does to give himself more powers should be just another facet of his own ability, or something that anyone could do (but only Sylar knows how). + If Sylar had some secondary ability to alter his body as long as he understood the principles and what was needed, he could modify himself in order to add powers to the core of his specific genome that gives all evolved humans their abilities. This is similar to Peter's mimicking, which is perhaps the reason Sylar said, "You're like me aren't you? I'd like to see how that works."
Sylar's intuitive understanding of how things work is not a special power, but some form of autism or savant ability.	None.	+ When Chandra first tested him, none of the tests suggested that he had an ability. + While being tested by Hank at Primatech, Hank could see no signs of any special abilities other than telekinesis, possibly suggesting that before he killed Brian Davis and acquired his ability, he had none of his own. - At the time, Sylar had several abilities, such as freezing. If only telekinesis was detected, that means there are definitely holes in the Company's system. - Peter manifested this ability. - He was on Chandra's list.
Sylar is a different species of evolved human.	None.	+ There is much about him that is different from the others know evolved humans, and his original power was not detected by Chandra. - Chandra might have lacked the necessary equipment to detect intuitive aptitude. + Only his telekinesis was detected by The Company. + This would make him a even better villain and a opposite force for other characters.
Sylar has Mosaic DNA and is a Chimera.	None.	+ This explains why the Company only found "telekinesis DNA" when tested him.
Sylar can recover from near-fatal wounds (such as being shot) by using his telekinesis to perform surgery on himself.	None.	+ There were many medical textbooks in Sylar's apartment, which he could have memorized once he gained enhanced memory. + In the graphic novel Road Kill, Sylar definitely shows bullet wounds where Noah shot him, and he mentions "These bullet holes wouldn't be a problem if I had just gotten to that cheerleader." However, he still manages to recover remarkably fast. His telekinesis could also have eased the impact of the bullets. + The writers have stated that much of Sylar's apparent invulnerability is due to his telekinesis.
Sylar has some sort of enhanced durability or a super charged immune system power.	None.	+ Hank told Noah Bennet that they had administered enough glycimerine to kill an elephant. + He hit the Bennet's fridge with enough force to dent it and was able to escape the Haitian with relative ease. + Sylar has killed at least ten people but has only conclusively exhibited seven acquired powers. + Sylar fell off the roof of Union Wells High and walked away. When Peter sustained the same fall, his legs were mangled and entire body bloodied. - He wasn't completely unharmed after the fall, he is seen walking with quite a limp. Also, he could have formed a telekinetic cushion for himself to land on, but let Peter fall. + After being stabbed through the chest, it took four months for him to heal enough to wake up, but he did heal. + He could use his telekenisis to deaden the impact of weapons or move his internal organs out of the path of weapons. This would cause him pain, but possibly less than getting shot or stabbed.
Sylar wasn't going to kill Molly Walker; he was going to kidnap her and use her to find other evolved humans.	None.	• Sylar normally leaves no signs of physical contact when attacking his victims. Sylar causes a ruckus when he tries to drag Molly away when he could have easily killed her in the blink of an eye. (One Giant Leap). - Sylar can just kill Molly and take her ability. + Sylar showed that he had some conscience when he was afraid of blowing up after painting the explosion. He may have, at first, also been opposed to killing a child.
Sylar killed Claude and stole his power.	None.	- Claude is invisible, making it near impossible for Sylar to find him. - Elle found Claude alive in London after Sylar attacked the Company. Since then, Sylar has spent little time outside of his cell.
Sylar has gained a power which repairs or enhances his vision.	Gabriel Gray wore glasses. (Six Months Ago) After this time, he did not wear them until visiting his mother. (The Hard Part)	- It is possible that he only wore glasses in Six Months Ago because he was working on a watch. + Gabriel wears glasses while talking to Chandra and outside of his apartment. - Sylar could be wearing corrective contact lenses. + With his apparent knowledge of optical lenses, Sylar could have studied up on refractive surgery and then used telekinesis to change the shape of his own cornea in order to give himself 20/20 vision. - Hiro always uses glasses, but when he travels to ancient Japan he seems to see perfectly without them. • It is possible Hiro has a weak prescription, and did not need it for the time that he wore Kensei's armor. • Perhaps the noticeable lack of glasses is down to what the writers describe as "coolness effect". Sylar seems more human and hesitant when he wears glasses. - He could have only needed the glasses to see long or short distances but only wore them as a force of habit. - Sylar did not start wearing glasses when he lost his abilitites to the Shanti virus. + He hasn't had much of a chance to get new glasses. + Future Gabriel wears glasses.
