Before I begin, make sure you join the LIVE TWEET with Jeff Pinkner, Joel Wyman and millions of Fringe fans tomorrow evening on Twitter at 9 PM EST/PST during the east and west coast airing of “The Day We Died”! Included are great Fringe videos courtesy of FOX Broadcasting. Enjoy !
Can you believe that “The Last Sam Weiss” was not the season finale of Fringe? What an outstanding episode! Let’s go through this masterpiece together! We first find ourselves in Peter Bishop’s (Joshua Jackson) hospital room with Walter Bishop (John Noble) watching over him.
Walter is concerned about Peter’s health even though Astrid Farnsworth (Jasika Nicole) tells him the doctors believe that Peter will be okay. Walter is only lured from Peter’s bedside with the promise of tapioca pudding.We then find ourselves traveling with a family in their car on a road in Holyoke, Massachusetts.
This scene is seriously awesome. We get to listen to a rock classic by The Doors (Riders on the Storm) and the colors of the stormy day are amazing.
The best part is when the kid listening to the music sees his arm hairs move up and down to the song.
I got chills! He had just mentioned this weirdness to his father when… BLAM
The car up front rolls across the road and then… BLAM… another lightning strike. The dad throws the car into reverse and backs away. He then proceeds to get out of the car to check out what’s going on. Note: Do NOT leave your car during a lightning storm!
We get a splendid view of a massive dry lightning storm. The visual effects here were pretty cool.After the title sequence, we find Sam Weiss (Kevin Corrigan) and Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) at the machine. Sam tells her that these events don’t make sense. Olivia explains Walter’s theory that the two machines are quantum entangled and their machine was turned on when the one on the other side was activated.
Sam explains that the machine thinks that Peter is already inside it and a force field has been activated to keep anything or anyone else out. He believes the machine to be “frustrated” and that this frustration is causing all the damage out in the world. When Olivia asks how to stop the machine, Sam replies, “In case of emergency, break glass”.
Sam shows Olivia the manuscript that the book was based on and reveals unpublished pages explaining that the force field can been broken by a “crowbar” hidden inside a box. Once the box is opened with the key, the crowbar will open the force field long enough for Peter to enter the machine. Sam believes that Peter will be safe inside the machine and he and Olivia leave to retrieve the box.Back at the hospital, we find that a lot of people have been hurt during the lightning storm.We see an awesome job by the make-up department on the burn victims.Agent Broyles (Lance Reddick) appears and tells Walter and Astrid that many people have been hurt in these storms. Walter agrees to leave Peter and work on the problem after Astrid quotes Ben Franklin by saying “God helps those who help themselves”.Sam Weiss and Olivia arrive at the tomb of his great great great great grandfather who turns out to have been named Sam Weiss. Sam explains that he is a descendent of a family who first found the information on the First People and the machine. The box containing the proverbial crowbar was hidden in this tomb.Sam wavers on the decision to retrieve the key and open the box because the time line seems incorrect. Olivia persuades him by mentioning that she’s armed.We discover that Astrid’s Ben Franklin quote has lead to Walter flying a kite during a lighting storm. Note: Do NOT fly a kite during a lightning storm (see photo below)!After lightning strikes Walter a second time, he tells Astrid that he’s found the missing variable (repetition). Note: Lightning has no memory and most certainly can strike the same exact place more than once. Peter finally wakes up and we find him in his hospital room looking thoroughly confused.Perhaps he should be confused by his complete lack of attention by the ICU nurses. Seriously this is the worst nursing staff in the history of hospitals. He gets up and gets dressed and strolls down an empty corridor. I was beginning to think he was dead or dreaming due to the lack of people around. He finally sees a nurse, who totally ignores his existence, and find that the emergency room is packed with burn victims. Let us all hope none of them need to go to the ICU.Peter steps outside and gets a view of the town being pounded by the lightning storm. What a cool shot! Peter leaves the hospital and hails a cab. He asks to be driven to Midtown. He’s clearly confused as to which city he is in and it turns out he’s also confused as to which universe he’s in.Sam and Olivia arrive at the museum where the key is hidden. It’s a mess and we are told that lightning is appearing out of thin air inside the building. Aside: generally if lightning strikes a building the electrical current will travel through the wiring and plumbing to the ground.We get a cute moment where after Olivia flashes her badge, Sam shows his museum membership card. The expression on Olivia’s face when he does this is priceless.Sam and Olivia enter the building to retrieve the key. Meanwhile, with Astrid’s help, Walter finds all the places where lightning has struck more than one. He overlays maps showing the frequency of multiple lightning strikes, frequency of seismic events, and multiple radiation and thermal spikes.The map shows fringe events focused around two points and a rift between them. The two points correspond to where the machines are in both universes. Walter goes to Agent Broyles office to demonstrate the effects of these two machines pulling at each other.To slow the pace of destruction, they decide it’s best to move their machine to Liberty Island (the location of the machine in the parallel universe).We find Sam and Olivia inside the museum about to retrieve the key when lightning starts striking inside the building. Sam grabs that artifact that houses the key while Olivia unsuccessfully attempts to stop a security gate from closing and trapping them inside.Sam, the bowler, saves the day by picking up a piece of debris (probably from a priceless artifact) and rolling it so that it knocks down a giant vase (probably another priceless artifact) and stops the security gate from closing (probably not a priceless artifact).Now that they have collected the key, they use it to open the box.The box opens to reveal a scroll.It appears to be a picture of Olivia surrounded by single letter codes for nucleotides, which are molecules that make up the structural units of DNA.Walter examines the scroll and explains to Olivia that she has a connection to the machine. He tells her that she must use telekinesis to turn off the force field so that Peter can get inside. Olivia must turn the machine in the parallel universe off in order to control the machine on this side.Walter wants her to practice using the typewriter that AltLiv used to communicate with the other side.He tells her to focus on a specific phrase and that the process should be like meditation. She stares at the typewriter in the mirror but nothing happens. Meanwhile, the ICU nurse FINALLY decides to check on Peter. Seriously! How long has it been since she lasted checked! NURSE FAIL!She finds his note: I AM GOING HOME. Remember that in “Subject 13” we saw young Peter leave Elizabeth the same note right before he dove into the bottom of Reiden Lake. Which universe does Peter believe is his true home?Olivia is still having typewriter troubles. When she expresses her insecurities in her control over her abilities, we get a heartwarming scene between Walter and Olivia. He talks to her like a father would to a daughter and tells her how extraordinary she is. It was a sweet and touching moment and both actors did a phenomenal job. After his pep talk, she tries again.But nothing happens! I really thought it was going to work. That’s what normally happens on television right? One person doubts themselves… along comes the father figure… inspiring pep talk… and voilà …RESULTS. Not this time! Color me surprised.About this time, the hospital finally gets around to informing the team that Peter is missing. We find Peter seemingly lost in New York City looking for a pawn shop.Peter goes into the pawn shop and is looking for a silver half dollar. He mentions that it has always brought him luck. Remember that the Peter who died as a child in the prime universe gave Walter his lucky half dollar. Walter then placed it on his grave after his death.As the team worries about Peter’s location, Olivia finds out that his credit card had been used to take a cab to NYC and at a pawn shop. Just as they are wondering why Peter would go to NYC, we find Peter stepping onto Liberty Island.Peter tells an officer that he needs to see his father, the secretary of defense. He obviously thinks he’s in the parallel universe.We find Sam upset at himself for intervening just as Agent Broyles reveals that Peter has been found at Liberty Island. Sam is told that his involvement with the team is over.We then get a shot of Sam staring out at Liberty Island with his Newton’s cradle clicking away. What’s up with that thing? Is it representing the energy passing between the two universes? I’m sure this is not the last we see of Sam Weiss.Walter and Olivia are finally reunited with Peter. He mentions that there are two Walters and that he has been confused.As Walter questions Peter to check his mental state, there are some cute interactions between Olivia and Peter.Walter finds the half dollar that Peter bought and acts really weird about it.Olivia tells Peter about the telekinesis and she mentions that she concentrated on a phrase while trying to get the typewriter to work.The scene cuts to Astrid hearing the typewriter clicking away in the other room. Maybe Olivia needs Peter to be near here to use her ability?We find out the phrase that Olivia was thinking was “be a better man than your father”. Remember that in “A New Day in the Old Town” Olivia woke up and blurted this phrase out in Greek. She explained that William Bell had given this message for her to give to Peter. Peter said that his mother used to recite this to him every night before he went to bed.After a quick pep talk from Walter, it’s time for Olivia to take down the force field. Olivia and Peter hold hands and look lovingly at each other before moving towards the machine.Olivia walks up and uses her abilities to lower the force field.Olivia tells Peter she loves him and they kiss. Peter walks up to the machine while his life for the last few years flashes before his eyes. As he looks at Olivia, he sees their history together.Peter enters the machine and looks like he’s being electrocuted!FLASH!Suddenly we find Peter on the ground during what looks to be an apocalypse! WHAT? What is going on?He bumps into something and looks down. September 2021!!! WHAT?!? He’s time traveled?A guy wearing a coat with a FRINGE DIVISION patch calls him AGENT Bishop and pulls him to the ground just before an explosion. Peter’s hurt and bleeding. He asks “where am I?. And the episode ends. SAY WHAT? What the hell just happened? Did you notice his hair was a different color? Did you notice the wedding ring?Seriously, I’m so tripped out that this wasn’t the season finale! Did he really time travel? Is he actually still physically in the machine and has just traveled mentally? Is this a different alternate universe? The machine is supposed to be able to create worlds, right?Holy cow! I can’t wait for next week!This excellent episode was written by Monica Owusu-Breen and Alison Schapker. It was directed by the great director Thomas Yatsko.I hope you have enjoyed this review of “The Last Sam Weiss.” Fringe returns Friday May 06, 2011 9 PM EST/PST for the season three finale. In the meantime we include the entire episode and “The Day We Died” extended trailer below courtesy of FOX via Hulu. Enjoy! I hope you have enjoyed this interview. As always we thank you for visiting WormholeRiders News Agency. Please feel free to share this news article by clicking one of the social media icons below. You may also leave a spam free comment or question here, or feel free to visit and chat with me on Twitter by clicking my avatar or the text links in this news article. XO Rachelle Smith, Ph.D.
On a different topic before starting my review; the first commercial break featured an awesome delight for my senses. There was a preview for the Green Lantern. Ryan Reynolds is Canadian and with me being a fan and Canadian also, this was an awesome Fox preview of the Green Lantern! I can’t wait until June to see this!!!
As we stop for a different commercial break we see Blair Brown’s smiling face in a commercial for the environment the advertisement is for a “Green It, Mean It“, a FOX television series and a public service announcement. We like to see our stars encouraging the use of locally grown foods and as an advocate for our environment.
Editors Note: Fringe in now available On Demand courtesy of FOX Broadcasting on Comcast xFinity cable systems in the United States. This excellent new addition to the On Demand lineup can be accessed on channel zero (0) or by clicking the ON DEMAND button and selecting “TV Series” A through F. Scroll down to Fringe and you will find the latest episodes. Thank you FOX and Comcast!
The new day dawns with a new episode of Fringe and it’s going to be a long day…. Fox Broadcasting put the twitter #Fringe hash tag on the bottom right hand corner of our TV screens for the whole episode this week. Twitter fans are there for Fringe and the response on twitter shows that fans are ready to scream and shout for the amazing program that is Fringtastically Fringe!
Ready to wake up and smell the fresh brewed coffee in this weeks episode of Fringe? Well, there might be something else brewing at 6:02 AM and it is not coffee!
Brandonate (Ryan McDonald) is busy preparing the machine for it’s dark purpose. He has his team hard at work making sure the lead casing called the Faraday Cage protects the complex when the machine is made active. He doesn’t want a lighting bolt to go flying. Faraday cage is a good name for this device as Micheal Faraday did electrifying work. Bradonate is not a favorite character of mine but Brandon Fayette is. Brandonate himself is sleazy and gives me the creeps every time I see him. There is nothing like a good, bad guy. Ryan does a really great job of playing both characters so well. Is it ultimately, our choices in life that create who we are?
Walternate (John Noble) appears in the doorway to see how his plans are progressing. Brandonate clears the room so they can discuss the plot they have conceived to be able to use the machine without Peter (Joshua Jackson) They used the blood they slyly took from Bolivia and Peter’s baby in the episode “Bloodline” to create Peter’s DNA profile to be able to use the machine. Brandonate is proud to be part of this momentous event in history to save their Universe, but at what cost will this be accomplished?
Walternate quoted Robert Oppenhiemer, often referred to as the father of the Atom Bomb. Oppenhiemer quoted the Bhagavad Gita, and said, “Now I have become death, The destroyer of worlds” after the Trinity bomb was detonated. Walternate quotes the same thing realizing that it is true in his own experiments. They are actually about to destroy a world and hopes God will have mercy on them. Walternate is willing to destroy another world and his only son. I stopped and thought a lot about what Walternate said about his demonstration and contemplation.
Will Walternate be able to live with himself? He does not seem to have all that much compassion, if he is willing to destroy another world rather than find another way. The man is willing to use his grandchild’s blood to operate a weapon of destruction. Does that that sound like a man with a soul that would have nightmares after the fact? “May God have mercy on us” but will Walternate extend any mercy to the Universe his only son is in?
As the decision to activate the machine in the Alter-Universe commences we are brought to our Universe where the effects of the machines power begin to unfold. In a field, in the town of Accord New York, the sheep are bleating in terror. As the one Sheppard calls the foreman to help him the foreman runs into a swarm of locusts on his way to the field. The two men and all the sheep are blasted out of existence by a unknown occurrence. What is going on?
Are the locusts a reference to a biblical end of days? Is this what is in store for the rest of our Universe? The Fringe opening sequence always stimulates the brain, and makes me think. What will our Universe be in for, really? What is our fate?
The bowling pins fall down, and Sam Weiss (Kevin Corrigan) is talking to one of his patrons, “Some days you have it and some days you don’t” he remarks. When Sam looks down at the bowling balls knocking together the expression on his face tells me that is might very well be not Sam’s day. He looks very serious as he takes a device from the locked cupboard and places it on the table. As the metal balls begin their pendulum dance on their own, Sam’s expression is one of disconcert. This is unsettling, and quite worrisome in fact. Sam is someone who seems to have great knowledge and insight. I may not know who or what Sam is but when he is concerned, I’m on the edge of my seat biting my nails!
Even though Sam is upset there is tranquility and peace in other parts of our Universe. Olivia is waking up to greet the morning sunshine wrapped in Peter’s arms. Olivia smiles and takes a moment to enjoy the warm loving place she is in. Olivia gets up and runs into Walter (John Noble) in the hall way! SURPRISE!!!!! Wow, gotta love that morning eye opener! GOOD MORNING!! I want to have some of Walter’s delightful concoctions fresh from the oven. Lol Walterism song, with his magic mushrooms in the stew, he is such a delight himself to wake up the sense of fun in side of me! He always makes me laugh!
