This second season continues with this exciting episode as another disaster befalls our heroes who cannot seem to catch as break! The fabulous fourth episode of season 2 is one of our favorites since it deals with an alternate reality likely caused by a quantum entanglement as a result of an unstable wormhole when Ark-1 was exiting Faster Than Light (FTL) travel at the end of previous episode “Anomaly”.
This excellent episode written by Madeline Hendricks Lewen is fantastic not only because the writer does a superb job, but because the story in this superb episode provides the main cast an opportunity to portray alternate versions of themselves that highlights their awesome acting talent.
In that last sequence of the previous episode, Lt. James Brice (Richard Fleeshman) disappeared after Ark-1 had been traveling to Ark-3 to obtain spare part to fully repair the FTL drive. Due to damage suffered at Proxima B, Ark-1 needed parts for their longer journey to rejoin the remnants of humanity now headed to a new life at the Trappist 1D solar system.
Image courtesy Star Trek
In modern science fiction television, the 1967 Star Trek original series episode “Mirror, Mirror” set the stage for alternate reality versions of the main characters. Viewers will recall that the Enterprise was sent to an alternate reality where it is in the service of a brutal evil Empire with a equally barbaric crew.
In “Mirror, Mirror” the Enterprise encountered an ion storm sending four crew members including Captain Kirk (William Shatner) to an alternative reality universe after they were negotiating with an alien race for Dilithium crystals that are the warp drive energy source for the Federation Starship fleet.
Image courtesy Warner Brothers
Similarly, the fabulous Fringe series (2008-2013), and as depicted in many other science fiction series, viewers know about an alternate version of characters between universes, even observing both versions of the Olivia Dunham character in many episodes of this beloved science fiction series.
Fringe fans will recall that a murdered Alternate Inspector Broyles (Lance Reddick) arrived in the “prime universe” when his dead body was transferred from the “alternate universe” as an exchange with Alt Livia (Anna Torv) who had been on a spy mission in our universe after she was returning to her own alternate universe.
However, what actually happened is that Ark-1 and an alternate universe version were exiting FTL at the exact same time, causing the quantum entanglement that traps the two ships in a starless void. As for the vanishing of Lt. Brice, that is precisely where this fascinating fourth episode of season two begins with a number of events that delighted the viewers at an X party the night of the broadcast!
Image courtesy SYFY
Alicia Nevins (Stacey Read) runs in to the Ark-1 FTL engine control room to alert everyone that something “weird” is happening.
The ship did not drop out of FTL near Ark-3 where they were supposed to.
Alicia also notes the weirdness is further accentuated in that there are no stars that are visible outside Ark-1 because they are in a starless black void!
Image by Aleksandar Letic Ark TV Holdings, courtesy SYFY
We are then apparently with Cat Brandice (Christina Wolfe) who had died during the first episode of the season in “Failed Experiment”.
As science fiction admirers know, characters come back to life in SciFi series!
I for one was happy to see Cat again!
However, viewers were at first left scratching their heads over this development until the reason for her apparent survival becomes clear.
Image courtesy SYFY
We witness Cat getting out of a stasis pod calling for “Will”. Cat is referring to her lover William Trust (Paul Leonard Murray). We then see Cat walking down a hallway where she sees a flabbergasted William Trust and runs to hug him.
Captain Garnet and the prime reality crew soon learn that Cat is actually a duplicate from another Ark-1 in an alternate reality timeline. We learn that Alternate Cat must have switched places with Lt. Brice during the quantum entanglement exchange with the alternate universe.
Image by Aleksandar Letic Ark TV Holdings, courtesy SYFY
The scene switches back to the Ark-1 control room where Captain Garnet, Eva, Lt. Spencer and Alicia are struggling to comprehend what has transpired and why they cannot see any stars.
Captain Garnet suspects that the ships cameras are not working while Alicia says they are in a black “void”. Garnet, Spencer and Alicia run to Captain Garnets room which has exterior viewing windows. When they arrive they confirm that there are in fact no stars!
Image by Aleksandar Letic Ark TV Holdings, courtesy SYFY
Security Chief Felix Strickland (Pavle Jerinic) and Kimi Joma (Díana Bermudez), former head of Ark-15 security now serving with Felix on Ark-1 as a security officer, urgently call with an urgent message to meet them in the mess hall.
Sure enough, William Trust and Cat are sitting at a table together. To make matter stranger, Cat refers to Lt. Spencer as Commander Spencer, and Cat, an American in the prime universe, now has a decidedly delightful British accent proving she is not the same Cat who was killed in “Failed Experiment“.
Image by Aleksandar Letic Ark TV Holdings, courtesy SYFY
Events continue to bear out that Cat is from another alternate universe when she states that William Trust is her husband and that James Brice died in her universe some ten years ago when he thwarted a terrorist attack on the lunar colony that no one survived, including Lt. Spencer’s father.
Lt. Spencer demands answers believing that Cat is not who she claims to be. Captain Garnet on the other hand, realizes that something odd has happened and that they must investigate to get the answers they require to explain this alternate reality manifestation.
Image courtesy SYFY
Prime universe genius Alicia provides a credible explanation that Ark-1 never dropped out of FTL and became quantum entangled between the versions of reality that Cat and our heroes are experiencing. Felix if such a phenomena is possible. William Trust confirms that it is not only possible, but is the only logical explanation for what has happened. Alicia is asked by Captain Garnet how they can be “quantum untangled”. Alicia admits that she does not know, but will work on the problem.
We make a stop in the medical bay where Dr. Sanjivni Kabir (Shalini Peiris) is helping Dr. Marsh (Jadran Malkovich) diagnose patients much to his annoyance. Kabir says she is bored while Marsh says she must get more rest before she can return to duty.
Image by Aleksandar Letic Ark TV Holdings, courtesy SYFY
We shift to Kelly, who although locked up, is hearing voices, including Lt. Brice trapped in the alternate universe. Kelly is released by Captain Garnet, Fleix and Kimi who leads them to a wall where she says the voices of William Trust and Lt. Brice are emanating from, Alt William questioning Lt, Brice asking who he is since he died a decade ago in their universe.
The episode focuses on the Ark-1 in the prime universe is about finding a solution to fixing why Lt. Brice and Cat switched universe realities. There are many enjoyable bits by Alt Cat who goes by her full name of Catrina and sports a British accent. The crew are dealing with the Kelly who Alt Cat is able to figure out since artificially enhanced humans, called “Post Humans” in this episode, were her specialty in the alternate universe. Alt Cat decides to help Kelly which will be revealed at the end of the episode. We also learn that Helena (Mercedes De La Cruz) was a manipulative bitch in both realities, and that William Trust is a good person in the alternate reality.
Image courtesy SYFY
Prime universe Alicia shares that the only way to break the linkage between the two realities is to move Ark-1 to physically un-entangle the two versions of Ark-1.
We then are in the alternate universe with a stark naked Lt. Brice and the alt Ark-1 crew members who are shocked to see him. Not the naked part, but that in their alternate reality Brice died saving the lunar colony from an attack by Eastern Alliance soldiers. Alt Eva then smacks prime Lt Brice for being naked while making provocative statements as Alt Sasha enters the FTL control room.
Image by Aleksandar Letic /Ark TV Holdings, courtesy SYFY
A fun series of alternate antics begins to take place with Alt Sasha calling Brice a pervert for exposing his “junk hanging out” and chases Prime Universe reality Brice around the Ark-1 FTL engine control room.
Alternate Felix and his security assistant alternate Angus Medford (Ryan Adams) are alerted. They decide to separate to find the intruder, Prime Universe Brice, now trapped in the alternate universe reality version of Ark-1. This sets up several more enjoyable scenes with the cast performing alternate versions of themselves in humorous scenes.
Image courtesy SYFY
Brice, now dressed and calmed down finds a disheveled Alt Sharon Garnet Prime Brice. She starts gushing over his eyes that she has missed. Alt Sharon tells Prime Brice that they were to be married before he was killed saving the lunar colony. Prime reality Brice finds Alt Alicia Nevins, chief of waste management in the alternate reality, to figure out how to fix the quantum entangled mess they are in! Alt Alicia says she’s a only a genius about garbage and “purifying urine” and that prime reality Brice needs Alt William Trust to figure it all out. Alt Angus shows up and calls Alt Alicia his “babe” thereby proving that some things stay the same in either of the entangled universes! Prime Brice makes the mistake of calling Alt Angus “Plant Boy” who then beats Prime Brice to a pulp with his stun baton! Alt Alicia, who believed Prime Brice, knocks out Alt Angus with his own stun baton because Alt Angus cheated on her last week, and they should “hook up to even the score” before kicking At Angus.
Meanwhile Prime Brice seeks out Alt William Trust who still has Klampkins disease, is still in a stasis pod while his Alt wife Cat’s pod is empty proving the mass displacement quantum entanglement theorem. Alt Trust explains that both Ark-1 ships dropping out of FTL caused the quantum entanglement. They go to see Captain Oliver Lane (Howard Saddler) who is Spencer Lane’s father in the alternate universe. Prime Brice and Captain Lane begins to develop a plan to set things right once again by stopping Alt Ark-1 and sending a binary signal that both Arks must move in opposite directions to send Prime Brice and Alt Cat back to where they belong! During the flashes we briefly see Naomi Spencer (Jessica Yemi) in the Prime Reality.
Image courtesy SYFY
We move to a conclusion finding a heartbroken Alt Sharon outside the Alt Ark-1 bridge to say goodbye to Prime Reality Brice. Alt Sharon who lost her future husband in the alternate reality gives Prime Brice a kiss.
Despite Alt William Trust not including which direction to move each ship, Prime Alicia figures it out and Lt. Brice returns to Prime Ark-1 (stark naked) once again this time getting a huge hug from Eva! Then we see William Trust sobbing over Alt Cat’s empty clothing knowing he will never see the woman he loves again.
Image courtesy SYFY
The last two scenes of the episode begin with Kimi sitting down with Lt. Brice questioning him about the lunar colony mission Brice was a hero of in the alternate reality, and if he was involved in this reality.
Lt. Brice says no, but if he had been, no one would have died. Here we find out what Kimi’s mission in this reality, obviously Brice didn’t go on the lunar mission as he was supposed to, and someone Kimi loved perished there, so it appears Kimi is seeking revenge!
Image courtesy SYFY
We end the episode when we are with Kelly who is being returned to captivity. Inside her cell, Kelly finds a computing device with message from Alt Cat that she is now in control of her “POST” human enhancements.
Will everything else be okay on Ark-1 now that we know about Kimi’s secret and Kelly having the ability to control her POST Human implants?
Find out next week in the scary fifth episode of season two named “Museum of Death” that will likely deal with the lunar mission and the casualties that became reality in our universe!
We will be back soon to continue reporting on our analysis of The Ark and our adventures in San Diego for Comic-Con 2024, including exclusive interviews! In the meantime, please feel free to share this article with your friends, co-workers and or your family!
We look forward to you visiting our dedicated review and analysis web site here in the future! Or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit TeamWHR on X, or visit me on Twitter by clicking the text links or images avatars in this news story. I and TeamWHR look forward to Seeing You on The Other Side!“
For those of you that are Fringe fans, this Debris episode was by far the most inspired by Fringe that I have seen so far. Fringe, produced by Warner Brothers Television from 2008 to 2013 is a series we have long admired here at Team WHR.
We are very pleased to see that many of the creators involved then, are bringing us quality science fiction entertainment entertainment each week!
No secret that J.H. Wyman sprinkles a little bit of that beloved show in everything he does. I was incredibly happy to see the parallels in this particular episode of Debris.
The name of this episode is “You Can Call Her Caroline” starring Caroline Packard (Evelyn Burke) is a little blonde girl who bears a striking resemblance to another little girl from the Fringe universe named “Olive” (Ada Breker) (or Olivia Dunham of the FBI Fringe Division as she was later known in that series).
We meet Caroline Packard later in this weeks episode “You Can Call Me Caroline”. Again the similarities to “Olive” in Fringe will be clear to admirers of both series.
Liam Packard (Kynan Foster) waiting in Bar Harbor Maine. Image courtesy NBC
The episode opens with several people waiting for a ferry to arrive in Bar Harbor, Maine. One man, Liam Packard (Kynan Foster) nervously waits along with a couple apparently anxious about their in-laws arrival. A woman approaches Liam and asks for his duffle bag, which he refuses to hand over at first. Next thing we see is his body betray him and it is forced to give the woman the bag and in turn pull out a gun and kill himself.
This leads me to believe that Liam was in possession of some of the Debris and that it has mind control elements embedded within it.
I love that as the viewer with each episode we delve further and further into the debris and all the incredible things (good or bad) that it can do.
Craig Maddox fills Bryan in on the unusual encrypted cell calls from Maine. Image courtesy NBC
When Bryan Beneventi (Jonathan Tucker) goes back to the CIA to talk to Maddox (Norbert Leo Butz) he is told about Anson Ash (Scroobius Pip) and “Influx”. Maddox informs Bryan that Influx is an anti-government ideological movement organized to dismantle all the governments control over the debris. Bryan asks about the money that is used to fund this organization and Maddox tells him that he does not know, he has no clue where it all started.
That scene reminded me that “Influx” is almost being like a James Bond villain, mysterious and extremely rich with resources beyond our wildest dreams. It will be interesting to finally (if ever) we find out who is behind it and why. Maddox says that to him it seems like Influx are these autonomous cells.
Encrypted calls from Maine to Anson Ash. Image courtesy NBC
Maddox shows Bryan the phone he recovered from Anson and there is a weird encryption on it that keeps receiving calls from Bar Harbor, Maine. Maddox asks Bryan to investigate “quietly” and find out what is happening and what are they facing, he does not want to lose anymore lives. Bryan curiously asks Maddox if Anson has told him what Influx needs George Jones for?
Bryan then drops the nugget to Maddox that Finola Jones (Riann Steele) and MI-6 might know that George Jones is alive. Bryan mentions that since he has been spending a lot of time with her lately, he is noticed she has been different (which is a lie). My guess is he told Maddox to gauge his reaction to the news, and as suspected he was almost unfazed.
Finola, Bryan and Agent Tom examine Liams body. Image courtesy NBC
When the body of Liam Packard is found, his debris levels are remarkably high. As Bryan examines his body with Agent Tom (Thomas Cadrot) and Finola, she mentions that Liam does not seem like he would be the kind of guy who would be involved with “Influx” or any kind of sleeper cells. Bryan mentions “clear skins” (or clean skins) which is “a person who does not have an existing criminal record or who has not attracted the attention of police or security forces.”
By definition that is exactly why he was chosen, inconspicuous, he would be able to blend in and not even be noticed. That is what those sleeper cells rely on the ability to be unassuming and not draw any attention to themselves.
Benjamin Hollingsworth as Luke Packard, Jonathan Tucker as Bryan Beneventi. Image by: James Dittiger, courtesy NBC
Finola and Bryan find Liam’s brother Luke (Benjamin Hollingsworth) at Liam’s house with Liam’s daughter Caroline. Luke tells the team that Liam found pieces of the debris in the marsh behind his house.
When Liam found it, he had started looking onto UFO websites and even contacted people on the dark web about selling them the alien tech. The debris also altered Liam’s behavior, it made him more intense, like he had “shell shock” something Luke experienced when he was back from Afghanistan.
Bryan had mentioned that he was in Afghanistan as well with the Marines the MARSOC division to which Luke says, “wow you guys are no joke”. I am glad we find out about this regarding Bryan and his military background, it gives us a bit more insight to who he is. Finola asks him about his time in Afghanistan and Bryan shrugs her question off. She is as curious about his time there as we are.
Riann Steele as Finola Jones, Evelyn Burke as frightened Caroline Packard. Image by James Dittiger, courtesy NBC
The Debris that Liam had found was the kind that controlled mind and body, that whoever possessed it could control or manipulate others to their will. Finola notices that Caroline seems frightened by something. That is a powerful weapon indeed and in the wrong hands could be deadly.
As I mentioned before about the James Bond villain, this is exactly why it is imperative that the Debris does not ever fall into the wrong hands, the fall out would be catastrophic.
Once Bryan and Finola head toward the marsh to find the debris, Finola hesitates as a feeling of dread washes over her. Bryan asks her if she is okay, and she responds “the debris does not want us here” that the debris “spoke to her” almost like a whisper.
Anson Ash is about to be interrogated. Image courtesy NBC
Anson Ash is being held in a top-secret location and is currently strapped to a chair and it looks like he may be tortured to find out where George Jones (Tyrone Benskin) is being held. Maddox enters and starts talking to him about where Anson is from in England and his military past. As he is doing this, he injects Novocain into Anson’s head and then a team member makes an incision into what I assume is the memory part of the brain.
With Maddox still talking to Anson about a little church in his hometown of Lancashire and how Maddox wanted to paint it the next time he visited it. He is making sure to describe to Anson everything Maddox remembers, so that Anson can recall it himself and project a mental image of it. Anson resists as best as he can, but the shock treatment is too powerful.
