It’s very rarely that Fringe disappoints me, but last night it did. It was, perhaps, one of the few times where the writers of the show didn’t manage to keep that perfect balance of character-driven story and mythology. Instead, with “6B,” the scales tipped so strongly that while the characterization in the episode was stellar, the case itself was underwhelming.
Of course, this episode had been needing to happen for a long time. Peter and Olivia (our Olivia, this time), finally kissed and made up (and beyond), which was a significant step forward from the repressed sexual tension of the past few episodes set in this universe. I found myself cheering for Peter as he gently informed Olivia that she was the only obstacle in their relationship, and found myself in awe of Joshua Jackson’s fantastically understated acting abilities. He hasn’t had the opportunity to inhabit a new character this season like his co-stars have, but instead he’s been fleshing out Peter in so many ways that he’s more three-dimensional than any of the other characters in either universe — and that’s saying a lot.
Then there was Walter, who struggled with making the same tough decisions that Walternate made. John Noble, who is undoubtedly the best actor on Fringe, did another stellar job of hanging onto his characters lovable side while overlapping that with darker overtones of fear and even self-loathing. It was one of the best acting jobs Noble’s done this season. Again, that’s saying a lot.
But it was the case itself that really bothered me. It’s no secret that the cases mirror the personal dramas of our characters in subtle ways. “Immortality” dealt with characters being impregnated with giant bugs, while “Marionette”‘s attempts at resurrection draw parallels to Olivia’s attempts to get her life back. This week was no exception, although the lines of subtlety were a little more than skewed. In fact, the episode forewent any reasonable sort of science when dealing with the elderly couple who were tearing the universes apart with their grief. Sure, they served as a brilliant foil to the burgeoning relationship between Peter and Olivia, but unlike other cases, that’s all they really were. We weren’t really given any reason why their emotions should tear the universe apart — we just had Walter mumbling a quote from Einstein and vaguely mentioning chemical reactions in the brain. You know how when cakes have flaws, bakers smooth a layer of icing over to hide them? That’s what the writers of Fringe tried to do this week, except they left audiences a bite of too much icing and not enough cake.
So yeah, I’m disappointed with “6B” overall. But then again, it was bound to happen. After fifty-six episodes of maintaining that perfect balance, it was only a matter of time before they would slip and go one way or the other. Was it a bad episode? Again, I stress it wasn’t. The character development was absolutely brilliant, which attests to the brilliance of the show’s writers. But like the relationship between the two universes, if the balance is messed up, the entire ship might just sink. B-
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The cotw may have been disappointing but it was more than made up by the advancement of Peter and Olivia's relationship. I have genuinely not seen anything as subtle and….well, words don't sum up how brilliant the relationship is written. It really tugged at the heart. Just amazing!
I quite like this episode…
Sam, I thought I found a like mind. Though far from a bad episode from Season 1, I too was disappointed with 6B. Not enough cake indeed. The FRINGE bar has been raised very high. I thought the power of love metaphor was extended beyond believability, even for FRINGE. Straining to set up the sleepover at the end. Though finally welcome getting Liv over her self pity and overwrought introspection, it didn't have the emotional resonance it should have. In fact, it was almost testimony that maybe she shouldn't be with Peter. I didn't feel much chemistry this time.
But we couldn't disagree more on the acting. Anna IS the star of the show. She's done an amazing job of creating two distinct, but familiar characters. She has wonderful range despite having to underplay Olivia a lot. The "you belong with me scene" was much more than just reciting dialog. Her delivery was perfect and maybe the best line in the entire series. Maybe ANY series. I might agree she was a little off her game for once this week though. John Noble is also extremely expressive and nuanced. Which plays so much better when he's calm. This week was a little too heavy handed with shouting and complaining. One of his better recent scenes was with the mind reader when they both shared a look that communicated how remorseful he was and that his former test subject understood.
But trust me, Josh Jackson is not going to be winning an Emmy any time soon. He has almost zero range that runs from sincere to earnest. His face is usually a blank and he talks in a mannered monotone. (At least he's gotten a whole lot better since his Pacey days.) If I needed confirmation, when he was killing shape shifters and trying to appear menacing, it came out as staring blankly into space. If his character has been "fleshed out", it's through the dialogue. His forte is playing off Walter and Liv. He's okay staying within his range. But a Norm Peter, or whatever he'd be called, would really expose his limitations. He brought little to the hookup scene this week as usual, which really requires Anna to hit a home run every time. Usually she does. Even Ruth singled every once in a while.
Are you delirious? Anna, though stunning, is definitely the weak spot in this show when it comes to acting. Season one was the worst and I'll give her that she's gotten better. Granted I put some of the blame in how terrible the Olivia character has been realised to direction and writing, but the delivery was an issue too. Again, worst in the first season and gradually getting a little better. I don't think she's taken the time to think about who her character really is – and who some other characters are to Olivia.
I came to Fringe later on – which is good because if I'd started in season one, I wouldn't have continued because of how annoyingly terrible Olivia was in the first season. Thank God I saw it on DVD so I can just fast-forward through her bits.
By far the best acting on this show is John Noble – from day one and rarely has he been anything but AMAZING (yes, that needs caps) and never anything near the, at times, cringeworthy Olivia.
Joshua Jackson – well, at times I've not been certain if his portrayal was weak (though not as terrible as AT) or on the level with John Noble in its subtlety. The more I watched though the more I saw that his portrayal was actually quite brilliant, albeit very subtle. I think editing has harmed this character a bit – and Walter as it tried so desperately to make up for how bad Olivia was early on but forcing her character beyond reason.
In conclusion, in order of awesome: John Noble: 100% perfection; Joshua Jackson: subtle brilliance; Anna Torv: getting better.