Sylar developed powers at a young age, as Micah and Sanjog did.	None.	+ Sylar has stated matter-of-factly on more than one occasion that he can understand how things work. The connotation of this may imply that he has had this particular power for a long time, that he, too, developed powers at a young age. + His initial power suggests an inherent intellectual prowess; both Micah and Sanjog are smarter than usual for their age. - His apparent cleverness may simply be a byproduct of intuitive aptitude. - Intuitive aptitude may not actually be a power. + Intuitive Aptitude has been confirmed as a power by Sylar himself, when talking to Maya in the car on the way to the border.
One of Sylar's abilities is enhanced reflexes or "danger sense".	None.	+ Sylar would need enhanced senses to stop speeding bullets. - Sylar doesn't make an attempt to dodge Hiro when he rushes at him from about ten feet away yelling loudly with his sword pointed towards Sylar's chest. (How to Stop an Exploding Man) + He may only be able to sense things he can't see.
Sylar understands Spanish.	None.	+ Sylar often showed some form of understanding of conversations between Alejandro and Maya, such as the fact that Alejandro needed Maya to translate English to Spanish, or his desire to abandon Sylar and cross with a coyote. - Sylar may have understood Alejandro's intent from tone and body language. + Sylar's intuitive aptitude, if it still works, may have helped him to learn the language by now. + Sylar could have used Charlie's power to learn Spanish earlier, or could simply have learned in school. + In How to Stop an Exploding Man, Sylar appears to understand Japanese, as he responds very specifically to what Hiro says to Ando. • Again, Sylar may simply have been picking up intent from tone, context, and body language.
Sylar physically absorbed Brian Davis's DNA to gain his power, but thanks to a more recently acquired power he no longer must do this.	Hank says that Sylar only has telekinesis DNA in his body.	+ Sylar obtained an unknown power from James Walker that he has not otherwise shown. - In that case, Hank's inspection would also show James Walker's or the other person's DNA he used to more easily acquire other abilities.
Sylar has to think about the person that he has taken his power from just like Peter.	None.	+ This might explain why we have not seen all of his powers that he has taken, he might never have seen their face, just their brain. It might also explain why he might never be able to use Candice's power, as he only thinks of her as when he saw her illusion. - Sylar has to see his victims eventually in order to take their brains, he even saw the real Candice (Betty) once she was dead.
Sylar will impersonate Nathan to use Peter to try and destroy the Company.	None.	+ This would also allow Sylar to get close to Peter. - Sylar is dead. + Sylar has rapid cell regeneration, the odds he'll stay dead are minimal, the moment someone removes the shard of glass from his head, he'll regenerate.
The Company spent considerable resources saving Sylar's life because they need him to extract the power stored in the brain inside the Vault.	One of the items inside the Primatech Vault is a preserved brain.	+ The brain is stored alongside assorted mystery items, including a virus with the power to wipe out the human race, suggesting it holds high value or significant power. + Despite the incredible danger Sylar poses to all evolved humans, the Company has gone to great lengths to preserve his life; forbidding Mr. Bennet from killing him in Season 1, and treating him with several major surgeries to save him from the stab wound from Hiro's katana. + The crew commentary to Powerless suggests that the vault items are major clues to future plot points. + Sylar is the only character to be associated with brains as a plot element. - It would be insane to willingly give a powerful ability to someone as dangerous and uncontrollable as Sylar. + The brain's power may be of a highly valuable but non-combat-related nature, such as Bob's ability to turn base metals into gold. • The Company may believe that they had the means to control Sylar, i.e. by having Maury Parkman mentally dominate him, or by having the Haitian mindwipe his more vicious impulses. • It would be insane to create a virus that could destroy more than 90% of the world's population. + It could also be the reason why the company kept Peter in a cell. Peter should have Sylar's intuitive aptitude ability and would also be able to extract the power from the brain. - The Company has had plenty of chances for Sylar to do this, but they do not seem to have asked him to do it. - They even took away his abilities the second time they saved his life. - Angela even allowed Sylar to extract an ability from a different brain.