This scene made me audibly gasp because Maddox brings out this device or rather a “window” that will help Anson’s image show up. That moment was a genuine Fringe moment for me, it reminded me of the “window” that was invented by Walter Bishop (John Noble) and William Bell (Leonard Nimoy) that could bend time in order to see the Alternative universe. Maddox talked about the different frequency that the bells of the church were on, the vibration was different, again the reference to Fringe and the different frequencies both universes and Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson) were on.
Caroline is compelled to find more Debris for Luke. Image courtesy NBC
The last number Liam had called was his ex-wife Gloria Hernandez (Kate Dion-Richard), when asked why she does not have her daughter her answer was “she belongs there”. The way she said it was eerie, like it was not her saying it was as if she was being forced or manipulated to say it.
The similarities to Fringe keep showing up as Caroline enters the marsh and sits down in the water. Again, this reminds me of whenever Olivia (Anna Torv) would enter the “tank” and activate the Cortexiphan in order to travel to the Alt universe. Caroline is connected to the debris and is able to summon it from the depths of the marsh. Water has always been a conductor of energy, so it is no surprise that when Caroline sits in the marsh, she is connected to it. She is the only one that can “communicate” with it.
Caroline tried to warn Finola and Bryan. Image by James Dittiger, courtesy NBC
Caroline warns Finola to stay away from the barn where the Debris is being held. Caroline tells Finola that it was because of the debris that her uncle Luke is acting the way he has and that it was Luke that controlled Liam to kill himself. She has been hiding pieces in order for Luke not to get a large amount, his plans for it are not good. “Mission must be executed” Luke told the team, he wants revenge on the military for what they did to him, Bryan can relate to it but knows better than to do what Luke is planning. Bryan tells Luke that he can help him or at least get him the help he needs for his PTSD.
Next thing we see is Finola and Bryan back at base, no way they just left without the debris or anything from the house. When asked they say nothing was found and that Caroline “she belongs there” was repeated by Bryan. Finola asks how they got back since she did not remember leaving and driving back. Luke had followed them made his presence known by crashing a military plane with the debris mind control. Luke comes towards Finola carrying the bag of debris, she pulls her gun as well as the MP’s that help her and Luke immediately makes one of the MP’s shoot his partner and then turns the gun on Finola.
Luke forces Bryan to point the gun at himself. Image by James Dittiger, courtesy NBC
As Bryan shot the other MP who was ready to shoot Finola, Luke asks Bryan if he is “he’s with them now” and forces Bryan’s hand to point the gun to his own head. Finola fights against the control telling Bryan to fight it as Luke is telling him to pull the trigger. Luke empties the debris on top of a car and just as he is starting to interact with it, we see him fall over and collapse, a sharp piece of debris stuck in his head. Caroline to the rescue, she appears and saves the day. She can communicate with it after all.
Caroline is reunited again with her mother and all is restored at least for now. When Gloria asks Finola what Liam found, she tells Gloria that they are still trying to figure it out. Finola tells Caroline that she was the strongest out of all of them, again just like Olivia who was the strongest and the (if memory serves, it has been a long time since I have seen Fringe) the only one left of the Cortexiphan kids.
The theme of family, connection, love was present and part if the common theme that runs through all of the episodes so far. As the episode draws to a close Finola receives a call from her sister Dee (Gabrielle Ryan). Dee mentions a place “Michelle’s country house” that she wants Finola to visit with her again when Finola comes back to England. Once Finola hangs up, she knows there something not right with her sister, Michelle’s country house was code for when their parents were around and did not want them to hear what the sisters were talking about.
Her suspicions were correct as we see Dee hand the phone to Priya Ferry (Anjali Jay) once the call ends. Maddox also calls Bryan and lets him know that they found out where George Jones is and in turn Bryan tells Finola. Good stuff!
I am hoping that once George Jones is found we may get a few more answers about the Debris, “Influx”, Orbital and all the shady dealings. Well Debris fans, I hope you enjoyed this Fringe heavy episode as much as I have.
As always, please stay safe and happy viewing and make certain you tune in to NBC next week for more Debris!
Thank you for visiting WormholeRiders News Agency. Thanks to Kenn for video embedding and adding images for my feature article. I will be back later this season to provide additional analysis about Debris as we learn more about this fabulous new science fiction series on NBC!
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I hope you enjoyed this latest episode as much as I did. With just two episodes aired already we can clearly see the influence and parallels between that other sci-fi show that J.H. Wyman was involved in that goes by the name of Fringe.
Certain showrunners or directors have signatures within their work that makes their work uniquely theirs and Debris is no exception. Especially with the latest episode that aired entitled “You Are Not Alone”, there are definite hints of Fringe and maybe some The X-Files as well sprinkled throughout.
As the episode opens, we are in a small town called Fleetwood where certain items made of metal are being dragged toward a specific area of town.
I could not help but think of X-Men and Magneto, how he was able to manipulate anything metal to his advantage. The metal items are forming a perimeter and the whole town is being evacuated, or so the team thought!
In this episode, directed by Padraic McKinley a well known film editor who has directed several television series since since 2016, the Debris team finds what appears to be a lone survivor named Eric (David Alpay) who was the only person left in town.
Before continuing with our review of “You Are Not Alone”, we include an interesting video, courtesy of NBC, featuring Jonathan Tucker talking about Debris and discovering the unknown in space with a real-life NASA Astronaut, Mike Massimo!
Riann Steele as Finola Jones, Jonathan Tucker as Bryan Beneventi – Images by James Dittiger, courtesy /NBC
Not only do Bryan Beneventi (Jonathan Tucker) and Finola Jones (Riann Steele) find Eric, but also his clone or rather clones, three to be exact. The clone then proceeds to tell different members of the team what each of the clones needs and wants. Eric tells the team that he must take care of things, he is frantic and needs to take care of his unfinished business. It is with this scene that things start to get interesting.
The debris it seems can somehow alter consciousness or rather invade the mind of the victim and extract what it needs to feed off the person. It is as if the debris almost short circuits the brain of the victim, causing them psychosis of some sort. The body and brain are connected by and electrical system as it is, so it makes sense. We are “hard wired” as the phrase suggests to certain things and the debris takes advantage of it and alters it.
David Alpay as Eric, Jonathan Tucker as Bryan Beneventi. Image by James Dittiger, courtesy NBC
Energy seems to be a theme in this episode. The energy we feed off each other, the energy of the earth and the kinetic energy of the universe that is constantly around us. Energy also makes me think of “the Force” and what that means. Life energy, spiritual energy, universal energy it is all connected. What energy Eric is putting out in the universe is coming back to him, what his powerful energy is seeking has found him and is threatening to consume him and everything around him.
The debris again is the culprit of what is happening in the town of Fleetwood. And once again Finola’s father becomes the subject of discussion. As far as Finola is concerned her father is dead, but as we found out in the pilot episode that is not true. Bryan still knows that secret and is conflicted with knowing and not telling. We also come to find out that the last text Finola received from her Dad read “You are not alone”, which is a very loaded text.
Image courtesy Warner Brothers Television
That scene when we find out about Finola and her father again reminds me of Fringe and the parallels that Wyman has here. Fathers and daughters are prevalent in both series, strained relationships and nonexistent ones are present in both. Finola it seems had a semi-strained relationship with her father George Jones (Tyrone Benskin) who had a significant part in the Orbital’s mission. In Fringe, Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) we know her biological father had little to no impact on her life unlike her stepfather. Olivia’s stepfather was not only abusive to her mother but to her as well, which made a huge impact on Olivia and her future life as an FBI agent. Add into the mix Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble) who became a bit of a surrogate father to Olivia while still trying to repair the damaged relationship with his son Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson).
David Alpay as Eric, Jonathan Tucker as Bryan Beneventi. Image by James Dittiger, courtesy NBC
The three clones of Eric King are in a losing battle, each fighting for dominance within the host. As Eric is being interviewed by the team, he mentions a ball of light that he saw and asks if they saw it too. One of the team members mentions that when people are dying, they often see their life flash before their eyes, their hopes, dreams, regrets, and everything in between. Those regrets or issues is what is making the debris act the way it is, what is making it pull the metal to make a barrier around the town and more specifically Eric’s house.
The three major issues that Eric is battling is regarding his professional goals, a major decision, and a lost love. All these issues are manifesting at the same time, bringing chaos into his life in the form of a fractured life currently. Eric is at the center of the chaos and until he finds a solution, the debris will still be manifesting itself in his clones.
Riann Steele as Jones, Jonthan Tucker as Beneventi, Chris Web as Field Officer, Jeanie Cloutier as Agent Kazemi. Image by James Dittiger, courtesy /NBC
Much like the Fringe Division of the FBI, Orbital is the department looking after the debris that has been slowly falling to earth the last six months.
Between MI-6 in England and the CIA in America, working together albeit reluctantly for reasons yet to be fully explained, hopefully the enigma that is the debris will be figured out.
Of course, it would be up to the individual agencies to be transparent with their agents, which they are not. There is a bit of secrecy on both sides of the pond and as the series progresses.
I bet we will see more and more of this conflict unfold as Debris continues to unfold in season one. Not only has MI-6 and the CIA both kept the secret that George Jones is alive (or so they think), but there are other parts of the agency that are still classified if you will.
Image by James Dittiger, courtesy NBC)
Once the agents investigate further, they enter Eric’s house and Bryan comes face to face with his own clone! Seeing this clone visibly shakes him and he has no choice but to eliminate the clone to save himself. I have a theory as to why his clone appears and I will mention that a bit later.
The Orbital team also encounters the third and final clone of Eric, This clone is focused on one thing as we find out Eric must resolve his lost love. With all these clones now in existence the team must figure out how to solve the situation.
Bryan is forced to shoot his own clone. Image courtesy NBC
Subsequent to killing the clone, Finola and Bryan discuss what is happening to Eric, that it is like what happens when a person is in survival mode. The body discards the non-essential parts of the body, psyche, emotions that are clouding the situation and leaves only what is utmost for survival. Once the team figures out that the original victim, Eric King is still alive, they race to find him, and they do. He ends up being trapped in his car that has become entrenched in the twisted metal wall surrounding his home. As Bryan makes his way to help Eric, the debris signals the metal wall via a ball of light to start compacting itself, essentially crushing whoever is in its path.
Eric surrenders to Finola. Image courtesy NBC
As Bryan is trying to help extract Eric from his car, flashes of Eric’s life are seen with one of the main parts being his lost love. With the original host still living the clones are still destroying Eric’s life as he knows it. Once Eric is saved, his clones virtually disappear, Eric found something to live for, his lost love. He resolved that that is the main part of his life that was causing the chaos, the main part that was changing the energy and creating the metal wall that became his temporary prison. All the other “debris” in his life that was not part of the love he had for his wife, fell by the wayside and that is what saved him.
That message is significant and can be applied to our lives every day. We have often heard the energy you put out is the energy you get back, what goes around comes around and other clichés that we have heard for years. Energy is all around us, in everything we do, breathe, think, manifest. If there is a disturbance in that energy (or in the force) it is reverberated in the subject’s life. Until balance can be restored, chaos will reign supreme. That negative energy will control your life, lead you down a dark path (or to the dark side). What you do with that energy is what will ultimately dictate the rest of you as a person.
Bryan calls his boss. Image by James Dittiger, courtesy NBC
As I promised I have a theory of why Bryan sees his own clone. He saw it because of the secrets or chaos that he holds within himself regarding his life as well as what he knows about Finola. He knows about her father and has been sworn to secrecy by his boss Craig Maddox (Norbert Leo Butz). That secret he keeps is causing chaos within himself, it is the conflict that Bryan must currently live with that manifested in the clone.
That secret he is keeping goes against everything he has known. As a Marine, Bryan swore an oath of loyalty and trust, how can he uphold that within himself if he cannot uphold it with is partner? The secret he is withholding from Finola goes against that loyalty he dedicated his life to. Finola joked about what she would see in his clone. Would she see the loyalty he has to her or the betrayal he has in just knowing the secret about her father? We also see a glimpse of someone from Bryan’s past which will hopefully be revealed at a later episode.
Norbert Leo Butz as Craig Maddox. Image by James Dittiger, courtesy NBC
As the episode ends, we see that Eric’s life does become whole again when he reaches out to his wife who it seems has left him. Once that part of Eric’s life becomes whole again, the debris lets go of the grip it had on Eric and his life. The clones are essentially destroyed and what is left is what was missing or balanced in Eric’s life.
Bryan’s conflict is only compounded as his boss Craig Maddox (Norbert Leo Butz) reminds him that he is to uphold his end of the bargain regarding Finola and her father. His last line of the episode is “buckle up” and I have a feeling that is not only a warning but to her but to the viewers as well.
We conclude, courtesy of NBC, with the video of Bryan confronting his own clone!
Well, Debris fans, I hope to see you this next week for the third episode “Solar Winds”! Stay tuned for more coverage by TeamWHR of Debris, the new NBC series and make sure to catch the series on Mondays at 10:00pm!
Thank you for visiting WormholeRiders News Agency. Thanks to Kenn for video embedding and adding images for my feature article. I will be back later this season to provide additional analysis about Debris as we learn more about this fabulous new science fiction series on NBC!
Please feel free to leave a comment here or If you prefer, you may also click the social media icons below to share this news article or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit me on Twitter by clicking the links or images avatars in this news story.
Well Fringe fans this is it, my very last Fringe review, ever.
Sad, I know, it has been an incredible journey these last five years. We have seen characters come and go and return again. We have seen shapeshifters, parallel universes, things that no human being should ever bear witness to.
We have witnessed what a family is, both on screen and off. Fringe has become, to quote The Sopranos, Family. Redefined.
I hope that you loved this final episode as much as I did. Honestly I did not know what to expect.
Like everyone, I had heard various Fringe rumors about maybe a time reset was going to happen, and if so that means that Peter (Joshua Jackson) may disappear, that Henrietta Bishop (Georgina Haig) may not be able to be restored to Peter and Olivia (Anna Torv), that Walter would make the ultimate sacrifice, or perhaps worst of all that all the events that unfolded in this final season would have been moot.
I always had faith in Joel Wyman and the others involved that when they said they penned a love letter they meant it. To me this last episode was not only a love letter, but a culmination of everything that made Fringe the groundbreaking, brilliant, funny, edgy, suspenseful, etc show that it has become.
There has not been a show like this before and have I have feeling there never will be another one like it. There will also never be a fandom like this again, passionate people that are the lifeblood of this show. Joel and the rest of the cast have always expressed their love and gratitude to us the fans and we whole heartedly accepted it with open arms.
I will warn you now, since this is my last Fringe review, I may get a little emotional, which is warranted considering the epicness of this last episode. I have used that word epic over and over not only in my reviews but on my twitter account as well when describing this show. When I use words like epic or brilliant I do not use them lightly, I really mean them. So please forgive me if I go a little overboard with the usage of both words.
Now…on with the last Fringe review…The opening scene with Donald/September (Michael Cerveris) and December (Eugene Lipinski) is interesting, but it sets up what is to come. I also think that it is a set up in a way of possibly a continuation.
When Donald says “If our plan doesn’t succeed they will cease to exist” it makes me think that this has always been planned out. That this already happened before and that due to the reality changes that the Observers are a part of, they need this to go right this time.
When Donald asks December “After all this time, the feelings you had for these people, the feelings we all had, they have not grown in you?” I know he was talking about the original 12 Observers. The ones that had started it all and the ones that were closer to what Michael (Rowan Longworth) is than Windmark (Michael Kopsa). I do believe that is why December and September always had a soft spot for the Bishop Boys and Olivia.
“When we first came here we did not know the true nature of our expedition” September tells him. It freaks me out to see this scene again, because again, it is a sign that this all happened before, that the original 12 were sent back to fix the problem or to make sure this time that the plan went right.
I am going to be quoting a book that was recommended to me by Kenn (it has since become a favorite of mine) called “The End of Eternity” by Isaac Asimov. This book is chock full of very Fringe like references, including Observers, time shifts, alternate realities, etc.
It is the one book that has allowed me to understand Fringe a bit more. If you have not read this book I highly recommend it. The reason I bring this book up is my previous statement that both December and September knew the consequences of what would happen if their plan did NOT succeed, hence the changes. They need to get it right this time, for humanity sake or it would surely be an invasion all over again, but maybe worse.
“Destiny can be changed” Donald reminds December and it already has been, a few times, why not one more (or a few more) times. I love that September makes the justification that the people of this era are worth saving. That is the nature and reason for the reality changes, the book talks about that, too.
Walter (John Noble) and his comment about a cancer inducing cell phone is hilarious. It must be so frustrating being a genius when everyone else around you is so dumb!
I am certainly going to miss his Walterisms, they are such a part of the Fringe lexicon that I have uttered a few in my everyday life. That is the brilliance of John Noble, he has such a wonderful way of making things his own and putting his signature on them. There will certainly be a void of that kind of wit on TV.
Uh oh Broyles is all I can think when Windmark appears in the garage. I love that Broyles is always walking that fine line between both worlds. Lance Reddick does a great job at making you understand why he is doing what he is doing.