Walter suggests some slippers for Olivia (Anna Torv) because the house is chilly in the morning. Olivia with an uncomfortable smile and a mumble hightails it out of the hallway. Olivia slides back into bed with Peter she lets him know that Walter is wandering about naked and cooking! Peter is not alarmed at all as he is quite used to Walter and it is…….of course NAKED TUESDAY! “The surprise is all mine” 😛
This is a warm and special moment for Olivia and Peter (Joshua Jackson). First thing in the morning is Olivia’s favourite time of day. When the day is full of promise. Waking up in Peter’s arms is a great way to wake up too. Olivia’s new confidence is emanating from her in a happy glow. Also being in Peter’s arm’s helps that glow shine brightly with the sun rising. The moment is disturbed by their phones ringing in unison. So much for a peaceful moment. The day is full of something but I’m not sure if it is positive potential, that we are looking at.
Olivia (Anna Torv), Peter and Walter meet Agent Broyles (Lance Reddick) out at the field where the sheep have been replaced by a swath of destruction. Broyles believes that they didn’t cause the damage but Walter believes they shouldn’t bet the farm just yet. Walter discovers that the granite contains quartz crystals. The rocks were exposed to a major gravitational event under extreme physical pressure.
Walter theorizes that a vortex has opened up and that their worst fears are now being realized….The world is in jeopardy! Peter is skeptical, but Nina Sharp (Blair Brown) is in panic when the machine came on by itself. Nina calls Broyles who is at the field with the rest of the Fringe team investigating the phenomena. Broyles is made aware of the machines activation and Nina gives Broyles a message to give to Walter. “Tell Walter it’s ON”
The Fringe team is puzzled by the machine turning on without Peter and feels their assumption are wrong that only Peter can activate it. So,now that the machine is “On”. Walter is certain that the machine caused the vortex to open and this is just the beginning. The world is in peril and can they stop it?
Walter, Olivia, and Peter head back to Harvard to the lab to try and figure out what is going on. Peter is frustrated and confused because he thought he was the only one capable of operating the machine as it’s only power source. All of Peter’s first assumptions about the machine are wrong but Walter comes up with a conclusion to their dilemma that is plausible. Quantum entanglement, is at work so the machine started up because of a sympathetic reaction to the machine In the Alternate Universe.
However this still leaves the question to our Fringe team as how they were able to activate their machine in the alt-universe. Astrid Farnsworth (Jasika Nicole) comes in with some disturbing news from Broyles that there are anomalies devastating our world. The decimation that has occurred, has affected Walter’s moral and is making him think that Walternate may have won this war. Has Walternate won? Has Walternate become the “Destroyer of Worlds”? I would like to think that he has not won this battle yet.
In the Alt-Universe Boliva is walking her baby Henry in his stroller and he is one cute little nugget sizing up the world. Bolivia named her baby after Henry Higgins. What a wonderful gesture of appreciation for his friendship and help to name her baby after him. Bolivia has taken to motherhood very well, and she also has a glow about her not unlike our Olivia does.
However, the special moment between Mom and baby is halted by that ever interruptive Fringe event phone call. Bolivia is off to Liberty Island to check out a Fringe event and leaves Henry in the care of his nanny. As Bolivia goes to leave I caught our ever diligent Observer (Michael Cerveris) out of the corner of my eye on the other side of the fountain. He is never far away when things are about to get interesting. Is Bolivia and Olivia becoming more like each other, in that they have found confidence with the love they have in their lives?
Bolivia and Lincoln Lee (Seth Gabel) are on their way to Liberty Island to check out a class ten event. Lincoln is quite amazed as to the magnitude of this occurrence. Bolivia is set and ready, to jump out and see to this Fringe event but Lincoln gets a call from the Secretary to stand down. Bolivia is certainly concerned about why they were asked to stand down and Lincoln is not able to offer any assistance as to why he was given the order to stand down. The information is above his pay grade but it is not over Walternate’s. Bolivia sets off to confront Walternate and to question him for an explanation. Walternate and Brandonate are discussing the effects or rather the lack of results the machine is accomplishing. I suppose they were hoping for better results by now.
As Brandonate leaves Boliva enters and Walternate is at his most cordial in hopes of catching a glimpse of his grand son. Bolivia is there to disappoint him for she is there with questions and dressed in full emotional battle gear to question the intentions of Walternate and the purpose of the weapon. Walternate holds no punches when Bolivia questions him about the lives of the people living in the other Universe. Walternate is willing to sacrifice his only son to save Bolivia’s but is that really a sacrifice for Waternate?
Does he feel resentment that Peter choose to go with Olivia and Walter instead of choosing him? Walternate lays a bit of a guilt trip on Bolivia suggesting that he is choosing for her son to live instead of his own. He doesn’t seem too heart broken with the thought of eliminating his own son.
Walter, Astrid, and Peter are trying to figure out a solution to their problem. Walter feels that Peter’s suggestion of dismantling the machine is not a viable one. The machine could tear their Universe apart with the quantum entanglement to consider with the other machine in play. Astrid points out, that this idea may not be any better than allowing the machine to tear holes in our Universe? Walter, Peter and Astrid are at an impasse as to what to do. They will need some more constructive ideas to figure out what the best thing to do is. Olivia calls Nina to figure out a way to maybe save some lives.
In the Alt-Universe they have an early detection system for tracking the anomalies by watching for electrical magnetic spikes, odd thermal patterns and radiation spikes. Olivia will go to New York and help Nina with this task of setting up an early warning protocol and hopes Walter can come up with a plan to save the Universe. Peter wants to say something to Olivia but he stops himself. I think he doesn’t want her to worry, or is that he doesn’t want her to talk him out of a plan he has formulated in his mind? Walter grasps at thoughts and ideas but Peter tells Walter that at this juncture they have only one idea to consider. Will Peter do this? The question is, can Walter really let Peter go?
Walter and Peter are discussing that very thing. There is only one way and it makes sense that Peter can turn the machine on, maybe he can turn it off. The drinks are poured and Walter tells Peter that the Observer was preparing him to let Peter go with the test he gave him with the girl and the keys. Peter feels he must try and with Walter’s help they may just be able to save the Universe. This moment between Walter and Peter is showing us how far Walter has come in accepting his responsibility for his actions but more importantly his ability to let Peter go. Walter has been preparing for this for some time. Is he ready? Is Peter ready to see what this machine really does. Are Peter and the machine’s fate intertwined? The evidence is there that Peter can operate the machine but the pictures suggest it won’t be a very good final outcome.
I felt a lump crawl up my throat with the scene between Walter and Peter. The raw power of a father and son’s love, and together willing to put a life on the line to save the Universe . A life so precious to Walter he was willing to cause irreparable harm to our Universe so he could keep his son in his life. Now he must give him up to fix his mistakes. Could I ever make that choice? The musical score gave me goosebumps and the words were a tug to the heart. John Noble can make me laugh but he has the ability to make me cry ………..I could use a drink too!
Olivia is on her way to New York to Massive Dynamics Headquarters to see Nina Sharp unaware of Peter’s plans to try his hand at the machine. She listens to the reports coming in of anomalies occurring along the Eastern sea board. This will not be easy to protect the people even with the protocol’s in place. The world is quickly showing that Walternate’s plans are indeed coming to fruition. Nina and Olivia must try to do what they can, with the resources available to them. There is an inadequate amount of amber stocked. There is only enough amber to cover eight to ten events.
Nina was trying to find someone and she finally reveals to Olivia that if Peter and Olivia were together that this wouldn’t be happening. Olivia was surprised and frustrated that Nina didn’t reveal her information before hand. Nina’s propensity to reveal only what she knows at the most dire hour is always a frustration to me so I can see Olivia’s feelings clearly. However Nina was sworn to secrecy so I’m willing to forgive her.
Sam Weiss is the expert that William Bell consulted and trusted explicitly. Nina herself consulted with Sam with matters to do with the machine. Nina reveals that Sam has great knowledge and is the author of the Die Erstern Menshen . The ‘First People’ books were written by Sam, and Nina had figured the anagram out in episode “Concentrate And Ask Again”. Olivia needs to know what Sam knows for a chance for them to turn the machine off and save the Universe. Olivia must find Sam Weiss. Where is Sam?
He disconnected his phone and closed down the bowling alley? How can one find Sam if he does not wish to be found? Sam had said at one time he was older than he looked. I’m sure he learned a few things about cloak and dagger in his many years. Is he an Agent for the Observer’s? This question always pops into my head when I think of Sam. I believe Sam to be a larger part of this whole picture than we all realize. Who does Sam answer to? Only to himself?
The world is about to rip apart and there is a feeling of dread and loss in our hearts. I’m worried about the out come of Peter’s fate, whether Olivia can find Sam and the pain that Walter is feeling. Fringe lifts us up and makes us laugh. It also makes us cry. But there is always time for love. Watching the two young lover’s in a chase and ending up in each other’s arms made me smile. That’s kinda of amazing. Jack and Genie are not so amazed when the look up at the sky and see all the Easter colours parading across it.
I would be alarmed too if it wasn’t for seeing Sam. Seeing Sam made me think that he is not gone but perhaps busy working on the problem. That is an encouraging thought. Sam is looking through a magnified screen like Walter had, for seeing into the other Universe, but it is smaller. Sam is concentrating quite hard and doing some very complicated math. Unfortunately he does not not look pleased with the his total of zero. Sam’s expression tells me more than I wish to know. Perhaps the outlook is not the greatest but here is still hope, right?
Bolivia is holding Henry and singing to him. Awww He is the cutest little nugget. Bolivia loves him and it shows in her face. I think she has realized that Walternate may not be the best Grandfather for her son after all. That a man capable of sacrificing his own son and an entire Universe might not be the honorable leader they have blindly followed.
I am thinking, Bolivia is seeing things from the perspective of a Mother. She sees the potential there could be to save both worlds, if someone was just willing to try. Bolivia and Lincoln have a bond and Bolovia trusts him beyond anything. Even though she jokes about saving his life and that she was only trying to save her fifty dollars, you can see that she trusts Lincoln with her most precious treasure, Henry. Lincoln and Bolivia are not sure that Peter can help change Walternate’s mind but there has to be someone willing to try. Lincoln hugs her and doesn’t want her butt to get hurt. They are closer than ever, and Lincoln’s love for her is evident in his face as he wishes her to come back.
Olivia and Bolivia are becoming more and more alike in some ways. They are both willing to do what they feel is the right thing. They both are more confident of who they are.
Bolivia is about to embark on a mission that she is not sure will work or even accomplish what she hopes it will. Bolivia sneaks into Liberty Island lab to get the device Walternate used to get to the other Universe. She comes face to face with Brandonate and puts a gun to his head. She wasn’t taking no for an answer and threatened to shoot him in the leg if he didn’t talk. I was kinda hoping she would shoot him, but no such luck. Brandonate tries to lie to her about when the patrol comes but he should have known better than to try to fool a seasoned trained professional.
Bolivia is able to get the devices from Brandonate but the danger is very real. The chances of her using the device to get to the other Universe and get back safely is chancy and not to mention the danger of molecular cohesion breakdown. Bolivia pistol whipping Brandonate was a highlight. She was unable to activate the device and she was captured! What will Walternate do with her?
While Olivia is on the hunt to find Sam and finding dead ends and an empty apartment. Walter and Broyles are discussing the machine and if Peter can really turn it off. Walter thinks it is possible but he is not sure. Broyles asks Walter a hard question.
How does Walter feel about what Peter is about to do, not as a scientist, but as a father? This is one emotional charged scene where Walter uses Agent Broyles ‘s first name which shows how emotional Walter is. Walter blames himself that it was his inability to let Peter go 26 years ago, and that is why Peter must do this now. Walter is unsure that Peter will be able to break the machine’s power source and he does not wish Peter to suffer if things do not go according to plan.
The machine is so powerful and will Peter be able to beat the machine? I am feeling a lot like Astrid at this point, scared and worried. Astrid wants to know if Peter wants her to call Olivia but Peter is sure she will find out soon enough. Peter does wish to leave Olivia a message, Astrid the ever optimist tells Peter to tell Olivia himself.
Peter seems to be the only calm one in the room. Peter even teases Broyles if this works he wants to be considered officially retired. Walter offers Peter sedatives to calm his nerves and I’m thinking Walter is the one that needs them more. Walter rubs electro conductive gel showing Peter how much he loves him with the gesture. A father must always try to keep his child from harm and Walter has always done things with Peter in his mind. Walter has never been able to let Peter go and this is the moment where Walter must.
They do not say the words to each other but the love flowed between them like an electrical current itself. As Peter steps forth towards the machine Walter, Broyles and Astrid, his family, will be standing there waiting for him. Peter walks towards his destiny and reaches out to grasp his fate and the machine rejects him and catapults him into the air and to the lab floor below. Walter is beside himself. The Doctor’s bring Peter to the emergency room and Walter is adamant that they do their best. The doctor assures Walter that they will do their very best, but Walter is unconsolable. Olivia rushes to the hospital and Astrid is there to greet her with the news. Peter went through a myriad of tests and the Doctor’s are confidant he will be all right.
They just cannot figure out why he is still unconscious. The machine rejected Peter and seems to be protecting itself or something. Olivia asks about Walter and Astrid tells her he is taking it very hard. He is in the chapel and he is talking to God as he feels he has no where else to turn. Walter was encouraged by the sign when God sent him the White Tulip. Walter found solace in the thought that God my have forgiven him for the wrong he had he had committed against he Universe. Walter knows what he did was unforgivable and he doesn’t deserve forgiveness but he was willing to let Peter go, willing to let him die. Walter feels this should count for something. Walter begs God to take him instead of Peter because he changed, punish him for his crimes and to spare our world.
Walter is not religious but in the hour of darkness we sometimes turn to faith to question the torment with in our soul and beg for answers to help us. The Fringe episode aired on Good Friday and as a Christian I can’t help but wonder if there are implications in reference to the meaning of Good Friday. Jesus asked God why he had forsaken him, I wonder if Walter feels that God will not answer his prayers, also?
Olivia sits in the hospital waiting room and as she hangs her head in defeat, and despair the new day dawns and the sun shines across the floor. She steps out to greet the sunrise and to see if this world is indeed full of promise. It might very well be, as Sam climbs the stairs to greet her. Sam is here to help and he asks Olivia to trust him now. They have little time and must hurry to the machine. Olivia takes one final look at the sunrise and at the hospital door and follows after Sam. What is Sam about to do? Can he stop the world’s destruction?
Walternate walks down the darkened hallway to the cell that once housed Olivia but now imprisons Bolivia. Walternate thinks that Bolivia and himself are alike in some ways for they are both willing to make sacrifices for the greater good. Bolivia doesn’t think he understands her at all. Walternate is willing to let Peter die to heal their world just as Boliva is willing to leave her son and risk her life to do what she feels is right. Walternate has given up on his ideals to do what is pragmatic. Where as Bolivia still is clinging to the ideal that killing billions of lives is not the greater good.
Which begs the question, when did Walternate give up his ideals? When he lost Peter? When Peter chose to go back instead of stay with him? Walternate advises Bolivia that since she is the mother of his grandson, she will remain imprisoned for her own good until this is over. I think Lincoln would have something to say about that if he finds out.
