[TV] Fringe spoilers welcome

[tgb]

I thought the tone was odd - it seemed like it could have been an episode from S1, especially in the lack of friction between Walter & Peter.

[nasai]

I'm in complete agreement with you, tgb. I thought it lacked serious forward momentum, and reminded me of those "one off" episodes we see on occasion.

It was cool to see the flashing red/green lights episode referenced in Walter's hypnotism attempt. I was wondering when that idea would show up again.

[tgb]

Fun episode last night, and a good antidote to last week's mythology-free monster of the week. It was a little contrived in that it was obviously designed to give Ostrich something to do, but all they needed were a couple of Lincoln Lees crowding into Walter's lab and they could have recreated the stateroom scene from A Night At The Opera.

[Chesspieceface]

Yes, good stuff. Nice to finally give some more depth to Astrid after 3 seasons. They really needed to advance the larger plot a bit too and I'm glad they did.

I thought I recalled September ("The" Observer) saying that the plan had failed and expressing surprise. But tonight the others felt he must have disobeyed. Now we have another error in the timeline at his expense, something that should never have happened. I hope they pick up the meta story in these next few episodes, and I suspect they will to leave on a strong note for the March hiatus. I'm almost sorry I watched it all so fast while I was sick, but I'm grateful for the experience. This crew tells a good yarn.

[tgb]

I think the fact that the others are becoming more comfortable with Peter is a foreshadowing that

Spoiler:

he's not going anywhere

[hepcat]

I had to laugh at astrid and walter's interaction. Especially the annoyance real astrid showed when Walter got her counterpart's name right.

In any case, I'll take any extra astrid they can give me...meow.

[theohall]

Yes, good stuff. Nice to finally give some more depth to Astrid after 3 seasons. They really needed to advance the larger plot a bit too and I'm glad they did.

I thought I recalled September ("The" Observer) saying that the plan had failed and expressing surprise. But tonight the others felt he must have disobeyed. Now we have another error in the timeline at his expense, something that should never have happened. I hope they pick up the meta story in these next few episodes, and I suspect they will to leave on a strong note for the March hiatus. I'm almost sorry I watched it all so fast while I was sick, but I'm grateful for the experience. This crew tells a good yarn.

IMO, this is a different timeline from the original one with Peter where September saved him. September actually did his job in these two current timelines, but having saved him in the other two and Peter actually appearing here, it looks like September did not do his job. These observers just see it as a mistake here, without considering the possibility September did do his job properly.

[Vorret]

I really liked this week's episode.

Spoiler:

I don't get why Olivia is getting those memories back though... could it be that it's the same timeline and people are finally getting their memories back or it's kinda like in the town where the old universe and the new are merging together?

[tgb]

I really liked this week's episode.

Spoiler:

I don't get why Olivia is getting those memories back though... could it be that it's the same timeline and people are finally getting their memories back or it's kinda like in the town where the old universe and the new are merging together?

One or the other. In fact,

Spoiler:

I suspect it wasn't the universes in that time line that were converging, but the two timelines in both universes.

Either way, Peter is staying right where he is.

[hepcat]

Great episode. I really enjoy the mystery surrounding the multiple realities. If they merge the two it will be interesting to see what stays and what remains.

[Orgull]

Really great episode. Welcome to Westfield indeed. Effing AWESOME! I'm so glad they are getting back to the kind of stories that made the show so great in the first place. I really enjoyed that

[rshetts2]

Im a week behind so i just caught the Astrid episode. It just reinforces how great this show is. What an excellent episode. Astrid is such a great character for a side player in the show. Poor Altrid, she loses her Dad, her Broyles may be compromised

The word is that Fox is trying very hard to keep this show on the air for another season. They are trying to renegotiate the licensing arrangements with the studio who makes it ( I believe its Warner ) and hopefully they can get it done. With House ending its run this years and some doubts as to the survivability of Terra Nova, its seems Fox will have room for it and they do want to keep it. Lets hope they get it worked out because this show is one of the best.

[Chesspieceface]

There was a lot of awesome in that episode tonight. Good lead up to the hiatus. Next week should be good stuff. March will be a less fun month without Fringe... but the season will last through spring this way.

[tgb]

There was a lot of awesome in that episode tonight. Good lead up to the hiatus. Next week should be good stuff. March will be a less fun month without Fringe... but the season will last through spring this way.

I liked it. I wasn't crazy about Peter acting like Olivia had cooties or something, but it made sense in the context of S3. That final scene brings up some interesting questions. tlr noticed that

Spoiler:

Nina Sharp apparently has two real arms

but I don't recall if that had already been established in this timeline.