Whether it be his Alt character helping Olivia (Anna Torv) escape from the Alt universe in the Entrada episode while he sacrificed himself, or his trusting Etta (Georgina Haig) and her ability to teach him how to block the thoughts from the Observers. Broyles has always been a moral character; you know how to perceive things by how he perceives them.
The gang returning to the lab with Michael (Rowan Longworth) in tow looks like a family vacation gone awry. When Olivia asks Donald why Michael stepped off the monorail, his answer is short “Apparently there was a reason, there always is” again reminds me of what he said to December about why these people should survive, why time should be reset.
It is sweet to see Michael’s reaction to the static on the computer screen. It is such an innocent one, he is smiling, and it almost makes you think that he sees something that we do not.
Often it has been said, in paranormal studies, that “white noise” actually is living. It has voices and shapes that we normally miss. Leave it to a child to make us aware of such things, their imaginations and emotions are deeper than those of us adults. Deeper and more real because of the purity of them, they have not been corrupted by life and such to warrant bad feelings.
When Donald had said that the initiating reactor core has been deteriorated and enlisted help “from my time” makes me think that this plan has already happened and that the shift is almost in place to make the REAL change. He needs it to make it became THAT reality. Asimov’s book again comes into play here, again, with the time shifts and the changing of realities.
I love hearing Walter explain to the others what the purpose of the device is that Donald is building. It is always great to see him when he gets into his scientist role; it brings out that wondrous part of him, with a side order of mad genius. John Noble always makes science fun and easily accessible. It is no wonder he is also the host of that great TV series Dark Matters on the Science Channel (shameless plug, I know, but worth watching).
As I mentioned in a previous post about Michael being the Archangel, Donald confirms it. He says that when he gets to the year 2167 Michael will change the course of human evolution.
Just as Archangel Michael changed the course of his destiny and that of the chosen ones. Just like Olivia changed the course of her history and timeline, just like Peter did and ultimately just like Walter did.
It comes full circle, like it was always meant to be this way, that Peter (Joshua Jackson) was always supposed to meet Olivia (Anna Torv) that they were always supposed to fight for a greater cause.
This was always supposed to happen, maybe it got a little of track, but these people were always meant to do what they were destined to do; it just needed a little tweaking.
The way that Donald looks at Walter when Astrid (Jasika Nicole) asks how he will know who the scientist is, is again a sign that this plan was always in motion. Walter has a look of knowing a look of acknowledgement like he knows the answer but is not willing to volunteer the answer.
I love that Broyles knows he has been compromised by how he notices the gloves on his dash. He does the right thing by leading them on a wild goose chase. It is unfortunate that he cannot be there to help them, but he also does the right thing by sacrificing himself again for the greater good. “The most important thing is the plan” is what Broyles stresses to Olivia, no matter how much she protests. That is one of the many things I love about Broyles, moral to the end.
This next scene with Peter (Joshua Jackson) and Walter (John Noble) is by far the best scene ever filmed in Fringe history…in my opinion. There was a picture if this scene posted on Facebook and twitter and now we know what it was a part of. The emotion in this scene is outstanding, John Noble has never been better and I do not think he will ever be able to top this scene.
Watching this again it make me realize that this is not only a scene between a father and a son, but two men, two actors who have grown to love and respect each other as a real father and son. The love and respect that they both have for one another in unquestionable, them saying goodbye was for real and I am sure that both Josh and John will never again experience anything quite like it.
Watching John Noble in this scene is astonishing; again a word I don’t use often but when I do its meaning is perfect in this scene. There are a few times in my life as a director when I have been rendered speechless by an actor, whether I was working with them or watching them on screen, this is truly one of those times.
The raw depth and immense power of John and his emotion is so powerful that he floored me, literally. I was so moved that my floor was littered with used tissue after tissue.
THAT Ladies and gentlemen is what acting is…living in the moment, feeling it from your toes to your head and extending out to everyone around you. The fact that John has been snubbed time and time again by the major awards is a tragedy, but also a blessing. A blessing to us fans who can selfishly hog him and his talent all to ourselves. We can say “I have witnessed perfection and his name is John Noble.”
Josh is fantastic in this scene as well, his love for this man is evident, not only in real life but on the show. Josh truly did find a father figure in John as did the rest of the younger cast. He was saying goodbye to Walter and to John at the same time; his emotion has never been more real than in this scene.
This is the purest Josh has ever gotten, not even when Olivia (Anna Torv) was shot and killed or shot again, not even when Etta (Georgina Haig) died or his upon seeing his mother Elizabeth (Orla Brady) again. This is what real love, respect and friendship is folks and Josh and John are showing us in spades.
It is hard for me to really expound on this scene any further, watching it is the only explanation needed. That alone will give you the answers to the question of what is brilliance and talent and I say to you…this, this scene is.
There are some scenes that are so beyond any words when you watch them, to describe them using primitive language is futile, feeling is the only way you can experience the powerful meaning. This is that scene, if no other scene is ever filmed again in regards to Fringe, let this be the beacon, the guide, the shining light of what Fringe is, has been and ever shall be…
Okay, now that I have sufficiently cried myself silly again watching this scene, let’s talk about the paradox that Walter mentions. Again I must go back to Asimov and what he says about paradox “in every apparent paradox of time travel, reality always changes to avoid the paradox and we come to the conclusion that there are no paradoxes in time travel and that there can be none”.
Reality has to be reset and Walter knows this, hence what happens at the end of this episode and why it is so significant that we are hearing this now. Walter mentions how nature abhors a paradox; it has to heal itself (reset itself if you will). It is so brilliant that Joel had picked up on this; I suspect that he has read Asimov and incorporated the paradox and reality changes because of him.
Asimov also writes about reality “With an infinite number of Realities there can be no such thing as determinism”. Sound familiar? September said something similar to Walter about why he cannot know the absolute outcome because nothing is determined. The mere definition of determinism is what has been a thought line in Fringe from the beginning. Real is just a perception, as has been mentioned time and time again and has always been in the background somewhere.
It is so sad when you see the final fate of our friend and fellow Observer December (Eugene Lipinski). His death was not in vain, he died to help the team. This may be a weird coincidence, but it seems that every death of a significant character in this season has served as a reminder of what is at stake, what the team is fighting for. No death has been in vain, it has been the catalyst and what will finally drive the fate of the team.
When Windmark gets his hands on the reactor it is not a good sign, but then you know that fate has another chance to rear its head. Never count out our team; they are never down for the count. With all the references to realities, time travel and the shifting of realities, I cannot quote all of the time Asimov uses these to make my point in Fringe, so I will ask that you read the book and understand what I mean.
When you see Broyles get caught by the Observers that is when the episode shifts. The stakes have now become higher and things are at the most dire. It’s getting real people!
Leave it to Olivia to go to Michael to figure out the plan. Maybe they do really have a connection after all. They are basically the same, in some weird way, both anomalies, both children that possessed something far greater than ever imagined, both children that essentially changed the realities and timelines.
“Because it’s cool”…oh Walter, how we are going to miss your little Walterisms. I suspect that Fringe fans all over the world are uttering this as I type this!
It is another one of the many, many cool ways that Fringe has become part of our everyday lives.
I absolutely love love love the scene with Jasika and John when she shows him Gene. It again is a true testament to the friendship and special bond John and Jasika have formed over the five year run of the show. It is also so incredibly beautiful that he FINALLY acknowledges her real name and how beautiful it always has been. John, you kill me, literally kill me!
I love that Windmark tells Broyles about the original twelve that arrived and that there assignment was to observe. Something strange happened…Hmm, I wonder what could that have been? “They succumbed to irrational emotions,”…no Windmark, they were just being human!
It is such a great scene, because Windmark thinks he is superior to Broyles when as Nina (Blair Brown) pointed out in the Anomaly episode that the Observers are the primitive ones and we are the advanced ones, well we eventually learn to be more advanced thanks to Michael. “I believe you call it hate” states Windmark, “the feeling is mutual” Broyles retorts! Match point to Broyles!
The beautiful scene in the car between Peter and Olivia is what Anna and Josh do best. They have always had an uncanny ability to be perfectly intimate with the world watching. They are great at dropping the fourth wall and making the private public, which is why they are one of the most epic couples in TV history.
Their hope (that word!) of seeing Etta again is closer than before. It makes me happy that their fight was not futile, that the hope Olivia had that she would be able to finally be the mother she ultimately wanted to be. It is such a sweet thing that Peter gave her the bullet that truly did save the world!
Now we are at the part that for me becomes the locomotion to the end. It is so fraking cool what happens to the Observers that enable Peter and Olivia to conquer. Again the old school Fringe is harkened back to. It was so great to see some of the past cases come back to life, albeit a bit gruesomely, but still neat to see again.
I love that Donald volunteers to go to the future in Walter’s place. It is a very noble thing to do. I love that throughout the run of the show Michael Cerveris has always been a favorite of mine. This multi talented man has shown us his true colors and I for one love it. You always knew there was something different about September and that is one of the reasons he became one of my favorite characters.
So when September told Peter “It must be difficult to be a father” all those years ago, he knew in some weird way that feeling. Now as Donald he knows it with every emotion he has, he knows what Walter felt about Peter. “It’s about changing fate, it’s about hope” well said Donald! That word again is the theme, sometimes it is all you have to hold on to, that is what gives you strength to carry on.
Let the Fringe freak fest begin! The floodgates are now open! Here comes the pain! I was cheering loudly when the plethora of old Fringe events started spreading like wildfire. It was so great because it reminded me of all the past episodes and seasons and how extraordinary this show is and will always be.
When I saw the six fingered hand, I thought to myself, The Princess Bride, which I have referenced before in my posts. Remember him? Christopher Guest played him well…but I digress.
Let’s fast forward to the last ten minutes of this episode. These scenes are the most crucial to me; it is what we as a fandom have finally been waiting for. It is not only the final battle, but the final chapter in the wonderful love letter that Joel has penned for us the fans. From the gun fight which reminded me of an old western film to the floating Observer (Walter was right, it is cool!), Fringe has always had the makings of epic television.
Watching these scenes again I am filled with the excitement that I was the first time I watched the episode. How edge of my seat I was hoping and praying that the plan goes perfectly. It is such a great treat to watch it again and still feel those emotions surge in my body!
As Peter and Windmark battle, the thoughts that went through my mind were “the plan will work, I know it will,” but there was still a glimmer (yes pun intended) that it may fail. Bite my tongue, I know but then again it’s Fringe, anything can happen.
Ironic that Windmark had Olivia by the throat much like he did Etta? What follows this scene is perhaps my favorite Olivia scene ever. It is what Olivia was meant for, what she was born for, what William Bell (Leonard Nimoy) had said time and time again she was used (I hate to use that word, but it fits) for. She was always the strongest one as Bell mentioned, kept Peter by her side, but Nina reminded her that she always had an incredible capacity for compassion.
It was Olivia’s capacity for feeling that made both Walter and Bell use her…Nina (Blair Brown) said that Bell needs something from her. Just like they need something from Michael, he is the chosen one as well. It is the reason Michael has always had a strong connection to Olivia.
She is the chosen one as Bell states. She has always been afraid of her abilities, but Nina again pointed out that Olivia always had the most extraordinary gifts, the only thing she denied was knowing, she’s had the power all along…(Wizard of Oz reference again).
Damn I love this show). “Olivia is an uncertainty engine, every breath she takes brings us closer to nirvana, and with every beat of her heart she tears the world from its hinges. She is the redeemer” Bell said, about Olivia and in this scene she proves it.
When she sees the necklace strewn across the ground, I bet Etta flashes through her mind, her baby girl, her “perfect little soul” her second or in this case third chance to get her back. I love this scene, Anna is extraordinary.
It reminds me of a Phoenix rising from the ashes, the power she posses to inflict the final blow. How fitting is it that Windmark is crushed, literally and figuratively, by Olivia. That she was the redeemer; she did have the power the whole time. The fear and love she has always possessed have been her triggers and the cortexiphan her weapon.
When Donald/September got shot I guarantee you there way collective screaming and flailing across Fringe fandom, but remember this is Fringe, everything happens for a reason. It was sad to see Donald meet his fate, but it was also I suspect the way it was always meant to be. The tune that Michael plays is Greensleeves and the significance is perfect in this situation. It is as it always has been how it was fated to be.
It started with Walter and a boy, it will end with Walter and a boy. It is because of the immense love that Walter had for Peter and it ended with the immense love Walter had for Peter.
It came full circle again; Walter saved a boy…again. It was such a beautiful scene with Josh telling John he loved him, I bet that was genuine! As I am watching Walter walk off into the proverbial sunset, I am tearing up, but not from sadness, from joy! He finally became the better man…this time.
Remember Walter is not dead, he is in the future. Something John Noble said in the last Noble intentions that makes me think we will not only see him again, but the cast possibly in a movie.
He had mentioned that because Walter is in the future, for a while, he may miss his family and want to come home for a bit…there is always hope.
And so brings us to the end…or rather the beginning again, of a whole new life. A rebirth of sorts, a chance for all of them to start over. As I watch the end I cannot help but feel a swell of emotion. I write this through blurred vision, because of the tears in my eyes.
The ending is perfection. I had told Kenn that there were two places that the reset would happen, either Etta’s birthday party or the park and I was right on one. I am so glad to see our beloved Bishop family intact again and enjoying their third chance at happiness. How does the saying go, third time is the charm?
Olivia finally has her third chance, she finally feels like the redeemer Bell always said she was. She is at peace, I believe, finally having her life, love and daughter back where they belong. Peter with Etta is so amazing; he has such love for this little girl. Josh is great, so tender and loving!
No comes the conclusion to the longest love letter in history. The shot of Peter (Joshua Jackson) looking through the mail is great. You can see a letter or ad that says “Thanks for the support” which I think Joel put in there as a thanks to all the fans that have supported the show through the five year journey.
What really, though, is the ultimate “We love you” to all the fans is the symbol that has meant so much in the Fringe world and to us fans around the world. The White Tulip, the symbol of solidarity, of forgiveness, or what a son means to his father and what this show has meant to all of us. The look that Peter/Josh has in his eyes leads me to believe that this saga is not over that we may (fingers and toes crossed) see a movie in the future as John Noble hinted at during SDCC 2012.
Well, my fiends I will share this quote from Peter Pan “Never say goodbye, because goodbye means going away and going away means forgetting” so instead of saying goodbye to Fringe, I will bid see you again.
I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to all the fans I have become friends with over the years. I want to say thanks to Kenn, Managing Editor of Team WHR for allowing me to be a part of this amazing team of people that covered this amazing show.
Most of all I want to thank every single person ever involved in Fringe; you have brought me such joy, such happiness, such laughter and such tears. It is because of you that I found my creative life again and that means more to me than you will ever know.
On one final note about the series and the time reset, I will conclude with an Isacc Asimov quote here for the last time:
“Reality has a tendency to flow back it its original position.”
Please feel free to leave a comment here or If you prefer, you may also click the social media icons below to share this news article or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit me on Twitter by clicking the links or images avatars in this news story. See You on The Other Side“!
Fringe Fans…it has been an amazing journey, these five years of our beloved show.
I have a confession to make; I have tried to prolong these reviews as long as possible so I can keep the show alive. In my heart I never want it to end, but alas as with all great things it must eventually come to an end.
I am glad that the producers (mainly Joel) decided to break up the last two episodes into two separate ones. It makes it easier on this reviewer to be able to ease into the ending better.
Joel Wyman has often said time and time again that this show is about a family and with these last two episodes that has never been truer than now.
I suspect though that he was not only talking about the on screen family, but the off screen one as well. There are parts in both episodes where that is shown to its fullest extent.
I hope that you will forgive me if I get a little emotional when writing these reviews. This show has changed my life (and I suspect that I am not alone in that) in ways that I cannot describe.
It has given me faith again in television as a medium that can move people and can unite fans worldwide. It has restored my faith in quality writing, acting and directing, it has breathed new life into the sci-fi genre that has lost a little bit of luster.
Now on with the show….I like the opening and how the desperation and urgency of the situation is felt throughout the scene. There is always great banter between Walter (John Noble), Peter (Joshua Jackson) and Olivia (Anna Torv) when they tend to get into their rhythm together.
It is always a treat because mostly Peter and Olivia are trying to decipher what Walter is saying. I love that Broyles (Lance Reddick) is still very much a part of their plan and that he is almost the shadow that moves between both worlds.
I love that he calls himself the Raven instead of Dove, which reminds me of Edgar Allan Poe and his most famous poem “The Raven”. The raven has always been a mysterious symbol as well; it has been steeped in mythology for such long time. It is very fitting that Broyles make that comment.
The scene with Windmark (Michael Kopsa) and Michael (Rowan Longworth) are great. It looks as if Michael has a slight smirk on his face, as if he almost pities Windmark in his attempt to extract information from him.
I love that Michael gives Windmark a taste of his own medicine, that he shows Windmark what it must have felt like to have been Walter or Hastings when they were both in the chair and being questioned by him.
“Liberty” features two very gifted guest stars that many science fiction fans will certainly recognize and we have covered at entertainment conventions.
