Q: "Thought I would hate the musical episode but turned out loving it! I can take a departure from 'normal' Fringe, even though I still carried the flow of Peter's absence. Too many haters out there just not appreciating the art, although it was forced by FOX."
-Tim Everett
A: I was also skeptical at first, but when I discovered that the musical would not actually be taking place in the world of Fringe but would be taking place in Walter's drug-induced imagination, my skepticism faded away. I really appreciated the art of the episode as well as the symbolism. I just wish that there had been more singing. I feel like we were cheated out of something that could have been massively epic, to put it simply. Thanks so much for your feedback, and please, keep sending it in.
Q: "It was a fantastic and necessary step in the show, I believe, to have the musical theme. I think that in the next three episodes, there is going to be a lot of things happening, and I wouldn't be surprised if this episode foreshadows the events that will take place. Can't wait for the next one."
-Ken Chambers
A: I don't know if I agree that it was a necessary step, but I do think it was pulled off well. Likewise, I also think that this episode foreshadows a lot. Perhaps Olivia will mend Peter's heart together, and perhaps Peter will have to share it with Walter. I definitely think that you're thinking on the right track. Thanks a lot for your feedback, Ken, and keep sending it in.
Fringe - "Brown Betty" (2.19)
Having this episode so close to the season is a win/lose situation, though. Its negative effect, as already mentioned, is that it sort of deviates away from the mythology at a point in the season that it couldn't be any more inappropriate. Although the mythology is frequently hinted at throughout the episode, the whole scenario doesn't really happen anywhere besides Walter's mind, so it does little to nothing to move the story forward. At the same time, however, we get the opportunity to get inside Walter's mind at a time that couldn't possibly be any better. The episode opens with Walter smoking a concoction that he calls Brown Betty, and it's interesting to see him organizing the lab because in "The Man from the Other Side" (2.18), he organizes the house. He must, for some reason, like to organize when his mind is in disarray. Maybe it's because it's something over which he has control. He says in "The Man from the Other Side" that an organized house is a sign of an organized mind, so this is very likely, and as I'm sure most Cortexi-Fans would agree, I am really hoping to see more scenes between Walter and Ella because they are just great together. I love how Walter calls her Stella, and Ella is simply adorable. "All you've done is eat my snacks and talk about weird stuff," she says to Walter, "and everything makes you laugh." Well, that certainly makes me laugh. Ella also asks Walter if he ever told Peter stories when Peter was a child, and this is so sad because the look on Walter's face clearly demonstrates heartbreak. Walter says that he didn't because he was always too busy with his work, but am I the only one who gets the impression that he is talking about Walternate when he says this?
It is also adorable that Ella calls Walter Uncle Walter, but I don't see the logic behind it. Usually, when a child affectionately calls someone his or her uncle, it is because the man is a very close friend of one or both of the parents, but Walter barely knows Rachel and vice versa, but I'm not going to tear this apart because regardless, it is adorable. We get a little bit of insight into Walter's mother but not much. I don't think that we know what her name was, but this episode tells us that she loved to tell stories and that she loved musicals, so it was nice to learn a little bit about Walter's mother. I am really hoping that at some point in the future, we see a flashback episode, much like "Peter" (2.15), that allows us to see Walter as a child and what his experience as a child was like. I am also hoping that we see the same in regards to Olivia. I had two realizations during my second viewing of this episode that are both in relation to Walter, by the way, and also both in relation to "Head over Heels" by Tears for Fears, the song that he sings near the beginning of the episode (causing a priceless expression on Ella's face and Astrid's comment that she can't even begin to wonder what they must have done to him in school). The first is that the song features a line that reads, "Don't take my heart," so there is definitely a connection to the episode in that sense. The second is that the song was originally released in 1985, the same year that Peter died. It is therefore very likely that that is why Walter plays that song and sings along to it; he makes a mental connection to Peter of which he may not even be aware. Anyway, I'll now move this into discussion of the story that Walter tells Ella. As I said, there isn't a great deal that moves the story forward. However, there is still a great deal to talk about, since there is a lot of hinting at the mythology as well as symbolism and metaphors.
The first thought that crosses my mind is why Walter makes Rachel love Peter? What purpose does this serve? Surely, he is well aware that there isn't much going on between the two of them, so, even though I know that his story is a fairytale, I am left to wonder why he makes Rachel love Peter. Ella even protests and says that her mother doesn't love Peter, and as Walter says, things are not always as they seem. Anyway, I also noticed that a lot of the characters are dressed like Observers, which I guess kind of supports the theory that since the Observers don't have a good sense of decades due to the wide spectrum of time which they observe, their attire is a bit outdated. Speaking of the Observers, why, in Walter's story, are they called the Watchers instead of the Observers? During the scene near the end of the episode when the Observers storm the house and attack Olivia and Peter, I can't tell exactly how many of them there are, but I am left to wonder whether or not there are twelve. If there are, though, I didn't see the Child, which, unless Walter is not aware that the Child is an Observer and therefore simply imagines twelve bald men, would rule the Child being an Observer out. However, I think that either not all twelve of them are in that scene, or Walter just imagines that they are all men because I remain convinced that the Child is an Observer. Additionally, why does Walter make the Observers work for Nina, and more importantly, why does he make the Observers and Nina the enemy? Does he know something that no one else does?
Something else that has me thinking quite a bit is how Walter makes Bell and Nina a romantic item. Why does he do this? Are or were the two of them a romantic couple? If they were once, then chances are very good that Walter would be aware of this. It doesn't seem very likely to me that Walter would just add this detail into the story for no apparent reason, even in his intoxicated state. Ella most likely hasn't even heard of either Nina or Bell prior to this story, so it doesn't seem likely to me that it was simply intended to be comic, although it is. Speaking of Bell, Astrid tells Olivia that "in the past few years, no one has seen him. No press conferences, no public appearances. It's like he just disappeared off the face of the earth." What's funny about that is that he technically did, and this is the connection that Walter is most likely making in his head. Again, as mentioned, there is a lot of symbolism and use of metaphors in this episode. For example, Walter says that someone came into his room and stole his glass heart while he was asleep. I find this to be very interesting because Walter went into Peter's bedroom and stole him the night that he took him from the Other Side, so, again, he is most likely making these connections in his head. "You think Peter Bishop stole your heart?" Olivia asks Walter in the story. He responds by saying, "They disappeared at the same time," and this is true. The both of them lost their hearts when Peter discovered the truth.
