Peter Petrelli is the younger son of Arthur and Angela Petrelli, and Nathan's brother, and worked as a common hospice nurse caring for Charles Deveaux while living in New York City. Peter appeared to his family as a hopeless dreamer, who believed he had a greater place in life than just saving one life at a time. He discovered he was an evolved human who had the ability to absorb and use the powers of other evolved humans, although this ability was stolen by his father. Peter used the formula and replaced it with a less potent ability. After the existence of evolved humans was revealed to the world, Peter unwittingly found himself as the face of the Petrelli Movement, a faction of "evos" who work to save other evos from persecution and is violently opposed to the Evo Registration Act.
Biography[]
He is a hospice nurse-turned-paramedic in his Early-20s with the power to absorb and mimic the powers of other evolved humans or "Evos". Sensitive and compassionate, the character was initially defined by his complex relationship with his older brother, Nathan. Since that time, Peter Petrelli has had to deal with the outcomes from the decisions that his abilities force him to make. In the start of the series, Peter absorbs the ability of a man who is practically a ticking time bomb. In desperation all the characters in the series race to try and save New York City in fear that Peter will "blow up" the city like a bomb. Minutes from when he's about to explode Peter's older brother Nathan flies him high above the skyline and saves the people of New York City.
History[]
Season One[]
Peter receives a message from the future.
Peter Petrelli is a hospice nurse who keeps having amazing dreams that he can fly. Later, he stands on top of a building, throws himself off, and is saved by his brother Nathan, who can also fly. Peter eventually learns that his power is actually the ability to absorb the powers of those he meets. Peter visits Mohinder Suresh, looking for the author of Activating Evolution. While Peter and Mohinder are on a subway train, time freezes, and Peter has a visit from a Japanese man, who tells him that Peter must "save the cheerleader, save the world".
When he meets Isaac Mendez, Peter finished a painting depicting a dead and mutilated cheerleader. Peter realizes he must save this girl, and upon seeing another painting, heads to a homecoming, in Odessa, TX. There, he meets Claire Bennet, and manages to stop her from being killed by a mysterious stranger. He falls off a building and breaks several bones, although he regenerates, when Claire finds him, mimicking her power.
Outside the sheriff's department, Peter collapses and has a vision of himself bursting into red flames and exploding in the middle of the city. Peter meets the invisible Claude Rains, who helps Peter discover that he can access the powers he has absorbed by thinking of the person from whom he absorbed the ability. But their progress in Peter's training is stopped when Bennet comes after them.
Later, Peter visits Isaac's loft again, and confronts the painter about his association with Mr. Bennet. A fight ensues, and Simone is accidentally shot. Then, Peter visits Mohinder's apartment, but is confronted by Sylar, who begins to cut off the top of Peter's head. However, Peter heals his wound, fights Sylar, and "dies" when struck with a shard of glass in his brain. He revives when Claire removes the shard. At Kirby Plaza, Peter absorbs Ted's power, and has difficulty controlling it. Peter has a seemingly final confrontation with Sylar. They trade blows, and Peter's hands begin to glow dangerously. He tells Claire to shoot him, but Nathan descends from the sky, picks up his brother, and flies away into the sky where Peter explodes.
Peter demonstrates a new ability.
Season Two[]
At a shipping yard in Cork, Ireland, Ricky, Tuko, and Will search for a shipping container for iPods, but find a half-naked Peter handcuffed inside the empty container who can't remember anything. When attacked, he shocks Tuko and looks completely surprised. The men tie up Peter in a pub, where he later heals from cuts, escapes through ropes, and disarms a man who attacks Caitlin, Ricky's sister. When Ricky later asks Peter about helping them on a job, he tells Peter his name and offers a box of Peter's belongings as a reward. After using his ability to help Ricky, Will betrays Ricky and shoots Peter. Peter, however, heals himself and chokes Will before letting him go. Ricky thanks him and accepts him as family. He gives Peter the box, but Peter doesn't open it, and instead hopes for a new future with Caitlin.
