Walter Sampson, also known as Brainwave, is a character on Netflix's Jupiter's Legacy. He is portrayed by Ben Daniels.
Walter is older brother of Sheldon Sampson. A man of vast intellect and cunning who, unlike Sheldon; he isn't afraid to get his hands dirty Or bloody.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Throughout the series[]
Season 1[]
By Dawn's Early Light[]
In 1929 Chicago, a young Sheldon is heading into work. He meets his father and brother in the factory offices. Walter is frustrated by the company’s decision to expand for more steel mills. Sheldon and their father talk about growing the American Dream and proceed to say that this expansion is being done with the employees and their families in mind.
In the present day, Sheldon, Walter, Grace, and Brandon begin their evening dinner. A drunk Chloe storms through the door as her father, Sheldon, says grace. There's a clear tension between Chloe and her father. Especially when Chloe talks about her latest photoshoot in a magazine. Sheldon disapproves of the attention she brings herself and states that Brandon tries to use his gift to better the world. The conversation inevitably turns into an argument, and Chloe states how much she regrets having Sheldon as her father. Her mother, Grace, demands that she apologize. Chloe does apologize but states that this will be the last dinner she will be coming to before storming out with the bottle of wine Walter had brought.
Back in 1929, Sheldon meets up with George, when suddenly, there’s a commotion. It is quickly revealed that it’s as a result of the stock market crashing. At work, the family business is panicking. Walter tells Sheldon that he told them they shouldn’t have expanded, and now they are suffering from the consequences. Their father is up on the roof, and when Sheldon joins him, he tells them how their steel is laced throughout the city. He wanted to build a legacy, but he claims it all ended up in a box. Sheldon’s father then jumps off the roof, and Sheldon is in anguish at seeing his father kill himself right in front of him.
In the present day, Sheldon and Walter also reminisce about the past and discuss how George turned on them and became a terrorist. Sheldon muses that they’ve had 90 years of fighting wizards and robots, and they have nothing to show for it. He brings up how the world is more divisive than ever. He believes it’s all sinking like quicksand into the ground after everything they’ve sacrificed. Walter suggests that they could perhaps bring an administrative shape policy and have a more active role. But Sheldon becomes frustrated about the suggestion of going against the Code and inspiring the people, not hurting them, or killing them. Walter then states how much he regrets not ending World War Two sooner, especially with all the atrocities that took place. But Sheldon brings up how if they had gotten involved in everything, it would in turn end free will. Walter for his part argues free will is what is bringing down the world.
Later, Brandon and Walter arrive with more superheroes to fight Blackstar. Unfortunately, Barry Bishop and other young superheroes are killed in the battle. Brandon gets emotional and tries to fight Blackstar one on one. His mother arrives to help, and while Blackstar repeatedly punches The Utopian, Walter takes control of Blackstar’s mind while the others beat and restrain him. Eventually, Blackstar frees himself from the mind control and fights again. Blackstar starts to go nuclear, so Brandon super punches the villain to kill him.
Paper and Stone[]
Blackstar looks at what looks like a cloned version of him, and proceeds to ask who killed him? Blackstar then claims that it’s not him and that it’s simply a cheap copy of him. The Utopian is keen for answers, and Walter feels they need to cut the corpse open to find out.
In 1929, a young Sheldon prepares for his father’s funeral with Walter. Discussions turn to business, and Walter brings up how the board wants to shut everything down. Sheldon is furious, but Walter reminds him that their father is not around anymore. Sheldon sees a newspaper article that claims their “father ripped off his workers” which was written by journalist Grace Kennedy , who unbeknownst to him at the time, will go on to be his future wife. He confronts her about it in her workplace. She tells him that everything in the article is true. Sheldon gets angry about the headline, “The Death of Capitalism,” and he tells all the journalists that capitalism built their lives and asks how they are helping America. Sheldon tells Grace and the others that they should be ashamed of themselves for what they write and the people they hurt in the process.
However, when Sheldon speaks to Walter about it, his brother claims the reports are true, since their father used the pension fund to back the expansion of the mills. Sheldon doesn’t buy it, but Walter states that is simply because he was the only one dumb enough to buy his father’s bullshit. Walter wants to shut the mill, which causes angry commotions from the workers who want their pensions.
Back into the past, Sheldon wakes up in the hospital, and his fiancée and Walter tell him what happened at the funeral service. Sheldon is happy to be alive. He tells them that he saw something; “an island,” and he believes he saw some message from his father.