[Sherpa]

There was a lot of awesome in that episode tonight. Good lead up to the hiatus. Next week should be good stuff. March will be a less fun month without Fringe... but the season will last through spring this way.

I liked it. I wasn't crazy about Peter acting like Olivia had cooties or something, but it made sense in the context of S3. That final scene brings up some interesting questions. tlr noticed that

Spoiler:

Nina Sharp apparently has two real arms

but I don't recall if that had already been established in this timeline.

I don't recall

Spoiler:

anything at all about Nina's arms this season... maybe the Nina with Lincoln and Walter is a shifter and that was the real Nina tied up with Olivia. Or maybe evil Nina did something to Lincoln and Walter and then had time to get in place for Olivia.

edit: bah, or maybe no shapeshifter, I just remembered they always kill the person they take the form of... or maybe the alternate world version of Nina is in play.

[tgb]

Just because

Spoiler:

the shifters always kill their targets, doesn't mean they have to. It's just more convenient. But who's to say someone who's been duplicated couldn't be kept alive and stashed somewhere?

[Jaymann]

Question:

If Peter dropped into a universe where Olivia did not know him, are there now 3 universes at work?

1) Original
2) Red-haired Olivia and Walternet
3) The one where Olivia did not know Peter. And in this one did Walter steal Peter? If so, why did he have to drop into it?

[tgb]

Question:

If Peter dropped into a universe where Olivia did not know him, are there now 3 universes at work?

1) Original
2) Red-haired Olivia and Walternet
3) The one where Olivia did not know Peter. And in this one did Walter steal Peter? If so, why did he have to drop into it?

I'm not going to spoiler-tag this, because if you read this far into the thread, these aren't spoilers.

There are 4. Original timeline/original universe, original timeline/alternate universe, alternate timeline/original universe, alternate timeline/alternate universe. In the original timeline, after Walter brought Peter from the alternate universe to ours, they broke through the ice and Peter was saved from drowning by the Observer called September. This was considered a "mistake" by the Observers.

When Peter got into the machine, creating the bridge between universes, his "purpose" having been fulfilled, September repaired his "mistake", and allowed Peter to drown, creating an alternative timeline in both universes where both Peters died as children, which is why no one knows him as an adult.

Peter dropped back in because both timelines are converging in the original universe (and, I would guess, in the alternate universe as well). Also he's one of the stars and eye candy for the ladies.

[Jaymann]

That is a great synopsis. I saw all those episodes, but either it wasn't clear or I was distracted by gaming.

[Fellstrike]

TGB's explanation is the best but I'd like to believe that there's a little more to it. I'm hoping the end of the season will explain it a bit more.

[rshetts2]

Actually I think that the two original timelines ceased to exist when Peter used the machine. The new timelines were created at that point but sue to Peters continued existence, there are residual effects remaining from the original timelines and with Peters physical presence in the new timeline, these residual effects are trying to rebalance and compensate for the anomaly that is Peter. Thus we have the old and new Olivia merging.



That or it could all be just a bad dream and will end with Olivia opening the shower to find John Scott ( Mark Valley ) who turns to her and says "good morning"

[nasai]

^I'm in 100% agreement with you.

[rshetts2]

Nothing set in stone but it looks like they may give Fringe a final 15 episode season next year, to wrap it up. This will also give Fringe over 100 episodes which is the golden window for syndication. I really hope they do this and give the fans a good final season with some closure.

heres the SyFy article: http://blastr.com/2012/02/fringe-could-get-one-fina.php

[Doomboy]

That would be good. I like it when a show is allowed a final season that everyone is aware is the final season. I don't like it so much when a show is just canceled. And by that, I mean at all. If it lasts more than one season on TV, they should always wrap it up before canceling it.

[tgb]

I read that Fox is seriously considering biting the bullet on an abbreviated fifth season in order to hit 100 episodes, the magic number for syndication.

[Smoove_B]

Well then...that certainly explained pretty much the point of the entire show.

[tgb]

Now THAT's how you do a mythology episode. Well done, show.

[$iljanus]

Tourists...always fucking things up.

September, you were my favorite month of all...

[hepcat]

While I loved the episode and I applaud the fact that they revealed so much, I can't help but be just a teensy bit disappointed in the origin of the observers. I was kind of hoping more Galactus and less Tommy Tomorrow.

[tgb]

Here's my take on the origin of the Observers. Pure speculation, but I'll spoiler it anyway:

Spoiler:

I think that the "possible future" in which the Observers evolved is the timeline in which Peter and Original-flavor Olivia knocked boots. I'll even go so far as to say that the catalyst for the evolution is Olivia's cortexiphan-soaked DNA, and 'lil Henry is the seed from which they all spring. That's why Septermber is so focused on correcting his "mistake". If he doesn't, the Observers cease to exist.