Then, of course, in the story, Peter says to Olivia, "Is that what he told you, that I stole his heart?" He then proceeds to tell her that Walter is actually the one who stole Peter's heart, and I think that the symbolism here is rather obvious. He tells Olivia that Walter "steals children's dreams, and he replaces them with nightmares," which is, of course, a reflection of the Cortexiphan trials, and the map that Peter laid out really reminds me of the Pattern, a map, by the way, which is made up of 147 pins. It's likely that this was on Walter's mind, since he knows that stealing Peter from the Other Side is what started the Pattern. Peter tells Olivia that he "was born with [the heart], and I was willing to give it to Walter because of all the good he's done, at least until I learned the truth." It's quite obvious why Walter includes this line into the story, obvious what Walter has on his mind in regards to "the truth." "Walter Bishop isn't responsible for all the goodness in the world," Peter continues, "but he is responsible for so much evil." I find this line to be interesting because it is very similar to what Olivia says about her stepfather in episode 1.06, "The Cure" ("I know that, rationally, he's not responsible for all the bad things in the world, but he is responsible for some of them"). Olivia ends up fixing Peter's broken heart, which is most likely foreshadowing a great deal, since it will most likely be she who mends his broken heart, figuratively. "It must be nice to know who you are," Peter says, "to know your place in the world." Right now, that's most likely exactly how Peter feels, like he doesn't belong here.
Like that of The Fringe Podcast, my opinion is that Blair Brown is not very convincing in the Noir role, and that is a bit disappointing. Her hair and her costume don't come off as forties-esque, and I am also very disappointed because, as previously mentioned, Brown said that Nina would be singing a song to Olivia, which does not happen at all, not once, throughout the episode. I, even though I knew that it was not really happening, was going crazy when Olivia is put into the crate and then thrown into the water because drowning in a very small, confined space has to be a terrible way to die. That's incredibly scary. Anyway, after Olivia and Peter come to the conclusion that Nina does not have the heart, that Walter does, Olivia mentions the Beacon to Walter (which comes through the wall before Peter realizes that the Observers are there for his heart), saying that he brought Nina's Watchers to his side. This could potentially confirm a few things for us. First, it could potentially confirm that the Beacon does indeed have something to do with the Other Side. Secondly, it could confirm that the Observers are working for Nina (and that, perhaps, that is who September is talking to at the end of the episode when he says that Walter seems to have forgotten his warning). Thirdly, it could confirm that Walter has something to do with the existence of the Observers, or at least their presence, all of which are incredibly interesting.
I literally laughed out loud when we see Massive Dynamic as a very old-fashioned, bland building which is basically the complete opposite of what it really is, at least on the outside. "What do they do?" Olivia asks Broyles in the story. Broyles replies by saying, "The question is, what don't they do?" This is a nice little tie-in to the Massive Dynamic slogan ("What do we do? What don't we do?"). Also, Walter tells Ella that Detective Dunham first had to hire her assistant, Esther Figglesworth. The look on Astrid's face is utterly priceless, and I love how Walter finds it funny. In the story, when Esther is applying for a job at the mental institution, she says to the employer, "Mental patients probably need tons of patience and love, too." I have two comments to make in regards to this line. The first comment is that it is adorable, and I love how she giggles after she says that "mental patients probably need tons of patience," obviously very proud of her pun. The second comment is that it is a very ironic tie-in because in the story, she struggles to try to convince this employer that she is fit for the job, when, in reality, babysitting a mentally unstable man pretty much is her job. I love how Esther tells the employer that her boss, Olivia, only calls when it's important or when she's lost because that is pretty much the truth. Olivia really only talks to Astrid when she needs her, and I'm glad that Walter seems to have noticed this, and Brandon (played by Ryan McDonald, by the way) is, as always, hilarious.
Near the end of the episode, in the story, Walter says to Peter, "Peter, I never meant to hurt anyone. I can change; you'll see." I love this part because it is, again, clearly representative of what is really bothering Walter, which is that he's afraid that Peter will never forgive him. This is made evident by the fact that in Walter's ending of the story, Peter walks away and tells Walter that it is too late, and after Ella tells Walter her ending of the story, which involves Peter breaking the glass heart into two pieces and sharing it with Walter (which is, once again, rather obvious symbolism), the look on Walter's face conveys pure heartbreak because he is scared to death that, contrary to Ella's ending of the story, Peter will not share his heart, that he will never forgive him and will move on. I like Ella's ending better, too, especially since it ends with Olivia and Peter sharing a dance, something that we may not see in reality for quite a while, due to the current issue at hand. I think that there are two main reasons why we get this episode now, when the season is almost over. The first reason is that, like I said, there couldn't be a better time to get inside Walter's mind, and the second reason is that I have reason to believe that the season finale is going to shake us in ways that we can't possibly even imagine, that it's going to be violently tragic, so this brief comic relief, this calm before the storm, might have planned well in advance to prepare us for the darkness that is on its way, a darkness with which we will have to live until September.
Lastly, I would like to briefly touch upon the singing. As I said, for what was supposed to be a musical episode, I don't think that there is anywhere near enough of it, and that is incredibly disappointing. However, I am, for the most part, very impressed with the very small amount that we do get. John Noble sings the chorus of "Head over Heels" as well as a reprise of "The Candy Man" near the end of the episode, and he doesn't impress me at all. Like The Fringe Podcast says, though, it is likely that Noble was instructed to do a poor job. Both Lance Reddick (who sings a small portion of Traffic's "The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys" while playing piano) and Jasika Nicole (who sings a very small portion of "I Hope I Get It" from the Broadway musical A Chorus Line) really impress me. I was very surprised to have discovered that Reddick actually is a professional jazz musician and has an album. I am especially impressed with Jasika, though, who, for those of you who don't know, landed her spot on Fringe as a result of her decision to go to New York to become a Broadway star, so her talent doesn't really surprise me. The Singing Corpses in Walter's lab (who sing "The Candy Man") are very good, and Anna Torv (who sings "For Once in My Life," originally released by Stevie Wonder in 1968 but covered by many musicians) isn't too bad. She isn't terrible, but she isn't fantastic, either, and her Australian accent sometimes unintentionally peeks its head out. It is a very appropriate song, since it totally tells Olivia's romantic story.
