[TV] Fringe spoilers welcome

[TiLT]

Peter realizes he's home and is back with Olivia

He's not. The current events in Fringe take place in an alternate timeline. Olivia's memories from the original timeline are bleeding over, but they aren't for any of the other characters. It's technically not the same Olivia. For all intents and purposes, the people Peter know no longer exist. He won't be satisfied with that in the long run.

There's a lot of pain and death being caused by the changes to the timeline, and Peter lost a child in the process. It's likely he'll want to revert back to the old timeline at some point, and that might not happen this season.

[rshetts2]

Peter realizes he's home and is back with Olivia

He's not. The current events in Fringe take place in an alternate timeline. Olivia's memories from the original timeline are bleeding over, but they aren't for any of the other characters. It's technically not the same Olivia. For all intents and purposes, the people Peter know no longer exist. He won't be satisfied with that in the long run.

There's a lot of pain and death being caused by the changes to the timeline, and Peter lost a child in the process. It's likely he'll want to revert back to the old timeline at some point, and that might not happen this season.

Its probably hard to discuss this issue without splitting hairs but according to September, the current Olivia IS Peters Olivia. Its not a different timeline, its the same timeline, altered from the point of when Peter used the machine. Peter is the anomaly, not the timeline and his existence and the bond between Olivia and him is what is driving the changes in Olivia. There is no "old" timeline to revert to because it simply does not exist as a separate timeline.

[Chesspieceface]

Its probably hard to discuss this issue without splitting hairs but according to September, the current Olivia IS Peters Olivia. Its not a different timeline, its the same timeline, altered from the point of when Peter used the machine. Peter is the anomaly, not the timeline and his existence and the bond between Olivia and him is what is driving the changes in Olivia. There is no "old" timeline to revert to because it simply does not exist as a separate timeline.

Yes.

[Turtle]

Eh, he never new that kid anyway, and plenty of time to make space-time disrupting babies with normal Olivia.

[Smoove_B]

From TV Line:

This week's episode "Letters of Transit" is said to open the door to a fifth season from a narrative perspective, and that might have something to do with its 2036 setting. The cast has revealed that multiple endings have been shot for the end of the season, with one meant to serve as a series finale while others opening the door for the next season, though it sounds like all of them will serve to wrap up the bulk of season four's storylines.

[tgb]

From TV Line:

This week's episode "Letters of Transit" is said to open the door to a fifth season from a narrative perspective, and that might have something to do with its 2036 setting. The cast has revealed that multiple endings have been shot for the end of the season, with one meant to serve as a series finale while others opening the door for the next season, though it sounds like all of them will serve to wrap up the bulk of season four's storylines.

If that means, based on the preview for next week, that next season Fringe is going to turn into V with the Observers replacing alien lizards, all I can say is count me out.

[hepcat]

The show's given me no reason to believe they couldn't handle such a story line, so I'm not so quick to jump ship based simply on the mention of a new premise.

[tgb]

The show's given me no reason to believe they couldn't handle such a story line, so I'm not so quick to jump ship based simply on the mention of a new premise.

Perhaps. But it would be contrary to everything that makes Fringe great.

[hepcat]

The show's given me no reason to believe they couldn't handle such a story line, so I'm not so quick to jump ship based simply on the mention of a new premise.

Perhaps. But it would be contrary to everything that makes Fringe great.

Correction: It would be contrary to everything that apparently makes Fringe great for you. For me, Fringe is great not because of one specific premise, but because of the way in which they (the collective they that includes cast and writers) handle the premise they've so far given us. I still believe that given that level of excellence, they would be able to put a spin on any new premise that would make it equally enjoyable.

[tgb]

The show's given me no reason to believe they couldn't handle such a story line, so I'm not so quick to jump ship based simply on the mention of a new premise.

Perhaps. But it would be contrary to everything that makes Fringe great.

Correction: It would be contrary to everything that apparently makes Fringe great for you. For me, Fringe is great not because of one specific premise, but because of the way in which they (the collective they that includes cast and writers) handle the premise they've so far given us. I still believe that given that level of excellence, they would be able to put a spin on any new premise that would make it equally enjoyable.