Sylar cannot become angry as he uses telekinesis to slow his own heart rate down.	It seems that Sylar only ever becomes angry when he cannot use his powers or when he is distracted.	- Hypothetically it's possible, if impractical (it'd be dangerous if someone surprised him while he did so). But more likely, it's because Sylar thinks he's untouchable, and of course he'd become angry if the only things that make him feel "unique" and "special" were taken away.
If Sylar obtains the Haitian's power he will not have to kill anyone else to obtain more abilities.	None.	+ Sylar's power allows him to "understand how things work." If he obtains the Haitian's power he could be able to analyze someone's brain without having to kill them. • This method has not yet been used. • It's not yet revealed how Sylar obtains abilities. • Although he may not have to, it is likely Sylar will continue to murder people as it makes him feel powerful and special.
The Serpent in the story of the Serpent and the Crane is a symbolic representation of Sylar.	None.	+ The Serpent kills the Crane and takes its ability to fly. This sounds a lot like power theft. - The story may be symbolic of The Haitian and his ability. The Haitian take the memories of others and "takes" the powers of others. He takes away Guillame's ability, and Guillame tells him that he wants to fly again. (It Takes a Village, Part 3) + Guillame asks, "What good is it to fly, if you have nowhere to go?" Sylar is in a similar situation because he takes powers but does not use them for anything except to gain more powers. + The Serpent believes that the Crane is unworthy of its wings just as Sylar believes his victims are unworthy of their powers. + Serpents are always symbols of evil, especially a form the devil commonly takes. • Serpents are not always symbols of evil. The Ouroboros, for instance, is symbolic of cycles, eternity, and unity. Snakes have also been symbolic of protection, wisdom, renewal/rebirth (outside of the Ouroboros' cyclical symbolism), and medicine (such as on the caduceus). - Although the resemblances are interesting, it's unlikely that the Haitian's tribe would have ever met someone like Sylar before, nor is it likely Sylar would have heard the legend. + While Guillame probably was not deliberately referring to Sylar himself, it is likely that the writers meant for the Serpent to be a symbol or representation of Sylar. - Sylar has had very little contact with the Haitian at all. - Around the time that the It Takes a Village series would have taken place, Sylar would have been very young and still call himself Gabriel. - It is unlikely that Sylar is connected to a Haitian tale. - Linda Tavara's story indicates that Sylar is not the first or only evolved human who has attempted to steal the evolved abilities of others. • Considering that the story is prevalent only in the graphic novels, it is likely that it may be symbolic of the Haitian. However, considering the serpentine nature of Sylar and the stealing of the ability to fly, it could also be prophetic of Sylar killing Nathan and taking his power, just as it was shown in Five Years Gone.
Sylar's rescue by Maya, Alejandro, and Derek was engineered by Drucker.	None.	+ One evolved human being saved by two other evolved humans riding in a car stolen from a third evolved human is a very big coincidence. - Coincidences are hardly uncommon in Heroes, nearly all the characters bump into each other or are inter-related at some point in the show, this could be just another such occurrence. + Derek's fraternity, the reason he stole the Rogue and went to Mexico, has a portrait of Drucker, strongly suggesting that the two are connected.
Sylar has a brother named Michael.	None.	+ Gabriel and Michael are the only named angels in the Bible and Sylar's mother is shown to have been very spiritual. • Raphael is also an angel. • If one such brother existed, he would most certainly be a normal human.
Sylar had a brother who he has murdered/will murder.	None.	• The Biblical name could be a hint that Sylar will act as Cain did. • Then why Gabriel and not Cain?
