not sure if this should be in the spoiler section, but i put it here just to be safe...

after watching previews and clips of season 4, i am kind of confused as to what samuel's ability might be...
in the trailer preview it showed him at a gathering with other SG's ( i assume) then it showed a view from inside what looked like a grave and it showed him move his hands and all the dirt caved in as if it was under his control - so i thought he either has telekinesis or terrakinesis - but then on a clip, it showed him showing Hiro a tattoo of a compass on his arm and the north arrow was spinning on his skin - so maybe he has a tattoo ability... doesnt sound like much of a villain type of ability - but if he is shown displaying two different abilities, then maybe he has multiple abilities like peter/sylar...
any thoughts?

Initially, I thought Sammi would be a manipulation power, like emotion control. But it's pretty clear from Knepper's portrayal that Samy's got a pretty badass power. Terrakinesis is a definite probable. BTW, an NBC on Demand sneak shows that Sammy moves Hiro back a few feet when they say hi -- there's a way to do that with three powers: TerraK, standard TK, and Illusions. 5 to 3 it's TerraK.

BTW, the SyNate story bites.

He also pushs Edgar to a wall!,So I also assume tellekenesis.

Maybe he's an em-path that knows of the danger and damage inflicted to time traveler's who "carry" people along.

So he uses other time traveler's to move him as to not injure himself.

^Could-be!.

it certainly appears as though he has more than one ability - the tattoo thing and being able to move objects/people with his mind are two completely different things so i dont think there is just one ability that allows for the effects of both of those.

one possibility for the tele/terra kinesis ability is that he might be able to manipulate gravity or electromagnetic fields - which, in essence, is gravity. but that still doesnt explain the tattoos.

i dont think Lydia's ability has anything to do with tattoos - i think she is a clairvoyant and samuel uses her ability in conjunction with his tattoo ability so he can actually see on her skin the images she sees in her mind....so he touches his "pen" to her skin and whatever info/pictures she is "seeing" appears on her skin.

i was thinking that he has the ability to acquire the abilities of people who die - like at the time of death, he can take whatever ability they had....like maybe when their soul or life force leaves their body, he takes it along with their power...or something to that extent.
i dont know - but it definitely appears as though he has more than one ability.

didn't the Writers state that he has the ability to move earth?

Pretty sure. I'll have to rewatch the previews, but I think the tattoos are on the girl, not on him.

He does sport the compass tattoo when he is talking to Hiro.
He may have more than 1 ability. Let's see how it plays out!

after watching the premier - i think Samuel only has one ability, but it is pretty powerful and versatile. he has terrakinesis. this would also explain the tattoo ability since most tattoo inks are made of minerals like soot, dirt, metal salts, etc. - so he injects the "ink" and can move it throughout someone's body - that is probably one of the most creative ways to utilize an ability - this also tells me that Samuel is probably very adept at his power.

I agree if he has the "earth moving ability"

just think about the application of that ability.. basically everything at one point was in the earth right?

So hmm bring a building down on everyone.. its full of "metal" a mineral right?

I wonder why Darth Maul was afraid of him? He could go all ginzu knife on that mofo and slice in dice... perhaps Samuel has somethig over him..