I hope you're right. If it does go off in this direction, I'll give it a shot, of course. It'll still be better than V. Or Terra Nova. Or Alcatraz. Or any of the dreck I find myself sitting through with tlr.

[hepcat]

V had one thing going for it...

[tgb]

I'll be in my bunk.

[Smoove_B]

The could announce that Season 5 would be in claymation and I'd still watch it every week. I have total faith in the series. It's the exact opposite of the feeling I had while watching Heroes at some point during Season 2.

[$iljanus]

I AM NOT A NUMBER! I AM A FREE MAN!
I u Walter

[ChaoZ]

What the F*#%! was that?
A somewhat radical departure to what has come so far this season.
I really, really hope they get a Season 5.

[Sherpa]

These are not the droids you are looking for...move along

[Chesspieceface]

That was some crazy shit. They sure have no problem abandoning whatever is happening to move to something new and interesting. In a lot of ways that has kept them out of the pitfalls that LOST had in bunches.

Great stuff. Can't wait for more. And for the first time we see what Walter would be like if he wasn't nuts! Awesome show.

[tgb]

I AM NOT A NUMBER! I AM A FREE MAN!
I u Walter

That was the only good part of the episode. Other than that it was just what I was afraid of - V. Just another run-of-the-mill Fox explodathon.

I hope that was a one shot experiment and not the "pilot" for Season 5.

[TiLT]

I very much doubt that this is what we'll see next season. I suspect it serves more like a peek into the future, either as a way to bring closure to the series (if there is no season 5) or as a way to bring tension (if there is a season 5) from having the next season focus on Fringe trying to avoid this particular future altogether. Remember that a lot seems to have happened by the time the team were frozen in amber. Something has happened to Olivia (she's likely dead), but she seems to have given birth to a daughter with Peter first. William Bell has returned and seems to have betrayed the Fringe team in some way that led to Olivia's current predicament. I'm also not entirely convinced that it was actually our Walter we saw this week. It might just as well have been Walternate judging by the apparently dramatic change in personality after the brain infusion.

There's also the possibility that the weapon Walter seems to be working on is a time machine of some sort that allows them to alter something that has happened in order to give Fringe Division a fighting chance against the Observers before they actually come to power.

[Turtle]

There was also no hint at all of Jones and what the fallout of his schemes were.

Is Bell dead in both universes? That could be evidence that this is the alternate universe.

[tgb]

There was also no hint at all of Jones and what the fallout of his schemes were.

I just re-watched the episode in the hopes I would like it better in the light of day. I didn't, but I realized that one simple scene at the beginning could have salvaged it:

September appears in (present-day) Walter's lab and says something to him like "I need to tell you about David Robert Jones". Then they go into the episode as aired.

At least that would have set up the question of whether that future was the result of Jones succeeding or failing, and it would have tied it into the current season a lot more coherently.

[nasai]

It might just as well have been Walternate judging by the apparently dramatic change in personality after the brain infusion.

Doesn't anyone remember way back, when they put the parts back into Walter's brain, and he became incredibly edgy and coherent, only to have it removed again? He was "like" Walternate there too.

[theohall]

There was also no hint at all of Jones and what the fallout of his schemes were.

I just re-watched the episode in the hopes I would like it better in the light of day. I didn't, but I realized that one simple scene at the beginning could have salvaged it:

September appears in (present-day) Walter's lab and says something to him like "I need to tell you about David Robert Jones". Then they go into the episode as aired.

At least that would have set up the question of whether that future was the result of Jones succeeding or failing, and it would have tied it into the current season a lot more coherently.

Or... this could tie in quite well even without that extra scene. In this episode: They tell us the Observers take over for some reason. We already know David Robert Jones does not give a crap and seems to simply want to destroy everything. Speculation: The Observers stepped in to stop that from happening after the Fringe team has failed. We already know from the episode prior to this one that Jones was building a device designed to essentially destroy everything and the Fringe team is trying to stop him. Seems simple enough, but then again, they never seem to keep it simple.

[rshetts2]

Im not so sure William Bell is all so evil as people think, after all he gave Walter a hand with their problem in the future.