Sylar is Noah Bennet's biological father.	We don't know who Noah's father is, so he may be Sylar. While HRG's biological mother may be Elle Bishop, since we know she shares a story arc with Sylar in Season 3.	+ They could travel back in time to the 1960s, in order to put Noah up for adoption. His adoptive parents are unknown, but HRG must’ve recognized the house that he grew up in. So when his family was on the run from the Company, Noah knew exactly where to find the perfect safe house. - Both Elle and Sylar are far too young to be Noah's parents. + Sylar once stated that as a child, he wished someone would tell him that his parents weren't really his parents. This may have been on Sylar's file, which Angela had access to. Sylar would want to believe that someone else in his family has a power. + Angela might want to use Sylar to round up the escaped prisoners. + When Angela went to touch Sylar before his mission with Noah, she pulled her hands back. This could be because she knew he now had the ability to see her entire past. Sylar also noticed the odd gesture of her sudden retraction of the hands before being interrupted by the arrival of Noah in Angela's office. • There is absolutely no grounds for this theory whatsoever.
Sylar is going to be a father.	It is implied that he slept with Maya in Season Two.	+ She may be pregnant. - Sylar wasn't the only one that slept with Maya. Mohinder Suresh slept with her. + It is highly doubtful Sylar was carrying condoms. + He has one in the exposed future. - Noah Gray is blond and it is highly doubtful that Maya or Sylar were blond when they younger. - Maya would be "showing" by now. + It probably hasn't even been a month, and any "morning sickness" might have been written off by Maya as something else. - If Maya used her power while she is pregnant, she might poison and kill any baby she had (assuming the baby does not have a power that would allow him/her to be unharmed by Maya's, which is highly unlikely, seeing as powers appear to be random.). + Her ability immunity might extend to her baby, as it would be part of her organism until it is born.
Sylar's Achilles' heel, his kryptonite, is calling him Gabriel.	He has been visibly upset when he is called Gabriel, almost as if he is in pain.	- Both his adoptive and fake mothers have called him Gabriel repeatedly. • This could just be because of Sylar's soft spot for mother figures.
Sylar will kill Nathan and take his ability of flight.	In a possible future, Sylar had in fact killed Nathan and taken his ability.	- Now that Nathan is Sylar's brother, maybe Sylar will gain a soft spot for him. + Nathan now can only be the brother or half-brother of Sylar if Nathan's parents are not really Angela and Arthur as well. + Much of that future has come true, such as Candice's death by Sylar's hand. - Sylar did not acquire Candice's ability in the current timeline. - This did not happen in the exposed future.
Sylar's genetic marker for telekinesis (as stated in Godsend) means that his body has accepted it as a natural power, not an acquired one.	None.	+ It would explain why Sylar has retained this power after losing the rest of his acquired abilities. + It might also explain why Peter has not been shown using any of Sylar's other acquired abilities - perhaps his empathy only works on 'natural' powers. - The writer's have stated that Peter absorbed all of Sylar's abilities. He may just have a hard time using any of Sylar's other powers because he associates Sylar's memory with telekinesis.
Sylar named his son after HRG because he accidently killed him before this part of the future and wants to try and redeem himself. This means that Claire is after him for that and for taking her ability.	Claire confessed to Meredith that she wanted to hurt Sylar for what he did to her.	+ We didn't see HRG in the future. + In Resistance, Claire talks about getting over the loss of her parents. Maybe Sylar accidentally killed them. - Claire's confession to Meredith came long before the exposed future, at a time when Noah was (and still is) alive and well.
Sylar is destined to become a hero in some form by overcoming or disposing of the "hunger" that intuitive aptitude causes.	None.	+ We have already seen that Noah's influence reformed Sylar and helped him suppress his hunger in the future. - Sylar prefers to acquire powers the old-fashioned way.
Sylar named his son Noah because HRG will become a father figure toward him or because he is in fact Sylar's biological father.	None.	+ A person naming his/her son after his/her own "father" is very common. - HRG only seems to be about ten to fifteen years older than Sylar. It is extremely unlikely that HRG would have slept with Angela when he was 15 at the most, and concieved a child with her.
Sylar can obtain powers without killing evolved humans. He only needs to scan the brain. He might as well imagine what the brain looks like.	None.	+ He was able to take Claire's ability without killing her, so he may now be able to take people's abilities and restore them to life with his own blood. - The only reason he didn't kill Claire when taking her ability is because she has rapid cell regeneration.
