Meredith Gordon
| Meredith Gordon | |
|---|---|
| |
| Portrayed by | Jessalyn Gilsig |
| First appearance | The Fix |
| In-story stats | |
| Known ability | Pyrokinesis |
| Gender | |
| Age | 35 |
| Home | Kermit, TX |
| Residence | Meredith Gordon's home |
| Significant other | formerly Nathan Petrelli |
| Child | Claire Bennet |
Meredith Gordon is Claire Bennet's birth mother. She was reportedly killed in a fire 14 years ago.
Character History
The Fix
Claire finds out from the Haitian that her mother died in a fire 14 years ago. Checking old newspaper reports, Claire finds a report that Meredith Gordon died in a fire in Kermit, TX, at the age of 21, along with her 18-month-old daughter. Calling everyone named Gordon in Kermit, Claire reaches a woman who claims to be Meredith, her birth mother.
Distractions
Claire visits Meredith at her trailer park home in Kermit, TX. Meredith describes how she thought Claire had been killed in the fire and then wandered for years afterward, only returning to Kermit a few months ago. When Claire demonstrates her self-healing ability, Meredith demonstrates her own power to create fire. After the visit, Meredith gives Claire a necklace, and places a call to Claire's biological father, Nathan Petrelli.
Run!
Meredith tells Nathan that she has received a visit from their daughter, Claire, and asks if there's anything he would like to do. Nathan offers $100,000, which Meredith accepts. When Claire visits and asks again about her father, Meredith says that he would disappoint Claire, but that he has offered the two of them $50,000, of which Claire is entitled to half. She also tells Claire that she is planning to return to Mexico. When Nathan later visits Meredith to deliver the money, Meredith tells him that Claire would like to see him if he's interested, but he tells Meredith that she did well to keep them from meeting.
Five Years Gone
While Meredith does not make an appearance in this episode, Peter uses the power of pyrokinesis in his battle with Sylar. This indicates that at some point between the current timeline and the future timeline, Peter and Meredith meet.
Graphic Novel:Hell's Angel
In 1992, Mr. Bennet and Claude go to Meredith's apartment in Kermit for a "bag and tag". When they enter, however, they are thwarted by a destructive fire.
Powers
Meredith has the power of pyrokinesis, the ability to create fire. (The Fix)
Equipment
Nathan's bribe money — given to Meredith to keep her from revealing his daughter
Notes
- Since "Meredith Gordon" has been reported dead, she may be using a different first name now, at least for legal purposes. However, no one has yet referred to her by any other name, and she may have spent enough time out of the country for this to be a non-issue.
- After the fire, Meredith Gordon lived several places before returning to Kermit, TX:
- Cuernavaca, Mexico — 50 miles South of Mexico City. (Of possible interest, Unnamed #6 was listed in Chilpancingo, Mexico, which is 90 miles from Cuernavaca.)
- La Paz, Mexico — There are at least 16 La Paz, Mexicos, none being particularly close to either Cuernavaca or Kermit. La Paz is also the capital city of Boliva.
- Meredith tells Claire that she "just got back to Kermit a couple of months ago". (Distractions)
Trivia
- Her first name, Meredith, is of Old Welsh origin, and its meaning is "great, noted ruler" or "sea lord".
- Her last name, Gordon, is of Old English and Gaelic origin, and its meaning is "large fortification".