I like how the costumes, the hairstyles and the cameras used at the crime scene are all forties-esque, but there are cell phones, computers and modern cars, as well, but I would like to have seen more of Astrid's initial reaction to knowing that Peter is from the Other Side. As previously stated, I also would have appreciated more singing, and I would have appreciated that promised song that Nina sings to Olivia. I don't know if Brown said that to throw us off or if it was cut, but it's frustrating either way because I was really looking forward to that. If you don't want to know anything about the next episode or the season finale, then thanks a lot for reading, and may you stay on the fringe. Otherwise, I'll clue you in on predictions regarding this upcoming episode, titled "Northwest Passage" (2.20). The episode will return to the main canon, thankfully, and the search for Peter will continue as Peter teams up with a police officer to try to find Newton. Meanwhile, Walter struggles with the possibility that he will have to return to St. Claire's. My prediction is that Peter wants to try to find Newton so that he can understand who he is, and once he does get a grip on who he is, he will return to the Other Side where he will think that he belongs, and this will be why Walter and Olivia cross over to the Other Side in the finale, to try to find him and bring him back. This is all speculation, of course, but that's what I think is going to happen. In the meantime, though, stay on the fringe.
"The Man from the Other Side" (2.18) (Feedback)
Q: I've figured out the entire storyline. The man on the bridge tonight was the 'other' Walter Bishop. The Walter from this side was the Walter to figure out how to open the door to the other dimension. While our Walter went crazy and was put into St. Claire's, the Walter from the Other Side became mad with getting his son back and successfully experimented with ideas, and this is where the 'shape-shifters' come from. Now the 'other' Walter has figured out how to open the door with the help of Newton doing a lot of the dirty work on this side. Oh, did I mention that 'Billy' has been the one helping 'other' Walter perfect this invention? The reason Billy went to the Other Side was to fix everything Walter started. Where is 'other' Billy, BTW? Anyone have their own theory? I'm interested to see how this ends. I LOVE THIS SHOW!!! -Larry Campbell
A: Thank you so much for your feedback, Larry. Your enthusiasm is certainly received with reciprocation. I agree with just about everything that you've said. Likewise, I think that the man who crossed over is Walternate, and I think that Walternate and Newton are working together, Walternate mad to get his son back. However, I'm not so sure about your William Bell theory. I am convinced that William Bell is on this reality's side and is "over there" as a spy to try to stay on top of the game. Your theory is interesting, though, and only time will tell. I think that we will have a lot, if not all, of our questions regarding William Bell answered by the end of the season. Thanks again for your feedback!
Fringe - "The Man from the Other Side" (2.18)
The kid near the beginning of the episode, who we discover is named Dave, is plain stupid. To put it bluntly, I would have run like hell, not try to poke the embryonic shapeshifter with a shovel. Like I said, that's just plain stupid. So, these two kids are chosen just because they happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, but why do the embryos end up in that warehouse when they cross over? Is that warehouse significant somehow on the Other Side? Is it, perhaps, where shapeshifters are created? Why didn't the third shapeshifter develop properly? I love how shortly after the team begins its investigation, Olivia asks Walter if he has ever seen anything like it (the undeveloped embryo, that is, which they don't know at the time), and he says that he has, since it reminds him of a bean bag chair that he once owned in 1974, which clearly frustrates Olivia. She then, much to my satisfaction, makes a connection to the nurse, and it's clearly difficult for her to say Charlie's name, which is so heartbreaking. I didn't understand the signal interference, though. I understand that the signal came from the Other Side, but why? What caused that to happen? I understand that it happened right around the same time that the shapeshifters crossed over and that it's therefore connected to that, but does this happen every time that a shapeshifter crosses over? Was it intended for Newton so that he would know what time the universes would be in sync? Why is time slightly out of sync between the two realities? Does it have to do with the fact that the two universes vibrate at different frequencies? Does this mean that when one crosses over, he or she is technically time-traveling, too?
How does the unnamed “female” shapeshifter get away with killing McAlister? The two of them are outside of a bank in broad daylight where a good amount of people would clearly witness a killing. Anyway, Astrid tells Peter that “Walter's convinced Newton wants to build a door to the Other Side,” and I don't understand what her reasoning is for saying this. Don't they know this already? That's why Newton naps Walter in “Grey Matters” (2.10), and Olivia reiterates it in “Jacksonville” (2.14) by saying that that is why the two buildings collided. We get an answer in this episode that was very difficult to receive, which is how Elizabeth Bishop died. She couldn't bear the guilt of having taken Peter from the Other Side, and she therefore took her own life, which is so tragic. Also, in this episode, Walter and Astrid once again say something in unison, which is that as they say in Finland, “there's more than one way to roast a reindeer.” They are so unbelievably adorable. My friend Sam, with whom I watched this episode on television, said that if Walter were a lot younger or Astrid a lot older, the two of them would make an awesome couple, and I had to laugh. What would those shippers be known as, Wastrids? I'm just going to say that it is most likely safe to assume that we aren't ever going to have to worry about finding out.
