Theory:Sylar

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The following fan theories are about Sylar.

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Theories

Theory	Citations	Notes
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 freezing 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") - While initially compelling, the proposed antithetical relationship doesn't stand up to close scrutiny: Sylar's motivation stems from deep rooted compulsions (a persistent and insatiable hunger for others' gifts, which stems of its own accord, and excites him; jealousy towards Trevor evincing his desire for Elle, prompting actions that led to the acquisition of the former's power; a need to understand whether his putative father is being truthful) as opposed to a conscious decision to 'be special'; there is evidence to suggest that Peter's mother did believe in him, endorsing a way of life that would sensitise him; the main distinction, that Sylar represents logic and Peter is representative of emotion, seems to be sound on a superficial level but has, at best, been clumsily executed and may as well be accidental. The principal problem here is in the name - intuition has never been associated with logic, rather it sidesteps the rational process of enquiry. Essentially, for intuitive aptitude to work as a concept or an ability, the individual so gifted will need to take repeated leaps of faith, on the assumption that his/her ability will unfailingly prove to be correct; while this provides interesting parallels with religious faith and deific characters, it blurs the distinction (conceptually, if not in the mode of operation) between an empathic and an intuitive understanding, as neither involves rational enquiry. - Sylar and Peter both working off of their emotions only deepens the idea that they are two sides of one coin. + Peter wants to save the world and become a hero. Sylar wants to be special. They both utilize their powers through emotions, even though they have different methods of acquiring powers.
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 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 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. - He may simply have been mindful that, as the agent of Molly's power, he would run the risk of being discovered via a strong telepath whenever this ability was employed. • The only example of this so far suggests that a person with Molly's ability can only be found by a telepath if the telepath is the one who the clairvoyant is looking for and if the telepath is strong enough to notice he's being looked for. There is also no suggestion that a telepath might find the clairvoyant through this, Maury showed no signs of knowing where Molly was.
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.
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. - Sylar lost that ability before Season 2 began. It would no longer apply. + The scene with the cockroach and Sylar in the cell was accompanied by the sound of a ticking clock. This implies that Sylar used his intuitive aptitude. Peter had also used intuitive aptitude to understand the reactions of his time meddling to stop his dad. If they can use the power for those, then theoretically the power should be able to help Sylar understand foreign languages quicker. + 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 can know Japanese and not Spanish. • Sylar has never even been exposed to Japanese. • He could have learned it for fun or in school. • There is nothing suggesting that Sylar speaks any foreign language at all. - This theory is about some behavior that implies he understands the languages. It is not stated he knows any foreign languages.
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 mysterious 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. - Peter was never asked to do this. - 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. + Bob and/or Angela may have had different plans than their predecessors.
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 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. - Future Elle might be Noah's mother. Elle is dead. - Maya would be "showing" by now. - Maya used her ability since then. Although she did not kill any adults, this might kill any baby she had, given the embryo's lack of an immune system. + Her ability immunity might extend to her baby, as it would be part of her organism until it is born. + The embryo's undeveloped "body" may not be able to produce the poison.
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. - Elle called him Gabriel numerous times after he regained her trust. He didn't seem to care in the slightest. - He has called himself Gabriel on more than on eoccasion without appearing to be in pain. • Gabriel was a person he didn't want to be. Each time somebody calls him Gabriel, it reminds him of where he came from. • He still calls himself Gabriel when convenient. • Gabriel is still his legal name.
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. + The future seems to have turned back in that direction, with Nathan going the other evolved humans. - Sylar can fly as an byproduct of telekinesis. As he didn't examinated Echo's brain because he had already gotten sound manipulation from Jesse, he wouldn't open Nathan's head for examination. + Flight is probably better for fly than telekinesis, as super speed is better for running than accelerated probability. + Sylar could shapeshift into Nathan's form and take his place in the United States Senate, gradually killing and shapeshifting his way into the White House.
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. + Future Claire says to Gabriel, "This was my house. You took everything from me." This may be referring to HRG's death. + HRG would be unlikely to give his house to Sylar, especially if Claire was unhappy about it (which she was, apparently). So he must have taken it.
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 can gain abilities without killing people. - Sylar prefers to acquire powers the old-fashioned way. - Anyone Sylar kills he can replace by shapeshifting, for at least as long as he can fool others.