The choices we make are sometimes for the greater good but being pragmatic can only get us so far before they cloud our judgment of what is decent and right. That is when we begin to abandon our ideals. What humanity is left?
Fringe returns Friday for the second to last episode of the season “The Last Sam Weiss” on FOX at 9 PM EST/PST. Make sure to tune in for what is sure to be a lead in to the cliff hanger season finale!
As always we appreciate your visiting our news sites at WormholeRiders News Agency. Please feel free to leave a spam free comment or a question here. I will respond to your comment or question as soon as is possible.
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*Furiously Rubs Hands Together* Everyone ready? LET’S MAKE SOME LSD!!!! FRINGE Fans!
Hey Fringies!
Did you catch the #Fringe hash tag at the bottom right hand of the screen above the Fox Brodcasting insignia! I think it is a shout out THANK YOU to the loyal Twitter fans from Fox Broadcasting. We make #Fringe trend Worldwide! Give yourselves a pat on the back! Fringies are Fringetastic Fans!
We are back home in our own Universe in this #319 episode of Fringe but we are in for a ‘TRIP’ in more ways than one! Lol
The expressions on Olivia’s face are so in tuned with the mannerisms she is trying to convey, of the different personality within her. The smile she gives and that voice she is using is amazing! Walter calls out to Astrid and calls her ‘Astro’ Where she replies “just about Wally” (first time for that). The expression on Walter’s face was priceless! Hilarious! He certainly was not expecting it from Astrid.
I was curious to see how this experiment would play out. Having a dead body to work with I’m sure it would be interesting. They begin the experiment with affirmation from Belly that he is ready! Aye Aye, Captain! The dead body does a lot of shaking but the experiment fails leaving them without a viable solution to their dilemma.
Peter is concerned for Olivia’s safety, as he should be. I know I would be. During a conversation between Belly and Peter shortly after the experiment the real Olivia’s consciousness appears and a fast trip to the hospital is where we head. This is where we see The Observer (Michael Cerveris) for a brief moment as they rush Olivia to the emergency room.
As the medical staff begins their work and proceed to kick all nonessential staff out, we experience a breath taking moment! Peter tells them she is his ‘girlfriend’. How could I, as a Fringie, not jump all over that? Peter expressing his relationship so easily is a happy moment for me.
The Doctor must have got the shock of his life when his patient made the disclaimer that the woman he was living inside of would die if he shocked him. I lot of shocking going on! What a Trip we are in for with the opening sequence already having us riveted to our seats and biting our nails!
Agent Broyles (Lance Reddick) is just as concerned as Peter is, that Belly is leading them no where in their attempts to free Olivia’s consciousness and get William Bell’s consciousness into the computer. However the only thing keeping Olivia alive IS Belly’s consciousness! The team is in a position that they may lose one of their own and they must come up with a viable solution and fast. They only have approximately a day to get Olivia back, before she is lost forever……How are they going to rescue her? How crazy will the scheme be to get her back?
Chi was not something I would have thought of. Belly thinks the process might work but Walter is thinking acupuncture but he knows it won’t work. Belly proposes something a little more unorthodox than Ancient Chinese medicine, but a way to go IN! Peter is very concerned about Olivia’s mind and Astrid and Peter are very uneasy that Belly’s ego will be a concern when it comes down to Olivia’s consciousness verses Belly’s own. Cheating death is something we would all love to do, but some more than other’s….. Exactly is how strong is Belly’s will to survive?
Well, kids, Whole Brain emulation! Apparently putting someone’s consciousness into a computer is pretty self explanatory if you have the right theories. Walter and Belly want to go into Olivia’s brain to save her. I guess it’s not to difficult for Walter since he has done it before in ‘The Arrival’ and in ‘The Transformation’ season one. This time it is different. They have to find her… with in her own mind. Walter and Belly will need a guide to find their way through the mind’s maze and they need someone who knows her. Peter will have to go in! This might be a weird time to ask, but have you ever gone on a LSD trip into someone’s else’s mind? Talk about the mind blowing first trip on LSD!
Astrid is always there and has quite a list of things to acquire to get this journey started. Peter is concerned about kicking things loose in Olivia’s mind and Astrid is the reassuring one as always. Astrid is forever the stead fast assistant of this brilliant, mad hatter team. Sugah, sugah! There is nothing like accelerating the process and getting under way. This will be a sweet trip indeed.
Agent Broyles shows up to see how things are going. There are drugs, LOTS of them! Peter has begun his lovely trip into the world of la la land! Peter touches Broyles head and thinks he might be an Observer! Lol Yes, Broyles is bald, but it’s okay Peter, he is one of our guys! *Laughing* Peter’s expression’s are one for the books!
Fringeception begins with Walter on top of a bus and Peter looking dapper and sexy with his black waistcoat and sun glasses. Walter is dancing around after a grab to the crotch from Peter! Well, he did help him down from the bus! They will have to be careful though. Even though this is someone else’s consciousness, “touchy feel-y” of the privates is a no, no! “Crotch me pants” *laughing* Walter sure got his feathers ruffled, with that and that is so comical!
Peter and Walter are in Olivia’s mind and there is a plan. Unfortunately it is a fly by the seat of their pants plan. The wardrobe of every one reflects Olivia’s style. Cortexifan children have the propensity to blend in, so this task might not be as easy as they first surmised. A morse code signal from the Twin towers flashes in their faces and finds out that Olivia has found them. The Twin towers?
Are they in the Alternate Universe in Olvia’s mind? Walter digs in the garbage, much to Peter’s disgust, but no, Walter is not looking for a snack but something to answer the morse code. He comes up with a shiny pudding wrapper! Walter messages her to stay there and they will come to her. Is it really that easy to find her and get out of there? Where is William?
Broyles is observing Olivia, Walter and Peter’s peaceful countenance and is very skeptical that the transfer of Belly’s consciousness to a computer is something that can be accomplished. However Broyles interest is caught by the wonder of Walter’s licorice. The swirl! Bernini Spiral! This is beyond hilarious! Broyles thought to help out Astrid and is now on a trip of his own! He is gone to his happy place. Broyles on LSD is quite something to behold. Astrid is wonderful in this episode, she is the corner stone of this team and she is the only one in the room that is not ‘stoned’. Someone had to have theirs wits about them, eh? 😛
Meanwhile Peter and Walter seem to not be getting anywhere, they are not any closer to getting to Olivia. The Twin Towers are still the same distance away from them, from when they started to walk there. Olivia’s mind’s landscape is a reflection of her emotions. Perhaps she does not wish for someone to get to close?
Walter sees Olivia’s step father and realizes that Peter and himself are in a lot of trouble. I believe this is manifestation of her step father in her mind is something that represents fear with the need to protect herself. Is that why we can’t find her? Peter and Walter find themselves running for their lives in Olivia’s mind. I don’t think it was a coincidence that Henry’s Higgin’s Taxi cab was there as an escape route for them to get away. Henry helped Olivia get away in “Abducted” so it is only fitting that there would be a representation of that help of escaping, in her mind. Walter jumps in to the driver’s seat and takes them both for a high speed race to Olivia.
What a car chase, who knew Walter could drive like a stunt driver! Nice skid mark Walter, as they arrive in a glorious power turn in a perfect 180. Vrooom! Walter is so proud of himself, on his successful driving skills and his great skid mark! Walter and Peter get out of the car and go into the building they meet up with Nina Sharp (Blair Brown).
Walter is pleased to see a familiar face after witnessing the scary people that they just met. As they follow Nina, she helps them to an elevator that will take them to their destination the quickest. Peter realizes that it is a trap and Walter just about walks right into it. Peter saves Walter and pushes Nina into the dark elevator shaft. Perhaps Olivia feels Nina’s help means well but leads them further into a deep dark hole of nothing but trouble?
When Peter and Walter arrive at the door they come face to face with Belly instead of Olivia. But he is a CARTOON! “How Wonderful!” Is the thought bubble above Walter’s head! I chuckled at that, gotta love the comic(cal) way that was done. When people are tripping they usually watch cartoons, right?
Belly lied to get them there because he was doubtful that Peter would try to find him. Belly ran into the same problem that Peter and Walter ran into. Olivia’s deepest fears are taking over and causing her inner most self to become confused and she is allowing her fears to run rampant. She is hiding from the step father and all her fears? Olivia pretends to be unafraid but I know from countless episodes she is damaged by her childhood and has so many fears. It is why she was afraid that Peter loved Bolivia. She showed her vulnerability in ‘Concentrate And Ask Again’. She showed her fear on her birthday. When she would get those awful birthday cards from her step father.
How can anyone find someone who is hiding in their own mind? Peter must use his knowledge of Olivia to find her. Where would Olivia go if she is scared?
The monitors are beeping away in reality but reality is far away for Broyles as he is in a full blown LSD trip. Astrid softly catches Broyles attention. Broyles is just so out there. The reality that he is in is infinite and he sees death. The vulnerability we see in Broyles is quite a far cry from the commanding presence that he usually shows us. He even asked Astrid to hold his hand. That moment I felt like I would hold his hand if he asked. Vulnerability is in all of us and sometimes it takes a revelation of self to expose our inner most feelings. Plus the LSD is helping.
Peter, Walter and Belly cartoon character’s must escape the Tower and get to Olivia. They are running out of time. They look out from the roof top at the beauty of the Alternate Universe before them and see that Olivia could be any where. Peter thinks though that Olivia went to Jacksonville. That would be one of the last places someone would look for her, so it would be the first place she would go. They are ready to start their trek to Jacksonville but the roof door slams open and out comes zombies after them!
Brandonate (Ryan McDonald) is the representation of the evil slimy jerk he was to Oliva in this Alternate Universe. Brandonate as a zombie was a perfect choice. He is one character that gives me the creeps! Shudders and all. Zombies are scary and disgusting, just like Brandonate himself. Belly, Walter and Peter race to the Zeppelin to get away but Peter, ever the hero, stops to fight Brandonate zombies to give Walter and Belly time to escape. A zombie chopped up in a fan is always gross, whether in cartoon or in real life special effects. Ugh! Peter fights them off and does a spectacular swan dive and grabs onto the last rung of the Zeppelin’s ladder. *phew*
They are underway in the Zeppelin and Walter reminds Belly of his hatred for saying good-bye’s. Walter felt he should have known Belly’s last good-bye was a lie. Walter does not want to lose Belly. Walter feels he needs Belly and is uncertain of how he will go on with out him with Peter’s life at stake with The Machine. Walter and Belly made paramount mistakes in their youth and Belly feels that Walter is capable and prepared to make the choices he must in the coming future as he is armed with the power of humility.
There is nothing like a good friend to point out the things they must, to someone they care about, that they do have the integrity with in themselves to make the right decisions with out them. This was a profound scene showing the depth of Walter and Belly’s friendship that began in their youth. Together, they were there for each other to check and balance and that is what friendship is about. Somehow this conversation between Walter and Belly feels like a goodbye to me.
They are not alone on the Zepplin! There is a saboteur. Peter goes to investigate the fuel gauge and comes face to face with an unknown assailant that is pointing a flare gun at him. Walter approaches Peter who is on the floor at the mercy of this man when the man asks Peter his name and then blows a hole in the Zepplin. Walter is sucked out of the hole created by the Flare Gun and the unknown man and is catapulted to his cartoon death on the frozen lake. Astrid is there to reassure Walter when he wakes up from his trip. But damn he is back!
Belly and Peter must proceed on their own and Belly knows his way around. However Peter knows Olivia and knows she would not have gone to the Day Care center. Belly wants to ride a motorcycle and Peter wants to find Olivia, so they hop on a bike for a ride to the rescue. I liked this play between Belly and Peter. They rub each other a little bit, yet make a good team. The shared love they have for Walter is what seemingly makes Peter look beyond Belly’s faults.
Having Walter back in the lab is a great thing for Belly. As Walter begins to ready the computer to down load Belly’s consciousness I am captured by the vacuous look on Broyles face. Broyles is out of it. The hallucinations are coming to life and with that so is Broyles. Walter and Astrid are working on the solution to the computer hook up and a pretty little birdie alights upon Walter’s shoulder unbeknownst to him as it is only in Broyles’s mind. Broyles starts to whistle at the birdie and with a wave and smile….. Oh! THAT smile,
I loved that huge gorgeous drug induced happy smile! *laughing* Walter and Astrid pay him no mind as they continue to work. Walter and Astrid are racing against time to make sure everything is in place to accept Belly’s consciousness and Walter’s agitation is showing with his dropsy fingers. He will have to jury rig something to get this experiment to work. Will it work? Will Belly’s consciousness be transferred to the computer?
Belly and Peter are racing on the motorcycle to find Olivia. Peter thinks Olivia is in the one place that she would feel she would be safe. Olivia lived on a military base, and the last time she felt normal was the day before she met Walter and Belly at the Cortexiphan trials. Olivia longed for a normal life with a mother and father just like Bolivia had. She did have some normalcy living here on the base with her family, in a house with a red door. Her real father painted the door red, to mean good luck. I‘m thinking Peter and Belly are going to need some good luck. Peter is certain he will find her there, and it is comforting to know he is so certain in his knowledge of Olivia’s mind. It is always nice to get more of a back story on the characters of Fringe, I like the connection that it instills.
As the sun begins to set they arrive at the military house with the red door. Will Olivia be behind the door waiting for Peter to rescue her like Peter believes? Now comes the moment of truth……and Peter steps forth into the reality of Olivia’s mind. He is no longer a cartoon, but himself and Olivia is standing there to greet him with an embrace only lover’s can have. Olivia is so afraid. People have been tricking her and she is uncertain. But is it? Is it really who Peter thinks? Peter realizes it is not the real Olivia.He looked deeply into her eyes and realized she was not Peter’s Olivia. Olivia had played a trick in order to protect herself from harm.
She knew the real Peter would recognize her. Peter recognized the gorgeous cute little girl that was sitting at he table to be the real Olivia. Peter and the little Olivia hold hands. When Peter had entered the house and Peter turned back from cartoon to real person made me think that only true love is real. Peter recognizing her was a moment that was marvelous but with her being a lil girl was not so much romantic but a sincere belief in their friendship that has progressed to the point that they are part of one another. So, Is every thing all right now? Are they both safe?
Unfortunately not and their reunion is short lived as Olivia’s step father and fears begin to ascend upon them. Peter and Olivia must run for safety. Peter clasping Olivia’s little hand runs out the red door and turns back into cartoon characters. Peter shouts at Belly to run as young Olivia and Peter are running and almost get hit by a hummer speeding towards them. The hummer crashes into a pole instead of into them, luckily. The chase to capture young Olivia and Peter is intense. They go to run and her small hand slips from Peter’s.
The hummer hot on their trail is on a collision course to crush her small body but Peter lifts and tosses her to safety but is struck himself. As he is struck by the vehicle Peter’s cartoon character dies and is thrown out of Olivia’s mind in a most violent way. Peter wakes up in the lab, in his chair fighting, desperate to save Olivia and Walter rushes to console him.