The scene in which the embryonic shapeshifter is brought to life is one of my three favorite scenes in the episode (the other two being the bridge scene and the hospital scene); it is incredibly creepy, and the lights purposely go out to add to that factor. I made the connection, as did David Wu (who is oddly featured in this episode), to LOST, because the creature says “help me” much like Jacob (or whoever that was) does in episode 3.20, “The Man Behind the Curtain.” I would like to point out, though, that I find it odd how the team just happens to have candles and lighters right on hand; it seems a little too convenient for me. What makes this scene especially weird and creepy, though, is that the embryonic shapeshifter holds Walter's hand and apologizes, which is a big part of the reason why I think that the man from the Other Side, Mr. Secretary, is Walternate, although William Bell, alter-Jones and alter-Charlie briefly crossed my mind. I remain convinced, though, that it is Walternate who was brought over. Another reason that I find this episode to be incredibly heartbreaking is that, for the first time, Peter finally calls Walter “dad.” He says, “I want you to get some rest, dad.” I just about lost it during this scene, because Walter is incredibly nervous, and Peter comforts him and then calls him “dad,” and I obviously knew what was coming later in the episode. “We're going to figure it out just like we always do,” he says with a smile, which just wrenches my heart.
Now, I am not responsible for making this connection (the credit goes to someone in The Fringe Podcast chatroom, and I unfortunately can't remember who), but, as has been briefly mentioned previously, it is discovered in this episode that the two universities vibrate at different frequencies, and so does the Beacon from episode 1.04, “The Arrival.” Is this related somehow? Does the arrival of the beacon have something to do with the Other Side? The last time, as far as is known, that a/the Beacon made an arrival was in 1987, which is two years after Walter opened up the doorway to save Peter, so it would make sense if the Beacon is related to the Other Side. It must somehow be traveling between the realities. Anyway, something that I am wondering is if Newton faked his death in order to get into the morgue because he knew he couldn't get Verona after Verona was apprehended by the FBI. He must have discovered that the FBI brought Verona in very quickly, because the scene directly after the FBI apprehends Verona is the scene in which Newton fakes his death. Either that's poor transition or I missed something. It isn't too long before the team discovers where Newton is planning to make his exchange, and Olivia realizes that it would make perfect sense for Newton to make the exchange on a bridge, since all of the water underneath the bridge would absorb the excess energy, and the look on Peter's face is priceless. It's like the look on his face asks, “How do you know that?” and the look on Walter's face is one of pure shame because, obviously, he knows how Olivia knows that.
I would like to say how loud I cheered when when Olivia shoots the cop directly in the head, only for us to see that the two cops are really shapeshifters (which I, along with Sam, kind of surmised, anyway). Wow, she is damn good, as we have seen time and time again. She immediately realized that they weren't really cops when one of them grabbed his cell phone to call his “sergeant,” because she knows that cops don't call their sergeants on their cell phones. During the scene on the bridge that follows, there is very little dialogue, which I think makes the scene even more effective and, as this episode as a whole is, epic. What I don't understand, though, is why they would allow Peter to stay on the bridge. They couldn't have known that he wouldn't be affected due to the fact that he's from the Other Side. Walter may have, since he seemed incredibly nervous, but there's one of two reasons for that. Either he didn't know that Peter would not be affected and therefore feared that he would disintegrate like the FBI agent does, or he knew that Peter would not be affected and therefore feared that Peter would find out that way. Regardless, though, Peter obviously does find out, and I have to discuss this scene because it is beyond epic. It honestly made me cry, because much like I do at the end of “The Road Not Taken” (1.19) when Olivia approaches Walter and bashes him for his involvement in the Cortexiphan trials, I just want to hug Walter and tell him that everything is going to be okay, even though I don't know whether or not that it will be okay.
When Peter wakes up, he sees Olivia standing there saying, “Welcome back.” What I don't understand, though, is that even though he is scowling at first, he then smiles, and his smile seems to be genuine. One could argue that since he obviously has feelings for Olivia, it is a genuine smile, but he is still smiling after Olivia leaves and Walter enters (completely giddy that Peter is okay, which makes what happens next even more difficult to watch). However, after Walter enters the room, Peter's smile quickly fades, so maybe the smile is just because he still has Olivia on his mind. Based on this scene, it wouldn't seem as if Peter has realized yet that Olivia has known and has kept it from him, so maybe he doesn't have any ill feelings toward Olivia quite yet, but I think that he will once he realizes that she has kept it from him, which I think he will realize. Anyway, this scene, especially since, as previously mentioned, this is the first time that Peter calls Walter “dad,” is heartbreaking and incredibly difficult to watch. I remember reading that John Noble said that the scene was difficult even to film, so I was expecting it to be heartbreaking, and boy, it sure is. I teared up when Peter says to Walter, “I am not your son!” Walter, shaken and teary-eyed, leaves Peter alone at Peter's request and then, looking back at Peter one more time through the window of his hospital room, leaves. I swear, I choke up every single time I watch this scene. This is the third time that Fringe has made me cry, the other two times being the aforementioned scene between Olivia and Walter near the end of “The Road Not Taken” (1.19) and a great deal of “Peter” (2.15).
What doesn't make any sense to me, though, is why the vibrations don't affect people from the Other Side, why they don't affect Peter. Maybe that is something that will be explained later because I would really like to know. Plus, my understanding is that Newton was trying to exchange something, so what did he send to the Other Side? Now, the very last part of this episode involves two very short scenes, the first being the scene between Newton and Mr. Secretary and the second being the scene in which Olivia tells Walter that Peter is missing. I've talked about the first scene, as well my reasons for believing that Mr. Secretary is Walternate, already, so I'll move right along to the final scene of the episode. Walter insists on either being driven or calling a cab to the hospital at six in the morning, obviously because he needs to see Peter, either to try talking to him again or to merely ensure that he is okay. Then, however, Olivia arrives and tells Walter that Peter has checked himself out of the hospital and is not answering his cell phone, which causes Walter to start crying, and this is how the episode ends. I have very good reason to believe that Peter is up to no good, but as promised, I am not going to share that reason just yet, because I want to honor those who wish to stay spoiler-free, so if you're one of those individuals, then I appreciate your readership. Please, keep reading, and, in the meantime, I wish you farewell. As far as everyone else is concerned, though, this is everything that I know about the rest of the season.
