Fringe 2.23 – Over There Part II – Season 2 Finale

May 222010

After the cliffhanger ending of Over There part 1 I’m thrilled and filled with anticipation for part 2 the season finale of Fringe. Walter had been shot and collapse outside a hospital. William Bell steps out of the shadows outside Alt-Olivia’s window and tell Olivia he has been expecting her (If it wasn’t for the high respect one have for his character and the actor playing him one could come up with other reasons an elderly man hangs outside a lovely young woman’s window) and Walter is in trouble. In addition to that Peter is about to help Walternate build a sinister world-busting-looking bomb that might be missing only the detonator and that missing piece might be Peter himself.

Roll the tape!

Worldbuilding

Airships are so cool, why don’t we have more of them? The Alterverse seems to have had much trouble with Fringe events; maybe their warlike reaction is not totally unfounded. On the surface it seems like Walter has a lot to atone for. I would not be too surprised if most of the Fringe damage in Alterverse stems from Bell’s and Walternet’s experiments through.

In many respect the tech levels in Alterverse is higher than us, they have fast healing drugs, exploding bullets, flexible touch pads and much more quite spiffy.

The differences between our two world where something to enjoy in this episode, I would like to learn more. Even the comics in the background was changed Red Lantern instead of Green.

Plot

The plot is that Walter and Olivia with the help of William Bell tries to save Peter before he blows up. Walternate and Alt-Olivia tries to stop them and Walternate follows his own agenda which seems to be the destruction of our universe. He almost tricks Peter into charging the power supply for the bomb, but Peter becomes suspicious when he realizes that it is attuned to one individual only – himself.

In the end William Bell powers their return trip to this universe, but Olivia was switched and Alt-Olivia took her place instead. It is not clear whether or not William Bell survived that.

In the end Alt-Olivia contacts Alterverse and asks for instructions via the Typewriter we have seen before. She gets them, but we are not allowed to see them yet.

Characterization

Yes, you do. I have thought of one hundred reasons…
why you should come back. To — to fight the shape-shifters,
to take care of Walter, to -
- to save the world. But in the end…
you have to come back.
Because you belong with me.

Anna Torv really gets to shine this episode; she plays both Agent Dunham and Alt-Olivia. First she confronts herself to learn where Peter is being kept but she is not very cooperative. Is it still a catfight if she fights herself? She also finally confesses her feelings for Peter and they kiss.

They’re our doubles, alternate version of ourselves,
but don’t be deceived, Olivia.
They’re monsters in our skin.
They’ll do anything,
say anything to gain our trust,
but they can’t be trusted.

Alt-Olivia is an interesting character; it feels like she has empathy and was about to realize that they didn’t have to be enemies at times. The first time she sees herself is such a good scene. She gets so psyched when she discover herself rescuing Walter on the security video at the hospital..

Them both talking about their families was also one of the many highlights.

Peter also did well in the character department. Meeting Alt-Olivia was a great scene and she escorts him to a safe house. How is she? Alt-Olivia asks interested in Olivia. She always tries to right some imagined wrong, haunted I guess …; The way Peter describe Olivia makes it clear how much she means to him.

Changing the Laws of Physics might be above my abilities.
Peter tells Walternet

Walternate is Alterverse’s Secretary of Defense and he is a cruel man, wonder if having his son taken caused that or if there is something else behind it? The way he treats Olivia in that dark isolation chamber when she plead and beg to be let out is cold. How is the political system in Alterverse? I get a feeling it is much more totalitarian than here? What do you think?

Harvard is on the edge of a Fringe zone of people frozen in a brown field. It’s there Walternet has been trying to find a way to travel the universes. How much of the damage to Alterverse is he responsible for?

Bell to Walter about Olivia
We accomplished a lot together, but she might be our greatest accomplishment

Walter finally got to confront Bell about his memory, and the answer didn’t surprise. You asked me.

Peter has not forgiven Walter but he is not angry any more. You did cross universes twice to save my life he tells him.