Peter is beside himself that Olivia’s step father and her fears are going to get her. Walter is the rational one, assuring Peter and Astrid that saving her is up to Belly now. Peter is devastated that he lost her. He just can’t believe he lost her but he can’t go back. It’s up to Belly now. Peter and Astrid discussed earlier that Belly had a massive ego and Peter was concerned that Belly might let Olivia die just so he could go on living. Should we be afraid that Belly might chose his own consciousness over Olivia’s?
Cartoon Belly and cartoon young Olivia are fleeing the nightmare of step father and her fears but Belly falls to the ground and tells Oliva to run. Olivia stops and makes a stand but she is confused that they listened to her and stopped. Belly tells her that he was right after all that she is indeed as strong as Walter and he always suspected. Olivia becomes a full grown woman instead of the scared child that was there before.
Belly explains that Olivia had never felt safe and she was her own worst enemy when it came to her own fears but she is strong enough to overcome them and be the strong self assured person she should be. Belly must leave and Walter is right on time to pull the plug on this trip into Olivia’s mind. He gives Olivia a message to give to Walter. What does the message mean? Is Olivia’s consciousness safe and intact and nothing got kicked loose in her mind except the knowledge that she is stronger than she always believed herself to be?
The lighting flashes and the thunder rolls inside her mind and Olivia comes out of her place of darkness and emerges whole and in the safety of her Fringe team. Peter is there to greet her and Olivia is content in the memory that Peter came for her. Walter is ecstatic that there is only one consciousness and Olivia is home safe with them again. While Broyles blows bubbles in his drug induced state, Astrid calls Walter’s attention to the fact that Belly’s consciousness did not, in fact transfer to the computer.
Olivia told Walter the message that Belly gave her before they parted. Belly told Olivia to tell Walter “He Knew The Dog Wouldn’t Hunt” This message makes Walter realize that Belly knew that the experiment to save himself would not work and that he wouldn’t be coming back. Belly does hate good byes. In a matter of a few minutes we feel a myriad of emotions, humour, to the triumph of recovering a lost friend to the sadness of losing another.
Belly does not have an ego so big that he did not realize the hope that Olivia represents to the Universe. The one Cortexiphan child success story that was created to protect our Universe was more important than his own life.
Walter is devastated to lose, his long time friend, Belly and Astrid is there to help him through if he needs her just like she will always be there for her team. I just wanted to grab Walter and give him a big HUG. *Tears* Losing a friend that you love is one of the hardest things to face, especially one that was always there for you to supply you with check and balance to your soul!
Olivia and Peter are together in each others arms free from the strange dream she feels she was in. The bond they have is stronger than ever with Olivia’s recognition in the knowledge that Peter came for her. Olivia is not afraid to move forward and they will be doing it together no matter what comes.
But what is coming? Peter is curious about the drawing Olivia made of the unknown man that was in the Zeppelin. Who is this man? Olivia drops a bomb that she does not know who he is, but feels this is the man that will ultimately lead to her death.
Wow! That is a way to end an LSD trip, by finishing it off with blowing your mind! Will this unknown man be someone who will try to kill Olivia? Why didn’t he kill Peter on the Zepplin? Every one else they encountered in Olivia’s mind was determined to cause Walter, Belly and Peter harm. He sabotaged the Zeppelin but had an opportunity to take Peter out but didn’t…… Could this ‘man’ be Peter and Bolivia’s son? And is this the end of William Bell? See what Leonard Nimoy himself says in this clip courtesy of FOX Broadcasting.
Tune in for more Fringe on FOX this Friday April 22, 2011 with the return to the battle between the universes in “6:02 AM EST”.
In the meantime enjoy the sneak peak of “6:02” and the complete LSD episode courtesy of FOX via Hulu.
As always we appreciate your visiting our news sites at WormholeRiders News Agency. Please feel free to leave a spam free comment or a question here. I will respond to your comment or question as soon as is possible.
If you prefer, click the social media icons below to share this news article or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit the WHR Team on Facebook or me on Twitter by clicking the text links or images avatars in this news story and or we will See You on The Other Side“!
This has been a Fringtastic week for the Fringedom! Fringe was renewed for a fourth season with a full 22 episode compliment! This has set the Fringies into a frenzy of ecstatic joy! How can we not be, in an absolute, out of this alternate universe, bliss!
Before we begin the review how about a bit of the science of The First People courtesy of FOX Broadcasting featuring Joel Wyman and Jeff Pinkner?
The momentous cliff hanger last week, with the thought of William Bell’s (Leonard Nimoy) soul magnets might not be working that well and the jump to the Alternate Universe this week has us all enthralled and glued to our Televisions This is a show that delivers with intensity. The writers {Alison Schapker & Monica Owusu-Breen} and Director Dennis Smith out did themselves with Fringe episode 18 “Bloodlines” . FRINGTASTIC!
The opening sequence was a tense moment for all Mother’s. We begin with Bolivia (Anna Torv) at her ob/gyn appointment with her Mother. Marilyn Dunham played by the wonderful actress Amy Madigan. This is Amy’s fourth appearance in Fringe and she is great as a caring and loving Mother. It reminds me that our Olivia yearned for that sort of parental support as a child in season three episode 12 “Concentrate and Ask Again.”
We begin with Bolivia and Marilyn are receiving the distressing news that Bolivia might be positive for the disease VPE (viral propagated preeclampsia) Welcome to the Preeclampsia Foundation. This was the disease that was the demise of Bolivia’s sister, Alt-Rachel and her baby. This is discouraging news with a whopping 80% chance that Bolivia might have it! That is not the best news that I would want to hear as an expectant Mom.
The butterfly in the soothing video mural with the water fall, gave me the impression of a metamorphosis is about to occur. We are in for a ride again. The science of Fringe is always at work making us look at all the props, the nuances and evoking our thoughts to guess at where will the larger pattern eventually take us.
The scene with Marilyn and Bolivia in car makes me think Bolivia is vulnerable to having a child. She seems to have already resigned herself to not being a parent. Honestly, no one knows those answers until they are at that pivotal moment. She doesn’t feel she could be a wonderful Mother? I’m already beginning to feel more and more for Bolivia. As a mother myself, I went through all the worries, real or imagined that all mother’s go through. She also feels she is being judged by her actions because of her ‘one night stand’. Lincoln and her mother just care and it good she has such support. I wonder how Peter would feel if he knew he might be a father or referred to as a one night stand?
Bolivia leaves her Mom and as she walks away, she feels that spidey sense kicking in. ( Maybe she picked up a bug from Alt-Charlie, Lol) She feels that she is being followed and for good reason. Bolivia IS being ”observed” by The Observer (Michael Cerveris) is not far away and is watching intensely.
Every time I see the well dressed bald dude I get that feeling something profound is about to happen. Just then the ever devoted Commanding Officer Lincoln Lee(Seth Gabel) calls her and appoints her a security detail out of safety for Bolivia. Unfortunately this was a useless endeavor. There were some unsavory characters waiting for her and ZAP! Bolivia is tasered and kidnapped!
What an opening sequence!
Lincoln Lee (Seth Gabel) and Charlie Francis, (Kirk Acevedo) are at the Fringe Division discussing Mona (Julie McNiven) the’ bug girl’ from episode “Immortality” that Charlie went on a date with. This made me laugh. I was curious if he would encourage that relationship at all. She certainly had the hots for Charlie. With good reason because so do I.
This conversation about dating brought up feelings Lincoln might have for Bolivia. Charlie teased Lincoln about the fact that Bolivia’s one night stand was driving him crazy! That elicited a chuckle from me. When Lincoln found out that Bolivia was kidnapped his expression on his face was quite telling about how concerned he was for her and her life that should be none of his business as he put it.
Lincoln calls Walternate (John Noble) to reveal the upsetting news that Bolivia was kidnapped. At the time the call was made. Walternate and Brandon Fayette, (Ryan McDonald) were discussing the possibility of experimentation on children to find a way to other Universe. Brandon is a cool geek in our Universe but he just seems unsavory in the alternate universe. Walternate is unwilling to go the route of experimenting on children, and is very adamant about that decision. Walternate seems very stressed about the abduction of his future grandson and wishes to know every detail that is revealed to Lincoln in the search. I always miss Walter and his Walter-isms in these Alter-Universe episodes. Walternate is not Mr. Chuckles, where Walter is chuckles incarnate! lol 😛
They are able to track Bolivia with her organic technology tracking device but are thwarted by the kidnappers knowing about the tracking device. Lincoln and Charlie are frustrated and angry that ‘they’ removed it, and Bolivia is still missing. The kidnappers have gotten clean away and have begun to implement their plans they have for Bolivia and the baby.
The discovery of the knowledge of the tracking device leads Lincoln and Charlie to believe this to be an inside job. They recruit Alt-Astrid Farnsworth (Jasika Nicole) to find the person or person’s who would have clearance to the classified information. Alt-Astrid (Alt-Astro) is able to supply them with information of her own about a suspicious vehicle that has been cruising past Bolivia’s house for the past week. Astrid in any Universe is a favourite of mine. I wonder what her character will be doing next?
Bolivia is brought to a makeshift hospital. The Doctor says “Phase 1 has disrupted the regulatory process by now and all inhibitory proteins should be blocked” What does that mean for the baby? Bolivia is restrained and they put a huge terrifying needle into her abdomen. I don’t mind needles, but, c’mon, that was a needle I wouldn’t even use on my enemy. OUCH! I’m really starting to feel for this Olivia. The Doctor that is injecting her could really use some bed side manners. He let’s it slip that ‘they’ said she was a fighter.
This leads credence to the thought that this is an inside job. So, who is the paycheck behind this evil plan? What is this agenda and what does it have to do with Peter’s baby? The nurse is Yolanda Ulmer (First Wave, Trooper) and she seems to show some compassion. However, when she puts that ‘target’ ultra sound machine pointed at the baby you just know that she is not all bed side manner either. Who can do those things to a Mother and an unborn child?
Henry Higgins (Andre Royo) is the cab driver that has been driving past Bolivia’s place. He made an appearance in the episode “Olivia” and helped Olivia escape in the episode “Abducted”. He is a cool character. I liked the fact he was reading Opus, The Peahen. I love penguins. The last picture in the comic strip shows a taser shot to the woman. How fitting since that’s what just happened to Bolivia. Ouch! I laughed when Charlie said put your hands on the steering wheel and Lincoln said to get out of the car! What the hex you want the dude to do guys? LOL He can’t do both!
Henry sure knows a lot of things that seem to surprise Lincoln and Charlie. Charlie realizes Henry is the cabbie from the gas station that was helping Olivia. Charlie and Lincoln realize that there might have indeed been a switch of Olivia’s and that things may be more complicated then they seem…. Someone has some explaining to do!
Marilyn gets the bad news from Doctor Rosa that Bolivia is indeed the carrier of the dreaded PVE. This means the end of the pregnancy for this baby. But is it? Marilyn shows herself to be wanting this baby for her Olivia, but she knows the prognosis is not good. Meanwhile, Bolivia has awakened at this point and is plotting an escape but it foiled by a vicious pain ripping through her abdomen. The baby is growing! They have accelerated the growth of this unborn fetus! What does this mean in relation to the status PVE? In the episode S1-2 “The Same Old Story” there was an accelerated growth of a child. That did not end well for Mother or child. What is going to be the end result for this CHILD of Bolivia’s and Peter’s?
Lincoln proceeds to meet with Walternate where he reveals to him what Henry the cab driver had told him. Lincoln wants to know the truth. Lincoln is very concerned for Bolivia. He needs to know the truth in order to search for Bolivia. But also to satisfy his own curiosity on the events that has come to light with his conversation with Henry. I think the desire to be fully informed so it might help to a lead is just him fishing for information to solidify his own suspicions.
Lincoln ‘s suspicions are confirmed by Walternate, that they two women were indeed switched. How does this really make Lincoln feel? Walternate is willing to tell Lincoln every thing and does. Lincoln finds out that Bolivia did not have a one night stand but is carrying a child, one of great importance to Walternate. Lincoln has a look on his face that he has just been sucker punched in the gut. That was pretty amazing acting on his part. Lincoln looked blown away and perhaps a little nauseous. Lincoln might have some competition for Bolivia’s heart?
Lincoln is running out of time. Bolivia’s baby has grown exponentially with the mad scientist filling her with wacky drugs and by now she looks 9 months pregnant. That had to be some serious pain, no matter the pain killers and the milligram amount. I’m cringing at the thought of it. They are conducting a procedure in a joint expander machine to make sure her body is okay for the advancement in her pregnancy. That has got to hurt! I’d clench my hands too! What is this about a time table? Is there a time limit? What is their agenda? Bolivia is going to have to do something herself to get out of this mess. She tries to appeal to the ob/gyn nurse compassionate side and gets a no help from that heartless woman.
Lincoln and Charlie are trying to find her with the help of Atl-Astrid. They are going to have to tell Marilyn that Bolivia has been kidnapped. Charlie volunteers to talk to Marilyn. Charlie says to Lincoln “You talking to me”? I love that line, any where in any universe! In the Alternate Universe Francis Ford Coppola directed Taxi Driver, That was very clever for Charlie to say that line.
Marilyn is telling Charlie that Bolivia can not have the baby and that means what ever these people are up to, could very well kill Bolivia.
The nurse is about to get a comeuppance’s as Bolivia goes Dunham on her. Gotta love that! Even as advanced in pregnancy she is, she can still show her fighting skills. Yes! Deliver ultimatums and kick butt! Bolivia escapes only to find herself in a worse predicament. The baby is coming! Bolivia calls Lincoln but will he get there in time? He sure does, with the help of Henry Higgins. The cabbie that knows all the back streets to China town where Bolivia was being held.
Now this is where my sanity flies out the window, between the nail biting and the crying, I’m hoping up on the back of the couch to watch what is about to unfold. Henry is once again there to help out. He offers to help with the delivery of the baby. There is the heart wrenching scene between Bolivia and Lincoln. That is some incredibly stellar acting of Anna Torv and Seth Gable. A single tear rolls down Lincoln’s face as he promises Bolivia that he’ll make sure the baby will be okay. The pain on her face is making me cringe. How could anyone not feel for Bolivia?
Lincoln professing his love for her was a delight and a sorrowful moment with the thought of her dying looming with every push she made. When the baby was born and Bolivia went so still, Lincoln’s expersion on his face had me just in tears. I cried more than the baby did! *phew* Bolivia and the baby are both fine and I can crawl down off my perch on the back or the couch. Henry has done a wonderful job of delivering Bolivia’s baby and hopefully we will see his character in future episodes.
Lincoln’s profession of love bodes well for our Olivia. With Lincoln’s love for Bolivia out in the open, I’m hoping this may lead to something for the pair. Perhaps sharing a traumatic event between them, opens a lot of possibilities for love to grow?
Lincoln and Charlie are at the hospital where they meet up with Walternate. Walternate seems to be so concerned for the safety of his grandchild and Bolivia. Walternate is one guy that I would not wish to cross. Good thing Lincoln seems to be on his good side.