[Jaymann]

How stupid is Peter? After all these years Olivia is throwing herself at him, but he is standing off because she is not "his" Olivia? Dude, she is now. At least close enough for FBI work.

[Smoove_B]

Spoiler:

I think that the "possible future" in which the Observers evolved is the timeline in which Peter and Original-flavor Olivia knocked boots. I'll even go so far as to say that the catalyst for the evolution is Olivia's cortexiphan-soaked DNA, and 'lil Henry is the seed from which they all spring. That's why Septermber is so focused on correcting his "mistake". If he doesn't, the Observers cease to exist.

Yup. And I think that's why the video I posted from last summer showing all the different actors trying out for the part of Peter now makes more sense - but only if you watch it through to the end.

[tgb]

Spoiler:

I think that the "possible future" in which the Observers evolved is the timeline in which Peter and Original-flavor Olivia knocked boots. I'll even go so far as to say that the catalyst for the evolution is Olivia's cortexiphan-soaked DNA, and 'lil Henry is the seed from which they all spring. That's why Septermber is so focused on correcting his "mistake". If he doesn't, the Observers cease to exist.

Yup. And I think that's why the video I posted from last summer showing all the different actors trying out for the part of Peter now makes more sense - but only if you watch it through to the end.

I had forgotten about that video, and you're right

Jaymann - I think Peter is hung up and feeling more than a little guilty about having been taken in by Fauxlivia, and doesn't want to screw up (so to speak) again.

[Chesspieceface]

I thought September was telling Peter that THIS Olivia is his Olivia... but that didn't seem to be the message he got. Great episode, though I was hoping for a bit more of a cliffhanger for the March hiatus. Oh Fringe, we'll miss you this month.

[tgb]

I didn't get that at all.

[Smoove_B]

Here's what has me confused though. The only Peter we have is alternate universe Peter. September admitted Peter should have been cured by Walternate but September's appearance ruined that. If September didn't ruin it, he would have lived and presumably entered into a relationship with Fauxlivia, which would have ended with the birth of Henry, apparently ruining everything. Or maybe he never would have met Faulixia at all. Either way, the only way for alternate universe Peter to meet the Olivia he fell in love with was to have Walter steal him away as a child and grow up in the alternate universe.

I need a drink.

[tgb]

Here's what has me confused though. The only Peter we have is alternate universe Peter. September admitted Peter should have been cured by Walternate but September's appearance ruined that. If September didn't ruin it, he would have lived and presumably entered into a relationship with Fauxlivia, which would have ended with the birth of Henry, apparently ruining everything. Or maybe he never would have met Faulixia at all. Either way, the only way for alternate universe Peter to meet the Olivia he fell in love with was to have Walter steal him away as a child and grow up in the alternate universe.

I need a drink.

That was my first thought - that if Alt-Peter lives, how does he meet Original-flavor Olivia? But thinking about it in the shower this morning (and that's how great this series is, that it has me thinking about it in the shower. Take that, Lost!), who's to say how they would have met? Maybe Walternate opens a gate in another time line. Maybe O-F Olivia steps across because she can.

There are all kinds of ways O-F Olivia and Alt-Peter can meet if he doesn't die as a child.

And I always need a drink.

P.S. I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that Fringe is up there with The Prisoner and Twilight Zone as the best television ever.

[killbot737]

The only thing I didn't like about the ep (besides being confused as to which Olivia is the 'correct' one) is that the writers threw in a traditional "Halt, or I'll talk at you some more!" moment with Jones.

Once she saw him standing in front of the portal the only sounds coming from my TV should have been gunfire and Jones' displeasure at being perforated.

At least she got off one shot.

[hepcat]

(and that's how great this series is, that it has me thinking about it in the shower. Take that, Lost!)

I think about Lost when I'm using something else in the bathroom...

[rshetts2]

My god this show is good. Its a pity that it doesnt get the ratings it deserves because it is just fantastic storytelling.
I think that the idea that Henry is responsible for the future in which the observers develop is spot on. The one thing that remains consistent in the various realities is that there is only one Peter. He is the catalyst that leads to the Observers reality and without his Olivia, he can not fulfil his destiny, or so it seems.

Please powers that be at FOX, at the very least give Fringe one more year to finish its story or better yet move it to a survivable time slot, promote it properly and see if it can be the next X-Flies for you. All you need to do is give it a chance. This is a show worth saving.