Last night, the tingly, penultimate episode of Fringe for the season made a few sly references to one of its producers’ pet projects (that would be Star Trek), delivered by everyone’s favorite cult star, Clint Howard. But in an episode peppered with conspiracy theories, Stephen King as prescient science, and Frankenberry, these were just the least of the hour’s pleasures.
Things are really chugging along, as we learned more about the ZFT manifesto co-authored by Dr. William Bell (next-week guest-star Leonard Nimoy) and Walter. Olivia’s odious, chrome-dome boss (no, not Broyles, Harris) turned out to be a heinous villain. Blair Brown’s Nina was shot (drugged?) by two ski-masked men, Walter went off with a suddenly-chatty Observer, and Olivia started having hallucinations that suggested someone might be trying to “activate” her via the Cortexiphan emplanted in her by Walter and William Bell when she was a kid.
And did we already know that Massive Dynamic is the Defense Department’s “largest contractor”?
The other night on The Colbert Report, Colbert asked J.J. Abrams if he could get into Fringe now, without having an information chip implanted in his brain to enable him to catch up on its complexities. I say, maybe not if next week’s finale is your first visit, Stephen, but you should definitely start watching on Hulu.
| The Colbert Report | Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| J.J. Abrams | ||||
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Did you watch Fringe last night? Are you, as Walter might say, psyched for next week’s finale? All theories about what last night meant and what next week might resolve are most welcome. Thanks.
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And let’s not forget, Clint Howard was Balok on the (Star Trek)original series episode “The Corbomite Maneuver.”
I love this show! Last night’s episode was the perfect set-up for what is promising to be an awesome finale! I hope Nina isn’t dead!
I really enjoy this show! Last night was stellar.
I’ve got to tell you, I don’t think I’ve ever relished a villain’s demise as much as I relished Harris bursting into flames. I think I may have cheered.
I love Fringe and I loved last night’s episode. This show has the perfect mix of mystery, creepiness, gore, irony, and humor. And it is very well-paced. This show isn’t getting enough deserved attention. I’m sticking with Lost for the long haul, but I look forward to new episodes of Fringe more than Lost right now.
I don’t think Nina is dead. She still has a story to tell. I’m glad they killed Harris. I wanted to punch him in the face. Looking forward to next week’s finale though. Looks super awesome!
I love this show. Walter is great. Peter is great. I love Olivia.
One thing I wanted to see last night though was to have Olivia take Harris down. I did not want him to go up in flames. She could have busted him in the chops and them slapped the cuffs on him.
I watched it. I cheered Harris’ death as well. I really hated that guy. Loved the Star Trek mentions. Loved Peter’s gift for Walter; it’s nice to see those two getting along. Broyles had things to do! Yay! I’m sooo stoked for the finale! Bring on, Mr. Spock…I mean William Bell!
Oh, and Walter crying? Heartbreaking.
I am pretty excited about the finaly. I started watching this show from the get go and there was a point where I thought they were going in the wrong direction. However I feel thaey have brought it back on track. There are quite a few things that have been forgotten. Like what happened to Agent Scott? We know he died but MD has been holding him. Also there were a couple unresolved episodes although linked to the whole story never quite resolved. I am really excited for not only the seaspon finally but next season. If anyone has watched this show from the beging I highly recomend you take this summer break to catch up for next season. Lastly, does anyone else think Dunham will keep this vision gift?
Fringe has replaced Lost as the only show that causes me to say “Whoa!” and “What the F?!” out loud, and several times during the hour. My only wish is that American Idol would stop going long, therefore cutting off the final moments from my DVR.
OMG! I didn’t see the Harris is involved bomb they dropped coming.. but I did see him going up in flames once he locked O in the room… So burning question: Who did Harris call b/f he burned up?
I think W.B. is in another dimension. whether trapped there or willingly there I dunno..
Do you think Olive is the only one to be surviving, nay, thriving, after being activated ? it seems the ’soldiers’ have one specialty (i.e. empathy or pyrokinesis or telekinesis, etc.) But Olive seems to have a little bit of it all..