Oh and once again...... Give John Noble his damned emmy already!

[hepcat]

Saw no evidence whatsoever of "V" in the episode, other than that both shows had invasion scenarios. Thought they did a great job with it. I would love to see it explored further. I don't believe shaking things up is a bad thing in and of itself.

[tgb]

Saw no evidence whatsoever of "V" in the episode, other than that both shows had invasion scenarios.

Yeah, that and collaborators secretly working for the underground. If it's not V yet, it could be headed in that direction.

It would be interesting if Jones somehow got onto the Observers' plan, and is actually trying to stop them, somehow, with the Fringies unknowingly playing right into their hands.

One thing someone pointed out is that with no mention of the bridge or another universe, who know where this is taking place?

[Smoove_B]

The actress they picked to play the daughter was impressive. They must have used computer software to generate what a probable child would look like between the two actors and sent out a casting call. I enjoyed the episode and it was nice to see yet another version of Walter.

Also: Offically renewed for a 5th and final season.

[tgb]

Renewed.

I'm wondering if the final season will detail the first battle with the Observers, and the series will end with them in amber.

[Smoove_B]

Clearly I'm updating this thread from the Red Universe.

[rshetts2]

Great news, I knew about this over a week ago but I'm glad its finally official. Can't wait to see how they wrap the series up.

[Anonymous Bosch]

I was interested to read in a recent interview with John Noble, that he has thus far played 9 separate versions of Walter Bishop:

Noble revealed that, as of Episode 19, he'll have played nine separate versions of Walter Bishop on the series so far. "It’s a lot of fun as an actor because it keeps me trying to refine and to finish small parts [of Walter]," he enthused. "Every time we see a time shift or a universal shift, then obviously, the people are subtly different or, in a time shift, something hasn’t happened or something has happened. For example, I could tease, what would Walter be like if he hadn’t had parts of his brain removed? What would he be like as an older man? That’s a pretty big tease."

I'd lost count over all four seasons. Mighty impressive.

Anyway, glad to learn that they'll now be able to give the series the sort of send-off it really deserves.

[Turtle]

Very good news. I started out not liking Fringe but they really pulled through. A lot of questions have been answered, and where not answered, things are paid off in character and story. Hopefully they can stick the landing.

[tgb]

Hopefully they can stick the landing.

[Smoove_B]

I guess the Fringe team is excited -- they uploaded a trailer for Season 5 last night.

[Chesspieceface]

That was one of the most impacting episodes since the season started. If I had less faith in the writers I'd be worried, but I was pretty speechless as this evening's installment closed.

[Turtle]

Whoah, that scene between the two Walters had me close to tears.

So much that had built up over the course of the show just poured out in the most subtle and nuanced acting I've seen in a while.

[tgb]

Whoah, that scene between the two Walters had me close to tears.

This. If it wasn't a waste of time I'd say that's the scene to go to the Emmy committee for next year.

And you can call one universe from the other on your cell phone? Roaming charges must be a bitch.

[WarPig]

Whoah, that scene between the two Walters had me close to tears.

This. If it wasn't a waste of time I'd say that's the scene to go to the Emmy committee for next year.

And you can call one universe from the other on your cell phone? Roaming charges must be a bitch.

Seriously, John Noble is amazing. I've said it before.

I wondered about the phone call thing; does the other universe have a different area code or exchanges? I don't think they could just plug one telecommunications system into the other one and have it work like that.

[tgb]

Whoah, that scene between the two Walters had me close to tears.

This. If it wasn't a waste of time I'd say that's the scene to go to the Emmy committee for next year.

And you can call one universe from the other on your cell phone? Roaming charges must be a bitch.

Seriously, John Noble is amazing. I've said it before.

I wondered about the phone call thing; does the other universe have a different area code or exchanges? I don't think they could just plug one telecommunications system into the other one and have it work like that.

What if different people in each universe have the number you're dialing?

[TiLT]

I wondered about the phone call thing; does the other universe have a different area code or exchanges? I don't think they could just plug one telecommunications system into the other one and have it work like that.

I got the impression that Lincoln might have been calling from the bridge.