The first is Peter Flemming, well known for his roles in Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis. A veteran character actor, Flemming portrays an Observer Loyalist Lieutenant who reveals the detention location of Child Observer Michael’s unwittingly after Agent Broyles trickd him into thinking he is to provide an extra security detail at Liberty Island.
That boy is strong, yes he is an anomaly, and he is the one thing that will ultimately be the downfall of the Observers. Michael Kopsa is as always great as Windmark, you are almost cheering at how he gets frustrated to an extent that he cannot break Michael.
I love how the answers to Windmark’s questions just bounce back at him, it makes it that much sweeter when you know that Michael is the clear winner in that ‘battle’. It makes me giggle to know that Windmark has been bested by a child. I find it interesting that he refers to Michael as “it” just as Walter did in a previous episode.
Where Michael is being held seems like a fortress as the team stated, but as Peter quickly pointed out no building is impenetrable. The plan that arises from the desperation is one that this viewer was happy to hear.
Leave it to Olivia (Anna Torv) to come up with the plan to save Michael. It has always been her ability to see the other side that has given the team its advantage. Only with the bridge closed how would they accomplish this, is the million dollar question? Only one answer…cortexiphan.
It seems that Fringe has harkened back again to old school, which I love. It brings back parts of the past episodes that have always been my favorites. Seeing the cortexiphan, brought back all the memories of Olivia entering the tank and all the amazing things she could do with it running through her system.
Olivia was always unstoppable, not even a bullet (well, at least without Walter’s quick thinking) could stop her. Once she triggered it, stand back because she was not afraid to use it and use it fiercely.
A lot of fans were a bit frustrated with the lack of kick ass Olivia in this season, but when she did finally show that side of her again, it was great.
Anna has always had the capacity to channel that rage into action and power. Just watch her body language when she is amped on cortexiphan, it is like she was a whole person again.
Peter’s concern about the effects that the cortexiphan would have on Olivia is palpable. Olivia knows that he is worried, so is she, she knows that without Michael the plan is lost.
The second Stargate guest star making an appearance is the talented Peter Kelamis from Stargate Universe portraying Doctor”Tobin”. Tobin is called in to oversee the cortexiphan treatments given to Olivia in the lab warning she could be killed in the process if the dosage is too high. Naturally Walter overrides Tobin’s guidance and injects more cortexiphan into Olivia.
I love that Olivia reminds him that Etta died so that they could finish the plan, “both feet in, that’s what we said”. His comment of “What if I lose you, too” is so lovely, it is filled with such love that it almost stops the scene. Josh again shows his talent, his eyes reveal his pain at the thought of potentially losing her, too. She and Walter are all Peter has left, they are all the family he will ever have, now that Etta (Georgina Haig) is gone.
The points that Peter make about the Alt-universe and what if things are not where they remember and what happens if…are all valid and add fuel to his argument of why Olivia should not cross over. All good points, but Astrid (Jasika Nicole) is smart enough to figure out just how to solve that dilemma.
Walter and his brilliant inventions, it is because of that window that this whole mess started, but it is also the solution. Of course it doesn’t stop Walter from using yet another one of the wonderful (I will miss them) incarnations of Astrid’s name.
Seeing Michael in the chair and getting a paralytic is frightening. It is such a telltale about what Nina (Blair Brown) had said in the previous episode about how the Observers are animals. The way that Windmark is still affected by Michael, that he has to leave the room because the blood is still leaking from his nose is almost his comeuppance of sorts. It is almost getting to Windmark and Kopsa is great at just showing a bit of frustration.
The scene when they finally get to Battery Park to find the proper space to set up the window, to me is when the episode shifts. The team has hope again (that word again!) they might just have the chance to pull their plan off.
It is great to see Donald/September (Michael Cerveris) again. He has always had a wonderful part in the Fringe family as a somewhat outsider, but now that we know what really happened and the purpose he always served it makes his role in the ‘family’ a whole lot better.
I like that we get to see Donald constructing the device that will help him travel to the future with Michael. His careful planning and precise details would make Walter proud if he were there helping him.
It made me giggle, though because I could not help but think of that brilliant show (and one of Josh’s obsessions) Breaking Bad, on AMC. With Donald blending all the elements together, it just was hilarious, because it reminded me of the “cooking” that goes on when making meth.
One of my favorite scenes (and there are a few in this episode) is when the gang head underground to help ready Olivia for the cortexiphan. It is an intense scene between all the main characters, you can feel the tension in the air, it practically oozes off the screen. Josh and Anna are fantastic in this scene, the care that Peter shows is perfect and the pain that Olivia goes through is visceral.
When Peter is attaching the pads to Olivia’s chest, you hear her whisper to him “I’m okay”. It is such a sweet moment, because she knows him and what he is thinking without even saying it. Again, Anna and Josh are the epitome of brilliant.
Watching Anna take each and every “shot” of cortexiphan was torture, but that was the point. You felt her pain, every shift or change of her body you could feel. Every time I saw the needle go into her neck it made me cringe. It was a perfectly constructed scene.
That scene must have been so physically exhausting for her and everyone involved. Those scenes are never easy for actors to do, but I applaud her for being the trooper and barreling through it like the pro she is.
One of my favorite things about this scene is Walter (John Noble). The ability that John has to turn his megalomania on and off at the drop of a hat is proof of his immense talent. His comment about the fact that he knows about cortexiphan and the effects is hilarious, but also a bit scary. That part of himself that he has been desperately trying not to have resurface does at times. Too bad Nina (Blair Brown) is not around to rein him in.
“Sacrifice is hard, son, but you are no stranger to it,” is such a great line that Walter says to Peter. It has so much meaning, especially in the finale episode. It is basically a huge foreshadowing of what is to come and also a nod to the past and what Peter has lost in every time line.
“Neither are you dad,” Peter answers him, and knows that Walter can relate in so many more ways than he could possibly imagine. The times that Peter calls Walter dad are few but when they do happen, it makes my heart swell. It is such a beautiful moment between these two men and it shows all over John’s face.
I love that the images that are present in Olivia’s cortexiphan laden brain are of little Etta (Abagayle Hardwick) and the short time they had together. The fact that there is hope (that darned word) of them getting her back is one of the reasons, dare I say the ONLY reason that Olivia is doing what she is doing. The notion that she will have not only her “perfect little soul” back, but her husband and her life back is the best incentive ever.
The light in her eyes comment is funny. It gives Anna a chance to be snarky with Walter for once. It is also a tender scene with John and Anna embraces it wonderfully. Those two actors are always incredible in their scenes together. When you have two powerhouses going head to head it makes watching the scenes a whole lot better.
The moments of Peter saying goodbye to Olivia before she goes to the Alt-universe are beautiful. You can see in Josh’s body the worry and fear that is running through Peter.
He does a great job of manifesting it and showing it through his eyes. I have always said that Josh is great at revealing his emotions through his eyes and in this scene there is no doubt. The “I love yous” are just perfection. I guarantee every Polivia fan was squealing with joy.
Hello Alt-universe! Hello Bolivia, damn she still looks great for being 50 years old. I am so happy that Lincoln (Seth Gabel)and Bolivia got married and have a son. I was a little confused by that since we all know that she had VPE and nearly died giving birth to Henry in the episode Bloodline. Maybe things changed or they found a cure, but nonetheless it is amazing. Seth Gabel aged well…it is so great to see him again, too. I love that the producers are bringing back cast members from the past.
Am I the only one that got choked up and teary eyed when both Olivia’s hugged? I don’t know why it was such an emotionally powerful scene for me. Maybe it was because of the now friendship that they had developed despite the history that we the fans know has been a part of their past. It is as if they are long lost sisters seeing each other again, Anna does an exceptional job, as she always does when playing both versions of Olivia.
It is a little sad to see her reaction to the picture Bolivia has on her desk, it is a reminder of what she once had with Peter and Etta and will hopefully have again…if all goes as planned.
I was a little confused about how Bolivia knew about Etta and the fact that she was missing. I think there were a few scenes that may have been left out and that we will hopefully see on the DVD. I know that on twitter there were folks that had said that Bolivia and Lincoln’s son name was Trevor and that there was a scene that was shot but not shown. On well, let’s hope we get those in the DVD.
I also love the fact that the cortexiphan is affecting Olivia as she sees her little girl again at three years old standing in Bolivia’s office. It is such a jarring sight, but great to see Anna’s reaction to it.
The scene with Windmark and his superior in 2609 is great. That room is so stark; it is quite disturbing because it reminds me of a mental institution and the sterilization of what that represents. The baffling quandary of Michael and his advanced intellect is causing great concern for Windmark. He cannot accept the fact that Michael is far greater a threat than he could ever imagine.
That Michael may be the cause of their downfall. I think that even though Windmark doesn’t say it he feels it and knows it somewhere in that Observer brain of his. “There is no greater danger than that which is unknown” as Windmark states, which has been a running theme in Fringe since the beginning of the show…the unknown.
Talking about Michael like he is a thing is disturbing, asking that he be “disassembled and preserve the parts” is so creepy it sounds like something out of a Stephen King novel.
Olivia’s scene with Lincoln is great, I love that there is still a little reminder of the decision that she chose Peter over him; but that she is glad to see he has a wonderful family.
Seth is great at that tension and he shows it well, but I think he will always love Olivia, but differently now. Bolivia’s comment about “her young ass” is funny and so cute to see Lincoln react, they are completely in love and it is beautiful.
Now comes the kick ass Olivia that we all know and love and have missed (some fans have) dearly.
When she arrives again, she is clearly disoriented and keeps seeing things. Her hallucinations are some of the things that Walter warned about and Olivia has to be extra careful and know which ones are real and which ones are not.
Michael being wheeled to an examination room is eerily reminiscent of what happened to Olivia in the Entrada episode when Walternate wanted to vivisect her to see how her brain and the cortexiphan work. It is very interesting that Olivia was considered an anomaly to Walternate, a threat as well and look at what happened to her and how the show has almost come full circle again.
Olivia becomes her bad ass self as she roams through the halls looking for Michael, anybody that gets in her way gets taken out. You can clearly see the desperation and urgency in Olivia’s body as she races against time (literally) to get Michael and herself back where they belong. Anna is always at her best when she is in her kick ass mode; she has that confidence and swagger that has always made her great to watch as any incarnation of herself.
Rampaging through the hallway she fades in and out again, but after encountering an Observer and besting him, she charges toward her goal and finds Michael. The little smile that Michael has on his face when he sees her is sweet.
Just because he does not speak does not mean that he does not feel or comprehend what is going on. The contrary is the case with Michael; he is more in tune with everything and everybody that he is beyond feeling.
When Olivia and Michael make their way to escape and are caught by the Observer, you think they are done for until the team of Dunham and Lee open fire in a carefully choreographed synchronicity that you are cheering for them.
The last scene with both Olivia’s is bittersweet, again we say goodbye to the Alt-universe, we say goodbye to a part of Fringe that has always been a weird little part of the family.
Without it we would not have our beloved show, love it or hate it but know that it will forever be our Red verse! Goodbye old friend you will be missed.
Anna once again does what she does best; she is perfection as she bids herself a farewell. I love Bolivia’s retort to Olivia’s statement of “You have a beautiful family” and she says “Thank you, go save yours”…watching it again I am getting teary eyed.
It is a beautiful scene between two characters (albeit the same actress) that shows just how much each has grown over the course of the five years and the different timelines. They are not so different after all. Anna’s talent is one of the things I will most definitely miss on TV, she is a rare gem.
Arriving back with the team everybody breathes a sigh of relief, especially Peter. He has her back in one piece and he is glad. But the fight is not over as Olivia mentions that the Observers know she crossed over.
The scene in the van when Peter and Olivia have their moment together it is so…perfect. There is really no other word to describe that scene, a photo of that scene was leaked on twitter and of course it set the fandom on fire. Now we know the context of what is was and are very happy about it.
Windmark sitting at his desk as he asks the officer about how Michael disappeared is creepy. When he rats out Broyles you want to just scream, because that is very bad. But we all know that Broyles can most certainly handle himself..
It is so great to have the episode end with Donald going to see an old “friend”…December (Eugene Lipinski). I always liked his character, because he was always giving September the benefit of the doubt. He had a soft spot, so to speak, for the plight of September and the “family” he made himself a part of. The producers did a nice job of keeping that a secret too, I like how they are bringing back some of our favorite characters.
Watching that scene again floored me, here’s why, I was so excited about seeing December again that I completely missed what September said to him. When I did watch it again and September said “Walter Bishop is back and we have the boy,” makes me think that this was always planned. That what happened has happened and that the timeline needed to get reset again on order for things to be as they were. It was a HUGE HUGE HUGE revelation and one that segues perfectly into the next episode. That last shot of the door closing revealing 513 was pure genius.
Well, that is the end of this review of the second to last episode of Fringe ever. I hope you enjoyed the episode as much as I did and used enough Kleenex to warrant opening another box. I would love to hear your comments and remember Fringe is and always will live on …forever!
I hope you enjoyed my review and my previous news articles about my analysis of Fringe and I thank you for visiting WormholeRiders News Agency.
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Welcome back Fringe fans for our final series of reviews in this timeline,
How does one write about the apparent end of Fringe during ones final analysis for such an epic science fiction drama series that has brought excellence to our screens for five years?
Was it The End of Eternity as this reviewer has written about previously? Or is it simply a new beginning for a franchise that could to be headed to the big screen deserving of Academy Awards to atone for the many years of being snubbed by the Emmy’s?
This editor believes this is the case. In my opinion, and many others whom we have consulted with, Fringe movies loom in the future. The only question is when “Fringe Movies” will actually enter our timeline!?
With a focus more in the present timeline, the Fringe creators recently sanctioned products including September’s Notebook created by Tara Bennett and Paul Terry set for publication in March of this year!
Although not actually revealed in “The Recordist”, the end of the current Fringe eternity began with the return of September (Michael Cerveris) to the series story arc when we met, with fleeting glimpses what seemed to be a new character. Then referred to as Donald, who appeared at a remote mountain encampment, the final foundation was set.
“The Recordist” featured a well known and much admired actor Paul McGillion as Edwin Massey. Massey had laboriously recorded all of human history since the invasion of Earth by The Observers in 2015.
Massey related that Donald, whom we now know is September, had been captured by The Observers subsequent to when “Donald” had visited their remote encampment on a secret mission.
The Fringe team went on a field trip to track down clues revealed in Walters Betamax video tapes (I loved that video format, so superior to VHS as Walter confirmed during the series).
Olivia (Anna Torv), Peter (Joshua Jackson) and Walter (John Noble) met Massey discovering a high energy mineral needed for Walters plan to stop The Observers per the Betamax video cassette “bread crumb” he had left behind before being ambered in the year 2015.
As we reviewed previously here at WHR, we speculated that Donald was September, but “The Recordist” episode did not confirm September was alive as a fact until his return in “Anomaly XB-6783746” via the memories imparted from the child Observer Michael (Rowan Longworth) after he was secured in “Black Blotter”, when as you may recall Walter decided to take a little trip via LSD!
We include an edition of “Noble Intentions” courtesy of FOX Broadcasting that chronicles the memories imparted to Walter from Michael, the Child Observer.
The Boy Must Live:
After a bit of work in the former Harvard University lab to locate September, between Walter and Peter with the ever able work of Astrid (Jasika Nicole), in this episode we finally learn about Donald (September) and what happened to him since his disappearance at the hands of evil Observer Overlords from the year 2609.
With Peter’s, Astrid’s, and Olivia’s help to monitor the experimental events, and as Michael looked on with curiosity, Walter Bishop entered “The Tank” in the laboratory to isolate the important memories imparted to him by the Child Observer Michael (Rowan Longworth) in “Anomaly XB-6783746” in order to locate September in the year 2036.
In a truly humorous moment, well beyond anything ever contemplated on “Naked Tuesdays”, where Walter at least had an apron to cover his vitals, Olivia opens the tank in the lab only to find Walter stark bare ass naked in the process of searching his thoughts about September.
This fun scene brings us a moment of levity in the serious story arc full circle. One can only assume that it must be “Naked Tank Tuesday” in the year 2036! Even Olivia smiles at what they have discovered, Walters nakedness notwithstanding!
Subsequent to discovering enough clues from “Naked Tank Tuesday” to locate September, Walter dons some clothes to cover his fine physique to lead the Fringe team on the search for September in 2036.
In a number of memorable sequences, Peter and Walter chat about why he is so sure about things, including Walter remembering that he does not really enjoy “public displays” of affection and not using public restrooms to “go number two”. Peter’s growing love for his father’s eccentric nature is displayed lovingly with a wonderful smile.
We are suddenly taken to the year 2609, the central nexus of The Observers strangle hold on humanity. Now one may ask, why did The Observers Commander (James Kidnie) or delightfully evil Captain Windmark (Michael Kopsa) and other implied higher Observer authorities simply not kill September after his meddling with time without their explicit approval?
For those who read and follow the time-line psychology ripple effects of changing events or people as eloquently depicted in Fringe and by Isaac Asimov’s novel in “The End of Eternity”, the answer is simple. Well almost.