Lincoln and Charlie are not pleased that Walternate has not been sharing his secrets with them. Which leads them to speculate as to what else they may not know. What may have happened to Broyles and if there is a correlation between the events of the switching of the 2 Olivia’s. I wonder what they intend to do about the lack of knowledge they have on these events?
Marilyn and Bolivia are marveling at the wonder of the little miracle cooing and stretching in her arms. The PVE did not have time to manifest and a miracle to love and hold is born. He is gorgeous, and so precious. Bolivia is showing us those beautiful Anna Torv smiles we all love. You can’t help but smile with her. But what are the insidious plans for this little miracle?
We don’t have long to enjoy the Mother and son moment before we see the transfer of the baby’s blood sample to a minion. August, our Observer is there to witness the transaction as well. What does the Observer mean”It is happening?” I’m speculating that this baby is more important than we first realized. Is Peter the only person that can operate the machine? Is this child important to the Observer’s as well?
The minion is the sleazy Alt-Brandon and he delivers the blood sample to none other than Walternate! He executed this plan and put their lives in such great peril. I thought he had a moral stance on not experimenting on children? Wouldn’t the rapid growth of a child be considered experimentation? What plans does Walternate have for his Grandson? Is this child ‘FATED’ to be an intricate part of the larger pattern of Fringe Science.
Fringe returns Friday April 15, 2011 with season three episode 19 known as “Lysergic Acid Diethylamide” (LSD). In the meantime, enjoy the full episode “Bloodline” courtesy of FOX via Hulu!
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Fringe .. Really could not start this review without a discussion of ratings. For some in the fandom, despite the clear and evident signs that a renewal was a virtual certainty often with hints from and by TPTB of the series itself, people appeared to be on the verge of panic. No matter what was tweeted, or who stated it, many of the Fringies felt that the series was about to be canceled.
Buffeted by over a month of SERIOUS problems in the real world, (Egypt, Japan, Libya, revolution, riots, earthquakes, tsunami and a nearly unprecedented nuclear disaster), television ratings plunged across the board for a wide array of programs. The only apparent exception was news programs world-wide. Many Fringe fans seemed on the verge of panic and obsession the series was going to be canceled. Not correct!
Let’s try and set the record straight: Television ratings are an important factor, a very important factor. However such are not the only determining factor as to whether a series will be either renewed or placed on the shelf. People who look at ratings with tunnel vision without considering the larger picture are likely to draw incorrect conclusions every time.
Rejoice Fringe fans! The series has been renewed and now be at peace like when Nina Sharp (Blair Brown) discusses facts with Walter!
Now let us take an analytical look at the Fringe episode “Stowaway” directed by Charles Beeson. A watershed episode that deals with obsession, “Stowaway” features Anna Torv taking on yet another persona none other than William Bell (Leonard Nimoy). Fondly referred to as Bellivia by many in the fandom, the hidden persona was secreted away using “Soul Magnets” during Olivia Dunham’s (Anna Torv) time on “The Other Side” apparently while in William Bell’s office during “tea time”. We observe Bellivia is the lab with electrodes attached to her skull!
Those who have followed the career of this brilliant young Australian actress know that Anna Torv is extremely gifted. Her portrayal of a male character is superb and a delight to behold! During the opening sequences we witness this brilliance as Walter Bishop (John Noble) giggles with glee that his old friend has returned. The body language, voice intonation and facial expressions of Bellivia are wonderful. Another fantastically great performance by Anna Torv? You bet!
Other main Fringe characters including Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson), Phillip Broyles (Lance Reddick) and Astrid Farnsworth (Jasika Nicole) are not quite so pleased that Olivia’s body has been hijacked by William Bell for his agenda regarding Massive Dynamics. From an analytical perspective the plot twist is perfect! Why? Since in real life we have been informed that Leonard Nimoy has announced his retirement from film and television production we will need a new body for William Bell! Or has he really retired and will we need another body?
During his recent appearance at the Creation Entertainment Star Trek convention in San Francisco, Mr. Nimoy did not take questions during his 90 minute panel in which he opined about his six decade career. Was this because he may return as William Bell in his old friend J.J. Abrams production of Fringe? We are not sure because there was no question and answer period. What we do know about “Stowaway” is that Bellivia states he needs to find a suitable repository for his conscience mind!
Naturally there must be a Fringe event of some sort for an episode of Fringe to be complete. On a parallel story arc we segue to a roof top where we find Dana Gray (Paula Malcomson) is on a bit of soul searching mission of her own. And not without consequences I might add. Her discussion that “every drop of rain holds a purpose of regrowth” is a bit disturbing.
During a poignant moment a poor soul is observed going over the side of a building to his death. We observe Dana Gray who goes over the edge with the victim apparently suffering only a bloody nose. Obviously there is some connection with the deceased, her undisclosed purpose. He crashes to his death but there is no damage to Dana from her smashing a perfectly serviceable automobile in the process!
At this point we finally get to meet the analog of Special Agent Lincoln Lee (Seth Gabel) in our universe reality. Lincoln has been sent to investigate the circumstances informing the team that Dana Gray was murdered but that her body disappeared from the morgue.
Naturally no Fringe episode is complete without an Observer sighting. The sighting occurs during this sequence as illustrated below .
Further discussion reveals that Dana Gray did not perish on the horrific murder of her family during a home invasion. Called by Bellivia and Walter to the lab, we are also re-introduced once again to one of my favorite characters, Gene the Cow! During the typical moments of John Noble humor, Lincoln Lee asks who Gene is? Walter quips about Gene and in a sequence of unreal hilarity Lincoln is observed looking around the lab in disbelief. What is Gene doing there? Well for goodness sakes people WE KNOW what! How is Walter expected to make fresh milkshakes without Gene!
A discussion into magnetism ensues with Bellivia likening the purpose of the elusive Fringe event character Dana Gray as being drawn to certain types of individuals for as yet an unidentified purpose. We follow the action to a center for disturbed souls where we meet Lucy (Catherine Lough Haggquist) who is helpful in ascertaining the identity of Dana Gray from her interaction with various patients she “helped”.
We move back to the lab where Walter and Bellivia are observed smoking a hand rolled cigarette of an herbal nature. No doubt the cigarette is”Brown Betty” their favorite thought provoking substance. The two start giggling when Gene the Cow moo’s. Well we all know that such herbal cigarettes do have such an effect from time to time!
As the investigation continues, Dana discovers yet another soul about to terror bomb a train with a large plastic explosives device (a bit similar to a scene in Caprica where the Soldiers of The One are dealing in souls as well).
By this time in the episode we have figured out that Dana feels she should have perished with her family but is unable to actually die. Her soul magnetism capability has led to a belief is that she can “hitch a ride” on a dying soul to break her mortal life by bonding with them and becoming an angel lifted to heaven to rejoin her family.
As we observed in the opening sequence, the power of a single death has not been effective for Dana. Dana becomes convinced that a mass death of many people will have enough “energy” to free her from her earthly bonds. The fact that an entire train of innocent people will perish to service her quest has no apparent impact on her conscience. She is obviously of a nature and state of mind which can only be described as OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder).
In an investigation plot twist discovery that reminds one of “The Fugitive” (1993), the Fringe Division uses an audio recording of a telephone conversation between Peter Bishop and Dana Gray after he fakes a call from her departed husband. Peter pleads with Dana to no avail. However the telephone audio recording, much like a similar sequence in “The Fugitive” contains sounds of the train station stops. The audio clues allows Walter, Bellivia and the Fringe Division team to isolate the exact train and use it to track Dana down.
Upon arrival at the train stopped by the authorities, we discover that Dana has escaped the train with the explosive device in her possession. We hear and see the explosion but this time she is the only victim of her own obsession.
And here is where the Single Effect of the entire episode is focused, obsession. In life and during our interactions, we here here at WHR have unfortunately encountered people obsessed with a television series, an actor, an actress and or other celebrity, sadly to the exclusion of all else in their lives.
Oblivious to the consequences their actions have on others, they are convinced “they know better” and will do anything or say anything to justify their obsession in the process often to the exclusion of all else.
It is not true people. Nor is it appropriate professional or even personal behavior. Celebrities are simply hired to do a job. So are the creators just doing their job. What is their job you might ask? Their “job” is to provide entertainment and perhaps impart a bit of learning in the telling of the story they act in or produce for our benefit. It is that simple my friends. No more, no less.
As the episode draws to an end Bellivia is discussing fate with Peter that the logical reason Dana survived was of a divine nature. Dana’s apparent “purpose” was to be on Earth to ensure the suicide explosive was not set off on the train, thereby by serving a dual purpose of saving the passengers and finally setting her soul free from its obsession in an act of “fate”.
We end the episode with Bellivia convulsing in front of Peter admitting he may have miscalculated the effects of being in Olivia’s body. In the opinion of this reviewer, a perfect setup and use of Single Effect to set up Fringe episode eighteen “Bloodline” which airs March 25, 2011 on FOX.
We include a video promo from FOX on the subject of “Bloodline” and the complete episode of “Stowaway” for your enjoyment!
As always we appreciate your visiting our news sites at WormholeRiders News Agency. Please feel free to leave a spam free comment or a question here. We will respond to your comment or question as soon as is possible.
If you prefer, click the social media icons below to share this news article or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit the WHR on Facebook or me on Twitter by clicking the text links or images avatars in this news story and or on See You on The Other Side“! Thank you.
Poor Fringe ratings. For the second time in a month a devastating event pulled viewers away from the series. Initially pushed below 4 million viewers during the Egyptian crisis, the unprecedented catastrophe in Japan pushed season three episode “Os” viewing numbers lower dropping some 350,000 live viewers. However, the ratings raised to a 2.1 share and 4.8 when Plus 7 numbers are factored in!
Lets take a look at the Fringe ratings for Friday March 11, 2011.
Initial Fringe Ratings Episode 16 Seaosn 3:
– 3.639 million viewers – 2.1/4 HH – 1.5/5 A18-49.
DVR Live Plus 7 Fringe Ratings Episode 16 Seaosn 3:
– 4.8 million viewers – 2.3/4 HH – 1.8/5 A18-49.
Well lets be honest with ourselves people, a FRINGE event including an earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown is certainly more important than a television series. We here at WormholeRiders News Agency did our part donating money and encouraging others to donate to such worthy efforts as the RED CROSS.
As an offset is that sustained Fringe fan support efforts on Twitter in specific and around the Internet in general.
The natural disaster in Japan was a terrible circumstance that drained live viewers (with good cause). However, for several hours the very talented Australian actress Anna Torv who portrays Olivia Dunham trended on Twitter holding the sixth position for a very brief and staying in the top ten for several hours.
The tweet count moved somwhat higher for Fringe over the previous weeks with fans tweeting at typically high levels. The image is an accurate moment in time but is linked to a website that tracks Twitter statistics dynamically.
WormholeRiders News Agency has stated over and over that Fringe will be renewed. The recent demonstrations provide more than adequate edification for the show runners who successfully completed their brilliantly considered “Twitter” marketing experiment in previous weeks. The facts are clear, Fringe fans provided the proof to the FOX broadcast network when earlier this week the shows executives stated they “were positive about renewal“, a message we have waited some time to have confirmed.
Moreover, according to TV By The Numbers which uses the Nielsen ratings to also determine DVR viewings, Fringe continues to be the top DVR’d television program averaging an increase between 48% to 53% increases week to week. We only wish that those fans would watch live a bit more often. Perhaps this week?
Fringe viewers should carefully count their blessings. Fringe continues to tally total viewers well below another series we follow, V Series. V Series held steady at approximately 5.2 million viewers for their season two finale March 15, 2011. However V Series is listed as likely to be canceled while Fringe is now listed as more than likely to be renewed. I suggest supporting Fringe by watching LIVE and make sure to continue Tweet until your fingers bleed from banging the keyboard for the remainder of season three.
Fringe returns this Friday, March 18, 2011 with “Stowaway” with William Bell INSIDE Olivia on FOX 9 PM EST/PST! ZOMG! We include the promotional trailer below for your pleasure.
As always we appreciate your visiting our news sites at WormholeRiders News Agency. Please feel free to leave a spam free comment or a question here. We will respond to your comment or question as soon as is possible.
If you prefer, click the social media icons below to share this news article or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit the WHR on Facebook or me on Twitter by clicking the text links or images avatars in this news story and or on See You on The Other Side“! Thank you.
We had a short break from Fringe and thankfully it is back. This week’s episode “Os” was a strong episode with a few surprise guest appearances. “Os” told the story of a father, played by Alan Ruck, who was willing to risk the lives of others so that his son may walk again.
I want to touch on the science in this episode first. When I read the title “Os” I thought what is this? Os is the chemical symbol for osmium. Osmium is the densest element in the universe. It is a rare element and surprisingly not very valuable. In its natural form it is an alloy and belongs in the platinum family. As Peter points out in this episode, uses for osmium include fountain pen tips and electrical contacts. There are several characteristics of osmium that make it a remarkable element. Other than being the densest element in the universe, it has the highest melting point of any element and it has the lowest vapor pressure.
Osmium has a toxic oxidation state called osmium tetroxide. This occurs when powdered osmium is exposed to air. It has a very strong smell. When I read about this toxic oxidation that is airborne I thought what a cool idea this is! However, in this episode we just have solid osmium. This is such a unique element and I hope the writers give it another sinister episode.
I hope all Fringe fans were as elated as I was to see Jorge Garcia of Lost as Kevin the security guy at Massive Dynamic. He is a very talented actor and I had hoped we would see him in something real soon. Kevin was a cameo appearance for Mr. Garcia as he has been cast in J.J. AbramsAlcatraz. It is sure to be a hit!
Our second star cameo appearance comes from Alan Ruck as Dr. Crick. This character was a very interesting one that I felt sympathy for. Sure, he was the mad scientist sacrificing the lives of handicap young men, but he did it all for the love of his son. He gave a great performance and made Dr. Crick one of those characters you love and hate.
There are two separate stories going on within this story. They deal with the new romance between Olivia and Peter and Walter Bishop’s (John Noble) continued search for the knowledge he lost when Bell removed part of his brain. These are very important and I will get to them in a few pages.
At the start of this episode we have two men scaling a building upside down. As usual, I start to think what are they doing and how are they doing it. It is a game I play to see if I can figure it out before we are shown what is happening. Sometimes I can win this game but I will admit I did not win this time.
A security guard interrupted this burglary, and he unfortunately shot an unarmed man. This was when it got really good because the man that was shot floated up as did his blood. At that point I gave up my guessing game and let the story unfold. I was outside of my understanding of physics or was I?
The next scene was the most important one in relation to this story. The Fringe team arrived at the scene to investigate the dead man who was floating tethered by a rope. As Walter approached the floating dead man, he quoted the Tragedy of Icarus. “God stopped saw Icarus float through the sky, and taking him from God they stood still in wonder.” Icarus is from Greek mythology. His father, Daedalus, crafted him wings that were made of feathers and wax so that he may fly.
