Fringe: A Mid-Season Ramble

Now that we’re on the mid-season break on many of my favorite shows, I thought I’d take a moment to look back. . and forward. . and sidewise. It’s a Mid-Season Ramble and I begin with Fringe.

A Trail of Breadcrumbs

That’s what Abrams has been leaving us since Fringe premiered. There are clues to the clues hidden in every episode and in various places online. But in the fall finale the breadcrumbs led us to a cliffhanger that, while not end of the season worthy, certainly gave the show a nice holiday send off.

Olivia is in the hand of the bad guys — or is she? Hard to tell with this show. What I’m looking for is Peter’s reaction when he find out. He has an obvious affection for Olivia but right now I think it’s more brotherly than anything else. Peter is smart and more protective and nurturing than he pretends to be. We know that he’s come some abandonment issues (Walter!) but there’s so much more about his past that we don’t know. Why the nomadic lifestyle and who is he hiding from? He’s not hiding because he’s a coward. We’ve seen him throw himself into harm’s way time and time again. So what’s up with that?

Peter, Peter, Peter

What I love about Peter’s character is that he truly is a valued member of the team and not just Walter’s caretaker. He as mad skills and he plays the piano! But what about all of Walter’s memories of Peter’s childhood?  From accidents to a near-death health crisis to boxes of toys that don’t belong. . . I sometimes wonder if there was another son. Could Peter have had a twin? An older sibling who died? Or has Peter been brainwashed to forget something awful that happened in his childhood.  We know Walter experimented on him and still Peter is trying so hard to understand this man. Still looking for daddy’s love and approval which could be pathetic but doesn’t come across that way at all.

As for Walter, he’s a love him or hate him kind of guy and I love him. Like Oppenheimer and the men who created the atomic bomb, Walter is so wrapped up in the ‘can I’, that he doesn’t think about the ’should I.’  That’s a dangerous playground. We’ve seen that many of Walter’s discoveries come with a high price tag. You can walk through walls but do it often enough and you’ll glow like a nightlight. Side effects may include nausea, dizziness and an exploding brain.

Which leads me back to Olivia who is living with John Scott’s memories thanks to her communion with the recently dead. (Torchwood glove, anyone?) Massive Dynamics wants those memories, but why?  What did Scott know that they didn’t and what about Astrid!?

And What About Naomi?

Seriously, can we get this girl out into the field, please? Or at least let her have one night of wild sex with Peter.  She’s the hardest working person on the team — always handling the grunt work and getting none of the glory. Cow brushing? And can we talk about the time Walter drugged her? I say it’s time for Astrid to have her own storyline. Her and Charlie, cause I like him too. (And I fear his days may be numbered as we’ll need to sock it to Olivia again before the end of the series.)

All in all, I’m happy with where Fringe has taken me.  I’m confused, and I probably won’t “get it” when all is revealed in the end, but I’m okay with that too. Right now, I’m enjoying the cool science, the creepy edge, the spurts of action and the wry humor.

Yeah, I’m a happy Fringe fan.  How about you? 

Cr: George Holz/Craig Blankenhorn/FOX