I LOVE THIS SHOW & it warms my heart to see Peter coming around to Walter.. it’s been a gradual & believable transition. Excellently played by Josh Jackson
one of the better shows currently on the telly… i watch fringe and the bf checks in now and then, but he actually cheered when harris went up in flames! peter ‘reading’ the glass was freaky; i got the creeps when the voices became audible. i teared a little towards the end when walter began to cry and peter put his hand on his. and then when walter left with the observer… ominous! can’t wait for the finale!!!
I, too, can’t wait for the finale, altho, I hate seeing it end for the season. Also, to Tina: You’ll have to be in Fringe for the long haul, Lost ends next season. I love Lost as well and will miss it very much when its run is over.
to ccc: I know I just meant that I have watched Lost from the beginning. And I do plan on watching Fringe until the end. I can’t wait for the season finale! I also meant to say that I think Joshua Jackson is really good. I love his character. And I think next season, his skeletons will start falling out of the closet.
h is for holy crap.
awesome show.
joshua jackson is soooooooo handsome i just want to cry.
Harris going up in flames was surprisingly satisfying. Walter has quickly become my favourite character on the show, he is not afraid to show every emotion, he’s both heartbreaking and truly funny. John Noble deserves an Emmy!
Did we know about the parallel dimensions before last night? I’m usually pretty observant with the plot hints, but I feel like I missed that one completely. This feels like one of the main points of the show, and I completely missed it, and I hate that! lol
Fringe is THISCLOSE to becoming my next Lost-esque obsession. I really dug last night’s episode. My theory is that Olivia can peer into alternate universes–and might even be able to access and enter them. But I think the cliffhanger will have something to do with the revelation that Peter Bishop was a clone baby–and that he shares a hive mind intelligence with his clone siblings. That’s why he’s so smart.
this show has really been hitting its stride lately with the whole ZFT thing. I think that William Bell and Walter originated the manifesto but it got hijaked by this ZFT organization and now Bell is fighting to stop them.
Did anyone notice that when the Observer came for Walter that Walter actually got Astrid’s name correct for the first time?
I say The Report when Abrams said that, and I was telling myself “Are you kidding me?” Sure it isn’t a mindf#$% like LOST, but Fringe is a complex show.
Definitively one of the best new shows of the seasons, glad it’s coming back!
Who said sci-fi was dead!
http://tvdonewright.com/2009/05/06/tv-tonight-wednesday-may-6th/
This show if fast becoming a favorite. It has certainly gotten better as the year progressed. I just love Walter’s flashes of sanity and realization of what he has done in the past, mingled with his crazy cravings and ideas. It is a truly original character. Peter is growing on me. I disliked him early on because I so hated Dawson’s Creek, but his invention last night for his dad was nice. I’m so glad the show was renewed.
As a matter of fact, I did notice that, and even commented on the fact to my daughter.
Great episode. The Trek references were priceless. I was hoping to see Howard drinking orange juice, but I supppose that was too much to expect.
Onward to next week! I better get me some Walter. My week’s not the same without him.
Doc- I’m with you on betting the cliffhanger has something to do with Peter’s past. I guess it was something about Olivia’s conversation with Walter that raised an antennae- I immediately thought that if Walter were experimenting with and readying a group of children for the coming “war”, he MUST have included Peter somehow, whether be it clone-related or being yet another child subject in the Jacksonville experimentations.
I love this show, however I’m wondering now that it’s getting a second season if we can get a recap on it!!! Doc Jensen’s recaps are half of the reason I understand Lost. I feel like I’m losing something here (like theories on the title card codes that we found out from your sessions at Paley Fest).
I love Walter, his character is my reason for watching. I’ve watched this show from the beginning and I have no trouble following the plot lines. I am crazy waiting for next week. William Bell played by Nimoy would be a crowning jewel.
Arguably the most revealing Fringe episode yet. I don’t believe it was necessarily a fantastic episode, but certainly solid and certainly fast-paced and engaging. If there is any time to start watching, it’s now. Answers are now starting to arise, more conflicts have been revealed, and secrets confirmed. What an excellent show.
Someone needs a writing class. . . .”Walter and William Bell”??? Are they married? Aside from poor editing on the article, the show is terrific. ;o)
A Doc Jensen TV Watch would be totally great like BONNIE said, the reason i understand LOST is because of you Jensen…Loved the entire season, loved last nights episode, and cant wait, for what should be as the promos stated, a mind boggling season finale…