My View

Over There was an excellent season finale, it explained a lot but it also created new questions. The introduction of the alt team is great. I can imagine all kinds of wonderful uses for this next season; we might even get to see the two teams work together? Is it a Multiverse?

Once again Fringe proves that it is the best SF show around!

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Fringe 2.22 – Over There Part 1

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May 182010

The alternative universe we plunge into has the same characters but with different roles. Here they are in some kind of rapid deployment force for dimensional rifts. They operate out of a place quite like Stargate Command or Threshold’s HQ. I must say Olivia looks good in red hair. They work on that universe’s Fringe Division. But they don’t know about the other universe until Olivia and her team crosses over and they find a 20 dollar bill on a corpse that didn’t make it across and Walternet tells them the truth about the other side.

Olivia and Walter travel to the other side with the help of her fellow Jacksonville kids. To somehow return with Peter before he explodes like a bomb. Before they cross the kids get a night on the town where I get a Heroes wibe with their superpowers. Olivia takes farewell of her nice and sister before leaving. Walter Prime continues to convince. He is quite convincing as he lead them to the other side.

They cross over about the same time Peter wakes up on the other side, he doesn’t know he is a bomb that can destroy the universe, and at least he gets to see his mother.

One thing I wonder over is the other side why do they have rationing? They seem so much more technologically advanced than us.

Walternet wants Peter to help him with building a bomb to destroy our universe/planet, that is my guess. What Peter doesn’t know is that he will fuel the bomb and it is finished ready to go.

Olivia’s team set up a meeting with Bell but they are betrayed. Walter and Olivia escapes. Olivia follows alt-Olivia to her apartment and while she stands there Bell shows up, telling her Walter is in trouble.
Interesting times, I can’t wait to this week’s season finale.

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[Female Protagonists on SciFi TV] Olivia Dunham in Fringe

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May 072010

How fitting isn’t it to start this new series of post with Olivia in Fringe, one of my favorite shows.

Olivia Dunham is played by the talented Anna Torv

When I first meet Olivia she was about to become engaged to fellow FBI agent John Scott, played by Mark Valley (Boston Legal, Human Target). John is killed after being exposed to a flesh-dissolving agent, but no one is ever completely dead in Fringe. In a desperate attempt to find out where he was affected Olivia link her mind with his dying mind in a strange experiment by Walter Bishop, a scientist fresh out of the loony bin. For a while Olivia mistakes John’s memories as her own.

As a result of that and her general competence she is recruited to a multi-agency task force called the Fringe Division. Where she works together with Peter Bishop, his crazy scientist father Walter and Walter’s assistant Astrid (she is supposed to be Olivia’s assistant) . Homeland Security Special Agent Philips Broyles is the head of the Division.

In the first season she was still deeply affected by her fiancées death but there was a definite chemistry with Peter that develops further in season two.

At the end of season one we learned about another dimension where the two twin towers still stands. Olivia went there to meet William Bell played by Leonard Nimoy, he calls her the Guardian of the Gateway. Season two’s arc is about stopping an invasion from the other dimension so that might have significance.

As a small child Olivia was subject to experiments by Walter and his partner William Bell. We learned about them in season two when a case brought them back there. As a result she can see a shimmer around people from another dimension. She also have other more unspecified psychic powers, once as a child she burned out a whole room with her mind, and she has defused a bomb also with her mind.

Nine years old Olivia shot her abusive stepfather but he survived and disappeared, she has said she knew from she was nine what she wanted to do when she grew up.

Olivia has a niece she cares much about named Ella daugther of Olivia’s sister Rachel. We see more of Ella than her mother even though they stayed at Olivia in season one.

At the moment she is struggling with Peter, she understands he is from the other dimension when she sees him glimmer, Walter asks her not to tell him, but he finds out anyway and takes off by himself. I haven’t seen this weeks episode but I expect him to be back in her life before this season is over.

I like Olivia she is a resourceful agent that show her human side and I know I am going to enjoy the upcoming finale. Season three is already in the bag.

