The conclusion of this week’s Fringe — and the remarkable amount of information crammed into the coming attractions for next week’s season finale — was so startling, it’s difficult to regroup and pull back. But we have to take the full measure of “The Last Sam Weiss” to truly appreciate its shocker ending.
Last week’s episode “6:02 AM EST” did a number of surprising things in matters of both plot (the revelation that Walternate could start the doomsday machine from his universe; Nina explaining more of what she knew about the imminent doomsday, via Sam Weiss, to Olivia) and pace (the quick rejection of Peter by the machine, after such a dramatic build-up, was so clever I laughed aloud at its blunt wit; the way the hour made room for Walter to pray on his newfound, “White Tulip” inspired faith was daring and moving). And here let me pause and apologize to you for not writing a recap of “6:02 AM EST”; I was out of the country — believe me, it felt like a third alt-universe there.
This week’s Fringe was equally surprising in its plotting and pacing, but not, by now, in the extraordinary degree of intense emotion. As I’ve said before, one big reason Fringe can stand with the great sci-fi and fantasy shows is the way it invests these frequently cold, pessimistic genres with warmth and optimism. The hour began by lighting a fire in the sky (in the form of “dry lightning storms” sparked by the alt-universe’s remote machine ignition) and by lighting a fire under Sam Weiss: Kevin Corrigan and Anna Torv made a terrific pair, early on, chasing after “the key,” “the crowbar,” that would unlock secrets to the machine that had repelled Peter and landed him in the hospital.
It was fun to learn that generations of Sam Weisses have possessed and increased the First People-based knowledge, and this week, the current, “last” Sam was shaken out of his usual bowling-alley cocksureness. (Although his bowling skills came in handy during a ridiculously funny, Indiana Jonesy moment when he wedged a large museum vase under a closing gate to enable the pair’s freedom.) He was as startled as Olivia was to discover that our O., not a piece of tech, was the crowbar — it was her powers of telekinesis that could override the pre-programmed machine’s defense mechanisms. She was also able to harness her abilities to use the Selectric 251 typewriter. (The series-recurring “Be a better man than your father” popped into her head as the test phrase to type.)
Walter was the one who gave Olivia the confidence to use those powers. He’s now almost completely redeemed himself for his early sins of experimenting on little Olive and other children, by attaining self-knowledge (as when he spoke of “embrac[ing] those parts [of himself] that are peculiar and broken”) and passing on faith to Olivia (“You have no idea how extraordinary you are,” he told her; “You don’t fail”).
And it was Walter who proved more valuable than Sam Weiss in sussing out possible solutions to Walternate’s other-side manipulations. Walter is now so self-possessed that he commanded sufficient conviction to make Broyles move our machine from Massachusetts to the parallel location of Walternate’s — Liberty Island.
For all its intensity, this episode never forsook Fringe-humor: Walter lured from Peter’s bedside with the promise of tapioca; his glee at finding classic old fruit cocktail; his flying a kite, inspired by Benjamin Franklin. (And hearty congratulations to Jasika Nicole for being John Noble’s nimble partner-in-laffs as the always essential Astrid.)
Viewers who’ve been a bit frustrated with the season’s emphasis on the two Olivias to what some have felt is the detriment of the “one” Peter would have to admit that this week’s hour placed Peter at the heart and soul of the episode. Peter found his way (via an $800 cab ride) to the New York pawnshop where he grasped the Walking Liberty half-dollar that’s figured in previous episodes as a talisman signifying that there is more than one of everything. And it was Peter who took Olivia’s hand and led her to the machine — they were united in both love and in heroic purpose. In this context, his delivery of the line, “Don’t say I never took you anywhere” was delivered by Joshua Jackson with a debonair suaveness worthy of Cary Grant. As for the conclusion of the episode — well, a lot of you Commenters have jumped on me in the past for using the phrase “mind-blowing,” but don’t you think it fits here? Leaping ahead 15 years, introducing time travel to Fringe, suggesting, if I’m not mistaken, a “yellow” universe containing elements of the “blue” and “red” ones we’ve now seen so much of — it was all both startling and thrilling. I also have a very strong idea who dies next week, don’t you?