A woman asks about Peter at the docks, and Ricky tells Peter to stay with Caitlin at her flat. While there, Peter finds in the box his passport, a plane ticket to Montreal, and a picture of himself and a man. Peter sees a blank canvas, then starts painting a picture. When he finishes, Peter sees a painting of himself and Caitlin in Montreal. Caitlin receives a phone call, and the two find Ricky killed, and Peter decides the two need to go to Montreal. They find a warehouse at the intersection Peter painted, and the two find a note from Adam written to Peter. Peter hugs Caitlin, and is suddenly teleported in the future. While there, Peter learns that a virus killed 97% of the human race. Before he can save Caitlin, he teleports back to present time, and is confronted by a stranger.
Peter suspends Strain 138, preventing a grim future.
The stranger reveals himself as Adam Monroe, and helps Peter remember the things he forgot by suggesting Peter use his healing power to restore his memory. Peter then remembers everything, including the night of the explosion. After Nathan and Peter flew into the air and before Peter exploded, Peter told Nathan to let go of him. The blast from the explosion burns and knocks out Nathan, who is then saved by Peter. He then remembers after saving Nathan he brought him to a hospital, where he was captured by Elle and Bob. Peter was then in by the Company so he couldn't hurt anyone. They give him ability negation pills so he cannot use his ability. He is put in a cell next to Adam's cell, where the two decide to escape to help save Nathan. After Adam gives Nathan some of his blood, the two try to get to Montreal, but are met by Elle and the Haitian. They separate, and the Haitian forces Peter into a container in a shipping yard. He takes his memory and leaves him there for a "fresh start". After remembering everything, Adam and Peter decide to save the world.
Peter and Adam go to see Victoria Pratt, who was a founder and knows about the virus. Peter goes in alone, and tries to get information from her. After Peter leaves, Victoria comes out of the house and attempts to shoot Peter, but before she shoots Adam, knocks her out. They find out that the virus is at Primatech Paper, and then Adam kills Victoria. When the two arrive at Primatech, time suddenly stops, and Hiro appears. Hiro tells Peter he must kill Adam, but Peter prevents it, knocking out Hiro by shocking him. Time unfreezes, and the two make their way to the Company vault. Peter rips the door off the vault, but Hiro teleports to stop them. Peter begins to choke Hiro with telekinesis, but Matt appears and attempts to make him stop choking Hiro. Peter stops Matt by mimicking the other aspect of Matt's telepathy then throws him back. Nathan comes and tells Peter that Adam is trying to release the virus, and he's using Peter. Nathan is able to convince Peter as they're brothers and Peter trusts him. When the three run to the vault, Adam and Hiro are gone and the vial containing the Shanti virus is about to hit the floor, but Peter catches the vial just in time. Peter destroys the vial, then Nathan suggests that they stop the Company and take their abilities public. Nathan calls a press conference, but before he can reveal his secret he is shot by an assassin. Nathan collapses into Peter's arms.
Season Three[]
In Volume Three, Peter starts off being in Jesse Murphy's body (in Level 5) because Future Peter shot Nathan Petrelli and present-day Peter came after him. Elle Bishop then, uncontrollably, releases the Level 5 escapees and "Jesse", The German, Knox, and Flint Gordon, Jr. go to wreak havoc. They go and rob a bank. Future Peter then comes and lets him out of Jesse's body. Future Peter time travels into the future where Peter goes to see Sylar. Peter learns how to use the hunger and then the Costa Verde explosion happens. Peter survives the explosion and teleports back to present day in Sylar's cell. Peter, having learned the hunger, tries to kill both Sylar and Angela Petrelli. Peter is then captured and put in a cell. Sylar, thinking that Peter is his brother, tells Peter to read Angela's mind. Peter pulls Pinehearst out of her head and heads there. Unbeknownst of his father being the head, Peter is shocked. Too shocked to stop Arthur from taking his abilities. Peter then wakes up in a Pinehearst cell and escapes. But Arthur catches him and gives him to Mohinder Suresh as a test subject for the formula. Sylar saves him but then throws Peter out of a seven story building. Claire Bennet and Peter find each other and hide in a sewer from Knox and Flint, but then they find them. They escape and head to Primatech with Angela's team to discuss how to stop Arthur. Peter and Nathan then go to Haiti to find The Haitian. But they get stuck in a mission to take down the Haitian's brother, Baron Samedi. Peter and Nathan fight the whole time and Nathan says that Arthur is right, starting a long feud between the two brothers. Back at Primatech, Angela tells Peter to shoot Arthur because The Haitian will be there and Arthur can't use his abilities. Peter fires the gun but Sylar stops it and uses lie detection to find out that Arthur is not his dad. Therefore, Sylar kills him with the bullet. Then, Peter, Flint, and Knox go to destroy the formula and Pinehearst. Nathan interferes the raid and the place is about to blow up. Peter injects himself with the formula and grabs Nathan and flies him out of Pinehearst.
