I can’t help but wonder if the reason why Walter was unable to help Peter is because ultimately, he himself hasn’t really changed. Sure, his actions are different, but what about his intentions?
Let it not be thought that I am heartless! I was touched by Walter’s terror at the thoughts of becoming the man he used to be. The struggle was heartbreaking at times, enhanced by John Noble’s acting skills. The choices that Walter is currently making are very different now. This was underlined in this episode when, after finding her picture in Bell’s safe, Walter insisted on returning to see Nina to apologize for his harsh words. I highly doubt the old Walter would have ever admitted being sorry, let alone scared.
In this episode however, it hit me that while Walter’s outer personality has changed significantly, he is, on some level, exactly the man he used to be. One would think that the experience of the son, losing his own child, would propel the father to think solely about Peter for once, letting go of himself and his own needs. Unfortunately, Walter is too busy with his own self to see anything. The focus of his attention should be Peter; instead, it is his own fear. Seeing as how Walter also lost a child, why is he not thinking more about Peter? Because he is too busy thinking about Peter in relation to his own self.
So although Walter is not as arrogant as he was before, he is still just as self-consumed. He was previously consumed, in his own words, by ambition and by hubris, and only cared about walking with the gods. Walter is still just as self-consumed, and as such, is still in his own world. The guiding factor of Walter’s decisions in 1985 was himself; the guiding factor of Walter’s current obsession is, again, himself.
What is the solution? Well on the one hand, it really seems like a good, old friend such as Nina has a huge role to play, which she does magnificently. Her balancing act between emotions and logic when talking to Walter about not being enough to keep Bell out of trouble was one of those conversations that differentiates a real friendship from a superficial one. It also says a lot about the woman she is. On a side note, another sad by product of having a shortened fifth season is that we do not have the time to explore the healthy influence Nina could have had on not only Walter, but also on Peter and Olivia. Alas, alas.
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Article comments
1 - Olivia
If you watch Fringe , you may have noticed that the only 2 chracters fully given a backstory are Walter and Peter, sadly so.
Olivia has so much potential, and she was being set up with a possible Chosen One role in Season 2, but after Firefly her role was reduced more and more to the woman behind Peter, especially from midseason 4.
As blonde Olivia still got to do some FBI thinking, it went unnoticed, and luckily for Anna Torv she had AltLivia(a great charater, created by Anna, not much written for her),
but this season 5 Olivia in the beginning had to be the distant mother, and then do all the grieveing agains the bombast of Peters anger, and has to worry for him. She is not even allowed to think, got 1 line when she met Nina.
I do not like at all how Olivia has been treated by the writers since midseason 3, as the Olivia and Peter stuff is all coming from Olivia (and Anna), and she has to except in S3 that she had to be a lesser version and be lied to by Peter, same in S4, she had to become the Olivia Pter wants her to be,
same can be said in S5, Peter lies, Olivia will have to forgive.
And the men are the loving fathers who do everything for their child.
From what Wyman said in a recent Fearnet interview, it is clear that writing for OLivia was not on the agenda, her storyline for S5 is her emotions, for him as for Pinkner Fringe is about Walter and Pter and Noble and Jackson.
Anna Torv is an awesome actress , she has created a great Olivia, multiple versions, I think it is a disgrace that in 5 seasons she never had a real scene talking about her mother, we do not know her fathers name, and what I find really insulting is that at the end of S4 she had to stand there and be used by Bell and hero Walter shot her through the head, as a thing.
Her being abused by Walter, could have made a great storyline, but instead she cares for him, and Walter is the poor guy we have to feel sorry for.
This season we see Peter actively giving himself powers, and he gets to use them actively for his revenge, he is smarter he can act and fight when he wants.
Olivia was being used by Bell and Walter, could only use her power to save Peter, ot when she was switched on by Bell, no control and no choice.
Sexism on Fringe? yes.