Behind Walter and Sheldon’s fiancée, a figure stands there looking severely injured. It’s Sheldon’s father.
Painting the Clouds With Sunshine[]
In 1929, Walter and Jane were concerned about Sheldon, so they spoke to George Hutchence about it. They think whatever is happening to him is not physical, but mental. They also mention how he hasn’t eaten or slept in days. Jane pleads with George and asks him to visit. George visits Sheldon, and he can hear him talking to someone.
Later, Walter is furious at George for giving Sheldon meaning to his drawings. He explains that his brother has lost his mind. Jane overhears the conversation and gets upset, knowing Sheldon is missing.
All the Devils Are Here[]
Back in 1929, Walter eventually finds Sheldon at the farm, and he tells his older brother that he’s ready to come home. However, he can hear numbers repeating in his head that are clearly coordinates for a place somewherein the sea.
What's the Use?[]
Brandon tells his Uncle Walter that every time he replays the battle with Blackstar, it becomes unclear in his head. Walter tells him that he made a decision, and nothing can change that. Mr. Wolfe then drops in for a visit to analyze the Blackstar corpse. He uses his powers to pull the body apart so that they can analyze the body further. Much to everyone's surprise, deeply embedded inside the corpse is a device. When Mr. Wolfe opens up the device, there’s a pocket watch inside.
Later, Walter shows Sheldon and Grace the watch and they realize that it looks absolutely identical to his father’s watch. Walter believes that George sent the device with the clone of Blackstar, but they are not sure why he would do so. Sheldon then visits Hutch, who is George’s son and tells him that they need to talk. Hutch tries to teleport and flee, but Sheldon keeps on finding him every single time.
Back in 1929, when George and Sheldon meet Walter, he tells them that the company is being shut down. Sheldon tells Walter that it doesn’t matter and explains another episode he had that gave him coordinates. He believes something is out there that is going to change their lives. He wants Walter to come with him. Walter however, is upset, saying he needed his brother at the board meeting, but he didn’t show up.
Later on, Walter tells George that he’s feeding Sheldon’s delusions. George implies that he believes Sheldon’s visions and that Sheldon needs this journey to heal.
Cover Her Face[]
Back in 1929, Grace snoops around and finds Sheldon’s drawings on the ship. She sees the map and a drawing of his father looking injured. Walter and Sheldon find her looking, and Walter is concerned about the drawings. He also finds the watch that they buried their father with.This leads Walter to get increasingly irritated. But they cannot argue for long, as they rescue a man in the sea, who turns out to be a doctor. The man talks about a storm that suddenly comes from nowhere and wonders why it let him leave. He then warns the others that the storm is here.
Omnes Pro Uno[]
In the present, Walter offers to go into the mind of a clone of Blackstar, but there’s a risk that he could die. Grace believes Raikou, who is Walter’s daughter, can help, but Sheldon doesn’t want a contract killer in their group helping. Grace pushes back and asks Walter to find her.
In Tokyo, Japan, Raikou draws her sword on the streets and proceeds to fight a gang. She kills most of them with ease, but then Walter visits her and enters her mind. Walter offers her some financial aid and then leaves her mind so that she can finish off her fight.
In 1929, while on the island, Sheldon and the crew make their way through the forest of the island. Sheldon sees a pattern on a tree that’s similar to his drawings. After exploring more, they see some foggy mountains in the distance. Walter is scared and wants everyone to go back to the ship. Suddenly, an explosion occurs in front of them, and a tree shoots up to stop them. Sheldon then mentions to everyone else that the island will not let them leave.
Tensions rise, and Walter continues to proclaim that he wants to leave, so Sheldon tells him to go. Grace tells him they have no choice but to keep ongoing.
As they continue to make their way towards the mountains, they are hit by a sandstorm, and they have to stick together to fight it. When they reach safety, the brothers keep on arguing. Walter sobs and blames the death of their father on Sheldon. He then states they should have never expanded the company. Sheldon tries to calm him down, but he wants to keep moving.
In the present, Walter tells the real Blackstar that he’s going to go into his clone’s brain. He wants to know if the villain is in contact with George Hutchence, but Blackstar denies any contact. An irritated Walter proceeds to tell Blackstar that when he’s done with his clone, there will be nothing left. He then leaves after telling the supervillain he is nothing like this brother.