Sylar is going to become a hero, and Claire is going to be a villain to many.	None.	+ In the exposed future, Peter and Gabriel were hunted down by Claire and Knox. - The exposed future may not come to pass. - Sylar was becoming a hero, but has gone back to his murderous ways.
Sylar has an acquired ability that allows him to hide in plain sight.	In How to Stop an Exploding Man, Peter says to Noah that Sylar must be 'hiding in plain sight.'	+ In Landslide, Sylar seems to vanish into the crowd in the time it takes for Audrey to turn around. + Sylar has taken more abilities than have been accounted for. + In The Second Coming, Sylar walks past Claire into a corner of a small kitchen with a low ceiling. She immediately looks at the area where he went, and he is nowhere to be seen. • Sylar had lost all of his powers other than telekinesis and intuitive aptitude at that point, due to the Shanti virus. + In How to Stop an Exploding Man, Sylar suddenly appears behind Ando, seemingly from nowhere. + In The Fix, Sylar is able to hide from Noah in his cell.
Peter and Sylar share some kind of supernatural connection.	None.	+ They are supposedly brothers. - Arthur is not Sylar's father. - Angela is not Sylar's mother. + Perhaps Peter's biological parents are not really Angela and Arthur either. + In Landslide, without trying to, Peter suddenly picks up Sylar's thoughts in a crowded New York City street. + They have very similar powers, in that they can absorb others abilities. Only two other people, Linda Tavara, and Peter's father are the only other evolved humans to show the ability to do this. • Ability absorption is only a perk to Linda's ability, not its intended use. • This is also true of intuitive aptitude.
Sylar's can move powers from one person to another, not just himself.	This ability was implied by Noah in Hiro's dream during the Villains episode.	+ While observing Sylar, Noah implies that Sylar has the ability to transfer powers from one to another, but hasn't learned how (other than Sylar giving himself the ability) - He said he could transfer "power", more likely a reference to his telekinesis. - Noah did not know how Gabriel transferred the ability to himself. • Sylar may use this ability to counter Arthur and giving Peter his powers back. - Sylar's ability isn't power theft; it's seeing how things work. Power theft is how he uses his power, not his power's "intended" purpose. • This could also have something to do with the development of the serum that Pinehearst is creating to give powers, but that's extra speculation.
Sylar does not intrinsically have intuitive aptitude. He was born with the same, or similar, power as Peter.	None.	+ HRG says that Sylar has the ability to move powers from one vessel to another. + He took the powers from Elle without killing her or her losing her powers, similar to how Peter could. + Sylar could have gained intuitive aptitude from his "father" that raised him, or perhaps somebody like Chandra Suresh. - Chandra did not have intuitive aptitude. + Intuitive aptitude could be a corruption of empathic mimicry. We already know his adopted mother did not give him enough attention, instead repeatedly insisting that he become "special". It is possible that this greatly limited his ability to empathize (hence his later psychotic break) and twisted his ability into its current state. - Intuitive aptitude shows how things work; something being corrupted so that it can accomplish this is unlikely. + Alternatively, empathic mimicry could have been Sylar's initial ability, and not intuitive aptitude. Sylar came into contact with an individual possessing intuitive aptitude at a young age, and it became his dominant ability, in the way that, after absorbing telekinesis, he actually used it more frequently than intuitive aptitude. • For all we know, intuitive aptitude doesn't even allow ability absorption--maybe Sylar was just subconsciously using his empathic mimicry every time right before a kill and examination.
Sylar is becoming more like the Gabriel Gray from the exposed future.	None.	+ Sylar has discovered empathy, which is not found in the psychopathic personality. - Sylar isn't as empathic as he used to be. - Sylar knows Arthur is not his father, but Future Gabriel thinks he is Peter's brother. + Perhaps Peter is not really the biological son of Arthur and Angela either.
Sylar's telekinesis was gained through empathic mimicry.	None.	+ The murder apparently bothered him, and it is possible the empathy he felt for killing caused it to transfer through empathic mimicry. + The writers confirmed that Sylar was able to keep telekinesis because of his empathy. - Sylar seemed to know exactly what to go for when killing Trevor, by going for his brain. So it can assumed that he did this because that is how he learned telekinesis (from Brian Davis's brain). + He may have gotten telekinesis both ways, from physically IA'ing it from Brian's brain, as well as getting it empathically once he had the guilt trip.