How grateful I am that there’s one more episode plus one more full season of Fringe in our future.
Twitter: @kentucker
I agree with the ending, it was definitely unexpected! Although, honestly for some reason I don’t have a lot of expectations when it comes to Fringe. I mean that in a good way though! Basically, I enjoy it so much every week and have yet to really have the slightest idea to where they are going with their stories, that I don’t even bother trying to figure it out.
Not mind blowing at all. X-Men and other comics have been doing exactly this sort of story for 30 years. And then Heroes ripped it off. So it’s old hat now.
I didn’t think it was mind blowing either. For some reason I’m not liking this season as much as the others. There’s just too much Anna Torv, who is not a great actress (I know I’ll get slammed for that but that’s my opinion). I’m hoping the two worlds do merge or the alt universe is destroyed because the storyline has become a bit stale. I got a weird feeling that it’s going to be “Astrid” who dies, though I hope not.
Oh please. X-Men ripped it off from someone else too. It’s science fiction. The tropes have been in circulation forever. Whatever you think is original, really isn’t. Some other science fiction classic has already been there first. (And no, X-Men is NOT a science fiction original.)
(Was anyone here born before 1990? Just wondering…)
Haven’t seen all the X-Men, but it did remind me of the Heroes finale that ended in the future. I don’t praise Fringe because I think they are coming up with brand new ideas. I already know these ideas/stories are not brand new, but it’s Fringe’s execution of these ideas that I find praiseworthy.
But it was still an unexpected ending for this episode, and we still don’t know what it all means yet either. Is it a third universe? It is it simply the future of ours? Is it a mash-up of the two universes we’ve seen (remember) the snowglobes smashed together?
Heck, Sam’s playing with that Newton’s Cradle has me wondering if there aren’t FIVE universes about to collide together!
It’s not the actual concept of time travel that’s mind blowing, in the context of this show its was a WTF moment and was definitely worthy of that title. And yeah, time travel definitely existed way before X-Men, and comics in general. Just because it’s a concept that’s been done before doesn’t mean it wasn’t an awesome ending.
No one mentions either “Terminator: TSCC” or “Doll House” when discussing cliff-hanger endings showing a vast forbidding future? Who ARE you people?
Samara,
I was born before 1990 – 1961 in fact. I grew up watching a black & white Lost in Space. They also time traveled in an episode.
I agree with Danielle. Loved last night’s episode. Also, to the person that doesn’t think Anna Torv is a good actress, how do explain this entire season?? I know it’s your opinion, but I don’t get it at all. That moment with Walter and Olivia last night was beautiful, and will be one of my favorite moments this season.
I also love Anna Torv – just my opinion though. And that scene between John Noble and Torv was a thing of beauty!
Anna Torv has grown on me slowly over the past 3 seasons, to the point that I now can’t take my eyes off her when she’s on screen. I think she’s wonderful.
Agreed. She is amazing. Torv is the rare example of a strong female lead that isn’t annoying (*cough Lost’s Kate cough*)
Walternate is full of venom, and it is most delicious.
Anna Torv is one of the best and most underrated actresses… she’s essentially played 5 different characters this season: Olivia, Fauxlivia, Olivia drugged into thinking she is Fauxlivia, Fauxlivia pretending to be Olivia, and Bellivia. And she’s done an amazing job with each. As for this season not being the best, I personally think Fringe gets better each year, and that this is its best season so far.
The twist kinda messed me up though. Not a highly original idea, no, but I did NOT expect something like that to happen. To be honest, I had no idea wtf was gonna happen when Peter got into that machine, and it was one of the most suspenseful TV moments of my life. Amazing bringing back Olivia’s telepathy, making it crucially relevant to the season-long arc, and tying it back with season one’s first arc (Mr Jones).
Thank you FOX for renewing Fringe. I’m so grateful we have another season.
Most people don’t think she is a good actress because she was very stiff and emotionless in the first and maybe even part of the second season. I kind of always took it as the way her character was from things that happened in her past. I think her portrayl of fauxlivia and bellivia showed that she can act.