He was warned not to fly to close to the sun. Icarus tried to escape Crete and in that attempt he got too close to the sun. His wings melted because they were made of wax, and Icarus fell to Earth and perished. I love Greek mythology and enjoyed the writers taking a Greek myth and injecting it into our modern day story.
Walter examined the dead man and noticed his atrophied calf muscles. He makes the assumption that the man must be exposed to some sort of weightless environment. Because, he was found floating with withered calf muscles. Peter was quick to point out that the man’s upper body was normal. If the man had been exposed to a weightless environment for a long period of time, all his muscles would be atrophied. I am hooked at this point. I have to know what caused this man to float and have withered calf muscles.
We finally got to meet the evil Dr. Crick. He does not look so evil. He was the one who was experimenting on these men that tried to break into the building. The second thief got away and went to Dr. Crick for help. He was sick and anxious. He told the doctor that he was nauseous and had a headache. Dr. Crick took him back to his lab.
The young man was bleeding from his eyes. I am diagnosing this man quicker than Dr. Gregory House could I promise you! Just as Dr. Crick was about to inject this young man with a syringe full of mystery medicine he died. Peter and Olivia soon find him and add him to Walter’s collection of dead floating bodies.
Astrid Farnsworth (Jasika Nicole) and Walter examined the bodies back at his lab. One of the bodies was floating above the floor as Walter was reading one of Belly’s books. It is not until the body suddenly dropped to the floor that Walter realized there was something else in the blood. He tested the dead man’s blood, and discovered it contained osmium or Os.
Walter was confused and went on one of his ramblings, and in this explained some of the basic characteristics of osmium. How had the perpetrator altered the basic properties of osmium, and made the heaviest element lighter than air? As Walter said, he was “defying physics”.
Peter and agent Phillip Broyles (Lance Reddick) told Walter that the bodies they found had been in wheelchairs. They had muscular dystrophy. That would explain why only the calf muscles were atrophied and not the upper body. Dr. Crick was injecting these young men with osmium but how was he recruiting them?
We found out next when Dr. Crick was in the gym watching a basketball game between men in wheelchairs. He spotted a young man by the name of Vince sitting alone watching the game. Vince explained that he was not healthy enough to play basketball. Dr. Crick now had his third victim. He took Vince back to his lab, and injected him with the solution.
When he did Vince started to float upwards. He was very happy. At that point Dr. Crick became someone I do not like very much. He explained to Vince that he did not have anymore of the element he needed to make the injection. He had Vince hooked, and he was willing to do anything to regain some use of his legs.
Finally we got to see who Dr. Crick was doing all of this for when he was at home helping his son to bed. His son, Michael, was in a wheelchair and unable to walk. You could see the love in Dr. Crick’s eyes that almost made you feel sympathy for him. The writers gave us this one glimpse of Dr. Crick’s humanity. It helped us relate to him as parents.
Dr. Crick and Vince went to the Museum of Science to get the element lutetium. It is just as dense as osmium and very rare. It is found in meteorites. He wanted Vince to float down and disarm the security system, and let him in to steal the meteorite containing lutetium. Walter was one step ahead of Dr. Crick and he knew what his next move was. They rushed to the museum to catch Dr. Crick and Vince in the act. Dr. Crick ran when they are caught, and Vince was left behind to float away. Peter jumped on Vince, and they came crashing to the ground. Dr. Crick was apprehended at the door.
The end of Dr. Crick’s story is he went jail. His son Michael came to visit him along with the Fringe team. Dr. Crick told Michael “I did it for you Michael”. Unlike the story of Icarus, Michael’s father did not give him wings that killed him. He did however kill two other young men. Walter asked Dr. Crick “How did you defy the laws of physics?” Dr. Crick explained that it happened by accident. He was attempting to make a new alloy by combining two very heavy rare elements, and the final result was a molecule that was lighter than air.
This brought us to my next topic, and that is Walter’s ongoing attempt at recovering his lost memories. This is so he can save Peter and set the universe right. At the beginning of this episode, when Walter and Kevin are smoking a bong, Kevin pointed out William Bell’s office. Walter was very excited and spent two hours in Belly’s office. He then burst through Nina Sharp’s (Blair Brown) door, and started ranting about the books. He found one of Belly’s books that might hold the key to what is happening and how to stop it.
He told Nina he had to “protect our world”. Walter has this overwhelming sense of responsibility to fix what he messed up when he took Peter from the other universe. Walter talked about one of Bell’s books on “soul magnets”. He believed that the soul or consciousness continues to live after death. Walter quoted the first law of thermodynamics that states energy cannot be either created or destroyed.
There was a tender moment in the lab with Walter when Nina placed her hand on his face. Walter has struggled with the fact he has missing memories. He does not feel whole. Nina reminded Walter that what makes him special is his “imagination and boundless creativity.” She reminded him that the best parts remained. There is a great amount of affection between these two, and it makes me wonder where they are headed with their relationship.
At the end, when Walter discovered how Dr. Crick created this new molecule, he rushed to Nina’s office to explain it to her. He said it was an accident that Dr. Crick’s molecule was lighter than air. It should not have been. Walter said it was because of what he did 25 years ago. Taking Peter from the other universe caused this reversal of physics.
He fears the universe is breaking because of what he did. We see again Walter’s overwhelming sense of responsibility. I do feel sorry for Walter, but it was his choice to take Peter from the other side that caused the problems they are facing. It is all about choices. Walter took Nina’s Bell that William Bell had left her in his will, and explained that he can use this to bring back the soul of William Bell. He said microscopic magnets would have to be inserted into the host and Bell would appear in that host. He rang the bell and waited for Nina’s response. Nothing happens.
This takes me to my final topic and that is the ongoing relationship between Peter and Olivia. Peter has kept his secret from everyone that he is studying the chips he took from the shape shifters. At the beginning of this episode Olivia called Peter, while he was studying this chip, and he lied to her about where he was at. You could see that he was aggravated by her phone call. Why was he aggravated at her? The last time we saw them they were holding hands headed to the bedroom. What has changed?
The next chance we have at analyzing their relationship was when they were in the lab with Walter and Astrid. Peter asked Olivia if she wanted to go for a pizza. She was happy with this, and they walked down the hall holding hands until they were seen by Nina. They looked comfortable and happy together. I was confused about this. Earlier in the episode Peter was aggravated with her. They spoke of “full disclosure” with one another. I could sense Peter’s hesitation with this.
It all becomes evident at the end. Peter took Olivia to his place, and showed her the chips that he has been working on. He told her he wants “full disclosure”. You can see Olivia’s face change as she understood how he got the chips. He was the one that killed the shape shifters. I saw a little disappointment in her face.
She was not as happy as she had been the entire episode. She is obviously a woman in love. She turned around to speak to Peter and it was not Olivia. This happened right after Walter rang the bell in Nina’s office. Olivia spoke in a voice that could only be William Bell. Anna Torv does a wonderful impersonation of Leonard Nimoy! I have to give her that. She has been acting as two separate characters throughout this season and last season. Now it would seem they intend to give her a third persona with William Bell. Only Anna Torv could pull this off.
Fringe returns on FOX Friday March 18, 2011 in episode 17 “Stowaway”. In the meantime here is an alert from FOX and the full episode “Os” too!!
I trust you have enjoyed this review of Fringe. As always thank you for visiting WormholeRiders News Agency.
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Our detailed analysis of Fringe episodes are complete and up to date during the mini-hiatus which thankfully ends this Friday March 11, 2011 with the Fringe season three episode “Os”. This week we continued to have our minds blown by the strong sustained Fringe fan support efforts on Twitter in specific and around the Internet in general.
The development that set it all off was the appearance of show runners Joel Wyman and Jeff Pinknerwho tweeted with virtually thousands of fans the during the east coast airing of “Subject 13”, followed by Jasika Nicole for the west coast airing in an event known as Fringe Live Tweet. February 25, 2011. The Fringe tweet up continued for nearly a week until the hard working Fringe Team needed to get back to work.
So why was this all done? For one thing the tweet count soared higher for Fringe over the previous weeks with fans tweeting in glee that the creators and Ms . Nicole were tweeting! In fact that the series trended briefly. We include a recent snapshot of the Twitter data taken today March 09, 2011 (Note: the image is an accurate moment in time but is linked to a website that tracks Twitter statistics dynamically).
WormholeRiders News Agency believes there was another reason. Fringe will be renewed in the opinion of WHR, however the show runners were conducting a well considered marketing experiment. Why? To demonstrate the support in the fandom as “icing on the cake” before a season four renewal by the broadcast network and the advertising base as discussed in the Subject 13 “AfterMath” video by inference.
Lets take a look at the ratings for Friday February 18 (6B) and 25 (Subject 13), 2011, two favorite episodes of the Fringies (of which we proudly consider ourselves to be as well!).
Fringe “6B” February 18, 2011
– 4.017 million viewers – 2.3/4 HH – 1.5/5 A18-49
Fringe “Subject 13” February 25, 2011
– 4.021 million viewers -2.3/4 HH – 1.5/5 A18-49
Moreover, according to TV By The Numbers which uses the Nielsen ratings to also determine DVR viewings, Fringe is the top DVR’d television program.
It is here that factors indicate that the fan base is holding strong in their love for the program, something the broadcast network FOX needs to know to “ice the cake” prior to an announcement.
Over and above the so-called Fringe fan “Alternate Universe Episodes” boycott, (which faded once the show runners Joel Wyman and Jeff Pinkner and Ms. Nicole entered the picture), there is one thing however that Fringe is lacking statistics for: ON-DEMAND viewing numbers.
Unlike programs featured on COMCAST cable systems (the largest distributor in the United States) the ON-DEMAND tallies for the views of featured programs helps more than DVR views because it is harder to skip program advertising than DVR’d viewing. (Note: when we watch On-DEMAND we watch the commercials since this sends a positive message to the networks who are in fact the funnel whereby consumer purchases of advertisers products is what keeps a program on the air)..
For one of its featured “flagship” programs like Fringe, FOX does not have the same level of access. Why? Fringe is not featured as an ON-DEMAND choice on the COMCAST network. As such it makes it impossible to compare. What is evident however is that another mechanism was needed by the show runners to demonstrate the support in the Fringe fan base. That mechanism is Twitter. It is there that Fringe fans perform more than brilliantly in that regard.
What is most interesting is that while Fringe continues to tally total viewers below another series we follow, V Series (that is holding steady at over 5 million viewers), we would suggest that you need to look much closer. V Series is listed as likely to be canceled. Fringe is listed as likely to be renewed.
What is the difference in the opinion of this analyst? The fact is that Fringe Twitter “Tweeps” (as they are often called), put many (but not all) other program fans to shame with their sheer tweet volume. The Fringies should be proud of their “victory” in that regard. This demonstration more than makes up for the lack of ON-DEMAND viewing statistics readily available to other networks and is precisely what FOX needed to witness for themselves!
As I have stated before, season four of Fringe is a certainty as reported previously. The facts are that the show runners and celebrities have clearly demonstrated their respect for the Fringe fans by “coming out to play” as it were. With all factors considered, in the opinion of this observer (pun intended) a season four announcement will come after the remaining have been broadcast and not likely before. I suggest supporting Fringe by watching LIVE and make sure to Tweet your little Fringie hearts out for the remainder of season three.
Fringe returns this Friday, March 11, 2011 with “Os” on FOX 9 PM EST/PST!
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This week’s Fringe episode focused on important childhood events that would eventually shape the lives of Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson), Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv), Walter Bishop (John Noble), and Elizabeth Bishop (Orla Brady). “Subject 13” is a sequel of sorts to season two’s “Peter”. This episode is a bit unusual in that the only main cast member in it is John Noble.
Hold on to your seats Fringe Fans, we are going back to the 80’s to spend time with a young Peter (Chandler Canterbury) and a young Olivia (Karley Scott Collins)! And we didn’t even need a modified Delorean!!
The episode takes place six months after Walter takes Peter from the parallel universe. The actual date is revealed during the episode to be around April 1st, 1985 (it’s on the recording that Walter makes with his Betamax). We find that Elizabeth is struggling with her role as caretaker for Peter (who essentially is a boy that is very similar to, but is NOT, her dead son). Peter is certain that this Walter and Elizabeth are not his parents and this is not his world. Peter has left Elizabeth a note: “I am going home”.
Peter believes his universe must be at the bottom of Reiden Lake and decides the way to get back is to tie himself to a cinder block and sink to the bottom of the frozen lake. We get a heart-wrenching scene as Elizabeth rushes to stop him… too late… he throws the block on the ice and falls in. Without a moment’s hesitation, Elizabeth dives into the ice water. He fights her but she manages to bring him up through the hole. It was an incredible opening to the show.
Elizabeth is clearly worried for Peter’s safety and mental state so she takes him to Jacksonville where Walter is working with his Cortexaphan guinea pigs… uh… I mean children at the Jacksonville Family Daycare Center. Sidebar: Seriously what did these parents think they were signing their children up for? It’s a daycare run by a research scientist… hmmmm… big giant red flag anyone? Anyway… we find a younger Walter (another awesome job by the makeup department) working with a group of the children that includes a young Nick Lane (Liam Macke) and an adorable young Olivia.
Once Walter is informed his wife has arrived, he tells the kids they can go home. We get a shot of Olivia’s face and see she is clearly distressed about going home early.
Walter speaks to Peter and tries to convince him that his ideas about being from another universe is just confusion from his illness. Peter says that this universe is wrong and talks about the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Red Lantern. Walter speaks to his wife and they decide the they need to return Peter to the parallel universe for his sake and to make sure no one from over there finds out they exist. Elizabeth is clearly devastated about having to lie to Peter. It seems as if having this reminder of her Peter around that she doesn’t get to keep is becoming unbearably painful for her.
We get a glimpse into Olivia’s home life. We find her quietly reading the book Winter’s Tale by Mark Helprin on the couch. Winter’s Tale is about a man named Peter Lake who falls in love with a young dying girl; the book is set in New York City of a fictional universe. Nice choice by the writers, don’t you think? Suddenly her dirt-bag of a stepfather rips the book from her hands, and begins to chase her down the hallway.
She is clearly scared to death as she looks behind her to see her step father whom we shall refer to as “Dirt-bag” from here on in. Young Olivia’s universe crossing ability progress instantly transported her to a field.
We hear a motor that we can assume belongs to a Zeppelin and a large shadow passes over her. SNAP! She’s back in the hallway just as Dirt-bag grabs her head. At this point, I yelled obscenities at the television.
This is presumably the first time Olivia or any of the Cortexaphan kids have crossed into the parallel universe. The next day Walter believes Olivia has crossed over when he finds her drawing a picture of a Zeppelin.
He also sees that Olivia has a black eye, courtesy of her father, El Dirt-Bag.
Olivia lies and says she “fell”. Obviously this is an abused child. Meanwhile, Elizabeth and Peter are driving in a car when they pass a field of white tulips. Elizabeth passes the time by telling Peter about how the tulips came to be there but Peter still shuts down any attempts to be closer to him.