In Volume Four, Nathan had gone to the President and exposed Evolved humans starting a secret government project to "round up" all evolved humans and place them in camps. Peter is back to living a normal life but soon encounters Mohinder driving a taxi like in Genesis. Later, at Peter's apartment, Nathan and Noah Bennet capture Peter. He is hooded, drugged, in a jumpsuit, and on a plane when Claire sneaks on and frees him. They free the rest, but Peter can't control his new ability and Freezes a hole in the plane. After crashing, him and Tracy Strauss team up to take Nathan's project down. Peter, Matt Parkman, Hiro Nakamura, Ando Masahashi, and Mohinder gather together and discuss how to lay low and what they need to do based on Matt's drawings. Peter, Matt, and Mohinder then capture Noah. They interrogate Noah until Emile Danko's team comes. Peter flies Matt to Isaac's loft where Matt sees himself blowing up in front of Capitol Hill. Matt and Peter break into Building 26 and Rebel helps them, but Matt gets caught. Peter negotiates with Nathan with a trade. Matt and Daphne Millbrook for Flight 195's security footage.Nathan arrives without Matt nor Daphne, so Peter gave the tape to the media. When the government goes after Angela, Peter saves her and they go to a church. Noah sees them but let them have a free pass. Angela dreams that she needs to go see her sister, Alice Shaw. Peter and Angela go to Coyote Sands where Nathan, Claire, and Noah are there to know what Angela did here and they dig to learn the past. Peter still hasn't forgiven Nathan and they start to forgive each other throughout the ending of the season. Angela says that a new Company needs to be formed. Peter then goes to kill Sylar once and for all. There is a long fight throughout the season finale episode in which Nathan dies. Peter replicates Sylar's ability to shape shift into The President to trick Sylar and defeat him with a tranquilizer. Angela, Matt, and Noah then fake Sylar's death by making Sylar be Nathan and then burning James Martin's body which is still in the form of Sylar. They burn his body at Coyote Sands. Peter remains unaware of the truth of his brother's death and Sylar's survival.
Season Four[]
Peter Petrelli had resumed his life as a paramedic, using his abilities to save people. He teamed up with Noah to stop the speedster known as Edgar. He then met Emma and Samuel disguised as "William Hooper". A tatto appeared on his arm, and he went to Noah for guidance. He later helped "Nathan" understand his abilities more, and met with Angela to start reconnecting with his family. He saved Emma's life, and began trying to form a connection with her. After another failure, he reunited with the dying Hiro. He sought out Noah's help to locate a healer for Hiro.
Peter nails Sylar
After getting the ability to heal from Jeremy Greer, he arrived too late to save Hiro. He then began using his new power to help heal innocents injured during a train crash. He learned of Emma's past, and inspired her to return to medical school. He met up with "Nathan" and, thanks to René, they found Nathan's deceased body. After finding Matt, he healed him, and learned what took place after he fought Sylar. He confronted Angela during Thanksgiving, and after Sylar returned, he decided to go after him. He went after Sylar, but was unable to return Nathan.
He attended his brother's funeral, and resumed his hunt for Sylar, ending up fighting crime. He later learned Emma would be responsible for the deaths of thousands, and learned of her relationship with Samuel and the Sullivan Bros. Carnival. He damaged his bond with Emma after destroying her cello, and going to Matt to get Sylar. He forgave Sylar for his sins, and helped him escape his telepathic nightmare. Together they went to save Emma, however Eli was sent to stop them. With Sylar's help he stopped Eli, and then left to New York City to defeat Samuel. He managed to hold off Samuel, until Hiro teleported away the members of the carnival. In the aftermath of the events that took place, Peter watched as Claire exposed herself to the news and the world.