The ending was incredible, but really, I was basically expecting it-this is a J.J. Abrams show after all (I know-he isn’t really involved, but some of the same writers, etc. as his other shows). Characters waking up in a possible future is to be expected!
Nice one Ruby! You can insert Claire ‘My baaaaaaaaaabie!’ for Lost also.
I love this show, but wasn’t in love with this episode… it was a little too choppy for me.
Sam Weiss went from an in control, deep secret, cool guy to just an average Joe who lost his mystique. He was better cast as a mysterious person always lurking in the background.
Peter went from thinking he was on the other side to all of a sudden remembering everything after a cup of coffee.
Walter who hasn’t slept or left his son’s side since the fall, all of a sudden leaves for some yogurt, and doesn’t even think of checking up on his son for at least several hours.
Overall, I liked the show and am excited about the finale and next year, but this time it was a little too erratic for me.
Wouldn’t a blending of the blue and red universes be purple, and not yellow?
Unless the poster was thinking primary colors.
Yes, a blending would be purple. But if you’re thinking three separate universes, that would be the primary colors–blue, red, and yellow.
It would be angular and gorgeous, and if it were a gas, it would be inert.
Not surprising, but the clip left me confused. We saw our Walter old, evil Walter alive and threatening Peter(who we know there is only one of). I saw our blonde Olivia and I saw Olivia #2. How could one universe have all these doubles? It couldn’t happen… I get how Walternate could replace our Walter by locking him up but what can they do with our Olivia? Walternate said to Peter something about him destroying his would so he was gonna destroy ours???? Very confused about this and I watched “LOST”.
Am I wrong or the Fringe Division badge was actually yellow? I mean, it DO referes to the primary colors after all…
They are scientists, not artists. The primary colors are red, green, and blue (RGB).
Since this episode aired all I keep thinking is “WHAAATTTTTT……”
Awesome episode, as always. I honestly was starting to think Sam Weiss was somehow one of the First People. I also thought that, since the flashbacks showed Peter “chose Our Olivia” the episode would end with a cliffhanger of the Alt-universe’s fate. Waiting a week for next episode is going to feel like waiting 10 years.
That was my exact reaction verbatim, “WHAAATT?”
did any one else notice that peter was wearing a wedding band at the end?
I didn’t notice it before but I watched it again and saw the ring on Peter’s hand! You got good eyes Kevin lol
Yes, Kevin. Good eyes! I just rewound the episode and saw the band for a second.
Oooh, great catch!
Whoa! I completely missed that! That is a great catch!
I also noticed the picture of their family on the promo. What if their kid dies? Well, anyway, it looks like they might be getting divorced or something. Future Peter and Olivia that is.
Aaah! I forgot about that, but yeah, I noticed that too. Peter and Olivia getting married? The thought makes me feel so happy!
Ah, but is it really our Olivia he married? What will honorable Peter do when he discovers he has a son with the other Olivia? The Olivia who in recent weeks has redeemed herself by truly loving Peter, being honest with her wonderful, sweet ex-boyfriend, being a loving mother, trying to save our world thereby endangering herself …the list goes on.
OK, it’s official. I need to watch the episode again. Man, I missed a lot according to the comments & ken.
Great spotting!
This is why I read the comments; my own personal cheat sheet.
I’m thinking Sam dies…but is he really “beloved”? I’ve also thought maybe Lincoln on the Alt side will die. Next week looks amazing but I *really* hope they tie up the “machine” and the Alt “war” storyline and not cliffhanger it OR stay on it for long next season. I love the stand alone episodes and I think there has been a little too much “over there” this season, though I do enjoy the Fringe team on the other side.
I REALLY hope I’m wrong, but I can’t shake the feeling that it will be Olivia, Peter, Walter, Astrid or Broyles….or at least their future selves.
I think its going to be our olivia in the future timeline…
This….and then season 4 is about avoiding that future by repairing the timeline????
it’s gonna be alt-Charlie. Kirk Acevedo is contractually obligated to die in odd-numbered seasons.
I will put my money on Broyles. In the episode “LSD,” Broyles said to Asterid that he saw death when he was tripping. The look on Asterid’s face was very serious and I think it’s a clue to what will happen next week.