In an effort to get the boy to trust that she cares for him, Elizabeth takes Peter to a toy store. We finally get to see a glimpse of happiness in him. I loved this scene, mostly because I loved the 1980’s toys. Peter finds an airplane that he seems to enjoy playing with and when he catches Elizabeth hovering, they smile at each other. It was a touching moment. Maybe this woman has finally made some progress with the boy.
Elizabeth and Peter arrive at the daycare to visit Walter. Peter sees Olivia for the first time through the glass window. They are instantly drawn to each other. How cute was their child-like staring at one another?
Walter explains to Elizabeth that Olivia has crossed and she may be the best hope for getting Peter home. Elizabeth seems excited about the prospect of Peter going home. This poor woman probably needs a break from all this madness and has not had a chance to truly grieve for her dead son.
Walter determines that Olivia’s crossing was triggered by an emotional response. He sets up experiments to try and determine which emotions are responsible. He records the experiments on his new Betamax (HAHAHAHAHA). We see him write “Subject 13” (Olivia’s designation) on the videocassette.
When’s the last time you saw a videocassette? Walter tests Olivia’s crossing ability when joy, increase heart rate, anger, and loneliness are induced with no avail. He decides to test fear with the movie “Jaws” when Nick pops up in the window and waves at Olivia. Walter comes up with a horribly sick idea to scare the child out of her mind with an awful trick. It was particularly sad since we first have a cute scene of her playing around in the room. The lights go out and she freaks. If you listen, you can hear Walter whispering. The lights pop back on and Nick is lying on the floor with blood all over his face. Olivia totally flips the hell out and sets the room ablaze using only her mind to create the fire. HOLY CRAP!
Next we see Walter cleaning the fake blood of Nick’s face and we find out Olivia bailed after the fire. Elizabeth and Peter arrive to find out what’s happened. Peter is asked to hang out by the cubbies and he finds Olivia’s drawing book. He sees a drawing of Dirt-bag and one of the tulips.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth finds Walter’s notes in his office and finds out Olivia is being abused by Dirt-bag. When Walter arrives she grills him about sending the girl back to an abusive household and reads part of the notes out loud. “The unique combination of love and terror there apparently stimulates a cortical reaction”. I can only imagine that they use the term “cortical reaction” here to describe Olivia transversing the space-time membrane. (Usually the cortical reaction refers a process during fertilization where a sperm cell contacts an egg’s plasma membrane and sets off a series of events that prevents other sperm from binding to the egg.)
Elizabeth is floored that Walter is willing to sacrifice Olivia by exploiting her domestic situation. Walter admits he has chosen Peter over Olivia. He’s weighing one life over another. He is willing to experiment on children and overlook their well being in order to get Peter home. He worries that if he doesn’t get Peter back to the parallel universe Walternate will never stop searching for Peter and this search will lead to them. Walter feels this is exactly what he would do if his Peter was the one taken.
Turns out that Peter bailed while Walter and Elizabeth were talking and we see that he took the tulip drawing with him. This leads to a cool scene where Elizabeth is looking through a window and then we get a FLASH to other Elizabeth in the parallel universe. Walternate looks a mess and is drinking. A news story on Peter’s disappearance is on the television.
They mention that Walternate is the famed architect of the Star Wars defense system (This is in reference to the Strategic Defense Initiative that was a proposed defense system that would protect against nuclear attacks. It was nicknamed Star Wars because it was deemed unrealistic and unscientific in the 80’s).
Elizabeth pleads for him to stop drinking while Walternate questions her about the man who kidnapped Peter for presumably the hundereth time. Note that Walternate refers to the man as “the man that took MY son” even though he’s speaking with the boy’s mother (what a jerk!). The current theories on the kidnapping are plastic surgeries and aliens. He is clearly obsessed and their marriage is paying the price. Walternate seems to come to his senses and apologizes to his wife. She asks him to stay home from work and work on their marriage.
The next morning she awakes to find that he went to work anyway (what a jerk!). Walternate apparently founded BISHOP DYNAMIC.
We find that he’s still drinking when we pulls a flask out of his desk drawer. As Walternate stares out the window, we get another cool flash back to the prime universe.
Peter has found Olivia in the tulip field and introduces himself. She warns him that she may not be safe and indicates to tulips she’s fried. He takes a chance and sits with her anyway. She trusts him with her dark secret that Dirt-bag hits her and is afraid Walter is angry with her for the fire and will send her back home. Peter tells her to talk to Walter and ends up referring to Elizabeth as his mom. Olivia asks him if he trusts Walter and Peter side-steps the question. These two star-crossed lovers seem to have a calming effect on one another and end up holding hands. How cute! Hands firmly held with Peter, Olivia causes it to snow.
Peter and Olivia return to the daycare and run into Elizabeth. It’s clear that Elizabeth was distraught and I think she is now too attached to Peter to ever truly let him return home.
Olivia finds out Dirt-bag is on the way to get her as she is drawing in her notebook and becomes very upset. She decides that she has to tell Walter what’s happening immediately. She bursts into tears and barrels into Walter’s office to find him sitting behind his desk. Olivia hands him the notebook and admits she drew the Zeppelin in her book after flashing into the parallel universe. She begs him to make Dirt-bag stop hitting her. Walter silently stares at her appearing to be stunned.
Olivia is startled when Walter walks into his office. WHAT!!
She turns to find no one behind the desk. HOLY CRAP! It was Walternate!! I watched the scene a few times. If you pay attention, you will see that Walternate is wearing a blue tie earlier in the episode while Walter has a red one on. When Olivia sees the man behind the desk, he has a blue tie on! WOW! That was awesome!
Dirt-bag shows up to get Olivia and calls her his “little princess” (YUCK!). Walter lays the smack down and lets D-bag know that if he touches her again there will be consequences for him.
We find Peter apologizing to Elizabeth for running away. He asks her if he’s ever going home. She basically tells him that she’s his real mom and that she’ll protect him and no one will ever take him away. He then calls her mom (excuse me while I wipe the tear from my eye). Elizabeth ends up crying. She’s ravaged by so many conflicting emotions. We see her start drinking. This is probably the beginning to the downward spiral that will eventually lead to her suicide.
We cut back to Walternate (blue tie) calling his Elizabeth. He says he knows where Peter is and is looking at the drawing of Olivia and Peter holding hands. UH-OH WHITE TULIPS!
I think Walternate blamed his wife for Peter’s kidnapping. He couldn’t understand how she could let the boy go with a man who “looked” like him. They didn’t really have any good theories to what had happened. Then this distraught little girl appears and tells him of another universe. I got chills when Walternate made that call. His demeanor had changed. This man had found where his son had gone and you could see that he was going to find a way to get him back.
I loved this episode. I felt like I went through a rollercoaster of emotions over the course of it. The acting was phenomenal. John Noble was wonderful as always. Orla Brady gave a powerful performance. She managed to be so different in each universe. She played a strong Elizabeth in the parallel universe trying to hold together her family and a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown in the prime universe. The kids did an amazing job. Karley Scott Collins performance was extraordinary. When she cried, I felt as if someone was squeezing my heart. I truly hope we get to see more of this beautiful young lady.
There was a lot of 80’s awesomeness in this episode. Let’s go through some highlights!! Title Sequence: We get midi music and vector graphics and everything! YAY! I love the 80’s. Did you notice changes in the “futuristic” science techniques as well? These would be things that in 1985 would look more like “Fringe” science.
Props and Set Dressing:
Peter’s room in the prime universe: I’ve watched the episode a few times and I kept pausing on Peter’s room so I could look around at his toys. I spotted an Erector set, a Labyrinth game, Lincoln Logs, and a Telescope.
Toy Store: when Peter is in the toy store I was SO excited to look around at the 80’s games. He lingered over a Battlestar Galactica game for a bit (LOVE IT!). On the shelf above it, was a set of Ghostbusters toys.
These toys were from “The Real Ghostbusters” the animated series that ran from 1986-1991 not from the 1st movie in 1984. OOPS. We know from the date on Walter’s camera that it’s April 1st 1985 so these toys shouldn’t be in the toy store yet… HOLY CRAP I’m a HUGE nerd! Betamax!!!! HAHAHAHAHA!!! Also, how awesome was that HUGE cordless phone that Elizabeth uses? I laughed hard when she pulled up that antenna.
Costume choices: I loved the kids’ clothes. Why did our parents dress us that way? And it is too bad no one had good 80’s hair either 😛
80’s in the Parallel Universe: Peter’s room in parallel universe: There are some framed comics on the wall. One is of RED Lantern (Green Lantern to us) and another is of Superman but the background of the comic suggests that this is our Batman: The Dark Knight Returns with Superman stuck in place of Batman. What else did you guys notice?
This excellent episode was written by Jeff Pinkner, J.H. Wyman, and Akiva Goldsman. It was directed by Frederick E.O. Toye. I hoped you enjoyed “Subject 13” as much as I did. Let me know what you think and thanks for checking out this review. Fringe returns to FOX on March 11, 2011 with another great episode!
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Synopsis: A series of Fringe events leads the team to the home of an older woman grieving over the death of her husband, while Peter and Olivia make an effort to mend the serious emotional rifts between them.
This episode begins at night when a young couple, Chris (Colby Johannson) and Sylvia (Monica Mustelier) walk into the Rosencrantz building in, Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York. Did we see The “Observer” appear strangely walking past them outside? This occurs as they arriving at a party before heading inside the seventh-floor apartment.
While waiting for the elevator, a woman, Mrs. Marcello, walks past them with her luggage all perturbed and tells them to have good luck using the elevator, and then they flip a weird look as the elevator door closes. Outside, she tells the Doorman Jimmy Smith, like many tenants who already left she won’t stay in that creepy building anymore, as he helps her into a cab.
At the same time, the happy young couple arrives at the party upstairs and the bouncy hostess, Kim (Erin Simms), greets them. Unexpectedly, the blender goes on and she says that it’s not the first time things have turned on by themselves. Suddenly Sylvia starts to gasp for air choking on an appetizer and they call her boyfriend Chris over to get her medication. It looks like she’s going into an Anaphylactic shock!
THEN back downstairs as Mrs. Marcello (Michelle Brezinski) gets into the cab…and now the TEASER kicks you right in the gut, when SLAMMING bodies’ rain down from a balcony above and crash to the pavement as the unsuspecting party-goers fall to their deaths and then they both look up stunned beyond!
Now it CUTS TO the next morning, Walter Bishop (John Noble) & Peter Bishop (Josh Jackson) talk about rifts between Peter and Olivia, and Walter says he misses her and Peter warns him to mind his own business, as he cooks up his infamous blueberry pancakes, like he made in 1973. Sooo what’s up with that? Then he tells a troubled Peter that he’s invited Olivia for breakfast as she walks in. Walter wants them to spend time together and makes blueberry pancakes! I truly wonder why he trying so hard to play Mr. Matchmaker?
THIS I promise has a much deeper meaning, and we’ll see just how it all plays out in the next episode. Then Walter manages to slip out the door so that they can be all alone. Peter gently tells her that they should talk about what is bothering her. The tense moments mount as Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) continues to struggle with her complicated feelings. She’s still jealous about the Fuaxlivia and argues with Peter.
He honestly admits that he still thinks about the Fuaxlivia, because he spent so long imagining what being with Olivia would be like. And it was beautiful. My heart just stopped! THUMP! Who won’t love a guy like that? Olivia says that she took that away from us, not me. And then, he asks, who’s the one stopping us? Then Broyles calls Olivia.
Later at crime scene Olivia, Agent Phillip Broyles (Lance Reddick), Walter, and Peter all look up at balcony. I liked that Walter and Peter are really re-bonding and are close now. At the same time Olivia talks to the Doorman. Broyles says that the six party guests fell to their deaths, and that the balcony appears not to have any real structural damage. An old lady, Alice Merchant watches them from her 6B apartment window. Peter and Walter go up to the balcony, ooh I like the concerned Walter, who tells Peter to be careful, as they look over the balcony and try and figure out what really happened?
They realize the people went straight through the balcony to the ground. Olivia storms over and reports that the residents told her of strange happenings of water pipes exploding and unexplained electrical issues and they believe that it’s due to ghosts and is an unexplained phenomenon. Walter ponders a beat, and then he flips a coin repeatedly and tells Peter and Olivia that it has come up heads ten times.
Walter has an ominous warning and says that the laws of physics are being messed with and theorizes that their world is starting to tear apart and it’s all starting right here at the that apartment in the Rosencrantz Building! He seems like he really knows something already. The team stares on in all shock and awe!!! A real what the frak moment….
Later on back at Lab at Harvard, Walter appears distracted and frantic! He says the earth is coming apart and might become a hole that leads to a vortex and need to track irregularities and the “glimmer” from the other side.
He sends Peter and Olivia to take seismographs to the Rosencrantz and set it all up. He asks Astrid Farnsworth (Jasika Nicole) for an old case file from a chemical attack on a commuter bus and she asks him if he’s OK. When she wonders why, he gets very snippy at her for questioning him. Astrid always has a very soothing and calming effect on Walter and she is his anchor to reality.
Then it CUTS TO the building, where Olivia and Peter set up the seismographs and then call Walter, who urges them to stay there for the final results. As they wait, Olivia says does Walter realize how cold it is out here, and she thinks it’s the end of the world. Peter makes a joke and lightens up the mood suggesting they go to a nearby bar to get out the cold. As they head there, Alice Merchant (Phyllis Somerville) enters the building. She checks her watch and enters the elevator, and goes to her apartment. Inside we see a silver box…does it hold ashes of her dead husband Derek? Then she takes a photo album off her shelf.
Then back at the bar, Olivia asks Peter that he said being with her was beautiful. She wants to know what that feels like. She moves forward and kisses him and then pulls away. Freaked out… she rushes out all upset about Fauxlivia. She says it’s all a mistake and that Peter “glimmered”, and she’s afraid he is right and he can’t fix this… it’s just her, and it’s just who she is. Peter just looks on frustrated by it all. As they talk, Olivia looks up and sees a “glimmer” coming from outside Mrs. Merchant’s window.
Back to Mrs. Merchants apartment she flips thru a photo album, when instantly a strange glowing light appears inside and she smiles. At the same time Walter calls Peter from inside the Lab, and the equipment registers some sort of an event. Walter gets the readings. In the meantime, Peter kisses Olivia.
Then — Peter kicks the door and Peter and Olivia rush up and break in, and find Mrs. Merchant gazing at a ghostly figure of an older man. Olivia says who was he? She says it’s her husband Derek’s (Ken Pogue) ghost! Peter and Walter are in the building and Walter gets readings and says that’s there no such thing as ghosts! William called the Soul Magnets!
Back to Mrs. Merchant apartment, where she tells Olivia that she and Derek were married for 45 years and had no children. This is to become a key factor in the story arc. Alice further expresses that Derek tragically died a couple months ago, when the fuse box blew. They flipped a coin, like usual when there was a chore neither wanted to do, and Derek lost. A short in the wiring killed him instantly.
A few days after the funeral, she was really yearning for him and he showed himself to her. More parallels here again…. Walter asks how long they living there and she said 40 years. Olivia’s wonders why Walter asked that question, and he thinks he has a double on The Other Side.