Next week, obviously, is “Brown Betty” (originally titled “Overture”), a musical episode that will take place inside Walter's mind as he tells Ella a story, a story that takes place in the 1940s. The week after that is an episode titled “Northwest Passage,” and what I understand of this episode is that Walter is struggling with the possibility of returning to St. Claire's while Peter tries to find Newton. Now, I think that Peter will try to find Newton for one of two reasons. Either he'll simply want to ask him for help returning to where he belongs, or he will intend to join Newton and become a “bad guy.” The episode after that is the first part of the finale, and then, finally, on May 20th, season two will come to a close with the second part of the finale, titled “Over There.” In the finale, Olivia and Walter (and possibly Astrid) will cross over to the Other Side where they will meet their alter-selves (which is the only reason why I am throwing alternate ideas in the air as to who Mr. Secretary is); also, Walter and Bell will finally face an epic confrontation, and lastly, Kirk Acevedo might return to reprise his role as Charlie; yes, that's what I said. The fact that Walter and Olivia will cross over, though, is why I say that it's possible that Peter will go there; that might be why Olivia and Walter cross over. I also know that it is likely that Bell will die, since Leonard Nimoy has retired, and it is also likely that someone else will die, too, someone important, but I don't know who. I am very excited, and in the meantime, stay on the fringe.
Fringe - "White Tulip" (2.17)
Basically, every time that Peck goes back to an earlier point in time, he uses a great deal of energy, which kills people since it drains every bit of energy from them. It also creates a new line of events, and I hate that. How long has he been doing this, I am led to wonder, and how many people does it affect? Does it change the entire world or only the area that his time travel affects? Does the whole world go back in time with him? He lost his wife ten months ago, but how long has he been time-traveling? Is the train the first incident? At one point in the episode, Olivia says that she is experiencing Deja Vu but doesn't seem to know why. At that point, I really wanted one of them to make a connection to the alternate reality, since they have been told before that that is what Deja Vu is caused by, that you feel like you have been somewhere or done something before because in another reality, you have. Obviously, this episode involves time travel, not dimension-hopping, but I still would have liked the connection to have been made. Truth be told, I would have much rather that this episode be directly related to the alternate reality as opposed to time travel, that Dr. Peck was somehow traveling to the Other Side to steal his fiancée, just like Walter did when Peter was a young boy. I do appreciate the parallels being made, though, such as Walter guiltily saying that “grief can drive people to extraordinary lengths.”
Walter can be seen eating a Twizzler in this episode; fortunately, however, he is not eating it while conducting a rather bloody autopsy (in reference to episode 2.01, “A New Day in the Old Town,” the season two premiere). If you have seen promo pics of the upcoming musical episode, “Brown Betty,” (2.19), then you know that in that episode, Walter apparently shares Twizzlers with Ella, so I think that it's safe to assume that he really likes Twizzlers, so much so that he can't resist them even when eating is not, by any means, a sanitary activity in which to be taking part. Also, speaking of Walter, he is once again taking affirmative action, just like he does in “Johari Window” (2.11) and “The Bishop Revival” (2.13); this time, of course, he wants to talk to Dr. Peck privately in order to try to convince him not to carry out his plans of going back in time. I have to say, though, that I really like Dr. Peck. He is not a murderer; I don't think that he intentionally killed people. In fact, I don't even think he realized that people would die as a result. I don't think that he even intended to end up on that train; he just didn't solve the formula correctly, and ultimately, he just missed his fiancée, and like Walter says, his grief drove him to “extraordinary lengths,” and he ended up dead because of it.
My point, though, is that Peck doesn't come off as purely black; he is gray. We like him, and we feel sorry for him, and although we hopefully don't want innocent people dead, we want him to find his love again. At the same time, though, we don't approve of his immoral decisions, and a parallel is definitely drawn there between Peck and Walter, since Walter obviously went to “extraordinary lengths” to save Peter, which ultimately resulted in the theft of Alter-Peter from the Other Side. I can't believe that Walter so openly tells Peck, though, about Peter being from the alternate reality. Perhaps, he figures that Olivia knows and Peter will soon know, so there isn't much of a purpose in being totally and completely secretive about it anymore. It makes me wonder, though, if Peck is already aware of the alternate reality, since he doesn't seem to be very surprised when Walter tells him that he stole Peter from an alternate universe, and I love what Peck tells Walter, that “God is science.” That is probably my favorite line of the episode. Discussing the imagery of the white tulip, though, before seeing this episode, I had no idea why it is called “White Tulip.” In fact, I couldn't remember, for the life of me, what kind of flower the Flower Glyph is, so I had to do my homework to remind myself that it is a sunflower, not a white tulip. Apparently, though, as I briefly mentioned previously, the white tulip signifies forgiveness, which obviously relates to Walter hoping that Peter will be able to forgive him.
Well, I am going to talk very briefly about next week's episode of Fringe, so if you're someone who prefers to stay totally and completely spoiler-free, then thanks for reading, but don't read any further. Next week's episode, which I'm sure most everyone knows, anyway, is titled “The Man from the Other Side,” and Newton will be back for this episode. Also, based on what I saw from the promo, it looks like Peter is finally going to find out that he is from the other reality. Obviously, if you have seen the promo, then I am giving you useless information, but I am giving it primarily to benefit those who have not seen the promo but don't mind being spoiled. Next week's episode, anyway, looks like it is going to be beyond epic. Before I leave you, though, I want to share some discoveries that I made today regarding character names. According to a baby names website that I found, “Peter” means “stone or rock,” and that, unfortunately, doesn't mean a whole lot to me. However, it gets a lot more interesting. “Olivia” means “elf army,” which could relate to the fact that she made up an army of children when being given Cortexiphan as a young girl. “William” (referring to William Bell, of course) means “protection,” Nina means “mother,” and this last one is the best one, in my opinion; “Walter” means “ruler of the army.” Does his name confirm the theory that Walter is running the show from the Other Side? Only time will tell, but in the meantime, stay on the fringe.
