Fringe returned this week with a phenomenal episode in “Back to Where You’ve Never Been.” Brilliant title by the way. In this episode, shape-shifters take a front seat on the other side and there’s quite a leveled balance of screen time for both the alternate universe and the current timeline. What a fantastic episode. Let’s break it down…
This week, a desperate Peter begs for help from a very hesitant and distant Walter to head to the other side. Instead, Olivia and Lee are by his side as Lee and Peter head over and finally come face to face with Walternate. It’s been too long since we have seen Walternate, has it not? Olivia thinks to use Peter’s trip to the other side as an opportunity for her to go and expose Walternate’s agenda against Peter’s best intentions. When Olivia’s mind is set, her mind is set. Peter should of all people should know this and should have been prepared for Olivia sending Lee on with him to fulfill her wishes. It was disappointing to see Peter so open to trusting Olivia’s word and not being cautious of Lee’s agenda. Lee, after all is not in the position that Peter is in. None of them are. The only person Peter can truly trust right now is himself. Walternate, full of surprises, seems to be one worth trusting for the time being, whether Peter likes it or not – which he already knows and has accepted so long as it gets him home. But once Peter gets home, it is unknown just what will become of Peter’s relationship with Walternate.
Walternate was not the only one that fans were thrilled to see this week. Peter was reunited with his mother, Elizabeth Bishop. She is one a smart lady. But a mother always knows and it did not take Elizabeth long to recognize her son, wrong universe/time line or not. It pains me to think what would have happened had Elizabeth not been there for Peter so thankfully, we do not have to go down that road. The adrenaline was already pumping at this point in the episode but it seemed as if the entire world stopped until those at Elizabeth’s door agreed to take her and Peter to Walternate. It really makes you think just how Elizabeth has been living all of this time under Walternate’s protection but also with her own authority in his business and in this world as well. All that said, while it was a delight to see Walternate and Elizabeth, we miss Walter! There’s only so much teasing we can take. Progress at a slightly quicker pace please.
Meanwhile, Olivia gets a premonition from an Observer but what he says is not good, “I have looked at all possible futures and in every one the result is the same. You have to die.” What in the world? Way to leave us hanging! If that isn’t a cliffhanger… but then again, it’s not that we didn’t already know that Olivia is going to die. She has been given this warning or premonition before but never like this has it been so definite. The Observer said that the result is the same no matter the future ahead. What a heavy truth to hear. So whether next season is the last of Fringe or a few seasons from now is the last, it seems that no matter how many universes Peter gets lost in, he will always be but Olivia will not. Hmm. Why exactly does she have to die in every future? What do you think about this seemingly inevitable outcome?
Finally, there was surprisingly not a whole lot of development on the shapeshifters front. This is fine by me. Shapeshifters have ruled Fringe before and the smaller dose, the better so as not to become irritated with this aspect of the show. As for this episode lacked… there was no Nina Sharp or Astrid this week which was rather disappointing but this is only the eighth episode, so there is sure to be plenty of these two as the season goes on. Some other points worth mentioning about “Back to Where You’ve Never Been…” the interaction between Lee and Alt Lee was intense and we loved every moment of it. Bring us more of this tension! It was a thrill! As for the glyph… JONES, what actually became of David Robert Jones? Could this be the answer to how Peter gets home? Also as a general point, you’re not the only one confused about what is going on among the universes and time lines. There is so much to take in each week and just when you think you’ve got the answer to a question, the writers flip you on your head for a ride you did not think could be possible. This is why Fringe is one of the best dramas on television today. The writers know how to keep us intrigued and thinking outside of the box and that is a gift that keeps on giving. So stay tuned for more!
Favorite Moment: Walter in an apron without a shirt on…is there anything John Noble won’t do?
Watch Fringe Fridays at 9/8c on Fox.
