Shows Like Heroes

Frequently asked about Heroes

Common questions people search for, with answers written by us at MoviesPack.

• What is the 'Save the Cheerleader, Save the World' prophecy about?▾

  The phrase refers to Claire Bennet, whose regenerative ability was crucial to preventing a catastrophic future explosion in New York City. Peter Petrelli absorbs powers from people he meets, and if Claire had died before he absorbed her healing ability, he would have had no way to survive the nuclear blast he was destined to trigger. Saving Claire ensured Peter could stop the explosion — or survive it — thereby preventing the apocalyptic future Hiro witnessed.

• Why does Sylar steal the powers of other heroes by examining their brains?▾

  Sylar, born Gabriel Gray, possesses an intuitive aptitude ability that lets him understand exactly how things work simply by studying them. He applies this compulsion to other evolved humans: by examining their brains he instinctively comprehends the biological mechanism behind each power and replicates it. His hunger for understanding is portrayed as an almost uncontrollable drive rather than pure malice, making him both villain and tragic figure.

• What does Hiro Nakamura's time travel to feudal Japan reveal about his destiny?▾

  When Hiro travels back to 1671 feudal Japan he discovers that the legendary swordsman Takezo Kensei he idolized was actually the immortal Adam Monroe — a morally corrupt Englishman whose ability to heal made him arrogant over centuries. Hiro himself ends up performing the heroic acts attributed to Kensei in legend, essentially becoming the hero of his own mythology. This arc establishes that heroism is a choice rather than an inherited trait, a central theme of the series.

• What was the Company's original purpose and why did it become sinister?▾

  The Company was founded by twelve evolved humans, including Angela Petrelli and Arthur Petrelli, originally to protect and study people with abilities and to prevent dangerous individuals from harming the public. Over decades the founders grew paranoid and power-hungry, resorting to illegal human experimentation, forced memory wipes, and the Shanti virus program to suppress powers they deemed too dangerous. Their secrecy and willingness to sacrifice individuals for the 'greater good' is what transformed a protective organization into a morally compromised shadow institution.

• How does Peter Petrelli's ability differ from Sylar's method of acquiring powers?▾

  Peter is an empathic mimic — he absorbs the abilities of evolved humans simply through close proximity or emotional connection, with no harm to the other person. Sylar must kill his victims (or at minimum dissect their brain tissue) to replicate a power through his intuitive aptitude. Early in the series Peter cannot control which powers activate at a given moment, making him potentially more dangerous than Sylar despite his benevolent nature.