Contributor: John Keegan
Written by J. H. Wyman
Directed by Jeannot Szwarc and Miguel Sapochnik
To say that this episode moves quickly is an understatement. Launching directly out of the end of “Letters of Transit”, the writers are clearly intent on telling an intricate and detailed final tale in the “Fringe” universe. Few shows are this ambitious, and it speaks to the dedication of everyone involved in the production of the show that this leap to the future actually works well as the final chapter to the narrative.
Let’s face it: while a number of networks keep searching for the next “Lost”, it’s always been right there under everyone’s nose. “Fringe” may not have the mass appeal that “Lost” enjoyed for much of its run, but that’s because it embraced its genre underpinning right from the start. In terms of the storytelling, though, “Fringe” has touched on a number of the same concepts, and also challenged what can and cannot be done on a network series.
The plot is deceptively simple. The re-emerged Fringe Division, now joined by Etta, is on the hunt for their missing member: Olivia Dunham. The first couple acts of the episode are devoted to retrieving Olivia, during which we learn that their “ambering” was a self-inflicted means of escaping capture by the Observers. We also learn, in short order, that Etta wasn’t left by her parents when they were ambered, but taken before that point, during the initial invasion of the Observers.
This is a key detail for two reasons. First, it makes Peter and Olivia’s battle against the Observers that much more personal. While they likely would have battled the Observers anyway, what better reason than the abduction of their child (who Peter, at least, knows is supposed to be super-important to the timeline)? This also lead to a rift between Peter and Olivia, which makes their reunion a lot more awkward than anyone would have anticipated.
The second implication is that Etta may not be entirely who she seems. That doesn’t have to mean that she’s not actually Etta, since her ability to resist the Observers’ mental intrusions is something one would expect from Peter and Olivia’s offspring. But it may mean that she factors into the solution to the Observer problem in a different way. For example, what if September took Etta to protect her, and prepared her in some fashion as a failsafe?
It would be one way to overcome the obstacle that is presented by the end of the episode. Walter, though restored in “Letters of Transit”, is captured and tortured by Widmark, the Observer in charge of New York City (or so it seems). Widmark tries to learn about the plan to defeat the Observers, and in the process, “burns out” the portions of Walter’s brain that had the memories of September’s plan within them. That’s not good for many reasons, not the least of which is the implication for the resistance.
It also appears that Widmark is aware that elements of Fringe Division have been secretly working with the resistance, and one would expect that his discovery of Etta is going to lead to some future Broyles appearances. At least, one can hope so; his absence was palpable in this episode. It’s just one of the elements that the writers just don’t have time for; they have more than enough to cover as it is.
That fast-paced, densely-packed nature of the episode makes this a strong premiere, but it also means that it doesn’t quite exceed the sum of its parts. Everything about the episode points to exceptional material to come; it’s highly unlikely, at this stage of the game, that the series is going to disappoint. But one does hope that the pace can slow a bit, if only to ensure that the focus remains on the characters and their plight. There was a good deal of that in the premiere, but not as much as there could have been, and it was overshadowed at times by the need to introduce the plot elements for the final stretch.
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4
Final Rating: 8/10