Other posts on Female Protagonists on SciFi TV

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New & Returning TV This Week (May 3 -9)

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May 032010

It is still a bit early for the networks to announce their cuts, renewals and orders but that is planed to happen mid May unless the news leak out early. Rumors last week say that Heroes has been renewed for a final season already, personally I couldn’t care less

Last weeks sad news is that Legend of the Seeker and 10 Things I Hate About You have been canceled. The later might not upset many of you but LOTS will be missed by many.

I put the videos at the end.

Monday April 3

Monday is a good day for us genre viewers in sheer quality.

Chuck vs the Role Models (NBC) takes the newlyweds into training with another married pair of Agents, but they hate each other which screws up Chuck and Sarah’s mushy minds. Meanwhile Casey is supposed to train their new agent, Morgan. I am already smiling in anticipation. [Video below]

The Big Bang Spegetti Catalyst (CBS) features Sheldon as the in between. Leonard and Penny aren’t speaking and Sheldon tries to keep them both happy which is sure to amuse, a lot. [video below]

Castle (ABC) has Food to Die for when a high profile chef is found Frozen to death in the Kitchen of a hot NY resturant. Complications ensure as Castle and the restaurant owner, an old high school girlfriend of Beckett, share an attraction. Meanwhile, Beckett’s relationship with Detective Demming continues to grow. This looks like a great episode, the whole dynamic between Beckett and Castle is what makes Castle such a enjoyable show. [Videos below]

Of the non SF series you might want to check out Romantically Challenged (ABC) or Rules of Engagement (CBS). They go to a high school reunion respective look for a surrogate mother.

Tuesday May 4

It’s sad that the genre shows on Tuesdays don’t hold as much for me as the non-genre shows do.

In V the aliens tries to win the Hearts and Minds with the creepy live aboard program, Anna invites Tyler to join. Time for the freezers? The V sends a shuttle load of deadly V trackers after the fifth column and they have to stop it before it can land, unfortunately they might have been missinformed. V is on the bubble for renewal/cancellation and I don’t care about the numbers as much as the networks do but so far V has failed to hook me in, I hope that it will soon. It worries me I couldn’t find any action shots in the promotional photos. [videos below]

Lost shows the Candidate but I am not following that show. All the fans are excited about the series finale that is coming up now in May.

In NCIS (CBS) Anthony DiNozzo finds lady trouble in Obssesion.

Glee (FOX) is about Bad Reputation as a certain list circulate the school and Sue’s private music video of Olivia Newton-John’s classic ‘Physical’ surfaces.

Peter’s electronic monitor goes off as he chases The Good Wife (CBS) out of the apartment and her kids are covering for him. Alicia has her job cut out for her, again. This redemption thing works so well and the talented cast is a joy. [videos below]

In Justified Raylan invest the apparent suicide of a financial wizard, Owen Carnes. The widow Caryn knows more than she is letting on, making the case hard on Raylan. [video below]

Wednesday May 5

When his father chops off his hand Deputy Tommy Conroy is reluctantly forced to take over as the new sheriff of Haplin, the Happy Town. He has to investigate the recent murder and the return of the little towns dirty little secret serial killer, the Magic Man. Meanwhile perky Henley is determined to get to the secret third floor of the Boarding house. [video below]

You might want to check out Cougar Town where they consider friends with benefits.

Thursday May 6

After last weeks ‘musical’ episode Fringe is back to normal. Peter helps local law enforcement with a serial killer investigation with ties to Newton. Meanwhile Walter have to deal with maybe having to go back to the loony bin. Someone from the ‘other side’ pay’s a visit using the Northwest Passage? I wonder if we get any Peter – Walter resolution this episode? Do you know? [video below]

Supernatural (CW) is Two Minutes to Midnight when Bobby sells his soul to Crowley to avoid the Apocalypse and the Winchesters tangle with Pestilence who puts a deadly virus on them forcing Castiel to intervene. Dean goes head to head with Death and forms an unholy alliance at a high price for himself, in the hunt for the four rings they need to put the devil back into his underworld cage. Mark Sheppard who plays Crowley is such a glorious bastard, I can see where this is heading. [video below]

FlashForward goes on my save-to-watch pile, in the hope they will be better if I watch them all together. Someone is murdering the people that think they survived their flash forward fates and Mark helps Simon track down his missing sister.