As discussed between Captain Windmark and The Observers Commander in “The Boy Must Live”, in order to not disturb the certainties of the reality they have created wherein they are the dominate species across the universe, certain individuals cannot be eliminated or they risk that the entire equation of time could unravel. September is one of those individuals in this reviewer’s opinion.
Now you may hypothecate; WAIT! Other of The Observers, their Loyalists and quite a few resistance humans have been killed. Why did these events not impact the timeline?
Although not delineated directly, the Fringe creators require viewers to think about serious consequences of ripples in time across realities from changes. This reviewer believes that this may have been partly responsible for lower ratings because Fringe as a story, took much thought to internalize. This factor was also responsible for the initial lackluster reception of the novel “The End of Eternity” that later went on to become a cult classic.
Nevertheless, the epic nature of the program can be understood as follows; One must assume that if a person was killed “out of order” in contravention to The Observers philosophy of “Everything In Order”, then a viewer should assume that the Observer command nexus in the year 2609 would have dispatched other Observers to fix or “patch” the timeline to restore 99.9999% infinity likelihoods just as what was performed in The End of Eternity to ensure the future eventualities desired.
More on these complex factors later in my analysis.
Walter, Olivia, Peter, with Michael in tow find September at an apartment after leveraging Walter’s memories ascertained in the tank.
September, in turn, obviously is quite happy to see Olivia, Peter, almost the entire team, and Walter in specific for reasons we learn in major reveals in the series story arc.
We were thrilled to also see an emotion of joy on September’s face when he sees the Observer Child is with the team.
Michael is later confirmed to actually be September’s son Michael. September opens a cigar box to retrieve a tiny music box which plays the memorable song “Greensleeves also known as “Who is the Child” when the tiny handle in turned.
A most appropriate selection by music composers Chris Tilton and Michael Giacchino in the opinion of this reviewer that is featured in episode.
After relating what had happened to themselves, our heroes learn that September had been stripped of the technology implanted in his skull which allows The Observers to traverse time across multiple alternate realities with causation by making minute adjustments in the time-line.
The ultimate purpose is to ensure Observer dominance across all realities to within 99.9999% infinity percent likelihood as discussed above.
We learn that September was punished for his many instances of meddling with the plans of the Overlord Observers to ensure their dominance across all time and in all universe possibilities.
Logically we must assume that after his capture and punishment, September was deemed to be harmless by The Observers without his enhanced abilities.
This proves that The Observers, the season five antagonists, are not all powerful. By not monitoring September more closely, thereby making a major mistake, especially considering the perseverance of Walter and our heroes of the Fringe Team in the year 2036, the quest to destroy their slavish, albeit intellectually developed society will become realty.
In the process we learn that September chose his name, Donald O’Conner, from a favorite movie he and Walter had once watched together; “Singin’ in the Rain” (1952).
One is also left to ponder another interesting theory. Did Walter name “Gene the Cow” to honor Gene Kelly who starred in the 1952 award winning film enjoyed by September? This reviewer find this theory to be highly likely.
As Olivia and Peter listen with great emotion on their faces, they find out, among the many details Walter did not remember, despite having many “feelings” imparted by Michael, that this included all the details of “the plan” to stop The Observers from manipulating all time and universes.
Powerless, September, had been inserted into the year 2036 where he could be “observed” by Captain Windmark after his capture and punishment.
September then began life as a normal human believing that his plans with Walter twenty-one years previous in the year 2015 to save humanity would never be realized.
In a major reveal about what has transpired over the past five (season) years, September shared how it all happened.
In stunning visual effects sequence reminiscent of “The Matrix” (1999), September reveals how Michael was created from his own genetic material in a vault of young Observers. The chilling scene delighted this reviewer to no end.
Michael, September’s progeny was deemed flawed by the genetically fascist Observer hierarchy of the year 2609. The result was that Michael’s maturation was deliberately stunted.
Although not depicted in the episode, September informs our Fringe Team heroes that he took the boy from the year 2609 and hid him in the past of the year 2036 to hopefully be found later by Walter, Olivia, Peter and Astrid.
During the meeting in the year 2609, we learn more about the weakness of The Observers. Although seemingly firmly in control, they are not capable of predicting all possible outcomes, and in fact are afraid of the consequences of making any additional changes to eliminate “the resisters” as the Fringe Team is referred to.
The Observer Commander relates to Captain Windmark; “we are not prepared to deal with a readjustment of probabilities”. The Observer Commander is obviously referring to the killing off the Fringe Team and or Michael, the “defective” Observer Child.
To his displeasure, Captain Windmark is forbidden from going back in time to kill them all. This is the next Observer weakness that is revealed.
Although The Observers have invested nearly five centuries from 2167 to 2609 to “breed out” emotion in favor of intellect, the Observer Commander detects something is wrong. Captain Windmark states “the idea of ending their existence consumes me”.
As we know from being emotional human beings in 2013, obsession is a destroyer of many aspects of humanity. So it will be with The Observers. Obsession causes people to make mistakes and or draw the wrong conclusions from history that ultimately leads to serious errors in judgment.
When the Observer Commander states “they are insignificant”, we know that our heroes can leverage their arrogance to ultimately win the day!
With a segue back to the Fringe Team at the apartment, now with September restored as an ally, we discover “The Plan” is to take Michael to the year 2167 on the 28th of February, and introduce him to The Powers That Be (TPTB) of that era. All of history, past, present and future would be radically altered to benefit humankind.
By offering a different alternative in humanities future decision making process, with proof they do not have to sacrifice human emotions for intellect, the result would cause the evil of The Observers as we have known them, to never become manifest, to never exist!
Brilliant move in the story arc by the creators!
We move in the episode to a rather touching tender sequence whereby Olivia and Peter discuss that if the plan succeeds, and the timeline is reset, that they will be restored to a point in time before the invasion with their daughter Etta (Georgina Haig) when she was young. Olivia is optimistic, while Peter says they have a long way to go to succeed.
At this point in the series, our Fringe Team Leader Lori theorized the time reset result would be in the park in the year 2015 with young Etta when she was playing with Peter and Olivia during a family picnic.
The episode moves quickly as Captain Windmark returns to the year 2036 plotting obsessively to learn all about and track down September who has unfortunately been tagged with Observer chip “784651”.
Captain Windmark’s intent is quite clear. Although he is not actually disobeying direct orders from his superior, The Observer Commander in year 2609 by track downing his obsession in the past, Windmark is absolutely determined to kill our heroes in the year 2036 to achieve his goals.
September thinking carefully ahead of their arrival, has removed his tracking chip before leaving his apartment. September’s foresight is correct, he has setup a booby trap with an Observer tech quantum bomb at the apartment for Captain Windmark and his Observer minions whom he is certain will try to find him there.
In another wonderful sequence involving foot tapping to jazz music, The Observers are affected by a somewhat reflex human emotion, rhythm. September almost succeeds in killing Captain Windmark and his two Observer minions.
Windmark and his main minion escape, however one of The Observers is apparently killed unable to dematerialize quick enough as the Observer bomb from the future vaporizes the entirety of September’s apartment.
The episode winds down as our heroes gather the parts September has stashed in the year 2036 to complete the device to establish a wormhole and send Michael to February 28, 2167 to reset the timeline, but not without consequences.
September and Walter are at a warehouse gathering the requisite parts. Walter recalls a partial memory imparted by Michael.
Walter, with September’s prompting understands that he will have to sacrifice himself by accompanying Michael to the year 2167.
September fills in the missing memories and discusses “A White Tulip”, its importance and the strength given to Walter over the five years of Fringe. Tears well up in Septembers eyes as they discuss the events of past that have brought them here.
However, while the White Tulip is seen by Walter in his mind, it is missing from an envelope in September’s Notebook.
The poignant scene provides a startling revelation of the Fringe series mythology now made manifest, the existence of his, “September’s Notebook”, which is seen on screen in September’s hands!
This fantastic book that contains the secrets of the series mythology is created by Tara Bennett and Paul Terry, whom we had the honor to interview on WormholeRiders You Decide Sunday February 03, 2013!
In the final hectic moments of “The Boy Must Live” episode, evil Captain Windmark tracks our heroes down on a local commuter train.
Aware of the importance of their freedom to complete “The Plan”, and for reasons not explained in the episode, Michael makes a sacrifice allowing himself to be captured by Captain Windmark in order to allow the others to escape!
As Captain Windmark takes Michael into Observer custody, an evil grin of revenge and retribution spreads across his face, all we see and hear is; “Hello” as the television screen fades to black!
Michael Kopsa is absolutely delightfully creepy as Captain Windmark, superbly delivering his final line in “The Boy Must Live” episode. This reviewer says simply; Bravo Mr. Kopsa, BRAVO!!
Our Team Leader Lori will be writing the last two reviews of the series to be posted in rapid succession after this analysis. Lori will include interesting quotes from The End of Eternity novel to dovetail our belief that Isaac Asimov’s book was an inspiration for Fringe.
Just remember, #ItsNeverOver when it comes to altering the timeline, meaning this reviewer believes Fringe will return in movies as changes ripple across our timeline to become reality in the future!
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I hope that you are surviving the hiatus. With the New Year just around the corner, so are the last three episodes of Fringe.
It is bittersweet to know that so few remain, but also great because we will see the final battle unfold as it should be.
It has been an interesting season; we have lost a few beloved characters, gained new ones and finally got back our beloved Polivia.
It was questionable whether or not we would see Peter (Joshua Jackson) and Olivia (Anna Torv) back together, but last week’s episode showed us that their love is as strong as ever.
Come January 11, 2013, the final battle will be waged and we will see what Walter has in store and what his plan has been all along. Hopefully by the end, all will be revealed and everyone will be satisfied. I am glad that we found out that question that had been burning on everyone’s mind…who is Donald?
The answer was shocking to say the least, but a wonderful one at that. What else is in store for our beloved team? Only time and Joel Wyman will tell as he did in this appreciation video from December 13, recently re-tweeted by the great team at Fringe on FoxTV.
We also include the latest promotional trailer courtesy of FOX TV below for your enjoyment.
I like the little boy who plays Michael (Rowan Longworth). He is doing a good job at conveying his empathic abilities, which I am sure again will be revealed more as the remaining episodes count down.
It must have been hard for the team to get answers out of him, since he has yet to speak a word. It does also make you wonder what happened to the connection that he had with Olivia in the past. Will it be again or is it lost to time?
Walter (John Noble) plying him with candy is fun, no doubt a desperate plea on his part to try and find out why he is so important to the team. His frustration with Michael’s non verbal communication is evident.
Walter suggests that they try and pry things from Michael’s mind via going into it as he did with September (Michael Cerveris).
It always cracks me up when John gets outrageous, because he lets Walter’s madness bubble to the surface and just peak out; John always does it to perfection. I also suspect it would be a good excuse for Walter to use more drugs.
John also has the great ability, as we saw with Walternate, to have a sinister side to him. What he feared would happen, when he told Nina (Blair Brown) about becoming the man he used to be is starting to show through. Let’s hope that Walter, the one we know and love will still be intact by the end of the series. His God complex is surely starting to manifest and take over, hopefully Donald and our team can prevent that from happening.
It is so wonderful to see Blair Brown have such an integral part in this episode. She has always been a favorite actress of mine and I am glad that she is finally being utilized the way she should be. Nina’s intentions in this episode are what make this episode so epic. Blair had explained so well about her final decision being one that she had no choice in the matter.
The gadgets that the Observers use harkens back to a past episode, Road not Taken, where Peter (Joshua Jackson) had used an old record player to extract sound waves from a window. I mentioned before that as diabolical and cruel as the Observers are they do have some of the coolest gadgets around.
Windmark will stop at nothing to extract any and all information any way he can. I must give great praise to Michael Kopsa for playing Windmark with such evil intent that he makes it so much fun to hate him. He is truly one of those characters that once his demise comes; cheering will be heard throughout all of Fringe fandom.
I think that Nina, somewhere in the back of her mind, knows the eminent danger she is potentially putting herself and the team in, but the cause and what the outstanding Austalian actress who portrayed Etta (Georgina Haig), died for is more important.
Finding a way to help the team is of the utmost importance to her and something she feels show owes Olivia (Anna Torv) and the team.
Walter’s snarky comments are abounding in this episode. Again, John manages to make us laugh even during the direst of situations. Having that extraordinary gift is something I as a director and a Fringe fan know is something to cherish. His comment of “I’m cold” reminds me of the countless times he has complained in previous episodes of the lack of warmth or food at crime scenes.
Nina has always been a very mysterious character, never quite knowing if she is on the side of good or bad. She has toed the line a few times and has definitely done some questionable things in her time.
The fact that she is and I suspect always was a part of William Bell’s (Leonard Nimoy) and Walter’s inner circle speaks volumes about why she has always been shrouded in mystery. Why she has always had these weird connections, like Peter used to, to things that are not quite explained. How she knew Sam Weiss (Kevin Corrigan) and how she happened to mention this black lab that Massive Dynamic has.
Nina’s concern for Walter is evident as shown through the conversation with Peter. They are both worried about him and rightfully should be. The interesting thing is that Nina has seen Walter the way he used to be and knows all too well what reverting back to that state can do harm not only to Walter but the plan and the team.
“Your father understands that anything worth fighting for comes with a cost” is what Nina ultimately tells Peter. How right she is, because this statement not only pertains to this particular episode but every sacrificial episode from every season. The price that they ALL have paid in one shape or form has brought them to this point in time. The picture of Etta plastered on the wall driving home the statement that Nina just told Peter.
The black lab entrance is cool. Leave it to Nina to have a lab underground where all kinds of experiments are taking place. It is of no surprise what they find down there. It explains how Nina has been more than aware of how the Observers work and she has always been one step ahead.
The scene between Peter and Olivia when he asks if she is thinking about Etta is great. Anna has a vulnerability about her that shows in her body language and she also proves how visceral she can be as an actress.
Her maternal instincts are on alert with Michael ever since they found him and in a way he is helping her heal from losing Etta. Peter’s comfort is always ever present, in the way he interacts with her and the way he looks at her. Josh again displays his talent for compassion that Peter has shown since he fell in love with Olivia.
Walter’s fascination with the ECOG device is a little disturbing, more so when he says to prep the subject and Peter corrects him that his name is Michael.
Walter seems to be slowing reverting back to his old self, glimpses we have seen throughout this season. John again being the brilliant one to just give us enough of a shadow to know that something darker looms.
One thing that I found interesting and that no one (at least not in my circle of Fringe friends) has brought up is what Michael represents. What I mean by this is that I cannot help but think of the Michael the Arc angel. If I remember anything of my Catholic schooling, it is that Michael led the armies of heaven against the forces of Satan and defeated them. To me that is what this Michael almost represents, he is the answer and the one that will be the one to ultimately defeat the Observers. It also makes me wonder why he would be so important to Walter if it weren’t for what Michael possesses. Why Donald was sworn to keep him safe, that Michael is indeed the one or dare I say weapon that the team has in their pocket, their ace up their sleeve, in a way.
I maybe reading too much into it, but it was just weird that no one picked up on that. I guess that’s because science and religion do not mix very well, that Michael had to be shrouded (sorry for the pun) in something a little less obvious. I would love to ask David Fury who wrote this episode if that was what Michael represented in this episode or what Michael represents overall. I guess that is a question for Joel as well…his is the maestro after all.
There have been many references to the Observers being like the Nazis and in some ways I can definitely see the correlation. Their methods mirror those that make them look similar to the Nazis, Windmark being the most sinister of them all. It is an eerie sight indeed, frightening to say the least.
Of course Michael’s readings are off the charts, of course he processes things differently than the other Observers, and he IS different, like September (Michael Cerveris). He is the one that is the major cog in Walter’s wheel of a plan, without him the whole thing falls apart. He is an empath; he isn’t the cold, calculating Observers that we have seen (minus September of course). He is the chosen one, the one of great importance, the one that will lead them to the final battle with the Observers…sound familiar? That is where my theory of the arc angel comes in.
The shot of the warehouse made me giggle out loud. It reminded me of the last scene in one of my most favorite movies, Raiders of The Lost Ark. I don’t know if that was intentional to make it look like that, but it was great fun to see. It also made me think that like the warehouse in Raiders, what secrets does this warehouse hold?
The scene with Hastings in the interrogation room with Windmark is very reminiscent of what he did to Walter in episode one of Season 5. It does not matter to Windmark how he gets his answers as long as he is satisfied that is his main goal. By any means necessary.
When Olivia informs Nina that she has been compromised that is when the episode really begins to shine. It is some of the best writing and acting that I have seen in a long time, mostly on Blair Brown’s part. Her decisions from this scene forward are ultimate and when the plan is set in motion there is no stopping her. She knew what she had to do as tough as a decision as it was it is what needed to be done in order to keep the team and Michael safe.
I am so curious what Michael showed Nina when he touches her cheek and she reacts. I suspect it’s the future if they do not defeat the Observers. I hope that we will get a reveal about it so that we the fans are not left in the dark.
