Let me be honest here: Fringe‘s fourth season hasn’t been as consistently great as the third season. While some of that could be blamed on the show’s noticeably lower budget, the majority of the problem is that there isn’t a real direction to the season. Sure, the slow build to Peter’s return over the first four episodes of the season was great, but once Peter returned the show seemed to slow down, as if to ask itself, “What next?” While he did have a fairly large role in last week’s “And Those We Left Behind,” Peter appeared for a total of three scenes in this week’s midseason finale, “Wallflower.” It’s quite baffling to me why the writers of the show made Peter’s return such a central part of the season, then failed to really expand upon it once he did come back. There’s promise of more Peter action once the show returns in January, but the momentum’s already been lost. Instead of another case-driven episode as the midseason finale, Fringe should have taken us to winter break with a more mythology-driven episode. Having Nina semi-predictably be revealed to be double-crossing Olivia simply wasn’t a solid enough ending to take us into the break.
But while I could be happier about the season’s pacing, there’s no doubt that the writers haven’t lost their knack for brilliant character-driven episodes. The center of the episode was, interestingly, Lincoln Lee, who struggled to be seen by Olivia in a similar way (metaphorically) to how Eugene struggled to be seen by the girl in the elevator. Peter’s good-natured assistance of Lincoln in his goal makes it seem like this isn’t really a love triangle at all — but I’m pretty sure that Fringe will ensure that Peter and Lincoln will eventually compete in some way for Olivia’s affections.
The case of the week was a little difficult to follow but was ultimately poignant, with the invisible Eugene struggling to be seen by the girl in the elevator before eventually being noticed — and dying soon after. His death scene was a wonderfully underplayed moment in the episode — a quietly tragic end for a quietly tragic life.
“Wallflower” was a great episode, though I’m not sure it was the best midseason finale. The twist featuring Nina at the end wasn’t necessarily strong enough to get the less fanatic viewers to tune in again, though it does open up some pretty interesting possibilities for the rest of the season. B
Fringe will return Friday, January 13, with the midseason premiere, “Back to Where You’ve Never Been.”
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I don't know if you knew…but this wasn't supposed to be the midseason finale…the next episode was. But, because of baseball, the scheduling got messed up. But, I agree with what you said.
Urgh, I had thought that was the case, but wasn’t positive. Definitely should have checked up on that. Redirect my criticism toward FOX and away from the writers. My mistake.
"Instead of another case-driven episode as the midseason finale, Fringe should have taken us to winter break with a more mythology-driven episode. "
Come on! You know darn well that Fringe was pre-empted for a World Series game on Oct. 28, which pushed all the episodes back a week. Fox opted not to show the intended cliffhanger episode until January. This episode was supposed to be the penultimate one.
Please, if you're going to criticize, at least be informed – it makes me wonder how closely you even watch this show.
I agree Sam. Please check out the facts before you publish your reviews.
Could we have Nadine write all the Fringe reviews? She really gets into the nitty gritty details and does a fantastic job!!
I love Nadine’s Fringe reviews as well! She was unavailable this Friday, which is why I had to sub in. The review was a little rushed, and as a result, I didn’t double-check my facts. Sorry about that. Nadine will be back to cover the show for the rest of the fourth season, don’t worry.
(Spoilers for this episode)
Peter was integral to this episode. Peter has recognized that this Olivia isn't the Olivia Peter is romantically involved with…and not mythology centric? When we have hints that cortexiphan in this universe has also messed with Olivia and that Nina and company have regularly been knocking out Olivia and messing with her? I'm not sure how much more of a reveal we need than this DARK CITY-esque shocker. This is a big deal mythology-wise. The only thing bigger is if they told us exactly what was going on with the observers.
Beautiful episode, a great set up for Nina as the abuser , she did know about Eugene, and Olivia was looking sceptical there, and for Olivia as the abused.Well Olivia abused is once abused, always abused. According to Wyman Olivia is strong so she needs a challenge, I could think of other challenges.