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. + Sylar and HRG were partners at Primatech. - Sylar refers to Peter as his brother, so unless he believes that Angela were involved with HRG and means brother as in sibling rather than full brother, this is unlikely. - HRG is primarily a family man; why would he abandon and try to kill his own son? - 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.
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. • Tim Kring has stated that Sylar's powers can be fooled. Just because Arthur isn't his father doesn't mean Angela isn't his mother. • Sylar's biological mother was already shown, and killed, and it wasn't Angela. • There is no proof that was his mother. • There is no proof that she was not his 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. - The scene suggests Sylar directed his thoughts at Peter so that he could get Ted Sprague caught. + 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 says that Sylar has the ability to transfer powers from one vessel to another. - Noah did not know how Gabriel transferred the ability to himself. • Noah is not infallible. - 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. + His ability to see how things work may be the key to giving powers to another. • 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. • The formula existed long before Sylar even discovered he had powers.
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. - Sylar can use intuitive aptitude to transfer powers to himself. + 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, 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. + 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. • 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. - Peter would not be able to absorb intuitive aptitude from Sylar in this case.
Sylar, Peter and Arthur all have the same ability.	Sylar has shown he can mimic powers through empathy.	+ All three can duplicate others powers. - Peter copies powers. Arthur steals powers. Sylar sees how powers work, then alters his DNA to match. They are similar, but not same. + 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. - Sylar's ability allows him understanding of the powers. After seeing Arthur, Sylar should have been able to understand and manipulate his own powers to match were that true. • 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 father. • The combination of intuitive aptitude and power absorption could be the cause of the "hunger". - Samson Gray wasn't around when Sylar's powers manifested. - Peter didn't empathically mimic Linderman or Arthur from his childhood. He only copied those around him during the time of the eclipse and Four Months Ago. - 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. + Arthur gained empathic mimicry from Peter. • He was never shown to use it. • BTE confirmed that after absorbing Peter's ability, he could choose how to get another power, he could choose whether or not use empathic mimicry, in essence, he was able to turn it off. • 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's original power is empathy but he gained intuitive aptitude from his father.	It is very unlikely for intuitive aptitude to be linked to the empathy power. If that is the case, it would explain why Sylar only kept intuitive aptitude, telekenisis which he gains through empathy and his original empathy power.	- The empathy that Sylar experienced with Elle was associated with fixing her power, which may be just another aspect of intuitive aptitude. (It's Coming) - 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. - Sylar "permanently lost all of his acquired powers except for telekinesis". [1] He still has his intuitive aptitude, however. - It is possible that Arthur somehow "implanted" Elle's ability into Sylar, fixing hers simultaneously, by means of an as-yet undisclosed ability. + This is entirely plausible and could be used later in the show to help Sylar realise that he is not inherently evil if that is the path the writers choose to take.
Claire Bennet would have been the mother of Noah Gray.	None.	+ It would explain Noah Gray's first name. - Elle is more likely to be the mother of Noah Gray in the timeline we saw him. + In the present day, Sylar kills Elle. • There is no proof Elle would have fallen in love with Sylar had Peter not tampered with the past. - Claire hates Sylar. + Sylar saved her life and took her power. She and him have a deeper connection now than they did. - Certainly not a good connection. + Having the same power means he understands the problems she's going through. That could have a pretty big effect, especially after what HRG tried to do with Stephen Canfield. - Good things from this would certainly be undermined by the Claire's trauma of having her ability taken against her will. - Claire is too young for Sylar; it's unlikely the writers would do that. • It is not uncommon for people for varying age differences to fall in love. The writer's want to show a variety of people exhibiting powers, and this would be another outlet for exploration. - 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. • It is not unheard of for a mother to hate her child, especially if she hates the father that much more. - In the exposed future, Gabriel still thinks Peter is his brother. Odds are he thinks Claire is his niece. + The relationship is not actually incestuous.
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. - Why would the catalyst have that effect on him? + 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 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. - Pie and cake are different enough that many people enjoy one but not the other. - 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. • Sylar exhibits the personality traits of the people he kills for only a short while. It's more likely he was affected by Elle's or Sue's personalities. • Displaying his victim's personalities is debatable, as he as pretend to be one of his victims on more than one occasion.
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.