The team needs to get back to the lab as soon as possible, especially knowing that Nina has been compromised and possibly put Michael in danger. What they do is brilliant; leave it to Peter, the reformed con man to think up that plan.
It works and our beloved team escapes for the time being. I love that Peter can still hot wire a car; it just goes to show that those con man skills never die!
Once the lab has been breached this is when one of the best scenes in recent memory takes place. Blair does some of her best work and it is so brilliant that it will be forever remembered for the power, but for also the end result.
Windmark discovering the experimented Observers is what sets him off. He calls Nina an animal…I thought pot calling kettle. When Windmark reads her he points out that she had mentioned the boy Observer, he is important to the fugitives, again my theory goes here. The fact that Windmark says that the boy is a chromosomal mistake leads me to believe that Michael has a power that is still untapped.
That Michael is the one and only thing that Windmark is afraid of even though he lets on that he isn’t. Sometimes it is those mistakes or anomalies that turn out to be the very thing that we have been looking for the whole time.
The ones that will save the universe, kind of like how Superman was an anomaly, a boy wonder and the power he possessed ended up saving the world. So was Jesus in his time, again religion comes into play, but only to make my point.
Nina’s speech to Windmark about why Observers tilt their heads is so freaking brilliant I cheered when she finished. She was so on point that you almost wanted to high five her mechanical hand for the excellent job she did.
What she pointed out was so true that it was eerie. The fact that the Observers had devolved instead of evolved is a testament to the human spirit and the relationships that we have. The way that we show love and compassion, the way we feel does not make us weak, if anything it is the one thing that defines us as humans.
Her speech is the last hurrah she has before she makes the ultimate sacrifice. She did it for love, for the love of Olivia, love of Walter, Etta and I even suspect love for William Bell. Nina truly gets the last word, in your face Windmark!
When she shoots herself, twitter went crazy! It seems that Nina after all these years had become a character that fans really loved and to see her commit the ultimate sacrifice stunned everyone, but also made her immortal to everyone. It was the second shot heard throughout all of Fringe-dom (the first being the one that killed Etta). Goodbye Nina, you will be missed, in more ways than one.
The scene when the team discovers Nina dead is so heartbreaking, but John and Anna are the two that really shine in this scene. Even though Olivia does not show as much emotion as Walter did, does not mean the loss is not great. I was disappointed to see that fans were saying that Olivia’s reaction was not as powerful as Walter’s. I do believe they were wrong, dead wrong.
Olivia’s reaction was perfect…for Olivia. What they failed to remember is who Olivia really is. She was never one to break down, on rare occasions she has. Olivia never thought herself worthy of love and always kept a distance so as to not get hurt. She had to develop the thick skin that she had in order to survive her life. I do believe that Olivia feels very deeply, probably more so than we do.
Walter’s reaction was perfect as well. John Noble made a great point during one of his many Noble Intentions videos that maybe Walter and Nina’s relationship may have been deeper than we always thought. John always brilliant as usual moves you to tears. I also love what Josh does, how Peter comforts Olivia, but in a very soft, loving way.
I made a point to someone that all the people in Olivia’s life, regardless of time line, whom she loves, always end up dead. That is my point as to why she always has that pain, it will always be behind her eyes, because she has gone through a hell that we can only imagine and never wish on another human being.
Anna Torv’s talent is undeniable; her eyes are so perfect at revealing those emotions, just under the surface. John had made the point that her subtly is brilliant and that is what makes her so good. Olivia has a quiet strength that has always been there. She carries on through unbelievable pain, she is a survivor, and she is the very definition of the word.
Where they find Michael is clever, obviously Nina made damn sure that Windmark could not find him and he was too hell bent on finding the fugitives that he did not bother to look any further. I love that once they find him and pull him out; he sees Nina and reacts as only an empath can. The single tear speaks volumes, bravo little one!
When Walter dons the ECOG it is a great scene because at first the reaction to the questions are just nods. When Walter asks Michael why he was needed for Walter’s plan, and why he was important he does the same thing he did to Nina, touch her cheek and show her.
The montage is beautiful, it is flash back of all past episodes and a virtual zoetrope of memories that Walter had either forgotten or repressed.
The final revelation to the question is what we have all been waiting for…the question that has been on every Fringe fans mind, who is Donald. I must say it was one of those moments when I audibly gasped! It was so wonderful to see Michael Cerveris again; he has been sorely missed in the fifth season. It was a little weird to see him with hair, but great nonetheless.
Okay, well now we know who Donald is, what I want to know (and I am sure every Fringe fan on the planet wants to know) is how did Donald become September? Is the boy Observer possibly September? Was September another anomaly as well that somehow slipped through the cracks?
That would explain a lot about September and the significant role he played not only on the show but in the lives of Olivia, Peter and especially Walter. I know that Michael Cerveris said on twitter that his being Donald was the hardest secret he had to keep, but he loved the reaction of all the fans!
When Walter finally tells the team that Donald is September they are a little perplexed, how that is possible I bet they are thinking. The look on Walter’s face is wonderful, almost like a veil had been lifted from something that was clouding his memory. He almost had a look of relief and nostalgia, as if to say to himself, now it all makes sense.
Beautiful, heartbreaking episode, I am conflicted about the fact that there are only three episodes left. I am happy that we do get to see the final battle between good and evil, but I also do not want to see our team’s story end. I am being selfish when I say that I want Fringe to go on forever.
The good thing is that thanks to other mediums, Fringe WILL go on forever. I do hope that there is going to be more in the way of comic books and possibly a movie or two. Until then, we always have our DVDs and fan fiction to tide us over.
It will be a hell of a final ride and this fan is desperately looking forward to it. Have a Happy New Year Fringe fans, see you in 2013 and remember that “Momentum can be deferred, but it must always be paid back in full!”
I hope you enjoyed my review and my previous news articles about my analysis of Fringe and I thank you for visiting WormholeRiders News Agency.
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As we approach the end of one of the most epic science fiction dramatic television series produced within the past quarter century, we take pause to remember those whose contributions have made the Fringe series one of the most beloved in all of televised entertainment history!
WormholeRiders therefore pays tribute to some of the dozens of lesser known, albeit crucial crew members who toiled tirelessly for Fringe in general, and “Black Blotter” in specific. Each exquisitely made the series come to life before our very eyes on our television and or computer screens over the past superb five seasons coming to close in January 2013.
Click here to see all whom have made Fringe an excellent entertainment product!
Image courtesy Ari Margolis of JonXProductions via Twitter
The music selected for Walter’s LSD “trip” is the centerpiece of his altered mental state that reinforces an adventure in the episode that makes “Black Blotter” so worthwhile. Special kudos to Chris Tilton and Michael Giacchino for their delightful music score, and for selecting wonderful background music for “Black Blotter” including Donovan (Hurdy Gurdy Man) and Steppenwolf (The Pusher). Included above, these epic 1968 hit songs accurately reflect “Black Blotter” from the era of LSD!
For retrospective regarding this analysis, back in 2009, when WormholeRiders was a fledgling news agency, a single web site with a single blog, this reviewer called “it”; that wormholes, time paradoxes, alternate realities and universes would be the fundamental premise well beyond the first season of Fringe.
A few said this reviewer was wrong, some said this reviewer was, in fact, crazy. Time itself has edified this reviewer’s belief that the series creative genius’ had planned carefully in what has proven to be precisely that edification.
Image courtesy Joel Wyman via Twitter
Late in 2010 and early 2011, when the two “sides” or realities of Fringe fought each other, this reviewer postulated the opposing forces of Olivia/BOlivia, Broyles/Alt-Broyles, Nina/AltNina, and most critically, Walter/Walternate would join forces to fight an even more evil third enemy.
Not one to bother TPTB Executive Producers, over time I had sent a series of single tweets to Joel Wyman regarding this subject matter. He responded with what I thought it would be?
I answered with two words; “The Observers”, but that I would not say more to avoid spoiling.
Mr. Wyman responded with two words of his own; “Much appreciated”. And so it has become with The Observers in the 2036 timeline.
Only because this reviewer had read a similar tale known as “The End Of Eternity” by Isaac Asimov, was the insight I learned remembered, not for any other reason.
Fringe admirers learned in the recent past via discussion at San Diego Comic-Con and Twitter from creative genius Joel Wyman that seven (7) episodic seasons were planned. This reviewer stands by his belief that Fringe will not end after only five (5) television seasons on FOX Broadcasting.
While this reviewer may prove to be incorrect in this regard, it is hard to believe that Warner Brothers and Bad Robot will abandon one of their most respected and creative franchise endeavors.
This reviewer fervently believes that Fringe will continue on the big screen (movies), with direct to DVD mini-series, be picked up by a new network (Science Channel?) or a combination of all three to bring the adventure of seven contemplated seasons full circle.
Black Blotter Primer:
The reveals within the “Black Blotter” episode are many. Flashbacks are utilized via Walter’s use of LSD to identify key elements from the first four seasons that hold the answers to understand the 100+ episode journey that is Fringe.
At episodes end, new and compelling questions are presented that cement the solid foundation being laid by Fringe Executive Producer Joel H. Wyman.
How will Cecil (Zak Santiago), who was with “The Child Observer” from the “Pocket Universe” dovetail this finding in “Black Blotter”?
What does Walter learn on his LSD “trip”? Will the “acid” open memories that lead to the answers to defeat The Observers domination of the Earth in this altered reality timeline? Can his grand daughter Etta (Georgina Haig) be saved (restored)?
In a major reveal within “Black Blotter”, does anyone doubt that “Michael” the young Observer is the child of September (an homage in my opinion to Michael Cerveris) from the year 2036? Will Michael eventually once again alter the time line to save Peter (Joshua Jackson), Olivia (Anna Torv) Walter (John Noble), Astrid (Jasika Nicole), Broyles (Lance Reddick) and the irascible Nina Sharp (Blair Brown) from death at the hands of The Observers?
From the earliest fond memories of Fringe in our minds, all have wanted all our heroes to survive. But will they? And by what mechanism will this become manifest? Which, if any, of our heroes will be the ones that remember everything that has happened when all is said and done? To the point: Will any of them remember anything?
And what of another beloved series character, bowling alley manager Sam Weiss (Kevin Corrigan)? All have desired to learn the fate of Sam Weiss. Did Sam perish fighting to support the resistance leading up to the events in 2036? In “Black Blotter” we will find the answer to this question in a somewhat shocking, yet bittersweet discovery.
Walter’s memories, brought to the surface by ingesting “Black Blotter” LSD, revolve in part around those of Elizabeth Bishop, his wife. Elizabeth Bishop (Orla Brady) graced the series five times previously in “Peter” (2010), “Over There Part One” (2010), “Subject 13” (2011), “Back to Where You Have Never Been” (2012) and “Enemy of My Enemy” (2012). Each is critical is in this reviewers opinion, becoming the crux of “the what”, and “the why” of all that is about to happen in the closing episodes of season five.
Not to spoil for those who have yet to experience Fringe, one should never forget that it was “our” Walter’s tampering with the timeline, bringing alternate Peter to “our side” of the universe that set the stage for what was to occur over the course of all five seasons.
Walter’s intervention, to stave off his broken heart over the loss of their son, ultimately led to his involvement with David Robert Jones (Jared Harris), the ZFT manuscript planted in the 1930’s, Walter’s dubious association with William Bell (Leonard Nimoy) and multiple interventions by The Observers who at first seemed benevolent visitors to the Earth.
All of these situations occurred in attempts to restore or maintain the timelines in “balance”. This leads to the theory that such interventions are what shifted The Observers from being benevolent watchers of the timeline to The Observers of 2036.
Led by the evil Captain Windmark, brilliantly portrayed by Michael Kopsa, one must ask, was all of this the reason The Observers became the radicalized invaders of our fair planet? And just how and why did they become so selfish and evil? Was a reality change the ultimate cause?
Could all be restored if the cure for “his own” Peter could be made available in the past, obviating Walter’s original universe reality crossing expedition? Would such eliminate the revenge driven character “Walternate”? Would such a “fix” allow Walter and Elizabeth to lead normal lives in both realities, each with their own Peter?
Would such a solution also free Peter to not become the subject of cross universe adversarial situations that brought Earth to the attention of The Observers in the first place? Or were The Observers watching anyway as this reviewer suspected long ago based on a novel by Isaac Asimov that I had read in my youth?
What of Olivia and Peter? Will they be the only ones to remember everything when order to the universe is restored? How will it all be accomplished? With only four episodes of the fifth season remaining, read my closing theorem at the end of this analysis and then… we shall see Fringies, we shall see!
More on these topics later in the theorem section at this reviews analysis and contemplated conclusions.
Before beginning my analysis of “Black Blotter”, we include, courtesy of FOX Broadcasting, the latest promotional trailers for the next episode “Anomaly XB-6783746”. Written by talented David Fury, we are about to learn the Fringe story arc’s final foundation, setting up the final three episodes that will air in January of 2013.
Black Blotter:
The episode opens with Astrid waking to the sound of Donald’s radio emanating signals for the first time since the Fringe Team of 2036 had been monitoring his radio.
Accentuated in “The Recordist”, The Fringe Team is searching for answers to locate the missing pieces of the puzzle required to put an end to the slavish conditions perpetrated on humanity by the evil that has become manifest on Earth in the form of The Observers of that future era.
In the underground Harvard facility of the year 2036, Walter’s laboratory appears to be a fantasy landscape of surreal proportions. The genius of the “Black Blotter” episode is that the viewer must ascertain if what we “observe” is real, or if the scenes we witness exist only in Walter’s mind?
One of the opening sequences great lines is when Walter says Astrid’s hair is so “beautiful”. Packing a pistol, Astrid knows something is up since she had just been sleeping on her hair! Based on the dreamlike visage on Walter’s face we suspect far more than a few puffs of “Brown Betty” are at work in Walter’s mind!
This discovery becomes a challenge as Olivia and Peter awake only to find that Walter has taken an LSD “trip” with “Black Blotter”. In order to expand his mind, we find out Walter’s purpose is clear; He needs to unlock the secrets in his mind for victory over The Observers to restore humanities timeline to what it needs to, should be, or what it will become after The Observers, invaders of Earth, are vanquished.
Before the LSD that Walter has taken is definitely confirmed, we segue to Peter and Olivia intimately chatting in the bedroom. Peter shares with Olivia that he still has headaches after the removal of The Observers “tech” from his brain.
Although Peter is returning to normal, as evidenced by his once again growing intimate relationship with Olivia, Astrid interrupts their moment together to alert them that Walter is up to something. Of course he is!
More humor is injected in the opening scenes as Peter asks Walter if he is “tripping?” The two word response from Walter “most definitely”, with a near “sh_t eating grin on his face” accompanied by two visions tells the tale! The first being a “Tinkerbell” like PIxie juxtaposed with the return of key series characters.
One key character is none other that Dr. Carla Warren (Jenni Blong), part of Walter’s LSD hallucination visions down memory lane. Fringe admirers will recall this character from two past episodes; “Jacksonville” (2010) and “Peter” (2012). “Black Blotter” represents the third episode where the Dr. Warren character, killed in the lab fire, will play a pivotal role, at least in Walter’s mind.
Without delving into the past story arc too deeply, recall that it was Dr. Warren who played opposite Nina Sharp (Blair Brown) during the early days of the Cortexiphan trials warning Walter what he has planned would likely damage the space-time continuum.
Among other things, including trying to stop Walter from crossing into the other reality via the wormhole Portal he had constructed to “save” Peter for himself and Elizabeth in “our” reality, we learn at episodes end, this seesaw battle for Walter’s inner conscience will become paramount to what has to be done to save us all from the evil that has become The Observers.
As “Tinkerbell” lands on Walter’s finger, Astrid tries to ask if Walter knows what the radio signal mean’s? A bit entranced by the vision on his finger, Walter is not quite oblivious, but almost.
Floating in and out of lucidity, Walter shares with Peter, (as Astrid and Olivia look on) that 2036 Nina had promised to removed the portions of his brain that made him like Walternate after his LSD “trip” to recall what he cannot otherwise remember.
In the meantime, a clue is offered; Walter continues to “see” “Tinkerbell” and Dr. Warren which he observes flying around Peter’s head. Dr. Warren tells Walter that the other “he” knows things. We can observe by the look on Walter’s face he is afraid of the “other him”, Walternate!
During this sequence Walter sees a dimensional aperture (a wormhole gate or portal) frozen in time wherein “Tinkerbell” splits into two version of herself, one Blue (a bit green really except for the wings), and one Red as the Red “Tinkerbell” flies through what appears to be a portal between realities.
Clearly this is an homage to the “Blue Verse” (good) and “Red Verse” (evil) which dominated the Fringe story arc in previous seasons.
The conundrum within “Black Blotter” is that Walter knows he has a “dark side” in what appears to be his dual personality often alluded to in the past or other timeline realities via the Walternate characterization.
One must contemplate; is this where the knowledge and memory of Sam Weiss also resides? Walter realizes the knowledge to defeat The Observers that the Fringe Team needs is in the “Walternate” side of his personality. Walter is rightfully terrified of the “other Walter” submerged within his tormented soul.