The way Sylar's "empathic" ability works is still very much different from how Peter's does. Peter's empathic mimicry allows him to absorb the abilities of others and then recall it through the emotion he first felt when he was with them. Sylar's empathic ability works when he puts himself in the person's shoes, allowing him to tap into their emotions, thus gaining their ability.	None.	+ His interaction with Elle and how he duplicated her power in It's Coming supports this idea. - "...puts himself in the person's shoes..." is the definition of empathy, and what Peter does to use acquired powers. • Peter recalls the emotion he first felt with the person - He doesn't put himself in their shoes, to the extend like Sylar does. Also Peter automatically absorbs their ability, whereas Sylar has to feel for the person in order to access it. Peter: Ability Recall - Sylar: Empathic Mimicry. (Seems reasonable) • It's possible that his empathy is just an extension of his intuitive aptitude. Previously Sylar had to find out how powers worked by interacting with the victims brain. This time he might be understanding how they work by understanding the persons mind, emotions, and what makes the person tick. + The entire scene with Elle shocking Sylar shows that his mimicry works differently than Peter's. Really, he's just using intuitive aptitude to understand Elle's emotions, and when he understands enough about a person, apparently he can mimic their abilities.
Sylar, Peter and Arthur all have the same ability.	Sylar has shown he can mimic powers through empathy.	+ All three can duplicate others powers. + Arthur showed that he had knowledge of mimicking powers through empathy and he knew that Sylar could do it. • The fact that Arthur is the only one who can steal (as opposed to mimic) an ability could be due to his years of experience with the ability. • The ability of power absorption/mimicry could manifest itself in different ways depending on the personality. • Sylar's emotional connection to his first murder would explain how telekinesis seems to be an empathically absorbed ability. • Sylar may have empathically mimicked intuitive aptitude from his adoptive father. • The combination of intuitive aptitude and power absorption could be the cause of the "hunger". - If Arthur originally had empathic mimicry, then there would have been no need to kill Adam by taking his power to heal himself. He would have just absorbed Adam's power through empathic mimicry and healed himself without the need to kill Adam. • Then again, Arthur has shown himself not to be a very personable individual, such as showing no regret for attempting to kill Nathan. I don't think it is out of his character to kill someone to further his gains and perhaps, by killing Adam, he is removing someone who could be a bump in the road later on. By killing Adam this way, Adam can't regenerate, as opposed to if Arthur tried to kill him in simpler ways. Arthur is also doing the same thing now by killing any individuals who are dreaming or using precognition to learn how to stop him. He is removing problems in his way. - Adam would seem to be more of an asset to Arthur if left alive if possible, rather than kill him.
Sylar was/is/is becoming an empath.	None.	+ Sylar was able to regain telekinesis because of the emotional guilt he had over killing Brian Davis and has understood Elle's emotions in order to gain her ability. + Arthur knows empathy is in Sylar's heart. - He seems to have lost that empathy.
Sylar's original power is empathy but he gained intuitive aptitude from his adoptive father, by learning how to fix a watch from him.	It is very unlikely for intuitive aptitude to be linked to the empathy power. Since intuitive aptitude is linked with watches in general, it wouldn't be a surprise if Sylar's adoptive father had this ability and gave it to his son through empathy. If that is the case, it would explain the fact why Sylar only kept intuitive aptitude, telekenisis which he gains through empathy and his original empathy power.	- His original power remains intuitive aptitude. The empathy that Sylar experienced with Elle was associated with fixing her power, which thus is just another aspect of intuitive aptitude (It's Coming). He could not have empathically gained her power without fixing her. - Sylar's adoptive father was barely mentioned, if he had the ability, there would've been some mention of him having the Hunger. + A lot of things are not mentioned in Heroes. For instance, we never heard about Arthur's power. Plus the fact that maybe nobody knew that he had the hunger since it is possible to fix it. - The writers are not total idiots; they must surely recognize the poetry of Peter and Sylar being opposites sides of a similar ability. As such, it would make no sense for Sylar to become an Empath, as well. The hunger, furthermore, cannot be fixed, only suppressed. "I Am Become Death" - Also, Sylar lost his abilities to the Shanti virus, and only regained his intuitive aptitude and telekinesis. - It is possible that Arthur somehow "implanted" Elle's ability into Sylar, fixing hers simultaneously, by means of as-yet undisclosed ability.
