The third episode of Fringe’s third season continues to intrigue. Back in The Other Side, a mad genius bent on revenge set off meticulously planned chains of events that end in the death of those he perceives as doing him harm.
The series continues to enjoy using recurring images and situations (see my review of "The Box") I love the reference to the sensory deprivation tank. Walternate (John Noble) and Alter-Brandon (Ryan McDonald) speaking about it implies that, even if for now, it’s only going to be used on test subjects, Olivia (Anna Torv) is one day going to return to that tank. It’s probably a technique that will backfire, as Olivia’s memories are bound to break through in such familiar an environment.
I have to mention straight out that I did not like the kiss shared between Olivia and Hallucination!Peter (Joshua Jackson). It felt rather forced, instead of natural. It worries me that Fringe is might place too much emphasis on the Olivia-Peter romance, rather than their connection, which allows Peter to help Olivia in the episode “Bad Dreams” (Season 1, Episode 17). I’m going to indulge in a bit of script writing here: Halluciation!Peter should have said what he had to say, then just smile at her. In a cliché moment, Frank would have walked into the room at that moment, calling her name. Olivia looks from Hallucination!Peter back at Frank. By the time she looks back towards Hallucination!Peter, he’s gone. Again, this is quite the cliché moment, but I find it much better than the awkward kiss.
The Observer (Michael Cerveris) is spotted on the bridge, as Milo (Michael Eklund) throws the bike off it; the glyphs spell out the word: “Breach”. Is it in connection with the two fabrics between the universes, with Olivia’s imposed Altivia-memories, or rather with the integrity of both Fringe Divisions being affected?
One of the episode's main themes relates to that interconnectedness. Milo has become a genius able to calculate probabilities even with hundreds of variables, something any statistics student will tell you is already really hard enough with one two or three variables. Using this talent, Milo is able to create a perfect set of events, triggered by a specific, small act that triggers an intricate chain of events.
Interconnectedness is also at the heart of the series. Up to now, we have seen the two universes as being parallel; the breach made in 1985 by Walter has affected the integrity of the boundary between the two universes; that boundary is now slowly disintegrating. Walternate has been telling those serving on Alter-Fringe Division that to survive, they have to destroy our universe.
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Article comments
1 - Flo
Thanks for the review.
First of all: "I have to mention straight out that I did not like the kiss shared between Olivia and Hallucination!Peter (Joshua Jackson). It felt rather forced, instead of natural. It worries me that Fringe is might place too much emphasis on the Olivia-Peter romance, rather than their connection, which allows Peter to help Olivia in the episode “Bad Dreams” (Season 1, Episode 17)."
Spot on!!! I didn't like it either. I still don't see where the Peter/Olivia romantic thing comes from.
Their relationship wasn't written like that in the first season. It was more of a friendship/sibbling relationship. Then, completely out of the blue, Olivia's sister says to Peter in the season 2 Premiere: "She liked you, you know?" I ask again: where the hell does this come from?????? Olivia's sister seemed to be the one who liked Peter and they flirted a bit.
The truth is, there wasn't any building up to this new kind of relationship. It is based on nothing. Even Josh Jackson said once that Olivia & Peter look more like brother and sister so it would be weird to get them closer, I mean, common!
Now, because of the lack of real build up it is totally not believable. It is not credible at all. It came too much out of the blue. Too bad we're stuck with this bad storyline now cos I think it would have been more interesting to see how Altivia would have had to comprehend Peter & Olivia's frienship and how she would have tried to win Peter over, little by little. Instead we have this dreadful "love story" where Altivia just have to kiss and put Peter in her bed to make him trust her. Blurp!
I totally agree with you that the writers should have stick with their friendship with their intellectual and spiritual connection.
Okay rant over.
Second of all, I like this episode. I really like the "Over There" world and what it brings in tension and dramatisation. Your theory about the destruction of one world leading to the destruction of the other is interesting. I thought about a Yin/Yang kind of connexion. Maybe one world can't live without the other and maybe they can't live together either which would means that the destruction is inevitable no matter what or they can live together but only in certain circomstancies which have yet to be found and reached.
Maybe it's all a question of timing. The way both worlds need to "juxtapose" (for lack of a better word) with each other is really complex and the lack of juxtaposition can somewhat explain the differencies like the small pox. Perhaps if the two world were "juxtaposed" properly they would be more the same and the small pox would have been eradicated in "Over There" too.
I don't know if I'm making myself clear here.
Anyway, it's very interesting.
Last, you asked some really good questions in the end of your review. I have no idea if it's the same equation for the two opening credit, I'll have to see more carefully.
I wondered the same thing about Olivia and Milo in the Bus jumping scene. Why didn't she shoot him? Really weird.
Anyway, interesting episode and development of theme.
2 - Sahar
FLO! WB!!!! It's nice to have comments from you again! TOTALLY agree with your rant - Olivia and Peter's story wasn't very well written. It feels like a guy and a girl wrote it together and conflicting story arcs hence emerged ;)
You are also raising a really interesting point re the possibility of a yin-yang type of relationship between the two universes. It certainly would be quite the slap in Walternate's face were it to be proven right....
I can't wait to see what happens next, especially with regards to the machine and Walternate's plans!