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. - Sylar doesn't take powers. He duplicates the genetic codes. - Linda's ethnicity is different than Sylar. + He may look like his father. - Everything Linda Tavara touches dies. + Only if she chooses to take their auras. - The woman killed doesn't look like Linda. - Linderman killed Linda and burned her body. + Linda could have acquired the ability to shapeshift and choose to look during her time as an investigator as an Asian woman.
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 was more concerned about toying with Noah, Claire, Meredith and Angela. As seen when he took Claire's ability, it takes a while to "find" the ability, time he didn't have at that moment.
Sylar has taken 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. - 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". + Tim Kring has stated that the lie detection ability can be tricked. - Telling something that is true but irrelevant would count as truth, it's not that hard to find loopholes. • Only if its user doesn't understand the working of his own ability, not something that happens with Sylar. • Actually, Sylar was unable to control Dale Smither's ability. • That was only at first; he was able to use it quite well after a short while. + Arthur paused between the parts of the statement - long enough for lie detection to work. - There's no defined threshold in which lie detection works. + So far this ability has been shown to detect a lie immediately.
Sylar is Arthur Petrelli's nephew through his sister Linda Tavara.	None.	+ It would explain their similar abilities. + It would explain why Sylar did not detect a lie when Arthur claimed to be his family. - It debatable to say lie detection worked only in one section of the statement, the workings of that ability aren't well defined. + It makes the link between Sylar and Peter clearer as Linda and Arthur have similar abilities. - They clearly have different ethnic origins. + Arthur's father may have had an affair, making Linda Arthur's illegitimate half sister. + Linda's notebook has a page for Arthur Petrelli with his address. It would be likely for her to have this if she knew she was Arthur Petrelli's sister. - Linda was an investigator, and she was tracking people with abilities to take these abilities for herself, not long lost relatives. + Linda's power is similar to Arthur's power. Why would she want it? - It's possible she didn't know what Arthur's ability was, his power wasn't written down like Linderman's. + It makes sense that Angela would know his parentage, if Sylar is her nephew. - It's not necessary for there to be a blood connection or one through marriage for one to know anothers parentage. - Angela can dream the future, and she had the Company's resources, she could have used either to find that out. + Sylar is in his 30s, making him old enough to be Linda's son, and it's conceivable that Arthur and Angela to have arranged the adoption after Linda's possible death. - Why would they do that? - There's no indication of Linda ever having children. + There's no indication she didn't, almost nothing is known about her. - The only person Linda was ever shown to get close to was Linderman, to take his ability; Occam's Razor indicates that the simplest explanation is the best. - Linda was fairly young when Linderman killed her, if she had had children, they'd be at their 40s. + Linda was 21 when Linderman killed her, so she could have had a child at 20 and he would be 36 in 2007. - From the little it was seen of her, Linda was not the type to settle down and have children, all she seemed to care about was getting auras. - Seeing Arthur and Angela's desire to pretend Sylar was their son, why not adopt him seeing as he could be their nephew? - It was clear that the only reason they did it was to manipulate Sylar into doing their biding.
Sylar still has a chance for redemption.	When confronting his adoptive father who he hated for abandoning him, he decided to let him live.	- Which is more cruel? Kill a man begging for death, granting him release, or walk away, leaving him to die a humiliating, agonizing, drawn out death as a complete failure? There was no mercy there.
Sylar and Luke Campbell are half brothers.	Sylar felt it wasn't mere coincidence that Luke is an evolved human and lived near his father.	+ Luke also said that somebody said that his mother was a whore. Even if the guy didn't really say it. she could have slept with Samson. + Luke, like Sylar could have been adopted.
Sylar won't kill Luke for his ability because he will absorb it through empathy.	None.	+ The idea of Sylar's empathic absorption of powers should be continued. + Elle was the only evolved human who was able to partner with Sylar, because he absorbed her ability through empathy. - And he killed her anyway. - Luke doesn't have the advantage of being an attractive young woman. Especially since Elle took an interest in Sylar even before he became a killer. Though he does kill her once he finds out she was using him too. • Sylar tried to slice Elle's skull before taking her ability, even though she always was an attractive young woman. + Who said that the only thing that keeps Sylar from killing is female beauty? Luke isn't an attractive young woman, but he is still alive. It would be shameful for Sylar to display his empathic trick only once in his lifetime. - Sylar and Luke have gone seperate ways.