When Sylar takes another person's power, he also takes their pain.	None.	+ Only two persons have survived when he took their powers. After he took Claire's ability, she no longer felt pain. After he took Elle's ability, she said, "The pain is gone." Before he took Elle's ability, Sylar said to her, "You know the pain I feel about this." This is related to the empathic aspect of his ability. - Sylar kills most of the persons from whom he takes powers.
Claire Bennet will be the mother of Noah Gray.	The revelation that Sylar may, in fact, NOT be in the Petrelli family as of The Eclipse, Part 2.	+ The relationship is therefore no longer (necessarily) incestuous. It would also explain Noah Gray's first name. - There may not be a Noah Gray in the current timeline. - Elle is more likely to be the mother of Noah Gray in the timeline we saw him. + In the present day, Sylar kills Elle. - Claire hates Sylar. - Claire is too young for Sylar; I doubt the writers will do that. - Even though Claire is darker in the future, she still showed a little sadness when she killed Peter. She threatened Noah's life; it is doubtful she would threaten her own child. - In the exposed future, Gabriel still thinks Peter is his brother. Odds are he thinks Claire is his niece.
Sylar will re-obtain induced radioactivity from Amid Halebi.	He has this power in the exposed future.	+ Sylar's regeneration ability would protect him from the negative side-affects of Amid's power. + No need for that, Rule of Ted says he can't get hurt from his own power. - But the Rule of Ted doesn't apply to everyone (Rollo Fusor's accomplice's dehydration, Michael's Laser emission, ect). Just as in the pilot episode Amid Halebi's ability scorched his hands. + Those are exceptions; Sylar, Peter, and Ted were shown not to suffer ill-effects from that specific power. - Amid Halebi may not exist in Heroes canon.
Sylar will regain precognitive painting from Byron Bevington.	None.	+ His name is on Elle's cellphone. + According to Heroes Evolutions content, Byron has precognition. - There is no evidence that Byron can "paint the future". + In the Exposed Future, Gabriel regained that ability by the time he is met by Peter's past self.
Sylar became evil again because baby Claire never got the catalyst.	None.	+ Seeing the catalyst in Claire's brain could have caused Sylar to realize the evil of his ways. Perhaps it helped him begin to "understand" the hunger part of his ability. + The moment Hiro took Claire to the past, to prevent her from getting the catalyst, Sylar turned evil again, killing Elle. - Claire might never have gotten the catalyst, Sylar just said she was different, and couldn't die. He could be referring to her power in general. Not to mention that Sylar would have received the Catalyst then, and there would be no reason for Author to go back in time to get it from Hiro. + Sylar can copy abilities; that doesn't mean he can steal or copy the Catalyst.
Sylar is not dead, or will at least not remain dead.	None.	+ Peter may need his help in Volume Four, to save the other evolved humans. + Evolved humans with the power to regenerate have died and come back to life before, e.g., Peter Petrelli sustained an almost identical injury to the one Claire inflicted on Sylar, and when the shard in his head was removed, he recovered. If someone goes to the ruins of Primatech, finds Sylar's body, and pulls out the shard, he may be able to come back to life. - Unless Sylar's body (or at least his head/brain) were burned too badly. It will depend on where he was in the building relative to Meredith, etc. + We have yet to learn who Sylar's real parents are, which is unlikely to be discussed unless he is indeed still alive. + Sylar has been the longest-running villain in the show so far, it is unlikely that he would be killed so anti-climatically. + If a building as large as the one the Primatech was based in caught fire, firemen and paramedics would surely come by. If Sylar hadn't been burnt by the time they got there, then he would be taken away and a coroner would probably remove the glass in his head. This would mean he could regenerate.
