Contributor: John Keegan
Written by Alison Schapker
Directed by Dennis Smith
Ever since the very beginning of the series, the question of the boundaries of the human mind has been at the forefront. Parallel to that has been the exploration of ethical scientific progress. What is the cost of unrestrained technological advancement, in terms of society, individual lives and the human psyche?
It’s fitting that Peter’s decision to beat the Observers at their own game would, indirectly, show us how the Observers themselves are the ultimate expression of the show’s thematic core. The writers avoid the problem of peeling back the layers on the villains too much by keeping them mysterious, while also showing us how they came to be, and how they operate. It’s a fine line that has been maintained extremely well.
Peter’s slow but steady conversion over the past few episodes tells us the important thing about the Observers: they are humans who decided to advance their mental capacities through self-evolution, developing and inserting the tech that allows them to compute at a rate and level well above current understanding. And one could argue, given their clinical approach to invasion and casual taking of lives, that the fears of ZFT, for example, have come to pass.
Back in the first season, the warnings were repeated often: unbridled technological progress would lead to the destruction of human civilization. And sure enough, the Observers eventually destroyed Earth, rendering it uninhabitable. And even if they are from an alternate timeline, as some have suggested, their tactics betray a short-sighted inability to reconsider choices. Instead of coming back to the past to correct mistakes, they simply compound them.
One thing seems clear: the Fringe Team is not responsible for the creation of the Observers. I had thought, perhaps, that Peter’s choice would be the catalyst; however, it was designed instead to demonstrate his grieving process and open up the awareness of what the Observers are. It parallels, in time, Olivia’s own journey. But it does mean that the tech originates from somewhere, and there is a fairly obvious source.
ZFT was all about using technology, forbidden or otherwise, to prepare for a time when technology would outstrip societal ethics. For much of the series, this was expressed as a war with Alt-Fringe. But that war was effectively against the technology that was developed by William Bell for Walternate to use against his apparent enemy (Fringe Prime). Massive Dynamic was tied into all of it, both in terms of developing the technology and finding a way to combat it.
Hiding in plain sight, however, was the more important war against the Observers. There are clues all throughout the series, especially in the first two seasons, that the Observers were going to be the real problem. And sure enough, they are an issue far and above Alt-Fringe. Yet one could then argue: if that was actually the real threat, and if William Bell was the architect behind Alt-Fringe, could he also be the one that creates the proto-tech for the Observers?
Now that Walter has Observer tech in his hands, I wouldn’t be shocked if his examination of it reveals familiar design principles. It might even bear the mark that Bell apparently leaves on his creations (as seen in “Brave New World”). If Bell was willing to use biological modification to create a new humanity for a new world, why not make a second attempt via the tech? It fits the pattern (pun entirely intended).
That was just one element of the episode worth pursuing. Those looking for a time when Olivia would resume center stage in the story should be pleased with the implications of these events, since she is the one who brings Peter back from the abyss. She also seems to have her own faith in humanity restored, between her meeting with Simone. I see Olivia being the one to drive the rest of the season towards its conclusion.
That’s not to say the episode was perfect. It hinged on messy plot contrivances, such as Olivia’s little trick with the compressed air and the bullet. Olivia is clever, but physics can only be bent so much. It would have been more believable, given her speech to Simone, if the situation had somehow re-activated her Cortexiphan abilities. And never mind how Peter could possibly rip the tech out of his brain stem without passing out in the attempt or, with success, killing himself!
Regardless, it takes what could have been a superior episode and renders it merely above-average. A lot of progress was made towards turning the season towards its final act. As one would expect, the middle of the season arc was all about the characters losing themselves in the wake of Etta’s murder, and now that they are finding themselves again, it’s time for the transition into the final confrontation with the Observers.
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4
Final Score: 8/10