Fringe - "Olivia. In the Lab. With the Revolver." (2.16)
There is a great deal of tension between Olivia and Walter in this episode and even more between Olivia and Peter, which I think is where the title of this episode originates. Obviously, it is a Clue reference, and Clue is everywhere in this episode, from the wrench that we see Sam using near the beginning of the episode, to the rope that we see on Walter's desk in the lab, and to the candlestick that Olivia uses near the end of the episode to defend herself from Heath's attempts to exchange his Cancer with her. The title has a deep meaning, though. Olivia is indeed standing in the lab with that revolver, a weight in her hand tempting her to pull the trigger, an act that would result in the death of a family. That weight is not fair, and I do feel terribly sorry for Walter, so don't get me wrong. “Things have never been better between us,” he tells Olivia. “I can't lose him again. I can't. He will never forgive me.” This is incredibly heartbreaking, but it's also very difficult to watch Olivia struggle with this dark secret, especially when Peter is so excited to go on this “road trip” with Olivia, and the look on Olivia's face as she glances back at Walter before leaving screams so much pain and confusion, and I feel so sorry for her. If it has never been clear before now, it is definitely clear now that at the end of episode 2.08, “August,” December is talking about Olivia when he says that “it's a shame that things are about to get so hard for her.” I surmised as much at the end of episode 2.14, “Jacksonville,” when she first discovers the truth of Peter's origin.
The tension between Olivia and Walter is clear right near the beginning of the episode when Walter says to Peter (telling him a story of his childhood that probably isn't really his childhood), “By the time you got to the bottom, your testicles were in your mouth,” referring to a skiing trip. Olivia then appears, and Walter, averting his eyes away from her in a very guilt-ridden fashion, says that he is sure that Agent Dunham is not interested in hearing about Peter's childhood. I don't understand, though, why he calls her Agent Dunham. Peter does during this scene, too, and it doesn't make any sense to me. It seems to me like the three of them have been working together long enough that they should be on a first-name basis, and usually, they are. Olivia almost always calls Walter and Peter by their first names, and usually, they call her Olivia, but sometimes, such as this time, they call her by her last name, and I don't understand that. Anyway, moving on, very shortly after, Walter says to the doctor who tells him that he took a class that Walter taught, which inspired him to stick with his motivation to become a doctor, that “when you open your mind to the impossible, sometimes, you find the truth.” I love this line; it's probably my favorite quote of the episode, and of course, The Fringe Podcast did not nominate it for Quote of the Week. I definitely would have nominated it; not all memorable quotes, after all, have to be funny, and they aren't always.
This episode also refers to INtREPUS Pharmaceuticals, which is a nice tie-in to episode 1.06, “The Cure,” by mentioning it as a lawsuit which Miranda Greene was pursuing prior to her death. The episode also shows a scene in Hartford, Connecticut, which excites me, because even though I know that that wasn't Hartford in which the scene was filmed, I have been to Hartford before. I went there in 2007 to see my favorite band, Evanescence, perform live, so it is really cool for a scene ofFringe to have taken place somewhere where I have been (Syracuse is mentioned in episode 1.10, “Safe,” which is very close to where I live). Anyway, though, returning to the tension between Olivia and Peter, the second car ride scene is probably the best example. It is so adorable that Peter thinks that the reason why Olivia has been acting so strangely around him is because they almost kissed in Jacksonville. He goes on to say, though, that “this thing that we have, you, me and Walter, this little family unit that we got going, I don't want to do anything to jeopardize that.” Now, I would like to comment that he leaves Astrid out of his statement, which I think is utterly ridiculous, since Astrid is definitely a part of their “family unit.” Olivia, though, says that she doesn't want to, either, which is so bitterly ironic, because that is something with which they both agree, but their reasons are different, and now, indirectly, Olivia is also being pressured by Peter not to share his secret with him, which only makes that revolver even heavier; again, it is so heartbreaking.
Olivia is drinking quite a bit again, which is probably related to her high level of stress, and it definitely doesn't appear as if Rachel is living with her anymore. In fact, it would appear as if Olivia has moved. Now, obviously, we all know why that is. She can't possibly live in the same residence, since the show is filmed in a different location, but I'm saying that inside of the Fringe circle, it would appear as if she has moved. Sam then shows up after midnight to play a game of Clue with Olivia, and he has a very interesting conversation with her. He tells her that her being “a military brat” would explain her bland clothes, since what she does is more than just a job for her; she is a soldier. This is an interesting view, especially since he uses the word “soldier.” Does he know, I wonder, or is he making a completely innocent observation? I would think that since he knows about the alternate reality, he knows about the effort to cultivate soldiers, so I don't know. In episode 1.17, “Bad Dreams” (to which this episode has a lot of tie-ins), we learn that the bland colors are to blend in, which could be what Sam is implying; I don't know. Again, though, he tells her that he is older than he appears and also taller than he appears, the latter of which doesn't seem to make much sense, but, of course, at a point which we were probably going to learn more about him, Olivia interrupts him by having a House-esque epiphany, which is that the case is linked to the Cortexiphan trials, a point which pumps the episode up to a whole new level.
Olivia then goes to see Peter in order to tell him about her realization, and when she and Peter walk into the kitchen where Walter is making saltwater taffies as well as puss pizza, it is clear that Walter is immensely worried; he thinks that Olivia has told Peter about who Peter really is, but, of course, she hasn't, and Nina, the next day, somehow convinces Olivia not to tell Peter in yet another epic scene between Olivia and Nina. Forgive my French, but Nina is such a manipulative bitch, and she does nothing to hide it during this scene. Olivia, very angry with Nina (for, as she tells Walter and Peter, she doesn't believe that Nina is always very forthcoming, which I find really funny), tells her that she knows the whole story about Peter and that she is going to tell him, but Nina bluntly says, “No, you won't,” which makes me laugh hysterically, mainly because of the manipulative tone of voice that she uses when she says it. I then find it even funnier when Olivia asks Nina what makes her so sure that she won't tell him, and Nina, using the same manipulate tone of voice, says, “Because you haven't told him yet.” Nina then says, “You didn't come here today to ask me about a list that you already knew I don't have, and you didn't come here to announce that you're going to tell Peter who he really is. You came here to have me talk you out of it.” Like I said, she is a manipulative bitch, and I love it. Scenes between Olivia and Nina are always so intense, such as the one near the end of episode 1.09, “The Dreamscape,” one of my favorite season 1 episodes.