Sylar's telekinesis is not as strong as it used to be.	None.	+ Sylar needed Luke's help to shake off the assailant who held a gun at point blank range, while Eden had been confident he could fend off a similar attack. - Perhaps he was capable of stopping the assailant, and simply chose not to do so for other purposes. His conversation beforehand subtly hints at this. - It would not be the first time Sylar has feigned helplessness. + After the Shanti virus, Sylar's telekinesis was no longer based on his intuitive aptitude, merely his empathy. + He has shown less control over his other ability absorbed through empathy than his normal abilities. • While both Brian's and Elle's ability are more integrated to him than the others, and telekinesis seems only to be retained through empathy, Sylar did poke around Brian's brain, unlike with electric manipulation, which was acquired through empathy. • He subsequently forgot all other powers gained through intuitive aptitude, so he likely doesn't remember "how this one ticks" either. • Telekinesis is his most observed power, even if it's weaker in raw power, his experience with it makes up for it. + Sylar is no longer seen stopping bullets via telekinesis, unlike in Season 1. - In A Clear and Present Danger, Sylar seems to pop the tasers out before they take effect. + The tasers actually hurt him but they couldn't knock him out because he can regenerate. - Actually, he has. - This may be because he no longer needs to, at least not he used to, he still needs to watch out for the back of the head.
Sylar's drive to find his father has obliterated "the hunger".	Sylar states that his motivations were finding abilities and taking them, but now they're mostly about finding his real father. (Building 26)	+ Sylar was able to control the hunger briefly under the guidance of a pseudo-mother figure. - Sylar killed Joe Macon and took his ability. + Imprinting is more practical than powerful; Sylar might have taken it just because it would have been useful to him in the future. + Macon refused to cooperate with Sylar. Sylar could have simply killed him in punishment, and took his ability for the heck of it. + Sylar refrained from killing Luke Campbell, despite the fact that Luke killed Daniel Simmons, a man with vital information on his father, and the fact that Luke had a powerful ability.
Sylar's base ability is actually "enhanced adaptation" which applies even to abilities. This stems from his mutable personality.	None.	+ Powers have been shown to often mimic the wielder's personality or need. Everyone is always trying to make Sylar in to something. He switched parents at least once as a kid, forcing him to adapt heavily. • This ability may work because Sylar's whole personality changes, resulting in new talents. This is highly similar to how empathic mimicry may work (by imagining yourself as someone else and hence imagining their personality and seeing their need for their ability), but this ability is focused on what personality Sylar needs to fit a current role. + Upon filling the role of watchmaker, he would pick up intuitive aptitude. + It's possible that he acquired empathic mimicry because his personality had changed to be highly empathic. • Arthur states that Sylar had this ability "all along", but most likely he simply used precognition to forsee his acquisition of Elle's ability via empathy. + Sylar is a fantastic actor and fulfills a wide variety of roles quite naturally, demonstrating his adaptability. He fools Mohinder in Volume 1, Maya in Volume 2, the police in Volume 3, and adapts to being a weapon, somewhat of a good guy, a monster, and a 'boyscout' as well. + Intuitive aptitude explains how he learns how others' abilities function, but it does not explain why Sylar is able to perform an ability simply by understanding it. This theory does explain it. + Children are more adaptable, and Sylar has been likened to a child by Angela Petrelli. • That might be more because of what happened to Sylar as a kid, how he missed out in his childhood and was very badly scared.
Sylar sent Luke away in order to save his life.	None.	+ He didn't kill Luke himself. + He obviously didn't want Luke to be killed by Samson.