Isobel returns to Mystic Falls in Vampire Diaries (CW). Mother and daughter finally meets, but Isobel refuses to answer most of Elena’s question but reveals she isn’t going to stop at nothing to find the mysterious invention Johnathan Gilbert has been searching for. Isobel’s dangerous actions lead Stefan, Damon and Bonnie to step in and help Elena deal with the situation.

Friday May 7

Friday is still SciFi Friday, but that might change next season. Syfy has allready decided to move it’s SciFi shows to Tuesdays when they return in autumn.

SGU is about Sabotage when one of the twelve FTL drive modules on the Destiny explode due to an overload, the crew calls upon a brilliant scientist from Earth to help find a solution. Nothing about what happened to Eli, Chloe and Scott? They where stranded at the end of last episode I would like to see how that play out. [video below]

Much to Clark’s surprise Martha Kent returns to Smallville with her new boyfriend Perry White. Perry and Lois get into trouble perusing a story about the Red Queen while Clark and Chloe search for the Book of Rao, which they think contains information they need to stop Zod. As the episode is named Hostage I think you can see where this is going.

Take a look at Gravity on Starz if you have the possibility.

Ariel becomes alarmed as she starts to loose large chunks of time in her life on Medium.

Melissa investigates an unresolved kidnapping that put her at more danger than anticipated in Ghost Whisperer.

Saturday May 8

We are lucky to have Legend of the Seeker on Saturdays, this week Rhal capture Cara and turn her against Richard as the Series Finale approach in Eternity. Richard and Kahlan discover the Stone of Tears is in a magical land from which they cannot leave; a surprise reunion lures Cara and Zedd into a deadly confrontation… I always thought Goodkin’s books where on the kinky side and this looks like another kinky episode. [video below]

The Doctor is recruited by Father Octavian to track the last of the Weeping Angels through the terrifying Maze of the Dead in this weeks on BBCA Doctor Who. As the Time Lord faces the Lonely Assassins, last seen in Blink, River Song is by his side. But can she be trusted?

Sunday May 9

No science fiction on Sundays, yet. Try Treme you might like it.

Click Continue for the Videos

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New on TV in May 2010

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Apr 302010

May is a month of season finales and renewal and pilot-to-series announcements. Not much new at least not scripted and science fiction. The only new non-reality series I found was this drama-comedy The Good Guy from FOX. It’s a a new action comedy about what happens when an old-school cop and a modern-day detective expose the big picture of small crime. It looks promising (more of it at the end of the post).

Returning tv series. Ashes to Ashes season two premieres May 11, but thats not a show I am following. Past Life is expected to return with the remaining episodes after it’s first run was prematurely canceled, expect it to suck.

Legend of the Seeker has its Series Finale Saturday May 22 since it’s been canceled (Read the post). I have really enjoyed the series even if it wasn’t perfect all the time. Richard, Kahlan and Zed, you will be missed.

It’s time for Season Finales now as spring hits nature here on the northern hemisphere. Supernatural, Vampire Diaries, Smallville, Chuck, Castle, V, Ghost Whisperer, Medium, Lost, The Big Bang Theory and FlashForward all spring their’s season finales in May. Most of them are expected to return but I doubt that FlashForward will and some other shows are still on the bubble Chuck and V for example.

Of the finales I am especially looking forward to the Apocalypse on Supernatural.

A few non SF shows I follow is also ending their season NCIS, House, Cougar Town, Bones, Gossip Girl, The Good Wife, Two and a Half Men and The Mentalist. Hmm, wonder if Two and a Half Men will be back, Charlie Sheen might want to get out according to the papers?