As Walter has long feared in the 2036 timeline, and why he desires Nina Sharp to remove portions of his brain when the mission to eliminate The Observers is complete, is that the “Walternate” in him will potentially take away his son Peter and what he, Walter desires to be, a non aggressive personage of good intentions and spirit.
Without much delay Olivia and Peter go off to find the source of the radio signal using technology provided by Anil (Shaun Smyth).
Among several dead bodies including The Observers and Loyalists, what they discover are the bones of the Sam Weiss” behind the wheel of a large utility van.
Using the resistance radio triangulation technology from Anil, Peter and Olivia travel to Willington, Connecticut to the source of what appears to be the signal. Calling Astrid back in the Harvard laboratory, the discovery of skeletal Sam Weiss produces no recollection of him in the 2036 timeline for Astrid or Walter, at least not yet. Peter and Olivia discover the utility van is not the source of the signal, only a relay station.
Sharing a tender kiss in the woods, it is here they confirm the find. The weathered bones of Sam Weiss in the utility van are verified from the discovery of a driver’s license. Dead from a firefight some ten to fifteen years previous, the bones of Sam Weiss lead, via a cable, to a solar powered radio relay repeater.
After examining the surroundings, Peter and Olivia determine the signal is located elsewhere. A quick segue finds Walter chatting with Dr. Warren where he seemingly discovers a notebook journal beneath the floorboards.
Thanks to the hallucinations from LSD, Walter’s memory envisions a younger Nina Sharp. She and “Tinkerbell” caution Walter to not consult the documents in the notebook journal.
As Walter heads out for to join Olivia and Peter in a taxi, Dr. Warren is mentally in tow. In his mind Walter had apparently escaped from Astrid in the taxi outside The Observers Headquarters in New York City. Not really!
In “reality”, Astrid has taken Walter to link up with Peter and Olivia, but not before thumbing the notebook to find a number of his inventions as well as two words; “Black Umbrella”, which become important a bit later in the episode.
Despite being “high as a kite”, Walter is concerned he is following the path of what the “Walternate” personality really wants him to do, once again find a young Observer Child who may hold the answers the Fringe Team needs to set thing right.
With a segue to the next sequence, Walter and Astrid link up with Peter and Olivia. This reviewer very much enjoyed seeing all four of the team back together in action!
After an exciting Fringe Team firefight dockside, eliminating some of The Observers minions, the four heroes head to an island where the radio signal is emanating from.
But not before Walter “sees” “The Emerald City”, another homage to “The Wizard of Oz” which our Fringe Team Leader Lori has postulated previously in her analysis of the genius of the Fringe series that utilized familiar works of entertainment to “ground” the audience within the story arc.
The island, sans the Emerald City observed in Walter’s mind, is the originating source of the radio signals. Once on the island our heroes are suddenly confronted by veteran character actor Tom Butler portraying Richard.
Richard is accompanied by his his wife Carolyn (Maria Marlow) and a surprise with Michael (Rowan Longworth), appearing as “The Child Observer” reprising his role as we have seen previously in Fringe (more on this subject later).
Michael “The Child Observer” has not aged a day in the twenty years since he was secreted away for his own protection until retrieved by Walter after first being previously secreted in the “Pocket Universe”, but only if Walter can remember the password to do so.
In a sequence that is really homage to Monty Python, a delightful animation scene is used to illustrate the inner workings of Walter’s mind. Accentuated by “Black Blotter” LSD, a visual of the “Black Umbrella” and a key unlocking a tree appears in Walter’s mind. Heck, we even get to see Walter ride “Gene The Cow” just like he is the “The Wizard of Oz”. Well, he darn well is, isn’t he?!
Walter leaves the LSD hallucination vision, quickly snapping back to reality uttering the “Black Umbrella” password. We observe “Tinkerbell” the Pixie who claps, while Walter smiles wryly (literally painted on his face).
Recall that we heard the password earlier in the taxi cab when Walter was “with” Dr. Carla Warren.
A suspicious Richard and Carolyn, who have been protecting an “item”, are now prepared to turn over the young Observer Child named Michael subsequent to when the “Black Umbrella” password is provided by smiling Walter.
In several touching sequences, Richard and Carolyn surrender Michael to the 2036 Fringe Team noting his purpose is for something “really important”.
Admirers of full circle story arcs, and Fringe fans alike, will recall Michael is more than familiar. Michael, The Child Observer, is the same child from season one episode fifteen “Inner Child” and the same person whom had been stored in Walter’s “Pocket Universe” from season five episode six “Through the Looking Glass and What Walter Found There”.
In the closing sequences after leaving the island, Olivia makes hot chocolate for Michael, “The Observer Child” while Peter watches closely. Michael remembers Olivia from the previous timeline.
Peter is curious how such is possible, wondering how can this be? Olivia knows Michael must be special recalling that The Observers internalize time is a different fashion than human beings.
In the final moments, we find Walter “coming down” off his “Black Blotter” LSD “trip”. Walter is back in the underground laboratory at Harvard. Visions of his wife Elizabeth are superimposed on the wall to reflect his thoughts.
Walter recalls several memories of arguments from his past that led to this timeline becoming manifest. One is with his wife warning him about going to get Peter from the alternate universe reality stating “some things are only for God”.
Dr Warren also appears using Robert Oppenheimer’s prophetic words to warn Walter that he will become “The Destroyer of Worlds” and “There Has to be a Line” not to be crossed. The memory flashbacks include Walter crossing through the wormhole on his mission to get alternate Peter, completing the full circle arc within “Black Blotter’.
Finally, after Dr. Warren states “the journal doesn’t matter” after Walter apparently decides to incinerate the notebook which contained recollections of all of his various inventions and devices.
This includes the scenes of the inter-dimensional Wormhole Portal that set everything in motion from the original Fringe timeline where it all began not so very long ago.
As we watch Walter pour lighter fluid and apparently set the journal notebook aflame in a Pyrex laboratory container, a younger Nina Sharp and Dr. Warren’s final words of opposing debate are foreboding visualizations from Walter’s memories; “it’s too late, now that you remember all the things you are capable of…” with young Nina Sharp retorting “Walter you got the boy back, you have to continue, you have to keep fighting…”
We are suddenly confronted with a shocking reality. As the camera pans back, we “Observe” the Pyrex container is empty, containing only the burning lighter fluid as the words of Dr. Warren echo in our minds; ‘You’ve Been Him Longer Than You Have Been You!” an echo of a metaphor rippling across the timelines.
Throughout the course of “Black Blotter” viewers were led to believe Walter’s journal notebook was “real”. Not so. The notebook, just like the “Tinkerbell’s”, Elizabeth Bishop and Dr. Warren, and all the rest were not in the “real” world.
Each was a visualization of Walter’s memories that he had been experiencing the entire episode courtesy of the mind liberating tendencies of “Black Blotter”. Walter IS the notebook journal!
All are, and have been, his memories of what he needs to remember in order to accomplish the mission in 2036. Each of these memories, across several timelines, have been freed in Walter’s mind. Viewers and Walter himself stare dumbfounded at his other self… It’s Walternate!
Interrogative Theorem:
We will “Observe” an entirely restored Walter soon? Will such a day be one to rejoice, or a day to chill our Fringie souls? Further, across five seasons, have we ever really witnessed just who the “real” Walter truly is, Walter or Walternate?
Is he not both? Time has proven he is, and always will be, Walter and Walternate! Was all well until the diverging timelines took place when September (Michael Cerveris) observed Peter and the Fringe Team’s activities in 36 episodes over the past five seasons?
Did this earlier Fringe event cause the dual personalities to generate the spilt creating the two distinct characters that were always there to begin within one soul in one reality?
Will Fringe admirers continue to connect with, and admire Walter amid the dire current circumstances and realization that he is, and always was Walternate? How will Walter and all of these factors manifest themselves in the final four episodes of season five?
Will the separate realities that were also part of a larger homage in “Black Blotter” to the entire series play a role in the final episode to bring closure to the viewership? Or will the series creators eliminate not only The Observers, but put the multiple timelines to rest with a return to an “original reality” before it all began?
In the epic science fiction novel by Isaac Asimov, “The End of Eternity”, this was the path chosen for the stories protagonists Noys Lambent (Olivia in Fringe), and Harlan (Peter in Fringe). They were the only ones to recall everything, but with no way to alter it when “The End of Eternity” became manifest after those in “The Hidden Centuries” prevailed over the evil and perversion of those who had altered reality to favor their matrix of existence to the detriment of humankind and all other life forms.
As Noys and Harlan began a new life free of “The Eternals” (equivalent to The Observers in Fringe), Laban Twissell (analog to Walter in Fringe), had to be destroyed because he too had an evil dark side like Walternate once he was revealed as the creator of the “Time Kettles” (like Walter’s wormholes in Fringe), which had originally empowered The Eternals to become evil and corrupt from power over all others lives.
A reality reset to its original shape was the only viable option to Asimov’s “The End of Eternity”, a single novel that needed to have a neatly wrapped conclusion in a world prior to the establishment of the multi-verse as hypothecated in modern scientific theories.
This reviewer’s theorem is that the brilliant creators of Fringe need not end the franchise at this time with a neatly wrapped “package” tying up loose ends. Much remains to be explored in a world with “Endless Possibilities”.
Specifically; what caused the radicalism from the seemingly benevolent nature of The Observers on Earth (like September) to the ruthlessness of Captain Windmark? How was September and those of his ilk overthrown? Did a reality change threaten The Observers existence, leading to the radical and tyrannical world of 2036?
Or must we accept that these intriguing potential stories were abandoned (passed over and pulled into a shortened fifth season) when the series ratings added overwhelming financial complexity to the contemplated sixth, and alternate fifth seasons?
This reviewer cannot speculate on this final hypothesis opined in the previous paragraph at this time. However, sometimes in business, financial considerations force compromises that “pull in” a future “reality” well before its time.
What this reviewer can say at this time is this:
Much more can be, and remains to be explored if another network (e.g. The Science Channel) picks up the Fringe franchise. Or perhaps Bad Robot and Warner Brothers will elect to pursue a direct to DVD or big screen strategy?
How would this be accomplished? By leaving season five with a huge cliff hanger! This could “plow the field” with new “seed corn” for more of the enjoyable alternate realities that are what Fringe is all about!
And here is where we must leave our analysis for now. The next four episodes will tell the tale, wherein only time will tell what reality will ultimately become manifest.
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We have returned from the hiatus to a fantastic Fringe episode with lots of confrontation, between POlivia, most importantly. The episode deals with the things that make us what we are, like faith.
Either having faith in an unseen God or in us and our own potential, it is one very important thing that moves people, which motivates people to doing whatever is needed to be done. We cannot think of faith without thinking of hope and it all leads us to how we face things in life, how emotionally we react to things because that is all we do, it is all we are.
The promotional sneak peeks for next episode “Black Blotter” look great! Walter is about to take the team off to another LSD adventure again, this time in 2036!
The Human Kind:
The episode deals with how the Human Kind deals with difficult situations. Some of us lose faith quickly and get to live negatively; others are able to see the light in the darkest places. Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson) and Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) have lost their daughter twice, they have dealt with it their own way but it is in this episode that they are brought together.
Peter had a piece of tech that makes The Observers what they are in his head and Olivia builds walls around her heart, both of them unintentionally getting themselves apart little by little despite Walter Bishop (John Noble) and Astrid Farnsworth’s (Jasika Nicole) help.
What is more effective? Keep going with the plan that nobody understands and has been futile ever since or fighting equal by equal with the Observers by implanting their tech? After everything Peter has been through, at first I would pick the second too, however what change would killing Windmark (Michael Kopsa) bring to the whole picture?
On the other hand, with the plan, we have a chance of getting rid of all of them. The problem is that in the midst of the sorrow and grief for Etta Bishop’s (Georgina Haig) death, Peter got himself blinded. I gotta point out here that Josh as an Observer is simply flawless!
In the first scenes, we see Olivia in her car looking at a man cleaning the walls off her daughter’s RESIST posters. That’s when Anil (Shaun Smyth) arrived to deliver to her the same piece of technology Peter had implanted in his head.
She knows what Peter did and is on her way to stop him, but what I really hoped for was that she would implant herself too and be one hell of a couple fighting like bosses against the baldies. They would have had no chance if that had happened. LOL
By the time Olivia arrives in the lab, Walter has already recovered one more tape from Amber. Walter’s discovery ultimately leads the team to learn they must travel to Fitchburg where they have to acquire an industrial-sized magnet and she tells them about the piece of Observer-tech she got from Anil.
Walter can learn how to get Peter back by running tests on the porcupine brain to learn how it works. It was one of the funniest little moments in the episode when Astrid asks him whose brain he intends on using to test that tech! In the mean time, Olivia left to Fitchburg to retrieve the magnet.
When Olivia arrives in Fitchburg, she sees a little girl and it made me instantly think of ZFT and its chapter about ethics which stated that kids were to be protected as Walter reads in season one’s The Road Not Taken: “Our children are our greatest resource. We must nurture them and protect them. We must prepare them, so they can one day protect us.”
Which is what Etta did for her parents, she fought for them when they were gone, she made POlivia very proud of her and she gave up her life fighting to save them, to save the world. I think that Darby did not mean anything in that sense at that moment, however it is a nice touch to have Olivia interact with Darby (Eliza Faria), is not it?
There in Fitchburg, Olivia meets Simone, played by Jill Scott. Ms. Scott is beyond a doubt the Jazz Diva as Lori referred to her in her latest review about the previous episode. I knew who Jill Scott was when I read she was cast for this episode, but as a musician only. I was impressed by her acting given the shortness of her part…
She rendered an outstanding performance that made me cry, made me believe they actually have a chance against the Observers. Really, it is more than how I am describing here, far more. I saw such a huge big hope in her eyes it was brilliantly done.
The moment Carlos (Claude Duhamel) tells Simone that a woman is looking for a magnet, the surprised look on Simone’s face was amazing, even better as they talked about how everyone else had lost faith when she was still holding on to the hope someone would come to the magnet that would help the grayish man save the world.
Simone started guessing things about Olivia’s life and it was done with so much brilliancy, so naturally. It was funny because Olivia has moved things with her mind, she has lit things on fire and she found it hard to believe the woman was able to foresee things.
Back in the lab, Walter and Astrid were running test in the porcupine brain with the Observers’ tech and learned that the device increases the neural activities to achieve the full potential of the brain with super high level thinking.
As the tests continued, Astrid realizes it would create new ridges in the brain overriding the areas responsible for emotions. The scene was cut back to the Fitchburg field and one little talking between Simone and Carlos got me intrigued because she did not have a good expression on her face, maybe she was just worried about the fuel or she had something to do with the ambush on Olivia.
Right after that, she offers Olivia a glass of water a few moments before Darby mentions that everybody is talking about the fact that Olivia is on reward wire and the bounty on her.
Of course it gets Olivia scared and on the defensive against Simone. She asks her what is in the water, like sedative. Hurt, Simone drinks the water and comes to the conclusion Olivia has no faith and says she lost someone. Olivia disbelieving her is knocked down, so to speak, as the woman starts giving details no one would know about who she had lost. “But you lost your daughter… Twice”
Peter is thinking he has conned Windmark. But he was caught up by Windmark as he is far more experienced with the reading of futures. He made adjustments of his own to whatever Peter was planning so this way he found Peter.
The scene when they fight was excellent; Peter killed one observer (Charles Zuckermann) and kicked Windmark’s buttocks despite the dirty way he played Peter forcing his daughter last thoughts in his head as a way to ensure his weakness. At the end, I bet Windmark thought like “well, he is not that weak”.
Olivia said that people assign meaning to things without meaning to Simone and it is exactly what that other observer told Peter some episodes ago.
Remember An Origin Story? He said that Peter took the decisions he took based on the observation of a fly and Olivia has this same feeling now. It is not just numbers, Olivia…
I really wish I could hug the Fringe writers right now as well as Anna and Jill for their scenes, they were done so perfectly!!!
Peter says there is no reason to be afraid of what he has been through, suppressing the emotional memory is no big deal, right? It means he would forget how it is to be married to Olivia Dunham, how on earth can he say such thing?
It is a big deal, it is Olivia Dunham we are talking about, and forgetting what it feels like to wake up next to her every morning is just… unbearable!!! And this change would be permanent… I wonder if avenging Etta would be that important if it means losing everyone else.
More unfortunate surprises crosses Olivia’s way, she cannot get a break, can she? On her way to Anil’s place to hide the huge magnet, Olivia found what looked like a car accident. If it was me, I would have accelerated and run over that scene.
I found it suspicious the moment I saw that! But Olivia has a golden heart and she stopped to check it out. It was a trap and she fell into it. Two guys ambushed her in order to assault her, she tried defending herself, but she was punched in the face, it was so horrible, I cannot even… The men were planning to deliver her to Windmark.
If anyone thinks they would let Olivia go easily, were wrong, so wrong… She did something with some material in the room she was locked I still do not fully understand.
She managed to shoot Briggs (Kett Turton) in the head and well as Stratton (Nathan Dashwood), I think that after dying twice, she has learned her lesson to be more prepared, such a MacGyver like spirit!