@Futurama That was the funniest thing I’ve heard all day!
If it’s the future self, it doesn’t matter. I don’t think the entire series will continue in the future. That would be ridiculous. I think Peter will find a way back into the present so everything will not have happen yet. Nevertheless, my bet is on Walternate.
I think its the cow, actually, that kicks the bucket.
MOOOOO! Eet mor chikin
I’m predicting it to be Sam Weiss and Fauxlivia, but the idea of Olivia – or one of the other characters – dying in the future and the plot of S4 being about their attempts to prevent that would be very interesting.
It will be Fauxlivia. Then Peter will bring the baby back and raise it with Olivia.
I read your fringecaps every week Ken, and I wanted to thank you for your insightful perspective on this fantastic show. I CAN’T WAIT until next week!
Well, they had to do time travel and the idea of a “mixed” universe is brilliant, can’t wait for it to develop more next week.
Does it matter who dies. we’re in the future and in a different universe. I’d assume it wouldn’t effect the next season much. I think it will be Walter. He’ll be very old 15 years in the future.
75-76 is not VERY old. My great great uncle lived to 103. THAT’S old.
Wow, didn’t know you’re great uncle was starring on Fringe.
76 is not VERY OLD was my point.
I watch this show to read the EW comments as much as anything else!!
Early in the hour, did Walter call Astrid “Ostrich”. I don’t have a dvr for reruns.
Yup! Cracked me up.
Thank you! I thought maybe I misheard him.
Yeah, and I don’t think he’s used that one before. LOL
lol yeah one of the best yet. My personnal favorite is still Asterisk though
Love that one. Also thought I head an “Aspirin”
Can I get an “Astro?”
You already did.LOL
Mind-blown indeed. Reminded a bit of Dollhouse and Alias with the time jumping, but with a cool Fringe twist. Love, love, loved it.
VERY Alias-esque, right down to the reveal…waking up…in a not so familiar time. Can.not.wait.
I like how this and lost durring Season 3 finalies (fringes almost) are both end with the future. Is JJ running out of ideas? I dont really care awesome episode!
I thought about that too. This episode had a lot of moments that reminded me of Lost, like the sequence where Peter wakes up and is walking around the hospital. The reveal felt, for me, almost exactly like the season 3 one for Lost. But this isn’t a bad thing; I’m sure they’ll do a different take on the time-travel/jumping idea. I loved it.
I thought that when I saw Olivia’s face on the manuscript just like we saw Sydneys on the Rambaldi manuscript in Alias
In general, I don’t like the “chosen one” plotline. Was pretty disappointed when they pulled it out for Peter last season. Now Olivia is also “chosen” by mysterious First People. What a coincidence! I’m trying not to think about it too much and just dig the dialog, which is great.
What if the First People are actually from the far future and the prophesies of today are actually the documented history of tomorrow?
Yes! My first thought was that the machine took Peter to an “Attic” where he had to deal with his worst fear: destroying the world.
I laughed so hard too because I watch with my father and when they were going through old manuscripts I joked ‘These were written by a man named Rambaldi. If you come across a drawing of yourself, don’t be alarmed. It’s common.’ Then 10 minutes later thats exactly what happened
YES! This is all very Alias and Lost-esque, which is exactly my concern! I love Alias but I was reading an old article a while back and they were talking about some of the mistakes that they made with Alias. Originally, the episodes used to end w/ cliffhangers but they realized that those types of episodes weren’t able to attract more fans since fans were lost. Also…
According to exec producer Jeff Pinkner, Alias went ”off the rails” when it delved too deeply into its mythology about the mysterious inventions of a 15th-century Italian egghead named Rambaldi.
I don’t know if Fringe is risking going to far into certain “mythologies” but John Noble said something in an interview recently that it was hard to attract new fans– that there’s so much going on with each episode that they might not understand or be lost.