June 13th, Part Two[]
After Hiro's powers fail him, Angela realizes that Claire's son has a power similar to his great-uncle, Peter, and his great-grandfather.
Project Reborn[]
While imprisoned in the Eternal Fortress, Tommy Clark has memories of several issues of 9th Wonders!, including one with Peter on the cover.
Heroes Evolutions[]
Save the Cheerleader, Destroy the World[]
Powers[]
Empathic Mimicry[]
Peter's original ability is to mimic the powers of others, acquiring powers simply by being near someone. Peter is eventually stripped of his abilities by his father Arthur Petrelli, before later regaining a modified form of this ability called ability replication through the formula.
Series creator Tim Kring stated that Peter's original ability is "based on his empathy and his ability to connect with people." As well, Claude refers to Peter as empathic. According to Dr. Suresh, Peter's DNA automatically resequences itself to mimic the abilities of those around him. At first, Peter could only mimic powers while in close proximity to their source, but then learned how to recall previously mimicked powers with greater and greater ease with the help of Claude. Angela Petrelli describes Peter as being "the most powerful of us all".
During a confrontation with his father in "Dying of the Light", Peter is stripped of his empathic mimicry as well as every ability he had previously absorbed.
Prior to his confrontation with his father, Peter used the following abilities, not including powers used by future incarnations of himself:
| Precognitive Dreaming |
"Genesis" |
| Flight
Precognition (expressed through visual art) |
|
| Space-Time Manipulation | |
| Regenerative Healing Factor | |
| Telepathy |
"Fallout" |
| Invisibility |
"Godsend" |
| Telekinesis | |
| Radiation Emission | |
| Enhanced Strength | |
| Electricity Manipulation | |
| Intangibility |
"Lizards" |
| Pyrokinesis |
Powers Exposed To[]
Other evolved humans had been within Peter's proximity, exposing him to their abilities. However, Peter never exhibited these abilities:
| Healing |
"Villains" |
| Power Absorption |
"Villains" |
| Suggestion | |
| Cryokinesis | |
| Shattering | |
| Mental Manipulation | |
| Melting |
"Parasite" |
| Enhanced Hearing |
"Parasite" |
| Clairvoyance | |
| Technopathy | |
| Alchemy | |
| Sound Manipulation | |
| Clairsentience | |
| Power Absorption | "Dying of the Light" |
Power Replication[]
In the mid-season finale, "Dual", he injects himself with a power granting formula and gains a new, more limited mimicry ability called ability replication. He is once again able to mimic others' powers, but now he requires physical contact to do so, and can only retain one ability at a time, losing the previous power each time he gains a new one. Heroes producers Joe Pokaski and Aron Coliete said in an interview that, "Peter is still trying to get a handle on his powers. Just like during the first season, it’s going to take him some time to get a handle on these powers." By the time of the episode "Cold Wars", he has gained enough control over his mimicry that he can touch people without taking on their powers if he wants to.
Peter's current ability is "Claude Rains" "Invisibility" from the eBook "Save the cheerleader, Destroy the World"
Memorable Quotes[]
"You look different without your scar."
- - Future Hiro to Peter (Hiros)
"The girl; you have to save her."
"What girl?"
"The cheerleader. It's the only way to prevent it."
"Prevent what?"
"Everything. Listen to me. She must live. The painter, Isaac, go to him. He will know. When I call you, you must tell me where we meet. You told me many times how lost you felt before it all started. This is what you've been waiting for. Be the one we need.
"Wait!"
"Save the cheerleader, save the world."
- - Future Hiro, Peter (Hiros)
"Your brother is probably the most important person on that list."
"Charles Darwin bred pigeons when he was working out his theory of evolution--married up various permutations to get maximum potential."
"What do you mean by that, 'maximum potential'?"
"I think he meant you, friend."
- - Claude, Peter (Unexpected)
"You saved my life."
"Guess we're even now."
"I don't need my powers to kick your ass, Flint!"
- - Peter (to Flint Gordon) (It's Coming)
"Why did you save me? Why did you do it?"
"Because you're my brother, and I love you."
"It's not what I would've done."
- - Nathan, Peter (Dual)
"You got the country thinking you're talking about terrorists, but we both know who you're really talking about.''
"What can I say, Pete? The last time I tried to out us, I got shot. I'm nothing if not a quick study.''