Sylar's original power was empathic mimicry.	"Homecoming" and "Exposed".	+ Peter could have replicated empathic mimicry by touching Sylar, who in turn had mimicked intuitive aptitude by seeing Samson Gray murder his mother. + The only two abilities Sylar has kept, apart from empathic mimicry, are intuitive aptitude and telekinesis. Intuitive aptitude because of the emotional trauma of seeing his mother killed (absorbed from his father) and telekinesis because of the emotional struggle he went through to get that. He hasn't been able to mimic anyone else's ability (except Elle's) because he has become a pure killer: No empathy at all. - Peter had already been absorbing abilities through empathic mimicry before encountering Sylar. See examples of empathic mimicry. + Peter could have absorbed his previous abilities by touch as well; for example touching is emphasized when he first flies. - Sylar had his ability explicitly named as "Intuitive aptitude" in the show via assignment tracker profile. - Peter had his ability explicitly named as "Empathic mimicry" in the assignment tracker map. • Peter could have used ability replication by touching evolved humans, before coming into contact with Sylar. - Peter wouldn't have been able to use multiple abilities if that was the case. + If Peter copied empathic mimicry, he may well be able to use multiple abilities. - There was no one for him to copy it from. - Peter wasn't very good with current ability during the Flight 195 crash, if he copied Tracy's ability without meaning to, he'd have copied other abilities without meaning as well, he touched other evolved humans before, and that would render replicated empathic mimicry useless. - If Sylar has empathic mimicry, then it would be logical to suggest that Samson has it too, since he too can absorb powers. - Empathic mimicry isn't the only way to absorb abilities. If there are many ability absorbers, it doesn't mean they have the same absorbing ability. - The writers confirmed Sylar lost all of his abilities except his original and telekinesis. However, he still has intuitive aptitude.
Sylar loves roadtrips.	None.	+ He is the only character to have been on a roadtrip in every season. In season one with Mohinder, in season two with Maya and Alejandro, and in season three with Luke Cambell. • The only roadtrip he cleary wanted to take was the one with Mohinder, so he could acquire more abilities.
The reason why the Company could only find telekinesis codons in Sylar's DNA is because of his empathic connection to the ability.	None.	- Abilities are directly involved with DNA, it's impossible to have an ability not related to it. + Shanti virus took away the powers Sylar absorbed not through empathy. How is this even possible, since as we know, viruses cannot alter DNA? • Viruses do alter DNA, if they couldn't alter DNA then they could not replicate, gene therapy is based on the fundamental idea that all viruses can alter DNA.
Sylar will regain precognitive painting from Matt Parkman.	None.	+ By doing that, Sylar could also absorb Matt's telepathy. Telepathy would help Sylar, by persuading people into letting him kill them. - Matt could persuade Sylar to not kill him. + Neither Eden McCain's persuasion nor Eric Doyle's puppet master stopped Sylar. • Sylar would probably need to go on a spirit walk before he could paint the future with Matt's ability. - Matt is powerful enough to stop Sylar. + Sylar has demonstrated considerable resistance to many abilities, including telepathy. - That was Sylar from an alternate future. + Posthumans with rapid cell regeneration may be immune to telepathically 'pushed' thoughts. Daniel Linderman explained that pushing a thought leaves a small trace of damage that can be healed, and he successfully healed Angela Petrelli using his physical healing ability. It is likely that the damage would repair itself in a similar fashion with rapid cell regeneration. - When Peter had his memory erased by the Haitian, that ability didn't automatically heal his memory when he first used it, Adam Monroe had to coach him so the ability would heal his memory.
The metalic arm on the floor in Dual is actually Sylar's arm after he killed Danny Pine and stole his ability.	Danny was confirmed to be deceased. Most likely, Sylar killed him.	+ Sylar has rapid cell regeneration, so he could cut his arm off and it would grow back. • Limb regeneration of this magnitude hasn't been seen, and significant healing (of broken bones and such) has required some 'help'. • In the explosion future, Claire regrew her arm and part of torso in seconds. + Sylar's hunger would make him get Danny's ability. - He didn't steal Eric's ability. + Puppet master would be redundant to Sylar's telekinesis. • Sylar could've stolen metal mimicry and discovers it's a weak ability against fire. Sylar can't control the ability and his arm turns metal. He can't turn his arm back to normal and cuts his arm off so Meredith can't attack his metallic arm. - Sylar learns to wield his abilities very fast. - Sylar has a great control over the abilities he steal by brain removal. - If Sylar ripped Danny Pine's head open and took his power, who ripped Sylar's arm off? + Sylar did. Sylar has rapid cell regeneration, so he could cut his arm off and it would grow back.
Sylar has "absorbed" microwave emission from Luke Campbell.	His first meeting with Luke.	+ An aspect of his ability is that if he can understand someone's mindset, or help them get fast emotional tradgedies, he can absorb their power empathically. - Which Sylar didn't do to Luke, he just had patience.
Sylar will use his shapeshifting ability to impersonate the president.	"Is it possible that the "explosion future" of "Five Years Gone" is starting to happen again, just without the explosion?” "In more ways than you could possible imagine." -BEHIND THE ECLIPSE: Week 12	+ Sylar has acquired a way to impersonate, like in the explosion future. + It would allow Sylar to gain the go-ahead on any level of posthuman hunt.