Somewhat close to the end of the episode, Peter praises Walter and says, “Well done, Walter,” and Walter guiltily says, “Thank you, son,” and exchanges an awkward glance with Olivia. This is about as far as the tension goes, though, since, by the end of the episode, Olivia agrees not to tell Peter, even though Walter thanks her but says that he has to tell Peter so that he can start correcting the mistakes that he has made in his life (even though I am sure that he isn't really going to tell him right away). Anyway, the fight scene between Olivia and Heath near the end of the episode is beyond intense, and my heart was rapidly pounding throughout the entire scene. I was, in fact, doing my usual when television gets me excited, which is talking to and yelling at the characters. She finally does take him down, though, and he is put into a drug-induced coma (just like Nick Lane). Anyway, the last part of this episode that I want to discuss is the memorable Polivia scene in which, after having come to her rescue, Peter asks Olivia why she didn't call Broyles, and that is so adorable. It is clear that she has to think about it before telling him that he is on her speed dial, and she then thanks him for coming. They are so adorable together, and hopefully, by the end of this season, their relationship will make its way to even further heights. It will be difficult for that to happen, though, with Peter finding out who he really is (which is bound to happen very, very soon) and most likely being very angry with Olivia for keeping it from him. Anyway, this is a fantastic episode, and I give it 9.5 games of Clue.
Fringe - "Peter" (2.15)
I speculated quite some time ago that Walter had some sort of involvement with the U.S. Army, mainly because it is repeatedly hinted at during season one, and here, in this episode, that speculation becomes more than just speculation. It becomes fact, since Walter was indeed heavily involved with the U.S. Army, as is shown in the very first scene of the episode. I had to laugh when he showed the cell phone to them, explaining that it was technology from the alternate universe. At this point, we have been led to believe that the other side is slightly more advanced than this side, but if in 1985, the alternate universe had access to cell phones, then I would definitely say that it is a lot more than just slight advancement. When Walter shows the U.S. Army the alternate Manhattan (or Manhatan), a zeppelin can be seen in the sky, and obviously, the purpose is to give us a clear visual of how the other side is more technologically advanced than our own. Until now, we have only heard about the other side being more technologically advanced; we have not actually seen it. A zeppelin is also seen at the very beginning of the scene involving the Observers outside of the movie theater.
As I think that I have said before, I think that the Blight on the Other Side is because of its advanced technology. I think that the Other Side's technology has advanced to such an extent that it is destroying its environment. That is one of two theories that I am finding plausible right now. My other theory is that the Other Side's Blight is the result of this side's handiwork, that we are indeed winning and that that is why the Other Side is going to such extremes as cultivating Super Soldiers. I think that the first theory discussed here is more likely, though; that is the one with which I am sticking. First of all, the Other Side's technology is more advanced that this side's, and second of all, based on the ending of episode 2.07, “Of Human Action,” it is very likely that this side is creating its own soldiers, which is what I think that the Cortexiphan trials are. They don't seem to be as strong as the Super Soldiers from the Other Side, though, which returns to the fact that the Other Side's technology is more advanced than this side's technology, and for both of these reasons, I don't see it as being very likely that this side would have the high ground. I think that both are at least somewhat sound theories, though.
Then, of course, I was incredibly surprised by the new opening. For a short while, I didn't realize the point, which is that it is supposed to give you a retro 80s feel, since the majority of the episode takes place in 1985. I think that it was a really cool and creative idea, and kudos goes to whoever had the idea. Fringe Sciences named during the opening are Personal Computing, Cold Fusion, DNA Profiling, Nanotechnology, Cloning, Invisibility, Genetic Engineering, Laser Surgery, In Vitro Fertilization, Virtual Reality and Stealth Technology. What I find really funny about most of these sciences (I am not familiar with all of them) is that in the world of Fringe, they would not be considered Fringe Sciences in 2010, but in 1985, they would have been. Even in real life, DNA Profiling and Nanotechnology are far from being a Fringe Science. It is also worth mentioning that the hand in the opening only has five fingers, as opposed to the usual six fingers. I didn't like it at first, the new opening, that is, but now, I have really warmed up to it. For the purposes of this episode, I think that it really works well.
Throughout the episode, I was consistently wondering to myself whether or not Carla Warren is the lab assistant that was killed in the fire. I remembered Jessica Warren but couldn't remember her name, so I recently did my homework on Fringepedia only to find out that, of course, she is indeed Jessica Warren's daughter, which means that, yes, she is the lab assistant that was killed in the fire. I wonder if we're going to see more flashback episodes in the future, such as an episode, for example, that shows us how Carla died, or how Elizabeth died, for that matter. I am definitely game for such episodes, because they are mysteries that I want solved eventually. This episode also makes me think a lot about Nina. Obviously, we now know that she never had cancer, or at least that cancer is not what took her arm. In the pilot episode, she lies to Olivia about that, and I think that that is for one of two reasons. Either she was intentionally keeping Olivia in the dark (which she has done before), or she made some sort of deal with Walter to keep what happened a secret. I don't know which flavor of Kool-Aid I'm drinking, but, again, I think that both are sound theories. I also wonder about her position in this episode. Massive Dynamic obviously has not been established yet, so what exactly is Nina's position?
In an episode of The Fringe Podcast, speculation was raised that possibly, Walter was a better father to Peter on this side than he was on the Other Side, and I think that this episode confirms that theory. On this side, Walter has a conversation with Peter directly before Peter dies, reminding him how to perform the silver dollar trick, and this conversation clearly displays a very loving relationship between the two. On the Other Side, however, a very similar conversation takes place later in the episode, but this time, the conversation is between Elizabeth and Peter, and it once again involves the silver dollar trick, which tells us that on the Other Side, Peter was closer to his mother than he was to Walter. It totally explains why Peter used to say that Walter was not there for him as a child. Was Walternate (previously referred to as alter-Walter by most fans) not there for his son on the Other Side the same way that he was on this side because Walternate worked so hard to develop a cure, harder than this Walter did since technology is more advanced there? The main point that I have to make about the scene between Elizabeth and Peter, though, is that it would have been such a good opportunity for the writers to make use of the Greek phrase alluded to in episode 2.01, “A New Day in the Old Town,” the phrase that translates to “be a better man than your father.” I would have liked Elizabeth to have said that to Peter in this scene just to make the tie-in, and I feel like it ended up being a wasted opportunity.