So while I love all of the nods to Alias and Lost, I have to wonder if JJ is just making some of the same mistakes as before and has he truly run out of new ideas?!?!? I mean how does he even know that former Alias and Lost fans are watching Fringe and will appreciate his nods to the former shows?? I know Lost was hugely successful but Fringe has been on the bubble since season 1. I am overjoyed that they are getting a season 4 but I’m super nervous that he’s taking us 15 years into the future and that there will be NO hope for new fans b/c they won’t know what the flip is going on!!!!
I definitely see your concern, but I started just this season, and it took very little for me to get really into the show. Some parts were confusing, but I was still able to enjoy the new episodes, which I’m watching simultaneously while catching up on seasons 1 and 2. Also, I’ve been converting some of my friends to fans, and while I started them off in season 1 so they have a ways to catch up, I think they’ll be fine once they do.
Yes, that shot of what Peter sees as he wakes up in the future reminded me so much of the ending of Dollhouse.
Yes, plus Alias with the prophetic drawings and Lost with the time travel and yet another universe, i.e. Sideways World to Losties.
Excellent as always. (Recap and episode.) It feels like a DUH squared moment. The LAST Sam Weiss? DUH. Also, yes the clip did blend the two universes in the [possible?] future. This supposedly is the episode where they cast for a 14 year old Walter and an 18 year old Ella. Plus we see Walter back in St. Claires full beard. Peter apparently does a LOT of time travel, at least in his own mind. The shot of him waking up in the future, bloodied, face down, close up head on its side, in the middle of a disaster, is I believe a bit of an homage to the short lived series JOURNEYMAN, which had an almost duplicate scene, complete with the time travel. It’s difficult to say what happens last episode, that clip is so packed full of stuff, except that it mostly involves Peter and both Walters. I agree this was the best Josh episode since NORTHWEST PASSAGE, though hardly in Cary Grant territory. We now know he can do dazed and confused pretty convincingly. The writing has stepped up another notch from TV fare with some plot threads that actually don’t amount to much. Life is kind of like that. Examples would be Fauxlivia’s failed transit over here and the roundabout way they got Peter this week to New York City. Can’t have everything dept: I was hoping the finale would involve altLincoln and Charlie rescuing Faux, but apparently not. PS: I love both worlds so much, I hope they aren’t forever combined into a ‘yellow’ (multi) version. Though I think the finale delves into possible realms that can be averted. I think time travel should be used sparingly or they’ll just have too many alt altverses to have credibility. Season 3′s conclusion is getting maybe a tad too busy. A roller coaster is a splendid ride, as long as it stays on the tracks.
@ Roberto: “PS: I love both worlds so much, I hope they aren’t forever combined into a ‘yellow’ (multi) version.” That’s my problem too. I don’t want either universe to be destroyed, but I don’t like the idea of blending them either. Oh well, hopefully next week won’t see my worst fears realized….
The only positive thing about ‘blending’ the universes is that we *potentially* get to see more of the characters from ‘over there’ and would get to see more tension between characters – Altlivia and Henry meet Olivia and Peter; that’d be awkward to say the least!
I hope that they do not blend the two universes together. Frankly, I think a lot of the compelling nature of the show is that the alternate versions of our beloved characters are either the bad guys (Walternate) or fighting like this side to save their universe (alternate Olivia, etc.). Plus I love still seeing Charlie every few episodes, he was my favorite secondary character in season 1
Me too. I like both Walters and both Olivias. I hope they don’t combine the two or get rid of one (probably the alt-universe).
This episode has got to be one of my favourites; up there along with Entrada. I can’t wait to see how the 2026 Fringe opening will look like (assuming they’ll make one for next week). Knowing that they are not in the normal timeline makes me less stressed about the promised character death. I’m sure it’ll all make sense in the end and I’m willing to be patient.
I hadn’t thought of that…can’t wait for the future version of the credits!
Not 100% sold that the future we saw was necessarily a “yellow” third world, but possibly ours. Was that supposed to be the Freedom Tower at Ground Zero, finally finished?
It had to be. In our universe, in which the alt-universe was sacrificed and a few survivors (Walternate and hopefully the other Brandon) stay with us.
Yes, that was the Freedom Tower or by it’s new/old name “One World Trade Center”, which is supposed to be topped out by the end of this year.