"So, you're gonna round us all up? Get rid of us?"
- - Peter, Nathan (A Clear and Present Danger)
"I'd like your input, your advice."
"Advice? What advice could I possibly give you besides 'Kiss my ass', Nathan?"
- - Nathan, Peter (A Clear and Present Danger)
"Peter, right? You're the good brother, the passionate one."
- - Danko (to Peter) (Cold Wars)
"I asked to be extraordinary and I promised to make the world a better place. So when I got my chance, I lived up to my end of the bargain. For what? We had a deal. I think it's about time you lived up to your end."
- - Peter (Into Asylum)
"What made you want to become a paramedic?"
"I wanted to save people instead of watching them pass."
Notes[]
- Milo Ventimiglia (Peter Petrelli), in a behind-the-scenes video, reveals that Peter passes out at the end of Fallout because he is overwhelmed by all of the abilities he has been absorbing.
- Nathan Petrelli is Claire's biological father (Distractions), which would make Peter her uncle. Despite their many interactions, Peter was unaware of his connection to Claire, according to his mother, Angela (.07%).
- According to Joe Pokaski, Peter has the ability to recall all of the powers of those he has been in contact with.
- On one of the covers of Entertainment Weekly's May 11th, 2007 issue (#933, cover 3 of 5), Peter is shown to be exhibiting pyrokinesis, although, at the time, Peter did not meet any evolved humans known to possess pyrokinesis. He does, however, seem to exhibit the ability at the end of Five Years Gone and in Walls, Part 2. This may be a continuity error on the part of Entertainment Weekly.
- In an interview, Chris Zatta and Chuck Kim state that Peter can use any ability just as easy as another. They further state that he can use them in combinations, though they note and that he may have difficulty using all of his abilities at once, and that certain combinations, such as electric manipulation and pyrokinesis, may not work as cleanly in tandem as others.
- When Peter was brought by his future self to the future where abilities could be induced, he displayed super speed (I Am Become Death). However, it is unclear from whom he mimicked this ability. He met there at least two evolved humans with this ability, eventually including Daphne Millbrook. It is possible he was unable to absorb this ability quickly enough while others sped past.
- After injecting himself with the formula (Dual), Peter was granted a new version of his original ability altogether. During the plane crash (A Clear and Present Danger), Peter required physical contact to absorb Mohinder and Tracy's abilities, rather than just being near them. He also couldn't use Mohinder's ability once he had taken on Tracy's. It should also be noted that in Dual, Peter did not fly until he came into physical contact with Nathan. This new ability now more closely resembles that of Rogue (from Marvel Comics's X-Men), except without the life force draining aspect.
- Peter, like the rest of the Petrelli family, is Roman Catholic, and of Italian descent.
- Ever since Peter has gotten his new ability, he has seemed to become more confident and calculated in his decisions.
- During the six weeks between An Invisible Thread and Orientation, Peter used his abilities to save fifty-three people as a paramedic.
- Ever since Peter got his new ability, he has displayed considerable fighting skills. He was able to best Edgar in a fight at super speed and defeat Sylar and Samuel in a physical fight after their powers were gone.
- Unlike with his original ability, Peter seems to have instant mastery of the powers he replicates: he was better at using super speed against Edgar than he against Daphne. Also, he quickly figured out terrakinesis and other powers he had previously not used before, unlike the time it took to master them with his original power.
Trivia[]
- In an interview, Tim Sale said, "Peter's [likeness] is kind of easier to caricature because he's got that silly hair and that kind of knife-like face."
- Both his first name and last name, Peter and Petrelli, come from the Greek word "petra"(πέτρα) meaning "rock".
- In an interview, Jason La Padura said that Peter and Nathan were originally written to be twins.
- According to the official site for the Season One DVD, Peter's AIM screen name is ppetrelli07.
- In the commentary for .07%, Andrew Chambliss says that Tim Kring's early drafts of the pilot call Peter "Harrison", "Ethan", and other names. His last name was Cambell, and he was supposed to be in his mid-30s.
- The style of a floppy angular fringe hairstyle which Peter wore in the first season has since been named a Petrelli.
- The New York license plate of the ambulance that Peter rides is 47V8AM. (Shadowboxing)
Gallery[]