Recaps of April: Many of my favorite series returned after hiatus. Fringe came back with the truth about Peter arc, it’s better than ever. SGU picked up the pace and returned with aliens and a whole new positive beat, worth watching. Chuck and Sarah are finally together, and yes they are still spies (so are Morgan and Casey – on a mission together). Chuck has been fantastic this season. Two new shows you should try are Romantically Challenged, a comedy of four friends staring the talented and funny Alyssa Milano and Gravity, a comedy show about suicide and two star crossed and quirky people that meet through a suicide support group. Treme on sundays is also new and worth a non SF watch, great music. Happy Town is not a comedy, I am watching the premiere as I write this. It was okay, I will watch a few more episodes before I write a review. I also watched the first two episodes of Miami Medical but wasn’t impressed. Did I miss anything good?

The God Guy – A New Comedy on FOX

Premieres May 19, looks promising enough for me to give it a try.

From Matt Nix (“Burn Notice”), comes THE GOOD GUYS, a new action comedy about what happens when an old-school cop and a modern-day detective expose the big picture of small crime.

Once upon the 1970s, DAN STARK (Bradley Whitford) and his partner, Frank Savage, were big-shot Dallas detectives. So big, in fact, that they were lauded as American heroes after saving the Governor’s son. Thirty years later, Dan Stark is a washed-up detective who spends most of his time drunk or re-hashing his glory days. A stranger to modern police work who would much rather trust his old-school police instincts, Dan has the reputation as being a bit of a wild card. Able to skate by on the heroic deeds of his yesteryear, he is still a semi-active presence on the force, and with the help of his liquor of choice, occasionally comes through to solve a petty crime.

Dan’s new partner, JACK BAILEY (Colin Hanks), is an ambitious, by-the-book and overall good detective, but is sometimes a bit too snarky for his own good. His habit of undermining himself has earned him a dead-end position in the department, and he is stuck solving annoying petty theft cases that nobody else wants. Worse, he’s been given the thankless task of babysitting Dan, the drunk pariah who can never keep partners for long. Jack may not see it, but he has little chance of getting out of his situation; his knack for making enemies at the station has assured he is not going anywhere.

His only ally is ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY LIZ TRAYNOR (Jenny Wade), a quick witted former girlfriend whom Jack hasn’t quite gotten over and the one person he turns to for help with his current professional predicament. Until Jack finds his way out of this situation, he is stuck awaiting the day when he can turn everything around, get back to solving actual cases and return to being a real detective.

On one fairly typical day, as Jack and Dan are pursuing a Code 58, the Dallas police code for routine investigations, which puts them hot on the case of a stolen humidifier, they inadvertently become engaged in a shootout over a stolen golf bag belonging to a notorious drug smuggler. This starts Jack and Dan on a wild chase to retrieve the bag, recover the contents inside and go after the drug smuggler – all while dodging his hired assassin!

The excitement of the case reminds Dan of the way he and Frank busted punks back in the good old days, and he convinces Jack to go along for the ride. Needless to say, many departmental rules are again broken in the reckless pursuit, showing their boss, LIEUTENANT ANA RUIZ (Diana Maria Riva), that Jack and Dan will be spending many more days in the Property Crimes Division, assigned to investigate seemingly minor crimes in order to keep them out of major trouble.

It’’s going to be a fantastic month with all these season finales!

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Fringe is Back Better than Ever

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Apr 072010

A Review of Fringe Episode 2.16 – Peter

What a marvelous emotional episode. Fringe really comes back with a bang.

Walter has always been my favorite character and this episode is further proof of his excellence. Olivia discovered that Peter was from the other dimension before the hiatus and Walter asked her not to tell him.

In this episode we get to follow Walter back to 1985 as he tells Olivia how it came about, starting with him showing the military a digital mobile (they where not invented 1985) and explaining to them that it was from another more technologically advanced dimension. I was a bit surprised they didn’t show more of a reaction at that.

From the beginning in Fringe I saw Walter as rather unfeeling and only caring about his research, but he has gradually become more and more a ’sensitive’ guy, with quirks of course. In this episode he totally redeem himself, before he donated parts of his brain to others he was a caring father that loved his son very much. So much in fact, that after his Peter died, he tried to save Peter in the other dimension, never intending to bring him over to our world.

So the Bald Men makes mistakes … Interesting to know

Great episode, lots of questions are answered and a big part of the back story is explained in this episode. You should definitely watch it.

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