I did not like the Lincoln -Peter scenes, the way Peter at the end gave him other glasses was so patronizing, as if this Olivia would fall just foor looks? The other one did not.
But hey Fauxlivia did, so that must be why Peter fell so quickly for her. The remark for Lincoln treating him like a human being, ridiculous. Olivia brought him to his house, she cared for him, and showed him support, in the other timeline Olivia Over There that was being treated like a prisoner.
Olivia and Nina will never have those so much wanted conversations about Olivia's childhood, no they will soon become enemies.
All praise to Anna Torv, who once again with little material showed us an Olivia that has internal conflict and a childhood like hers cannot be repressed.
No, please don't have Nadine review them. She just says every episode is great. At least Sam is objective. The episode quality is improving and become more like the Fringe I remember, I just don't care much for the current timeline and characters it has produced. I liked the case and Eugene, it was far superior to other cases they've done this season. Can we please have Monica owusu-breen and Alison Schapker write an episode. They write the best ones and Im feeling the loss of their input.
Whether this was designed to be the mid point of the season or not is minutia. The show runners are still responsible for the outcome. They would not have set the progression back a week had they shown an episode on 10-21 which was a scheduled WS travel day. They chose to punt that day, instead of creating a cushion against a Game 7 postponed by rain….. Before ragging a bit on Season 4, I love this show more than any other when at the top of their game. But these episodes are not all 10's. They raised the bar the last two years so that good and average TV are bitter disappointments for FRINGE. There are times when I'd rather the focus be on character development and story progression instead of proving every week who's the smartest writer in the room. I think this season, given the high bar set with years 2 and 3, has been a misguided directionless mess. Whatever they were after isn't working in terms of audience appeal and story arc. This universe is even more depressing than the alt-Verse, which at least had characters we cared about. …. I have a theory on Walter's inexplicable estrangement with Peter. I think in the back of his mind he realizes Peter is a golem or does not belong there and will be leaving. It will be like losing him all over again by getting too close. ….. I appreciate the craftsmanship of some episodes, but sometimes metaphors become a little strained and awkward. That applies to Walter's 'stigmata' with his palms pierced some episodes ago and Peter giving new glasses to Lincoln. The latter I think was a follow through on the original invisible metaphor where PB was saying that maybe Lincoln needs to 'see' Olivia better too. Seeing being a metaphor with noticing someone and making a human connection. It doesn't make any sense otherwise. It would be demeaning and how would he even know the prescription? His matchmaking seems to work. Finally, the series appears to be back on track the second half. About time too, since these could be the final episodes. Maybe there is a budget factor, where they've banked some money on these 'meh' episodes to deliver more at the end. Who knows? If this is a fade out for the series, we need resolution, not cliff hangers. Be nice for Fox to make a decision soon, while some episodes are yet to film. If going back to formulaic episodes like Season 1 is the best they can do, cancellation wouldn't bother me so much. But we've seen how amazing it can be. What did Olivia say? "We have a problem with time." It may be running out guys, make the most of it.
I think they did the wrong promotion, this season is about new versions of Olivia and Walter that have never known in adult Peter, and in the case of Olivia never at all.
New timeline, new events, new relationships, that is where the focus should have been on.
Not about Where is Peter Bishop, and Peter is so important etc. because frankly I never thought of Peter being that important and I found it annoying how they made him more and more special, super genius, super language skills, sharpshooter, and from 3.10 superhero, savior etc Too much on one character and it completely erased Olivia as hero, chosen one.
We now have to see everything the entire season through his eyes, if you like Peter it will mean you do not like this Olivia, Walter, so wrong decision of the showrunners.
If you do not care about Peter and if you realize that this is Observers playing with time (Firefly) you really enjoy this timeline, like me. I wish they would have done more with the new relationships, but this Olivia is great, warm and caring and very direct confronting people. And the way Anna Torv plays her so beautifully we see the damage done to her as a child an adult.
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