With the ‘reset’ in the Fringe timeline, it almost feels like we are watching a new show, rather than one triumphantly entering its fourth season. Which is why this is the perfect time to ‘reset’ the way I review the show. As the executive producers of the show often say, Fringe is as much about the human story as it is about the science fiction. I would like to start recapping the themes of the show as the storyline advances, in the hopes of giving the human story the attention it deserves. So instead of the usual thorough episode recap, interspaced with theories and brief discussions on the various underlying themes, from now on you will read a more in-depth look into the themes touched upon in each episode. Thoughts on this new stage of Sahar’s Reviews are always appreciated in the comments thread.
Fringe’s Season 4 starts with a relatively calm earthquake. Peter, having served his purpose, had been wiped from existence at the close of Season 3, but the bridge he'd created so the two sides could start fixing the tears in the fabric between them is still very much there.
Season 4 thus begins with Olivia and Altivia exchanging documents from their respective divisions, as well as some stinging words. We immediately notice that Olivia is different; we see an aspect of her personality we haven’t seen in awhile; she is an angry, justice-seeking vigilante with a thick shell not many, if any, have been able to penetrate.
This first scene underlines one of the things the executive producers of the show, Jeff Pinkner and J.H. Wyman, promised us: to take advantage of the two universes working together to contrast each version of one character with the other. Only Altivia telling Olivia that she has a trust issue would have that impact; how can it not, when the words are coming out of a mouth that looks exactly like hers?
It reminds me of the concept of self-reflection, i.e. when you take the time to ‘talk to yourself’ about something that is bothering you, be it verbally or in written form. Often, when it comes to dealing with a thorny subject, people shut out those who talks to them about it when they are not ready. But all it can take is a bit of tough self-love: writing it down in a diary, talking out loud to oneself, meditating about it. Whatever the technique, reflecting one’s own feelings and emotions can often help to clarify things in a relatively short period of time. Could this mean that both Olivia and Altivia, as well as all our other ‘dual’ characters, will be able to deal with thorny issues they haven’t be able to deal with before?
Article comments
1 - Flo
Hey! Great review! I like this new way you have to do them. It is more clear and more in tune with the show IMO.
I was also caught up by Semptember and his role in all of this. He seems to not be an observer anymore since he does a lot more than observe. He really is taking a more active role in the fate (if we can call it that way) of the Universe. To what purpose? I don't know but I'm dying to find out.
The notion of free will is really important. By saying that the observers main (and only?) task is just to make sure what has to happen actuallty does happen the way it supposed to be, what does it mean about coincidence? Do chances and accidents really exist or are they just another part of a bigger picture? Do people really make their own choices or are they just meant to take this certain road and not the other?
I like your vision of the dychotomy and the possibilies that it could open for all the characters. They seem to all be a bit different without Peter indeed. For now they don't mix. Each character and their alternate one are on the different side of the "mirror" as you well put it. It will be interesting to see what happen when they will undoubtedly cross path again, as the talk between the two Olivias indicates.
I also wonder what exactly kind of place the bridge is gonna take. What exactly is gonna happen there comparing to what will happen in borth Universes? We'll see.
This episode was really a sort of transitional one to establish a new timeline and a new kind of reality. I like how the cards are dealt again. It's the same but different, the characters without Peter being some kind of déjà-vu of the ones they were before.
Good episode.
2 - Sahar
Flo! Nice to have your comments back :)
I completely agree about September's role - it has completely changed. It's an interesting discussion to have - how can one go against one's grain and when.
I can't wait to see what is going to happen in the next couple of episode and how more difference in the characters in this timeline are going to be underlined. Are we ever going to go back to what things used to be like? Or will everyone have forgotten everything? Or will we have basically two timelines collide?