Sylar has "absorbed" precognitive dreaming from Angela Petrelli, including the ability to enter the dreams of others.	None.	+ Numerous clues indicate that he appeared in Danko's dream in the beginning of Into Asylum. Danko closed his eyes, then saw Sylar, then awoke to his cigarette lighter click and Sylar was impossibly far away instantaneously. Only Angela has been shown to do this. - There was no indication either one of them were asleep. - Neither was shown waking up. + Danko awoke to the sound of the lighter 'popping' after heating up. He whirled around with his gun, only to find Sylar has vanished into thin air with no sound. - The music was still on. + The music was on before he fell asleep. And it's a bit of a lulling song. + Sylar doesn't necessarily need to be asleep to use the ability on another. - Angela had to, if she needed, Sylar most likely does to, it's an ability over which there isn't a real control, according to Angela. + Danko was briefly shown relaxing and closing his eyes, just prior to Sylar's appearance. He seems to have nodded off. + Sylar was absolutely soaked and relaxed when he was shown afterward, implying he had been up there the whole time. - Precognitive dreaming cannot be forced on someone, as the dream is only had by the person with the power. Also, there was never an encounter after that where they had the same conversation in the car. + Angela has demonstrated that she can enter the dreams of others and speak to them. The subject seems to believe that the vision is real. See Precognitive dreaming. For example, she entered Sylar's dreams in Eris Quod Sum. + He was in contact with Angela Petrelli on multiple occasions, and cared for her at one point. + He was able to find Danko in the first place; a feat which would be completely explained with precognition. - Behind the Eclipse explains that as using of intuitive aptitude. - Or maybe Eric Doyle told him where to look for Danko, before Sylar made his ugly gift. + How would Doyle know where to look for Danko? - Maybe he somehow found it out in Puppet with No Strings. He ran into Danko then. + Doyle was being beaten to death and was left to perish in a fire, not a situation which lets you learn things like that.
Sylar demonstrated the ability of astral projection or another side to his imprinting ability.	None.	+ In Into Asylum, Sylar apparently exhibited some ability that allowed him to be in Danko's car one minute, and on a nearby rooftop the next. - Imprinting isn't a mental ability, it doesn't change the mind in any way.
Sylar's telekinesis enables him to levitate, giving him attributes similar to the power of flight.	Sylar is able to travel from Danko's car to the top of a nearby rooftop literally within seconds.	+ Sylar has no power that we know of that would enable him to do such a feat. It therefore follows that it must be an attribute of an existing power, and only telekinesis is flexible enough to accomadate this. - There was literally no sound from his entrance or departure from Danko's vehicle. Both car doors were closed. It is more likely that the ability is instead some sort of mental or illusion based power. + Sylar does not, to the best of our knowledge, possess such an ability. It's unlikely he would have acquired it in total secret without us knowing about it. + Sylar could easily control the locks of the car with telekinesis and used it to "soften" any impact, masking any sound. • Can you really soften the sound of an unlatching of a car door? There are several moving pieces. • Sylar could make his footsteps inaudible, and he has an ability which allows him to understand complex systems. • Sylar has been shown to use telekinesis on multiple objects before- most notably to levitate glass shards against Peter in Season One. • Sylar took Jesse Murphy's ability, and while it's mainly an offensive ability, Sylar could very well use it in a way to cancel out the sound. - The car door would have needed to be opened and shut virtually instantaneously. + Sylar moved instataneously when he trapped Claire in her own house. + Sylar seemed to use a flight-like power to escape from Audrey Hanson in Season 1. + Sylar's telekinesis enabled him to hover above the ground to surprise Dale Smither and take her power. Full-blown flight is only a step up from this, and he has had a long time since that point to master it. + Sylar has shown he has an uncanny way to travel. After killing Elle, Sylar went all the way to Sue Landers office, than all the way to Pinehearst, than all the way to Primatech. Sylar has no ability to give him such a fast way to travel. Using telekinesis to levitate would explain so much of Sylar's traveling. It's about time they showed Sylar's uncanny way to get from one place to the next. + Sylar also travelled from Samson's cabin to Eric Doyle's location (likely close to Coste Verde), and then back to Danko's apartment in Washington with Doyle in tow in a very very short space of time. Flight at Nathan's or even West's speed could explain this. + Sylar also escaped the police in the graphic novel Road Kill by using his telekinesis to propel himself from the vehicle into a tree. + Sound manipulation was successfully used by Echo to mimic or distort sound. Jesse's ability is the same, and Sylar, as we know, gains complete mastery over any ability taken via intuitive aptitude. He could therefore easily do the same. - Sylar does not gain complete mastery over an ability but simply high control over it. Even with his ability further developed he still managed to explode. + True, but that part of the ability manifested early on with Echo. It's not a deeply advanced facet of the power. It's likely Sylar has the power to do this. - Sound manipulation doesn't mean sound absorption. + It doesn't need to. Sound manipulation includes the ability to "mimic or distort noise." Sylar could have distorted the noise of the door opening to cover his escape, then flown away using telekinesis. • The writers confirmed in Behind the Eclipse Week 20 that Sylar cannot teleport- "That's all we can say." This implies we will find out the answer of how he did it eventually.