He thinks Derek’s double has the same apartment on the Other Side. Alice is seeing him and mistaking him for her husband Derek. That’s why Olivia sees him too. Walter says that each incident weakens the soft spot, until ultimately it becomes a vortex, a hole sucking in everything around it. Like what happens on the Other Side. This makes total sense since Walter wanted the file on the bus attack, where they first encountered using amber. He tells a bewildered Olivia and Peter that they should respond to a vortex here just as they do Over There: With quarantine.
Back at the Lab Walter shows how the soft spot works. Astrid shows the case files to Walter, Olivia, and Peter. Broyles listens to Walter telling them to cover the building, and Olivia’s says it’s a bad last resort to use the amber like they do on the Other Side. Peter says let’s figure out how to stop it.
Back at Massive Dynamic, Brandon and team work on reproducing amber, Peter and Olivia come up with an alternative. Walter confides to Nina that he had believed Walternate was very evil, and would use any means necessary to get what he desired. But now he’s in conflict and thinks that they should do exactly what Walternate did. Nina just stares on faced with same decision and I’m going to do the same thing.
In the office Peter suggests to Olivia that maybe the Other Derek’s wife lost the coin flip, and she died instead. Olivia asks what if these two people, both grieving for a version of each other in the exact same spot, are somehow causing this.
Later on Walter arrives and checks the readings and says there’s no such thing as ghosts, and that it could be some form of emotional “quantum entanglement”, or “spooky action at a distance,” as Einstein put it. Two objects interact, even though they’re far apart. And now it’s happening again in Park Slope.
Then back at the apartment, Olivia talks to Mrs. Merchant, who says that she’s been seeing Derek’s ghost for two months. She sits with her and shows Olivia the photo album and explains that Derek was an amateur photographer, who took many photos.
Outside Broyles has Walter’s ambering device set up inside of the Rosencrantz’s lobby. Peter and Olivia explain to Broyles it as Walter says that it may all be a “quantum entanglement”. Walter explains to Broyles that Derek’s counterpart on the Other Side most probably owns the same apartment.
This universe is breaking apart, and the apartment is the center of the rip. Walters worries that if the rip is too thin that Mrs. Merchant can see through the rip, and then things are very dangerous. Broyles tell Olivia and Peter to get out because the vortex is staring.
Then it CUTS TO outside where everyone in front of the building can see the “shimmer”. Walter warns that the vortex is starting to form and Walter tells Broyles how to activate the remote device for the amber encasement, and Broyles looks very concerned, readies the device.
The building shakes violently as Peter and Olivia make their way to the apartment. Olivia tries to get through to Alice without success. Derek appears as a ghost again. Olivia tells her she must let him go and it’s not her husband and he’s from another world and he thinks you’re his wife. All of this is happening because of you.
Back to the street where Walter tells Broyles it’s static electricity and it’s staring. Broyles begins to turn on the device. Broyles gives Olivia and Peter a direct order to evacuate the building now!
Back to the apartment where Peter walks over and gently tells her that she’s already had a wonderful lifetime with the person she loves, and most people only dream of that. She tells them to get out, but Olivia tells Alice that she has to let her husband go now before the rift opens. Olivia tries to explain the theory of parallel worlds, and how the people on the balcony died because Alice couldn’t let go of her counterpart. Then — the other Derek calls out to Alice, and he becomes more “real,” enabling Peter to see him.
Peter says how she can see thru the other side that’s why she is so unique why can see her husband double and that Alice died on other side and maybe an emotional “quantum entanglement”. When the Other Derek says that their daughters miss her, she is shocked, and then realizes he’s not her husband, since they never had children. She tells Derek I’m not your wife, you’re not my husband…he’s dead, and so is your wife. There’re both gone. Suddenly…he vanishes, and the shaking completely stops.
Back on the street, Broyles asks Peter and Olivia if all is OK. They say yes. CUT TO back to the apartment as they all look relived or at least for now. Alice doesn’t really understand what happened, but hopes she might see Derek again someday. They all smile.
Then it CUTS to Massive Dynamic, where Walter is in his office gazing out over the city, when Nina walks in. She gently tells him that he should so be proud that he saved so many lives, but Walter warns that today wasn’t a victory, what they experienced is a vision of only terrible things to come, and ultimately the cracks will open, and spread, and cover the entire world. Although he thinks the amber is the best solution, he realizes that it won’t be enough once both universes unravel. He sadly admits that he doesn’t know what to do, and Nina says that he needs to learn. She grabs his hands and shows him some real compassion.
Olivia then shows up at the Bishops’ house with liquor in her hand. Peter answers the door and smiles. They drink and Olivia says, “Disaster postponed” and Olivia tells Peter what you said to Mrs. Merchant, “I want what you want.” and Peter says, “What do you think we should do about it?” Then she leans in and kisses him and she grabs his hand and they walk slowly holding hands up the staircase. Aaah gotta love forgiveness! Now let’s get to the babies?
On the Other Side at the Rosencrantz building, “shimmers”. Lincoln Lee (Seth Gabel) and Fauxlivia are puzzled that the readings are normal even though Astrid reported a Class 4 event there and she’s never wrong. After Fauxlivia briefly questions Derek Merchant in 6B he says that he didn’t see anything strange and he lives all alone since his wife died. Lincoln then cancels the quarantine protocol…no rift and it’s closed now. Derek sits alone, looking at his own family album… he knows…
In conclusion, as a sci-fi TV/film writer and fan, I believe that this episode was highly entertaining AND well-written! Renowned TV Director, Thomas Yatsko did a solid job and he brought many cool twists and high intense action sequences that really brought the whole storyline seamlessly together.
First, who isn’t a sucker for love stories? This episode is a well balanced mix of love, paranormal, and all things Fringe science. I really liked the way the storyline guides us to draw a fine line between rifts in a relationship and what happens when real love can potential tear a rift between parallel universes? Bizarre O… huh?
Like all things Fringe — all of the fun is… you REALLY have to THINK and seek for the answers, and in this episode 6B it’s no different! Is 6Ba a code word for something? I thoroughly loved Peter and Olivia finally hooking up for real…and in both parallel universes… huh? Will Fauxlivia and Olivia both have Peter’s babies? This is a big hot mess!
Will Walter prevent future rifts, even with part of his brain missing? How will Massive Dynamics play into all this?
How will Walter finally judge the Walternate?
This episode definitely pumped up the love factor, and hopefully will heat up the ratings and lead to many unanswered questions. Hang tight for an all new thrill ride, I know I will…next up on Friday, February 25, 2011 Fringe dials back in time to Peter and Olivia’s past in an all new episode titled “Subject 13″. Be sure to tune in LIVE this Friday at 9/8c on FOX to support this outstanding series! Here is the entire episode courtesy of FOX via Hulu!
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Walter is concerned about Peter’s health even though Astrid Farnsworth (Jasika Nicole) tells him the doctors believe that Peter will be okay. Walter is only lured from Peter’s bedside with the promise of tapioca pudding. We then find ourselves traveling with a family in their car on a road in Holyoke, Massachusetts. 
We see an awesome job by the make-up department on the burn victims. Agent Broyles (Lance Reddick) appears and tells Walter and Astrid that many people have been hurt in these storms. Walter agrees to leave Peter and work on the problem after Astrid quotes Ben Franklin by saying “God helps those who help themselves”. Sam Weiss and Olivia arrive at the tomb of his great great great great grandfather who turns out to have been named Sam Weiss. Sam explains that he is a descendent of a family who first found the information on the First People and the machine. The box containing the proverbial crowbar was hidden in this tomb. 
Sam wavers on the decision to retrieve the key and open the box because the time line seems incorrect. Olivia persuades him by mentioning that she’s armed. 
We discover that Astrid’s Ben Franklin quote has lead to Walter flying a kite during a lighting storm. Note: Do NOT fly a kite during a lightning storm (see photo below)! 
After lightning strikes Walter a second time, he tells Astrid that he’s found the missing variable (repetition). Note: Lightning has no memory and most certainly can strike the same exact place more than once. Peter finally wakes up and we find him in his hospital room looking thoroughly confused. 
Perhaps he should be confused by his complete lack of attention by the ICU nurses. Seriously this is the worst nursing staff in the history of hospitals. He gets up and gets dressed and strolls down an empty corridor. I was beginning to think he was dead or dreaming due to the lack of people around. He finally sees a nurse, who totally ignores his existence, and find that the emergency room is packed with burn victims. Let us all hope none of them need to go to the ICU. 
Peter steps outside and gets a view of the town being pounded by the lightning storm. What a cool shot! Peter leaves the hospital and hails a cab. He asks to be driven to Midtown. He’s clearly confused as to which city he is in and it turns out he’s also confused as to which universe he’s in. Sam and Olivia arrive at the museum where the key is hidden. It’s a mess and we are told that lightning is appearing out of thin air inside the building. Aside: generally if lightning strikes a building the electrical current will travel through the wiring and plumbing to the ground. We get a cute moment where after Olivia flashes her badge, Sam shows his museum membership card. The expression on Olivia’s face when he does this is priceless. 
Sam and Olivia enter the building to retrieve the key. Meanwhile, with Astrid’s help, Walter finds all the places where lightning has struck more than one. He overlays maps showing the frequency of multiple lightning strikes, frequency of seismic events, and multiple radiation and thermal spikes. 
The map shows fringe events focused around two points and a rift between them. The two points correspond to where the machines are in both universes. Walter goes to Agent Broyles office to demonstrate the effects of these two machines pulling at each other. 
To slow the pace of destruction, they decide it’s best to move their machine to Liberty Island (the location of the machine in the parallel universe). We find Sam and Olivia inside the museum about to retrieve the key when lightning starts striking inside the building. Sam grabs that artifact that houses the key while Olivia unsuccessfully attempts to stop a security gate from closing and trapping them inside. 
Sam, the bowler, saves the day by picking up a piece of debris (probably from a priceless artifact) and rolling it so that it knocks down a giant vase (probably another priceless artifact) and stops the security gate from closing (probably not a priceless artifact). 
Now that they have collected the key, they use it to open the box. 
The box opens to reveal a scroll. 
It appears to be a picture of Olivia surrounded by single letter codes for nucleotides, which are molecules that make up the structural units of DNA. 
Walter examines the scroll and explains to Olivia that she has a connection to the machine. He tells her that she must use telekinesis to turn off the force field so that Peter can get inside. Olivia must turn the machine in the parallel universe off in order to control the machine on this side. 
Walter wants her to practice using the typewriter that AltLiv used to communicate with the other side. 
He tells her to focus on a specific phrase and that the process should be like meditation. She stares at the typewriter in the mirror but nothing happens. Meanwhile, the ICU nurse FINALLY decides to check on Peter. Seriously! How long has it been since she lasted checked! NURSE FAIL! 
She finds his note: I AM GOING HOME. Remember that in “Subject 13” we saw young Peter leave Elizabeth the same note right before he dove into the bottom of Reiden Lake. Which universe does Peter believe is his true home? Olivia is still having typewriter troubles. When she expresses her insecurities in her control over her abilities, we get a heartwarming scene between Walter and Olivia. He talks to her like a father would to a daughter and tells her how extraordinary she is. It was a sweet and touching moment and both actors did a phenomenal job. After his pep talk, she tries again. 
But nothing happens! I really thought it was going to work. That’s what normally happens on television right? One person doubts themselves… along comes the father figure… inspiring pep talk… and voilà …RESULTS. Not this time! Color me surprised. About this time, the hospital finally gets around to informing the team that Peter is missing. We find Peter seemingly lost in New York City looking for a pawn shop. 
Peter goes into the pawn shop and is looking for a silver half dollar. He mentions that it has always brought him luck. Remember that the Peter who died as a child in the prime universe gave Walter his lucky half dollar. Walter then placed it on his grave after his death. 
As the team worries about Peter’s location, Olivia finds out that his credit card had been used to take a cab to NYC and at a pawn shop. Just as they are wondering why Peter would go to NYC, we find Peter stepping onto Liberty Island. 
Peter tells an officer that he needs to see his father, the secretary of defense. He obviously thinks he’s in the parallel universe. 
We find Sam upset at himself for intervening just as Agent Broyles reveals that Peter has been found at Liberty Island. Sam is told that his involvement with the team is over. We then get a shot of Sam staring out at Liberty Island with his Newton’s cradle clicking away. What’s up with that thing? Is it representing the energy passing between the two universes? I’m sure this is not the last we see of Sam Weiss. Walter and Olivia are finally reunited with Peter. He mentions that there are two Walters and that he has been confused. 
As Walter questions Peter to check his mental state, there are some cute interactions between Olivia and Peter. 
Walter finds the half dollar that Peter bought and acts really weird about it. 
Olivia tells Peter about the telekinesis and she mentions that she concentrated on a phrase while trying to get the typewriter to work. The scene cuts to Astrid hearing the typewriter clicking away in the other room. Maybe Olivia needs Peter to be near here to use her ability? We find out the phrase that Olivia was thinking was “be a better man than your father”. Remember that in “A New Day in the Old Town” Olivia woke up and blurted this phrase out in Greek. She explained that William Bell had given this message for her to give to Peter. Peter said that his mother used to recite this to him every night before he went to bed. 
After a quick pep talk from Walter, it’s time for Olivia to take down the force field. Olivia and Peter hold hands and look lovingly at each other before moving towards the machine. 
Olivia walks up and uses her abilities to lower the force field. 
Olivia tells Peter she loves him and they kiss. Peter walks up to the machine while his life for the last few years flashes before his eyes. As he looks at Olivia, he sees their history together. 
Peter enters the machine and looks like he’s being electrocuted! FLASH! 
Suddenly we find Peter on the ground during what looks to be an apocalypse! WHAT? What is going on? 
He bumps into something and looks down. September 2021!!! WHAT?!? He’s time traveled? 
A guy wearing a coat with a FRINGE DIVISION patch calls him AGENT Bishop and pulls him to the ground just before an explosion. Peter’s hurt and bleeding. He asks “where am I?. And the episode ends. SAY WHAT? What the hell just happened? Did you notice his hair was a different color? Did you notice the wedding ring? 
Seriously, I’m so tripped out that this wasn’t the season finale! Did he really time travel? Is he actually still physically in the machine and has just traveled mentally? Is this a different alternate universe? The machine is supposed to be able to create worlds, right? Holy cow! I can’t wait for next week! This excellent episode was written by Monica Owusu-Breen and Alison Schapker. It was directed by the great director Thomas Yatsko. I hope you have enjoyed this review of “The Last Sam Weiss.” Fringe returns Friday May 06, 2011 9 PM EST/PST for the season three finale. In the meantime we include the entire episode and “The Day We Died” extended trailer below courtesy of FOX via Hulu. Enjoy! 
I hope you have enjoyed this interview. As always we thank you for visiting WormholeRiders News Agency. Please feel free to share this news article by clicking one of the social media icons below. You may also leave a spam free comment or question here, or feel free to visit and chat with me on Twitter by clicking my avatar or the text links in this news article. XO Rachelle Smith, Ph.D.
