Perfectly said. Like Claude did in the first season, Peter needed Sylar to show him exactly how his ability worked before he could activate it. It's actually a great showing of continuity. It reminds the audience that even though Peter is constantly around abilities, some require extra knowledge before they can be used. And until he gains that knowledge, they're useless/unknown to him.
Peter didn't need Claude to show him how to become invisible. He did that without even realizing it had happened. He needed Claude to teach him how to be able to control it consciously.
Even assuming that Sylar's powers are not of the always-on variety, Peter should have had them activate once or twice just by accident, in times of stress. All of his other powers have appeared that way; it isn't true that he needs knowledge to use them. Even when he was in Ireland with no memory of having *any* powers, he was still able to access them when under duress.
Logically, Peter should have been able to figure out how to use Sylar's power on his own. After all, Sylar was able to do it the first time without instruction.
Oh I agree that he doesn't always need knowledge of them to be able to use them. I meant that some abilities, the more complex ones, he may need some coaching on how to use it properly. Without having the knowledge of how Sylar's power works, or even what it is, Peter wouldn't even have known what to do to use it.
As for Peter figuring it out himself, I'm guessing that it was all of his other abilities that got in the way of that happening. Sylar was able to figure it out because it was the only ability he had and that it was native to him. Through his work with Mohinder's father, he was able to realize he could do something. Then when he thought about how easy it was for him to fix watches, it clicked. Peter needed Sylar to help him so it would click for him.
No matter what the exact reason, I agree that it probably should have made an appearance at least once by now. Maybe when Peter had no memory. I'm betting that the writers didn't have it planned out that Peter would get Sylar's ability and that's why it wasn't shown.
I think what happened is that the writers only just decided that Sylar's power comes with homicidal tendencies.
Before, it seemed like Sylar's power was more like an inate understanding of complicated things. He could see what made them tick. So, it didn't matter if Peter had that power or not because it wouldn't have significantly changed his personality.
Now, they decided that Sylar was not actually evil, but instead a victim of his powers. So they have to retcon like crazy to explain why Peter hasn't been on a murderous rampage for the pasttwo years.
They probably decided that Sylar's ability needed to be the cause of his evil so it would be easier to explain why Sylar can become good and Peter can become bad.
Retcon to make things easier. Now there's something evil.
"While Peter has had his ability from the first moment he met him, he must first understand the exact nature of it so that he is able to tap into it consciously and use it."
Not true. In fact, there is not one other power that Peter had to have explained to him before he could use it. At the beginning of last season, he had forgotten that powers *existed*, but he was still able to shoot lightning, phase through ropes, and use telekinesis. He moved himself and Caitlyn through time entirely by accident. Sylar's power should have manifested the same way.
Everything they have told us so far this season indicates that power usage is related to adrenaline. If Peter is in a panic and trying to figure things out, Sylar's power should come out.
Peter should be able to learn to use it the same way that Sylar did. Experimentation. Trial and error. That's how we've seen him figure out his other powers.
A cockroach? Is that what he was? Makes sense...the cockroach has kind of been a theme in the show so far. He probably accidentally got some cockroach DNA mixed into his formula. That's what he gets for keeping his lab so filthy. ;)
I like Knox. I'm glad he escaped the bank last week.
(The comment has been removed)
(The comment has been removed)
Reply
Even assuming that Sylar's powers are not of the always-on variety, Peter should have had them activate once or twice just by accident, in times of stress. All of his other powers have appeared that way; it isn't true that he needs knowledge to use them. Even when he was in Ireland with no memory of having *any* powers, he was still able to access them when under duress.
Logically, Peter should have been able to figure out how to use Sylar's power on his own. After all, Sylar was able to do it the first time without instruction.
Reply
As for Peter figuring it out himself, I'm guessing that it was all of his other abilities that got in the way of that happening. Sylar was able to figure it out because it was the only ability he had and that it was native to him. Through his work with Mohinder's father, he was able to realize he could do something. Then when he thought about how easy it was for him to fix watches, it clicked. Peter needed Sylar to help him so it would click for him.
No matter what the exact reason, I agree that it probably should have made an appearance at least once by now. Maybe when Peter had no memory. I'm betting that the writers didn't have it planned out that Peter would get Sylar's ability and that's why it wasn't shown.
Reply
Before, it seemed like Sylar's power was more like an inate understanding of complicated things. He could see what made them tick. So, it didn't matter if Peter had that power or not because it wouldn't have significantly changed his personality.
Now, they decided that Sylar was not actually evil, but instead a victim of his powers. So they have to retcon like crazy to explain why Peter hasn't been on a murderous rampage for the pasttwo years.
Reply
They probably decided that Sylar's ability needed to be the cause of his evil so it would be easier to explain why Sylar can become good and Peter can become bad.
Retcon to make things easier. Now there's something evil.
Reply
Not true. In fact, there is not one other power that Peter had to have explained to him before he could use it. At the beginning of last season, he had forgotten that powers *existed*, but he was still able to shoot lightning, phase through ropes, and use telekinesis. He moved himself and Caitlyn through time entirely by accident. Sylar's power should have manifested the same way.
Everything they have told us so far this season indicates that power usage is related to adrenaline. If Peter is in a panic and trying to figure things out, Sylar's power should come out.
Peter should be able to learn to use it the same way that Sylar did. Experimentation. Trial and error. That's how we've seen him figure out his other powers.
Reply
I like Knox. I'm glad he escaped the bank last week.
Reply
Leave a comment