Sylar likes cake.	After Sylar obtained lie detection from Sue Landers, three of her co-workers entered the room with a cake for Sue's birthday. Sylar excitedly said "Cake!" before telekinetically closing the door.	+ Sylar seemed excited at the sight of cake. + Sylar enjoys pie. Pie is similar to cake. - It's possible he was being morbidly sarcastic. - Sylar enjoys spinach more. He picks up a can of spinach and says excitedly "I'm back". Thus suggesting that he aspires for great strength, as displayed by Popeye. + Nobody likes spinach. Everybody likes cake. + It's possible that one of the evolved humans he took powers from also had a side effect on their powers: A hunger for desserts (including cake and pie). Most likely suspects are Dale Smither or Zane Taylor. This hunger for confectionary products could lead us to see a new, more portly Sylar in future series.
Rapid cell regeneration is one of Sylar's empathic abilities (like telekinesis and electric manipulation) because he was able to empathise with Claire.	In Angels and Monsters Sylar apologises to Claire and says that she must fear him. In Dual he says that she must be disgusted by him and think him a monster.	- Sylar's apology to Claire looked and felt nothing like the one he did to Elle.
Sylar gained induced radioactivity, precognitive painting and possibly all the other abilites he got during Volume One, through empathy.	None.	+ In the exposed future, Gabriel Gray has turned over a completely new leaf. It seems unlikely that he would have killed again. - He could have killed before his son was born. He said he fights the hunger because of his son, so until he was born, he could have continued his killing. + Sylar was already trying to fight the hunger for the first part of Volume Three, and was succeeding somewhat.
Linda Tavara is Sylar's biological mother.	None.	+ She is the only other person we know of that is able to take abilities from others. - Linda's ethnicity is different than Sylar. + He may look like his father. + Angela confirmed Virginia Gray isn't his mother.
Sylar regained precognition and induced radioactivity in the future from Peter, using the aspect of his own ability that is similar to Peter's own. The reason that he was able to copy those powers from Peter, whilst Peter himself was not able to copy the powers of his his future self, is that the two powers are not identical, and function differently.	None.	+ With Ted Sprague, Isaac Mendez, and Usutu dead, Peter is (at least in the exposed future where he still had all his powers) the only known source of those two powers.
Sylar's attempts to control the hunger have weakened it, and he is now more selective about the abilities he steals.	None.	+ He didn't try to steal Doyle's ability, nor did he appear to try to steal Danny Pine's.
Sylar has stolen the power of metal mimicry from Danny Pine.	None.	+ Sylar clearly killed him, and having succumbed to the hunger, it seems unlikely that he would have passed over the opportunity of taking it. - Pine's arm was seen ripped off, and it was still partially metallic, it seems unlikely that it would stay like that if Sylar stole the ability. + Sylar doesn't really steal abilities; he copies them. Just look at Claire. Besides, he might have ripped the arm off first. - Sylar was more concerned with his plan, with putting Angela, Claire, Meredith and Noah in tight situations. - He didn't bother to steal Doyle's ability. • He could use telekinesis to accomplish Doyle's power. • He already did it with Audrey Hanson, almost making her shoot herself.
Sylar isn't Arthur's son, but they are still related.	None.	+ When Sylar asked Arthur if he [Arthur] was his family, Arthur replied: "Of course. I am your father". Then Sylar detected a lie. So this ability could have worked when Arthur said "I am your father", not directly after "Of course". This could mean that Arthur is Sylar's family, but not his father. - The workings of this ability are unclear, the ability might analyze the statement as a whole, not parts of it. • That would imply that the abilty can be "tricked". • Only if its user doesn't understand the working of his own ability. + Arthur made quite a long pause between the parts of the statement - long enough for lie detection to work. • Arthur made a pause, not a long pause, there's no defined threshold in which lie detection works. + So far this ability has been shown to detect a lie immediately.
Sylar is Kaito's son	None.	+ There appears to be an awful lot of interaction between Hiro and Sylar. - This doesn't mean he is Hiro's brother. + Kaito was known to have been involved with Angela, he may have been involved with other woman while his wife was sick. + It is possible that the agency hiring Linda Tavara was or was related to the Yamagato Fellowship. - Sylar would be Asian if he was Kaito's son. He isn't.