Fringe Season 5 Episode 11 Lead-in
I haven’t reviewed or recapped the last two episodes of Fringe. Sure, some of it was due to the holidays, but at the same time—I haven’t had a ton to say.
While we lost Nina Sharp in the battle against the Observers in the last new episode, not much has happened worth discussing. Even the revelation of September as Walter’s mysterious partner, Donald, wasn’t that much of a surprise for a show known for genuinely surprising its fans.
Since the show went on a mini-hiatus before its final three episodes – a penultimate and then a two-hour finale – I’ve been re-watching the show from the first season. It’s remarkable to see how much the show has changed—mostly for the better.
But at the same time, there are a few things I’m hoping for in these final three hours as I’ve been re-watching the show from the beginning. (I’m currently on episode two of season two.)
1. A reference or a visit to the alternate universe
The show didn’t truly become epic until we not only learned that there was an alternate universe, but we learned that most of its inhabitants were not “evil.” That would have been the easy way out. Instead, they were just as emotional, conflicted and driven as our heroes. Plus, it would be nice to find out if Lincoln Lee is happy with Bolivia. And seriously… wouldn’t Walternate be able to help Walter in taking down the Observers? (Also, I know I won’t get it, but I would die for a reference to Charlie, John Scott and/or The Pattern.)
2. An explanation on what our characters remember and what they don’t
In one of the more recent powerful episodes of Fringe, Walter had hallucinations and memories of what happened to Peter when September rescued them from the lake and after Walter kidnapped Peter from the alternate universe. Yet, if you remember last year’s boggling storyline in which Peter was erased from our timeline, that never happened. Olivia eventually regained those memories—but no one else did. Or did they? Let’s get a full on explanation for that.
3. A look at what drives the Observers
We have somewhat of an answer for why they decided to go from observing to directly impacting—their world is ruined in the future. But everything they’re doing in the current world is actually making things not only just as bad, but at an accelerated rate. If they’re going to travel all the way back in time, wouldn’t they at least want to make this world better in order to save themselves? Their goals – and in particular, Windmark’s – don’t seem to make a lot of sense. One more flashforward to the Observers’ future would be welcome and likely enlightening.
Fringe returns this Friday at 9 pm ET on FOX.