It is time for a talk face to face between POlivia. Olivia tried to put some sense into Peter’s Observer-head, which was difficult, but not impossible. It was very similar to a season four episode, I do not remember the name, I think it was a Short Story About Love when Olivia remembered Peter and everything they lived together in the previous timeline.
Now it is Peter who needs remembering and as they talked, he started recalling the memories and the love they share. It was enough for him to decide for her, for the love of his life. He chose Olivia instead of avenging Etta’s death through that wrong way which I so much loved.
Peter could as Olivia herself said, think ahead of everybody but the fact that she paid him this visit, had nothing to do with that except the love she had for him, and he needed to face the facts, looking at her. If he had not removed that thing from this head, it would mean good bye to anything he had ever felt for her or anybody.
Peter would become like Windmark, he would see things, memories like those from Etta Bishop’s (Georgina Haig) and it would mean nothing, he would not be able to understand it. It does not matter how good it feels to be able to manage numbers well and manipulate time, if you do not have the most important thing in life, the memories of how you feel about your daughter.
Watching this week’s episode, recalled me another episode from season three. On the 14TH episode from season three, called 6B, we were presented with the Merchant’s love story.
Alice (Phyllis Somerville) and Derek Merchant (Ken Pogue) had been married for 40 years. After his death, Alice was heartbroken, so heartbroken she could not get up from bed and that’s when she started seeing her dead husband’s ghost. At the same time really strange events started happening in the building leading everyone else to believe it was haunted.
They have no Physics’ knowledge so they assigned meaning to what they could not explain. Hello Simone, should have rang bells right here!!! The thing, she was not seeing a ghost. It was in fact her husband’s doppelganger from over there and the explanation is that they were emotionally quantum entangled and if she had not let go of him.
Besides unintentionally having caused the death of 6 people who had fallen through the balcony, a vortex would have been opened which would have swallowed up half of Brooklyn.
I found it would be worth mentioning, because of what Peter told Alice to help her understand she had to let Derek go which did not help at all. Peter told her to look around and see that she had memories all around her and she should do anything to keep that, the memories given the fact that it was not his husband she was talking to.
Even though she she refused to listen. She only let him go when a huge difference between them came to light, this Derek she was talking about had had daughters, but Alice never gave birth. To sum up, Alice ended up talking to Olivia; she said that if the impossible is possible, who is to say they will not see each other again?
Here is my point bring up the story from 6B, Peter had a major role in helping Olivia get her stuff together and breaking free from the damage the Altlivia’s (Anna Torv) vagenda had caused her life and mostly to her relationship with Peter. She had told him that she was terrified that she would not be able to fix this thing and she was stopping them from being together, which was true and he helped her through it, despite being the problem on the question in her mind. Is not it what she did for him in this episode?
At the end, she was there and got him out of that dark place. It was really awesome to see that now Peter is in Alice’s place, refusing to let go… I love, I freaking love this show and its full circle story arcs!
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Well, let me say that I am still conflicted about what Peter is doing. On one hand I can completely understand, but on the other, he is doing himself and the team a grave disservice.
There are all kinds of clichés that come to mind when thinking about this episode. “If you can’t beat them join them” or “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer” are the two that stand out the most for me. Let’s hope in the end, Peter knows what he truly is doing.
The three week hiatus will be tough, especially knowing that by the time the next episode airs, Fringe will be finished filming…for good. The promo looks kick ass! So great to see our old team doing what they do best, and let us all hope that Polivia will reign supreme.
The one thing I am most excited about is the fantastic jazz diva Jill Scott who will be playing an Oracle. Ms. Scott is a huge Fringe fan, from what I hear! Ari Margolis had mentioned on twitter that season five episode eight (The Human Kind) had some of his favorite Peter and Olivia moments. Let us all hope that Mr. Margolis is correct in that regard. I am!
In the videos included below courtesy of FOX Broadcasting, Anna Torv mentions how Olivia is worried about Peter and the changes in him. She worries that she is losing him as Blair Brown shares her thoughts about “Valuable Resources” a bit further down my review!
Jasika Nicole discusses “Connecting The Dots” in Fringe while Joshua Jackson is featured in two videos discussing how he emulates The Observers and the “Dangerous Game” Peter Bishop is playing with them.
Five Twenty Ten:
Now on to the review…I was particularly impressed this episode by how Peter (Joshua Jackson) was manifesting his Observer traits so quickly. I guess working on the set with them for five years now; you pick up a few things. This episode is chock full of fabulous performances, but Josh is the stand out. The others are just as good (when are they not?), but again, Josh makes this episode his own. The slight head tilt and the way he speaks are direct signs that the Observer tech has taken hold of him hopefully not completely.
It does get a little creepy though when he starts to see through the Observers eyes and can hear the conversation between two other Observers. His eaves dropping aids him in his later plan, but it also leads me to believe that he may not be in complete control. I have a feeling that what he is “seeing” is what he wants to see not what actually happens.
I may be wrong, but the plan does not play out exactly as he remembers. That blank stare of his is eerie, but again he does a great job at conveying his lack of emotion.
I have said it in a past reviews how showing no emotion goes against the grain of everything an actor is taught. To be able to not show emotion in your scene is a true test of an artist and his/her craft. Bravo to Josh for falling into that category.
It is a little weird that Walter (John Noble) does not really notice the change in Peter; I guess he is too concerned with his own change that is happening to notice. It is sad, though, because as we will see later in the episode how he is turning back into the man he used to be…the not-so-good man and Peter is no better than his father…
When Olivia confronts him in the lab about leaving without her, she already suspects something is amiss. She knows Peter better than anyone and you can see it in her eyes that she is worried. Anna Torv has great body language and great emotive eyes, which is why she has always been such a great actress.
I love that Peter tells Olivia “I’m fine” which is normally her answer for when things are NOT fine. It seems the shoe is now on the other foot and Olivia knows it.
It is great to see the cast assembled around the television partaking in another one of Walter’s video tapes. It makes me smile that our team is still able to stay intact even through these dire circumstances. The lab has always been a sanctuary for all of them at one point or another. All we need is Gene the Cow unambered and the lab will be complete!
As I have mentioned in a previous post, I love that in this season the writers are bringing back old familiars from past seasons, from the past Fringe cases. The cylinders have always played an integral part in Fringe history and the Observers. I wonder what will be brought back next.
The reveal of what and why William Bell’s (Leonard Nimoy) hand was in Walter’s possession is finally clear. It does not surprise me though that Bell had betrayed them for his own purposes. I had a feeling that we will see him again and that he played a part in the invasion. John Noble as usual is wonderful in this scene; his heartbreak at the betrayal by his best friend is evident.
Nimoy is another actor who speaks volumes with his eyes who I hope will be featured before Fringe season five concludes.
The interesting thing about this scene is Walter mentions another man with an accent who was torturing him for information! Although Astrid informed him that the story was from the movie Marathon Man, I suspect that Walter may be telling somewhat of the truth…only time will tell.
I love that the posters of Etta (Georgina Haig) are a constant reminder to her family not to give up the fight. It is the one thing that keeps them going, to know that she didn’t die in vain.
Upon arriving at the storage facility, we see the utter decimation that happened and hope that the team can come up with a way to get into the storage facility. Of course with some fancy calculations they do…it’s Fringe after all, they will always figure it out.
I must mention one thing that I have absolutely loved about this show from the beginning. The writers, and not of just this episode (the wonderful Graham Roland) but every writer in general always seem to inject a bit of humor into the episodes. That humor always finds its way via Walter Bishop. John Noble takes those little morsels and makes them his own; he leaves these indelible marks on every Fringe fan and in every episode.
No matter how dire the situations, how dramatic, scientific or horrendous, Walter’s sayings (or Walterisms) lighten up the show and give it that humanity that has become synonymous with exceptional television.
Nice save, Peter…when he ‘sees’ where the door are supposed to be from his newly found ability, he covers it up by saving “From an engineering point of view” instead of the truth. Olivia notices immediately his body language and his stance; she notices the blood coming from his ear and calls him on it. Once again, Peter has an answer for everything; a little too easily explained which sends sirens and red flags in Olivia’s brain that something is indeed wrong.
Peter’s plan with the briefcase backfired the first time, which is why I mentioned earlier about how he ‘sees’ what he wants to see and not how things really happen. It is a scary thought that Peter is becoming like them, but in a way it gives him the advantage…or does it?
He has to be careful with Anil (Shaun Smyth), because he suspects something is wrong with Peter as well. He knows what Etta’s death did to him and is worried that it is throwing Peter deeper and deeper into the place he should not be going. Anil was a friend to Etta just like he is a friend to both Peter and Olivia, so I bet he feels responsible to her to keep them safe.
It saddens me to hear that Peter is lying to Olivia about his motives for meeting Anil. Peter has been doing a lot of lying lately, ever since he inserted that Observer tech into his body. Then again, Peter used to lie for a living; I guess old habits die hard. Still, the situation is not good when he lies to the woman he loves about his intentions. Olivia’s eyes speak volumes to him about her look of worry, as she should be. Her gut is rarely ever wrong and I suspect that it is screaming at her right now.
It is also so great to see Nina Sharp (Blair Brown) again; it wouldn’t be Fringe without her. She does play a crucial role in this episode as does William Bell (Leonard Nimoy), though not physically but indirectly. The scenes that she has with Walter (John Noble) and Olivia (Anna Torv) are wonderful. She is one of those actresses that is always great to watch because she can say so much with just a look.
Her joy at seeing Olivia again is counterbalanced by such sadness in her eyes about Etta and what pain Olivia went through. It’s a great scene with them. She shows a side of her that is normally not shown, but it nice to see. You can see the pain that she is in because of Olivia’s pain.
The scene in the garage with Walter is wonderful. I like how she asks him about his demeanor since having the parts of his brain implanted again. I know that Nina is not only concerned, but fishing to see if that man she knew before is back. I love what John Noble does in this scene.
I love that he shows his humility by blaming the man he was before and vowing to never go back there. I like how he used the phrase that he wanted to “walk with the gods” as most megalomaniacs tend to do. He has Peter to keep him from becoming that man again, if Peter doesn’t beat him to it.
Creepy creepy creepy is all I have to say about the scene between Peter and Anil where he is telling him what he should have seen. Bravo to Josh again for his robotic like movements and his almost lack of emotion. I am glad that the tech hasn’t taken him completely over yet…or has it? The perplexed look on Anil’s face is great, he has a suspicion that something is not quite right.
Peter’s skills as a con come in handy when stealing the car, but it seems the Observer tech is affecting him on a level he never anticipated…watch out Peter, it can only get worse before this all is over with.
The scene in the restaurant reminds me of two things, one is my favorite Fringe episode ever (Brown Betty) and Mad Men. The sleek look of the restaurant and the hat check or in this case briefcase check girl is very much keeping with the themes of both. The banter she has with him is also very reminiscent of the film noirs and the brilliant dialogue that would be bandied about between characters.
I don’t know why there aren’t more scenes between Astrid (Jasika Nicole) and Olivia (Anna Torv)? The two actresses are great together and it shows. In the few scenes that they have had together through the course of the series have always made me grateful that they cast an actress who has the ability to be the calm in everyone’s storm. Astrid is one of the few people who can truly be the constant for everyone else’s chaos.
The compassion that Astrid always has for the plight of Peter and Olivia is wonderful, she has always been a champion of theirs. Astrid has also always given Olivia hope when Olivia has doubted her relationship with Peter that is the kind of person Astrid is. She sees the pain in Olivia’s eyes when she says that she is losing Peter. Astrid’s eyes are so warm usually, but this time, she feels the pain Olivia is in and is worried about her friend…both of them. Jasika is so great as well, because despite the fact that she is most of the time shadowed by the three main characters, she still shines in her own right. She holds her own very nicely against John, Josh and Anna!
Things start to get a little hairy for the team as the episode progresses. It comes down to the wire where they have to get into that storage facility without detection. When Nina voices her fears to Walter about having Peter be his safety net isn’t enough John Noble is brilliant.
It is interesting to me that Nina is talking about how much she tried to hold onto William and how much she loved him, but that wasn’t enough. Once William tasted what it was like to be a god, all hope was lost. It is parallel to what is happening to Peter and Olivia, her immense love for him and fear of losing him may not be enough to save him. That is the price of genius I guess, the price you pay for wanting to be a god…
John is so brilliant in this scene! His words are vitriolic, they cut Nina to the core and he is brutal, but brilliant. That is what made Walternate such a great character as well, Noble was able to inhabit both completely separately, but now they are seeming to be almost melding together. Nina confirms her hunch, he is becoming the man he used to be…and that is not good at all. It’s bittersweet how Walter still holds onto the notion that Peter’s love will save him from becoming that man again, just as Nina confirmed to him that he was. Walter’s hope (there is that word again) is heartbreaking because it may not happen, we may lose both Bishop boys in the process.
Peter’s plan is diabolical, he used an old Fringe incident from the pilot episode and it certainly was a jaw dropping scene (yes, pun intended). I am glad to see that the old Fringe is back in this episode, the creepiness hasn’t been there for a while and it feels right seeing it again, as gross as it may have been. The hat in shambles on the ground is a priceless reminder that means Peter is catching up.
Once again, as in previous episodes, music plays a part and again John is brilliant! Walter’s comment about Belly stealing his record collection among other wrongs he did to him is perfection. Walter no doubt misses not only this David Bowie (who shares his real name with a villain from Fringe) album, The Man Who Sold the World, but I am sure a number of other fantastic and eclectic albums as well. Bravo to the writers, again, for infusing music as a driving force in this and many other episodes. Am I the only one not surprised that Walter loved Bowie?
The discovery of the safe is a coup for our team, yeah for them. Now all they needed was to open it, Walter to the rescue. Apparently Bell had the same combo for everything, “terrible memory…too much LSD” only one problem, Walter forgot the combination. I had forgotten that the combination was mentioned before in the Jacksonville episode, but Olivia apparently forgot it too, which is not like her.
I almost expected Peter to go Observer on him and recite the combo to him, thankfully he didn’t. What was found in the safe were two things of great import, “to guard the things he loved most” as Walter mentioned. The picture of Nina proved Walter wrong about Bell’s feelings for Nina, he did indeed love her.
The something else that they find in the safe helps them find the cylinders, upon Peter touching it; they appear from underground, where it seems they like to reside. Maybe it sensed the tech in Peter’s body or he just got lucky, either way it was another piece to the intricate puzzle. Finding the clues for whatever it is that will defeat the Observers reminds me (and I am sure I am not alone in this) of the Doomsday machine. The pieces that finally came together to create the machine and what it was ultimately used for makes me think about the same thing for Walter’s plan.
When Peter hands one of the cylinders off to Olivia and says to take her car, he uses the word ‘logical’! I laughed out loud at that because it was clearly a nod to Nimoy and his iconic character (who rarely showed emotions as well) Spock. That set a huge alarm off in Olivia, so much so that she confronts him later. Kudos to the writers for paying homage to one of the greatest science fiction shows ever, Star Trek, a show that was, like Fringe, ahead of its time.
I think it is very sweet that Walter brings Nina the picture that William had of her in the safe, it is his olive branch in a way. His concerns for himself are evident, he confessed to her that she was right, love wasn’t enough for her to save William and it may not be enough to save Walter and Peter. Walter begging Nina to help him reverse the effects of his brain matter being inserted again is sad, but John again is brilliant. His fear of losing everything is visceral, as only John can make it. The desperation in his eyes is heartbreaking.
The last two scenes are my favorite, it’s Josh and Anna and what they do best. It is alarming to Olivia when she sees the boards with all of Peter’s writing on them, her hunch was right and she hates it. When Peter finally confesses to Olivia that he has the Observer tech it is the worst possible scenario imaginable.
The part when Peter starts saying the same thing as Olivia is right out of the Arrival episode, another great one from the first season. Olivia is clearly shaken to her core, she is scared and fearful beyond belief, she cannot lose Peter, he is the only thing holding her together right now, her tether to the world.
Walter’s chest of treasures is their only hope of saving what is left of the universe. It is sad to know that right now he doesn’t remember, but all will be revealed. Patience is something that the team has scarce little of and hope is their only weapon right now.
The ending sequence is great. How the song “The Man That Sold the World” illuminates what is going on in the story as it is intercut with Windmark’s (Michael Kopsa) and Peter’s predictions at the same time.
Walter’s letting the music wash over him as he always does in times of despair, it is his saving grace, the one thing that he can count in to give him peace. The lyrics to the song are very revealing about coming face to face with the man that sold the world, which I suspect is Bell…only time will tell. Then Peter loses a bunch of hair…not a good sign, not a good sign at all.
I just hope that the remaining episodes will be as amazing as the first seven have been. I am looking forward to the final journey of our beloved Fringe team and see how once and for all the Observers will be defeated. For now all we can do is wait, only time will tell…let’s hope it’s a happy ending. I do hope and keep my fingers crossed that there will be a movie (maybe several) in the future. I hope you enjoyed my review, I would love to hear your comments. Stay strong during the hiatus…re-watches help.
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