About Sylar...

arthurn · 09-30-2008, 12:20 PM

Does Sylar gain the abilities of others by eating their brains? If so, what about Claire? Did he eat a portion of her brain and it grew back??

Since Claire can be "killed" (at least temporarily) by puncturing the back of her head, I suppose there is a spot in the brain that is responsible for regeneration. So, if Sylar is to take her ability, he would have to remove that part. If he does, Claire would not be able to heal.

So, I don't quite understand how Sylar can take Claire's ability without killing her.

Mathsorcerer · 09-30-2008, 12:36 PM

It has never been specifiaclly stated exactly how Sylar steals abilities, but it is fairly certain that he does not ingest brain material to do so.

The general consensus is that he examines their brain with his own ability--problem-solving or "knowing how things work/why they are broken"--and this allows him to copy that ability in his own brain.

My only problem with that is that it requires him to alter his own brain...but perhaps if we are lucky we will get an answer to that question this season.

arthurn · 09-30-2008, 01:15 PM

Yeah, it's not stated, though both the FBI agent and Claire suggested/guessed that he was eating the brains. The problem is, as you said, that Sylar's brain needs to be altered to gain abilities, so there must be some passing of information from one brain to another.

And in the past, Sylar always removes the brain from the skull (with Claire it's different). And since the brains are "gone", I am guessing that he ate them. But it's only a guess...

Ikin · 09-30-2008, 07:37 PM

Did you even watch the second episode?
"Are you going to eat it?"
"Eat your brain? Claire, that's disgusting."

arthurn · 10-01-2008, 04:10 AM

Yes, he said that's disgusting, but that doesn't mean he doesn't do it??

Ikin · 10-01-2008, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arthurn

Yes, he said that's disgusting, but that doesn't mean he doesn't do it??

Yes it does.

Cnith · 10-02-2008, 12:02 PM

No it doesn't. I think it's disgusting to clean the litterbox, but I do it anyway. It's also gross to pick up dog poo and clean kennels but I do that too...

I think it's the most disgusting thing to eat organ meats but I had to do it when I was a kid because I was forced to do so.

So it's POSSIBLE he ate the brains even though it was disgusting...although I don't understand how eating it would make the ability possible.

I also don't understand, if he didn't eat them, where did the brains go?!

The_Heroic_Loser · 10-02-2008, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cnith

I also don't understand, if he didn't eat them, where did the brains go?!

That's what I'm wondering too. In season 1 all of his victims were brainless when found. It seems strange to me that he would take their brains and keep them, but not do anything in particular with them (other than examine them for the power).

Reen Seraph · 10-03-2008, 12:49 AM

Maybe it got easier for him as time went on. Also, he may not have been able to remove claire brain for some odd reason. *shrugs* Maybe power mimicry is different for every person that has it, and Gabriel has it, but gets it directly from the examination of the brain...?

MiuMiuKitty · 10-07-2008, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Heroic_Loser

That's what I'm wondering too. In season 1 all of his victims were brainless when found. It seems strange to me that he would take their brains and keep them, but not do anything in particular with them (other than examine them for the power).

Im guessing if you were to kill someone to study how their brain works you wouldn't just sit there and do it.

He probably had to take them and go somewhere to figure out the ability and not get caught.
But as time progressed he figured out how to do it faster and faster which is why doesnt take that much time anymore.