Every season we have seen Nathan's future not be so bright.

Vol1- 5YG - Sylar has killed Nathan sometime in the past and assumed his identity
Vol2 - OfT - Nathan is dead from the Virus
Vol3 - SC - Nathan shot by FP; IABD - Nathan has ok'd the use of sythic to induce abilities and Peter ends of slicing his head open
Vol4 - AIT - We all saw what happened here - Nathan killed by Sylar and Sylar takes on Nathan's idenity.

It has circled around to Vol1 5YG. I have to wonder if this wasn't the intended path for Nathan all along?

its looking that way.
sylar cant think hes nathan forever
remember peter in s2 after his mind wipe, his healing ability was able to undo what the Haitian did. its only a matter of time before sylar wakes up and realizes what happened to him, and when that happens he is going to be exactly where he wants to be

I was thinking the same thing after the episode (especially when Sylar as Nathan used IA to adjust the clock, I thought this sets up the original 5YG episide perfectly)

It will be interesting to see how once Sylar realizes who he is how he manipulates those around him who still believe he is Nathan, particularly Claire.

IT took someone (EyeofHarmony) to really point this out to me, cause to be honest Iwas somewhat upset about them doing this, but I can see how 5YG falls into place with AIT but without Kirby Plaza

Yes it does look like that particular part of the 5YG future might happen, Peter thinks he is Nathan as does Claire. Boy are those two gonna be annoyed when they find out their loved ones have been lying to them again.

I can see how Mohinder could then be convinced to work with Nathan in the future too - he also doesn't know what happened.

Here's what Adrian Pasdar had to say in an interview prior to last night's episode:

"Going into that last episode, [Nathan's] really coming back with a definitive purpose and he's putting a face on the bad guy. And of course, with Sylar being that guy, he's confronting the own worst part of himself manifested in somebody else."

I have an idea where it's headed, and it's right to the core of family. The next step is really interesting."

I'd have to agree with the "confronting the own worst part of himself manifested in somebody else." It looks like that's going to continue. The question becomes how will this change anc confrontation effect the family (once they're all in on it). I don't know that they are definitely setting up for 5yg, though "Nathan" could definitely see the oval office. It sounds like any relapse and any relationships "Nathan" is going to have will be slightly more complicated.

one thing to remember about regeneration is that it currently believes that the DNA and body is Nathan, an may never restore sylar's memories as those are apart of Sylar's DNA and brain.

Hmm better phrasing.

RCR turns on, status check, Nathan Petrelli DNA, Heal nathan's brain for memory damage, nathan's brain has damaged elements of foreign cells (sylar's memories), destroy cells and memories, nathan's brain 100% functional

With shapeshifting we know it changes the DNA, allows for the body itself to reconfigure to facilitate the DNA blueprints, thus cloning a new body replicant of the DNA sample. Shapeshifting turns the host into a Cloning template, when a Sample is chosen the template then clones the DNA and a new body is made form the old.

Also we know that from sylar's own admission that shapeshifting takes precedence over RCR as it will not restore his real image, and does indeed not regenerate his sweet spot back onto its original place. basically RCR regenerates the Cells in the body, the question being, which cells are in the body. through shapeshifting these cells are whomever is mimicked and thus RCR will regenerate those cells.

i said/thought of the same thing in another topic just saw yours XD

great minds..

I hope I'm not hijacking the thread, but really, I guess I feel as if I'm missing something.

I had noticed that Nathan had died in each of the season finales (I had forgotten about the Volume 3 death) - but really, isn't it getting beyond ridiculous? He's the only one of the main characters to keep dying and keep coming back - what is so important about him that he needs to keep coming back? And what I mean is that the show hasn't really told us. Yes, his mom's seen the future and he's there and 'saved', and whatnot, and he's important as a figure-head for "Heroes" because he is one, I get all that, but I feel as if he has been drastically under-served by the show, because I don't believe that he's anything more than a monkey that a lot of people want in the same position, so he gets to be there.

And now, due to actually killing the 'original DNA', if you will, there's no chance to redeem that particular part of the story. Sure, via Zimmerman, we can have a clone or a twin that we don't know about that takes on Nathan's memories and personality after the Nathan/Sylar battle of Season 4 / Volume 5. We can even have that explain his affinity for Niki and Jessica, if we want, via prior knowledge that viewers didn't know of yet.

But please, have a better reason to save him. Oh wait, there already are plenty, including the family we see on air and the family that's been ignored since early Season 2. But those aren't the reasons he's brought back. He's brought back because he's "the only one" who can make things right. Really? Like I said, I just don't buy it.