Illusion
Illusion | |
---|---|
Candice morphs into Simone. | |
Originally held by: | Candice Willmer (deceased), As an aspect of another ability: Matt Parkman |
Absorbed by: | Sylar (alternate future) Peter Petrelli (alternate future) |
Ability to: | Manipulate perceptions of reality |
Examples of illusion |
Illusion is the ability to manipulate how other people perceive reality.
Characters
Confirmed
- Candice Willmer is the first character to exhibit this ability.
Future
- In a possible future, Sylar has gained this ability by killing Candice.
- Future Peter has copied this ability from an unknown source.
Limits
Candice
Candice has the ability to disguise herself as another person with a nearly flawless illusion. Her ability can apparently fool all five senses: sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste. When she was impersonating Sandra Bennet, Mr. Bennet literally held her and kissed her without penetrating the disguise.
Candice does not necessarily have to have met an individual she is impersonating. She was able to impersonate Simone Deveaux, although they apparently never met before Simone's death, and Candice had not seen Simone's dead body until after she appeared in her form. How she was able to accomplish this feat is unknown.
Candice can also create illusions in her vicinity. She was able to hide Simone Deveaux's body from police, and she kept Micah Sanders from escaping the Company's Kirby Plaza facility by making it seem that every path he took lead back to her. She claims that she can make a person see anything she wants them to see.
Future Sylar
Future Sylar extensively used this power to disguise himself as President Nathan Petrelli. His use of this power in a possible future demonstrates that illusions can fool electronic equipment like cameras, since he was able to disguise himself on national television.
Future Peter
After going back to the present from a possible future, future Peter Petrelli uses this ability to pose as his past self, altering his clothes and hiding his scar.
Selected Examples
-
Candice drops her illusion as Simone, and Simone's body re-appears on the bed...
-
...then later appearing as Sandra Bennet to catch Mr. Bennet plotting to oppose the Company.
(Parasite) -
Ms. Baker takes Micah into a polling place...
-
...but Candice is behind the illusion.
(Landslide) -
Candice impersonating Niki, makes it appear that all paths from the room lead back to it.
(The Hard Part) -
Candice's illusion of a dead Micah dissipates after she loses consciousness.
(How to Stop an Exploding Man) -
Betty causes the appearance of large boils on the face of another student.
(Betty, Part 1) -
Betty causes Crash to see a vicious image of his father and changes her own appearance.
(Betty, Part 2)
Memorable Quotes
"Who are you? How did you do that?"
"I can make you see anything I want. Makes it kinda hard to get away, huh?"
- - Micah, Candice (The Hard Part)
"I take comfort in my fantasy bloodbath scenarios. The power of negative thinking."
- - Betty (Betty, Part 1)
Notes
- In the episode commentary for Parasite, Allan Arkush and Christopher Zatta discuss Candice's power. Zatta says he believed it was important that Candice's ability be a mental one -- that is, to appear like other characters rather than to physically become other characters -- to be more in keeping with the other powers in the show.
- Candice tells Mr. Bennet that she can "show you things that would make you want to tear your eyes out" (.07%). She makes a similar threat to Micah (The Hard Part). Candice finally proves this by summoning an illusion of a dead Micah to frighten Niki. (How to Stop an Exploding Man)
- As of .07%, the special effect used to show Candice's power has changed. Previously, it was shown as a "shimmery" effect that impacted much of the area around her. Now, it is shown as a "morph" effect that affects only her.
- Micah theorizes that Candice's ability stems from bending light. (Landslide)
- Regarding the redhead student's facial afflictions caused by Betty, Ryan Odagawa said in an email, "It is supposed to be boils, and her face is 'both rotting and peeling off her head'...It was supposed to be hanging off her face and rotting."
- When knocked unconscious (How to Stop an Exploding Man), Candice reverts from her Jessica disguise to her usual young, female appearance; her illusion of Micah lying dead on the floor also disappears. It is not clear why she reverts to her "standard" disguise when knocked out instead of reverting to her true appearance (Betty, Part 2).
- Maury Parkman created an illusion of D.L. that was only visible to Niki by controlling functions of her brain. His power should not be confused with Candice's power to create illusions that are visible to everyone.
- It is unknown whether the unconfirmed ability "reality distortion" mentioned by the assignment tracker map refers to this ability.
See also
- For the similar ability to physically change the appearance of people, please see appearance alteration.