In 1929, the group finally reaches an enclave, but there does not appear to be a way through.t Sheldon refuses to believe it. As Walter gets angry, they are suddenly shrouded by a big wall above them, and they are locked in. Richard gets angry and blames Sheldon for this, and fights him. Grace sees two skeletons that look like they have killed each other. She believes that the island is testing them because ever since they’ve gotten off the boat, all they’ve done is fight. She also notices the skeletons are a group of six, just like they are. Sheldon states the island wants them to get through adversity, so there must be a way out of this.
When Sheldon and George touch the wall, white and purple patterns appear before them. The rest of the crew touch the wall together. However, when Walter touches the wall, nothing happens. Grace tells Sheldon that they need to unify as brothers for it to work fully. The brothers unite, and the wall begins to open, showing a beam of light as it does. They then walk through the gap that has opened up. Out of nowhere, Walter and Sheldon’s father appears, but he does not look menacing this time, and it’s not part of Sheldon’s imagination because Walter can see him too. Their father tells them that they have completed the ordeal while suffering unthinkable losses and prevailing. Other people appear as well and echo Chester’s sentiments and call the group “worthy”.
Suddenly, there’s a high-energy blast, and the captain who is on the ship looks concerned with his crewmates. However, as they look in the distance, they see the superheroes in the sky.
In the present, Walter and Raikou work together to enter the clone’s mind. Distorted voices overlap each other, and Sheldon asks what he sees. Walt struggles and yells as he falls to the floor. Sheldon orders Raikou to help Walter, but she refuses. She then tells her uncle that she needs to keep Blackstar’s mind open, or Walter will never be able to get out.
How It All Ends[]
In the present day, Walter is struggling inside the clone’s mind. Raikou states that whatever is happening in there, it’s ripping him apart piece by piece, but she needs to keep the door open to give Walter any chance of being able to set himself free.
Elsewhere, Brandon speaks to Sheldon to comfort him about Walter and states he will be okay.
Walter continues to struggle inside the Blackstar clone’s mind, when suddenly he sees George sitting down and smoking a cigarette slowly. When George stands up, he reveals himself in his full superhero form. The two men end up fighting and out in the real world, Walter’s heart rate is going into critical condition as he is punched badly by George inside his mind, so Grace asks if he can enter the clone’s mind to help.
Grace enters, but George starts torturing Walter’s mind. However, Walter and Grace end up out of the clone’s mind anyway. They then tell Fitz that Skyfox was in there.
Meanwhile, Grace knows Skyfox gave Walter a message, which is why he let them go. Walter eventually shows her what it was by transferring it into her mind. She then sees visions of Sheldon and Brandon dead, with Skyfox standing over them victorious. Walter proceeds to explain that George cloned Blackstar, knowing that it would trouble the Union. He’s going after all of them. Grace vows that no one will hurt her family, and they will bring him to justice.
Meanwhile, in the present day, Raikou asks Walter to deposit her money into her account. Walter tells her she’s like her mother, but Raikou says he did not love her mother, as that requires communication and attention. Walter blames himself for what happened in their family history. Then, the father and daughter try to read each other’s mind, and Walter gets angry. Raikou tells her father that she knows the real truth about how he was actually the one who cloned Blackstar and made it look like Skyfox did the whole thing. Raiko further reveals that she knows Walter orchestrated everything because wanted The Utopian and his son to be torn apart. Walter says the world is falling apart under Sheldon’s leadership of the Union and his adherence to the Code. Raikou says she doesn’t give a shit and now wants 50 million dollars for her silence. Walter calls his daughter a disappointment and slices her neck to kill her.
Meanwhile, Sheldon asks Walter for help regarding Brandon. He fears that he is losing him. Walter tells Sheldon he can trust him while putting his hand on him to reassure his younger brother.
Personality[]
Powers and Abilities[]
- Telepathy: Walter's acute psychic powers can destroy the mind.
- Flight: Walter can defy gravity and levitate in the air.
- Vacuum Adaptation/Self-Sustenance: Walter can survive in space as far as satellites.
- Superhuman Strength:
- Superhuman Speed:
- Longevity: Walter ages slower than normal humans. He is 120 years old, yet he looks like a man in his 60s, and is still fit. He will likely live for at least several more decades.
Weaknesses[]
Equipment[]
Relationships[]
Appearances[]
Season 1[]
- By Dawn's Early Light
- Paper and Stone
- Painting the Clouds With Sunshine
- All the Devils Are Here
- What's the Use?
- Cover Her Face
- Omnes Pro Uno
- How It All Ends
Memorable Quotes[]
Trivia[]
- Fans may agree that Brainwave is somewhat a combination of Martian Manhunter in DC comics and Professor X in Marvel comics.
Gallery[]
References[]
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