I think the other new World Trade Center buildings where there too. I’ll have to rewatch the episode.
not that it means anything but ew has posted interviews recently with the wirters or producers who said there will NOT be a 3rd universe so I think this is ours.
It’s our world, 15 years in the future.
(And I doubt very much this future scenario will continue beyond the finale episode. Just a hunch.)
Hi, i am a fan from New Zealand. Can y’all Americans watch season 4 on t.v, thus leading to higher ratings, thus leading to a season 5 of fringe being made, which means more fringe! I need MOAR!
I’ll do my best, lol
you bet! it is one of the few shows my husband and I will watch together in make it a weekly date
absolutely agree with you mate!! i’m in barbados and prolly the biggest fan here but i can’t influence ratings..so plz plz american friends – watch season 4 in droves!! thnx
No worries, mate.
We can watch all we want but unless we are one of the selected few with a Nielson Box it won’t make a difference(ratings wise)
I want a box just for this show! I’ve never been this obsessive about tv! I’ll even buy a Ford, whatever it takes to keep it on the air!
Good idea Amanda! All Fringe fans should go buy a new Ford and get a Sprint phone ASAP!
I’ve read that the network and sponsors also track Internet and DVR viewing of an episode within seven days of the original broadcast, however, for viewing the episode on the DVR to count, it must be watched without fast-forwarding.
I think before next week’s episode, Ken or Jeff will need to dissect that damn trailer that came at the end. Holy Crap Fringe is great.
Why ‘yellow’? Red and blue gives purple, doesn’t it?
Also: what would be the tags used in the main theme intro (the sciences like Retrocognition and Telekinesis)? What style music will they use?
i agree it would be a purpleverse.
The fringe division logo is different too. The bottom of the F’s join together.
Color-wise, correct. Blue and Green give us yellow, but I follow what Ken was saying: 3rd universe. It’ll be interesting to see the opening color combination of the opening credits next week. That usually indicates which universe we’re in for that episode.
Um no, Blue and yellow give us green, not the other way around
Color Theory – Red, Green, Blue…
Mix Red & Green together equals Yellow. Mix Red and Blue together equals Magenta and mix Blue and Green together you get Cyan.
People keep saying yellow because in Walternate’s office there are 3 paintings on the wall, a blue, a red and a yellow one. People think this is a visual nod to what was going to happen. – and Bad Robot have used this device before, in Lost, where in Widmore’s office there are paintings that nod to other plot strands, etc.
I don’t know what colour theory Andrea knows but mixing red and green DOES NOT make yellow!! Yellow is a primary colour. Green is a secondary colour meaning yellow and another primary (blue) mix to create green! Sorry but misinformation is the path to ignorance so I’m doing my bit to educate accurately!
Thanks, babysloth. Red and blue combine to make PURPLE, for one thing, and no way do red and green combine to make yellow. Andrea is in Fringe alt-universe mode.
Every scientist knows the RGB color model. Red, Green, and Blue are primary colors. Red and green add to form yellow.
Red Blue and Yellow are all primary colors. if my thinking is correct this new universe will not be a combination of both the Red and Blue but a unique one.
“Yellow” is the color used by Ken and others because, on the color wheel (well, on certain color wheels), Red/Blue/Yellow are the three primary colors the most separate from each other, while all other colors result from the blending of two or more of those colors.
While you make a valid point, the context Ken put it in was one of merging or blending, not a supplementary (complimentary) one. The closest logical association is to blend the two colors (red and blue) which — to the layman most familiar with additive color mixing — results in purple.
If he was talking about a third, distinct universe, Yellow would make sense. However, in terms of a blended universe, Purple would be most appropriate.
Hurray for color theory.
Mind you, after re-reading Tucker’s paragraph, it seems he was unclear on the points discussed. Blended uni or 3rd alternate? The language he used can be argued both ways. (Personally, I think it’s just future Blue but that’s just me)
Actually, and not that it matters to the point at hand, Red/Blue/Yellow are used when discussing primary pigments. Photographers and Printers use Cyan/Magenta/Yellow. Video uses R/G/B (Red/Green/Blue).