Sylar will kill Nathan, and use the shape shifting ability to impersonate him.	This is what happens in Five Years Gone, when Nathan has ascended to Presidency.	+ The writers have stated in interviews a desire to return to Season One's style. This would be to those ends. + In Five Years Gone, and just before he steals Claire's power, Sylar gives her a short lecture, which very much parallels what he is doing presently. He was posing as Nathan then, and had clearly been doing so for quite some time. + Specifically, that future Sylar admitted he had little desire for abilities any more, as he had become powerful enough, and instead just wanted to eliminate the competition. + Danko and Sylar each recognise Sylar's pechant for assuming false personalities being much like James Martin. (Into Asylum) + James Martin likes to take the form of people with power. Sylar craves power in all its forms. Becoming a politician would fit neatly into this gap. • Sylar noted James Martin to be fractured somehow. He is also aware that he, too, is fractured. This might also be an analogy to Sylar's watch. - Nathan is a fugitive. Taking his position is not likely to be advantageous. + Sylar is crafty, so it's not impossible to imagine him finding a way out of that. + Nathan is also cunning, though in a political way. Sylar has been shown to be increasingly diplomatic with his negotiating with Mohinder, Noah and Danko over the seasons. + Nathan has famously had a near-death experience at the end of each volume, to date (although each of them involved Peter, in some way). Nathan being killed at a season finale would fit this trend excellently. • Sylar would probably like to fly. • Wouldn't everyone?
Since regaining two of his abilities after being infected with the Shanti virus, Sylar has stolen more abilities than shown on screen.	In Turn and Face the Strange, after Danko tells Noah what team Sylar is leading with his shape shifting ability, Noah states that they've been pulling a lot of wins lately, this may mean Sylar has been acquiring even more abilities.	+ In a scene from Into Asylum, it seemed as if Sylar had used a power similar to teleportation to enter and leave Danko's car and appear on the roof of a nearby building. • Sylar was confirmed by BTE not to have a teleportation ability. • It could be anything: illusion, phasing, wall crawling, flight or even a combination of them.
Sylar intentionally got Sandra Bennet's signature wrong in the episode Turn and Face the Strange to make Noah Bennet attack his wife.	Sylar told Danko that he didn't want to kill Noah, he wanted to "destroy" him.	+ Sylar now has easy access to all of Danko's files. Assuming Danko keeps files on his employees, Sylar could have easily copied Sandra's signature with imprinting (acquired in Out of Town... On Business). • Information on the ability of imprinting is limited. We do not know if one can change the appearance of the words in such a fashion to achieve forgery. It's logical to assume it would work that way. + Nothing suggests that imprinting doesn't allow to fake signatures. + Sylar manipulated Alejandro and Maya Herrera emotionally. He also set up the traps in Dual and has shown excitement in playing mind games with his prey (terrorizing Claire, twice, making Noah sweat, taunting Audrey Hanson, flaunting daddy's powers for Elle, etc...). It is not beyond his abilites to orchestrate such an event.
Sylar is using sound manipulation is conjunction with shape-shifting.	None.	+ In "1961" he sounds exactly like Nathan- if he has managed to master sound manipulation, this could explain why. - James Martin sounded just like Sylar when he was talking with Danko. Shape-Shifting seems to completely mimic every aspect of the person being impersonated including voice.