What's it about?
"Over here" Bolivia turns up the heat on Peter while he and Walter try to solve a case involving a mysterious box causing trance like states resulting in death. Walter goes to Massive Dynamic for the reading of William Bell's will.
What we saw
The beginning of the 'over here' season, evil Olivia is settling in to life on the wrong side and taking control of Walternate's operations. Peter, Walter et al... remain completely unaware that there is a traitor amongst them and continue about their lives as normal as could be for a member of Fringe Division.
Review
It's like alternate reality dejavu this week as this episode is basically the season premier for those of us on the 'over here' side of the break in reality, but don't expect anything less than balls out mythology just because our Olivia is stuck 'over there'.
Let's start with the positives (because let's face it... there are alot of them):
- Bolivia is just plain evil - Anna Torv should be appearing on every award nomination list going for her portrayal of not one but two Olivia's, Bolivia might be a little on the cliched side of things and the director was clearly playing the don't-look-now-or-you'll-realise-she's-evil card a lot but it's fun to shout at the TV that she's not the real Olivia.
- Newton is back - I always liked him as a villain and now he's Bolivia's bitch I think it is going to make for an interesting conflict amongst the 'over there' crowd.
- The big scary 'over there' apocalypse device - it's back and bits of it are 'over here' but don't worry because Peter is on the case! This thing it huge and not just in plot device terms, this it's worse than the box then god help us all if Peter ever ends up in it. This is clearly going to provide a source of mystery for a while as the 'over there' team try and scramble together the pieces.
- Water owns Massive Dynamic? - Leonard Nimoy may be gone but he is not forgotten. The reading of his Will provides some touching scenes and also raises a few questions: what did he leave Nina? These developments also betray some interesting characters moments such as Walter going to Astrid with his news first.
- The box - wtf was that about? Awesome!
I suppose there has to a negative... maybe:
- There's not a lot of Broyle's - he's lacking in this episode sadly but hopefully this is because they're saving him for something bigger and better... maybe another kiss with Nina?
- Bolivia's secret is still hidden - despite having a bleeding corpse in her apartment at the same time as Peter nobody is any the wiser that she's not who she appears. I want our Olivia back safe and sound.
- It ended - always a bad thing.
It was a stretch to come up with those negatives but I don't think I could get away with literally just heaping praise on this show even though this episode adds the usual amount of mythology on top of what already exists. Peter's developing obsession with Walternate's device is going to be a good talking point for this season, particularly if it continues to keep a wedge between him and his non-father.
Walter's attempts at connection with his non-son show the sheer devotion he has even after everything they have been through and although touching it is sad to see him turning to Astrid whenever he is in need rather than to technically his own son.
Tying the two universes together using pieces of the device gives the 'over there' characters further reason to be intruding on our space and it's good to see some serious story development behind the impending invasion from the other side. The box seen in this episode also gives us an ominous impression as to what Walternate's plans for us are if he ever manages to complete the device and get Peter in it.
My biggest fear going in to this season was that shifting between universes from episode-to-episode would make it hard to connect with the storyline but having had our first jump my fears are being put to rest. The stories being told are far too involving for the viewer to have time to consider the amount of thought which is being required of us and that's all good in my book.
Next week...
Temporal anomalies lead to deadly consequences, and the Fringe Division investigates while Olivia deals with a sinister vision. Meanwhile, Secretary Bishop reveals his plan for Olivia to her commander, Colonel Broyles.
Overall
Story 4.5
Character 4.5
Science 4.0
Overall 4.5
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