So, Walter pretty much started the war, or at least the Pattern. I think that it is funny (not haha-wise) how Walter says to Olivia at the end of the episode that the incident was “the first crack in the pattern of cracks in the places between the worlds,” and I wonder if he means this literally. Is he aware that he is responsible for so much chaos? I mean, it is very interesting how he uses the word “pattern,” after all. He says to Olivia near the beginning of the episode that “I always knew that one day, I'd have to pay the price for my deception,” and wow, there is indeed a great deal of deception. He lied about the time travel machine. He tells Peter during a season 1 episode that when Peter was young, he became very sick and that he therefore built a time machine in order to find a doctor in the future to help him find a cure for Peter but that Peter miraculously recovered. Obviously, this is a lie. I do find it interesting, though, that apart from Peter's miraculous recovery, most of what Walter says is skewed truth. Although he obviously did not build a time machine, he did try to retrieve help from a doctor (himself), and even though it wasn't exactly the future, the Other Side is more technologically advanced. He also lied about the details of the ice incident, saying that their car went off the road. I am surprised, however, that he does mention September to Peter.
Speaking of September, I love how December and August walk out of a movie theater after having seen Back to the Future (since the Observers are not limited by the constraints of time), and then, while the two of them discuss the movie and whether or not what it has to offer are theories or entertainment (which, by the way, thanks to The Fringe Podcast, I now know definitely takes place in the alternate reality, since Back to the Future, in this reality, stars Michael J. Fox, not Eric Stoltz, who was originally supposed to play the role), they drink what appears to be Slusho, J.J.'s favorite frozen drink. It's strange, though, that they would be drinking Slusho when normally, they eat incredibly hot food, but I don't really know what to make of that. In the background of the scene, a Clue movie poster can be seen outside of the theater, and I am wondering whether or not this serves as this episode's hint at the next episode, since the next episode is titled “Olivia. In the Lab. With the Revolver.”
Something else about this scene that I really find it crucial to mention is that it is so ironic that August reprimands September for getting involved by distracting Walternate, because, as we know, in reference to episode 2.08, “August,” getting involved is exactly what August will do twenty-four years later, only to be reprimanded by September. Near the end of the episode, after September saves Walter and Peter from drowning underneath the ice, before September tells Walter that Peter is important and therefore must live, he says exactly what Walter says at the exact same time, something that we have seen the Observers frequently do, and as I am sure I have said before, I wonder why they do this. Also, do both the conversation that the three Observers have outside of the movie theater and the aforementioned conversation that Walter and September have after Walter and Peter are saved confirm that there are not alternate Observers, that they are not only not limited by time but are also not limited by a single dimension?
Lastly, I would like to discuss the alternate Elizabeth Bishop. I really do feel terrible for her, both for her and for Walternate. I can't even begin to imagine the scenario on the Other Side. Walter most likely came home from the lab, and obviously not having Peter with him, was incredibly confused by Elizabeth's certainty that he had, in fact, taken Peter with him to administer a cure, a cure of which Walternate would have no knowledge. I wonder, though, if Walternate was aware of this universe at the time. I think that it is plausible, since this Walter was aware of the alternate universe, and if so, then I wonder if alternate Elizabeth was aware of it, as well. If they both were, did they come to a conclusion as to what happened? I am certain that Walternate did, so certain, in fact, that I remain convinced that Walternate is doing everything in his power to get his son back, perhaps even initiating war. Who would have guessed? How ironic would that be? Walter acted, and Walternate reacted, therefore beginning a war between the universes. That is a theory that holds high merit for me, because I am very confident in it. Let's not forget the scene in episode 1.08, “The Equation,” when Walter seems to see himself at St. Claire's, because I think that that was a big hint that which we were supposed to catch.
Anyway, though, it is so heartbreaking when alternate Elizabeth says to Walter, “Bring him back to me,” to which he replies, “I promise,” and then, when she looks out the window at the two of them leaving, that is the very last time that she ever sees Peter. It's very difficult for me to watch that scene. What most surprised me about this episode, though, is that we learn that Peter being from the Other Side was not solely Walter's fault. Walter's intention was only to administer the cure, not to keep Peter on this side. It was Elizabeth, however, who could not stand the thought of losing Peter again, and the look on her face when Walter tells her that he is not theirs and that he therefore has to take him back says it all. There was simply no way that she was going to allow Walter to do that. Like I said, though, this is an incredibly impressive episode, and it marks the only time so far in Fringehistory that I have given two episodes in a row perfect scores of ten, the previous obviously being episode 2.14, “Jacksonville.” As I have said, the remainder of the season has been described as a “roller coaster” ride, so I am really looking forward to what is to come. The titles of the next four episodes have been announced and are, respectively, “Olivia. In the Lab. With the Revolver,” “White Tulip,” “The Man from the Other Side” and “Overture.”
In case you have not yet heard the news about any of these episodes, I will talk about what I know, but if you are afraid that I am going to say something that will spoil you by saying more than you want to know, then please, don't read any further. The next episode will involve people suddenly dying of diseases that they never had, and Olivia will vehemently struggle to keep Peter's origin a secret from him. I don't know anything about “White Tulip," and I know very little about “The Man from the Other Side.” I am guessing, based on the episode's title, that it has to do with the alternate reality. “Overture” is going to be a fun ride; that's for sure. The episode will be about Walter telling Ella a bedtime story, a story which we will see, and as a result, the episode will be a musical episode, so Glee is going to have to step aside and make room for Fringe for just one week. Then, there will only be two episodes left until the finale, during which a supposed epic confrontation between Walter and Bell will take place. I am also thinking that Peter will learn the truth regarding his origin in the finale and will, as a result, leave the team. It's going to be epic, and I think that it is going to be even better than last year's finale. Meanwhile, though, stay on the fringe.
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