From a show known for its mindbending episodes came the most mindbending episode of all. “The Day We Died,” the third season finale of Fringe, not only reinvigorated the show’s fantastic (but inevitably aging) premise, but gave the show a breath of life that has me waiting — no, begging — for the show’s fourth season. I can’t imagine the outrage if this show hadn’t been renewed.
Am I going to call “The Day We Died” the best episode of Fringe ever? No, I’m not (I still have a fond place in my heart for “White Tulip”). I will say, though, that season three was the absolute best season of Fringe, and further more, probably the best season of television that’s aired in recent years — and “The Day We Died” is certainly an important factor in season three’s overall direction. I’m pretty sure that when we look back on Fringe, we’ll say that this finale was the point that the old show ended and the new show began. This episode certainly seems like the turning point.
At times it was at risk of becoming “A Christmas Carol,” but the episode managed to dodge cliches at a much better rate that future Olivia dodged bullets (too soon?), especially at the end. The fact that Peter simply stopped existing — in fact, he never existed — will of course have major ramifications on season four (“Imagine the Repercussions,” remember?), but I’m pretty sure that any way the writers solve it, it will be satisfying. Will Joshua Jackson return as Peter? I’d say it’s almost a certainty, though how is beyond me. With the introduction of time travel — remember, the First People will probably come about next season — so I’m not really worried about seeing Joshua Jackson again. “He served his purpose,” is a pretty cold way to lose a character, Observers. That’s doubly so when you consider the dramatic potential for Olivia’s now-inevitable discovery of Altlivia’s baby.
While Peter’s nonexistence certainly is a cliffhanger, I’m actually more interested to see the dynamic of the alternates being introduced next season. Olivia and Altlivia now seem to be on the same side with the potential to be friends (but can you really be friends with yourself?) and Walter and Walternate are probably going to be hateful toward each other for a while, though I’d really like to see a fun, Walter/Belly-esque dynamic happen once those tensions resolve themselves.
Was “The Day We Died” worth the entire season’s build-up? Certainly — though season four will only continue that momentum. Fringe is a a giant, interdimensional ball rolling down a hill: it can’t do anything but get faster, and better. A
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Totally agree! Fantastic review :) I LOVE THE EPISODE SO MUCH
Hmmm, I'm not so sure about there being a next season. The way they left it is almost completely closed. I mean, the first people were explained (Walter, Ella, Astrid), the two universes are on the path to becoming fixed, and everyone is happy.
The only thing I don't completely get is HOW it all happened if Peter never even existed. Why would Walter bridge over, or even have a son in the first place? THAT'S what would be answered next season.
OT; Great episode, really good, and it kind of closed everything up.
I think they mean Peter doesn't exist in memory anymore and none of the other characters can prove he existed. Once all memory of interacting with Peter is removed, Peter no longer "exists" in a sense.
The show was already renewed for season 4. Not sure why you think there won't be a next season.
The writers have stated that they have Fringe planned out as far as Season 6.
Plus, try to remember the conservation of energy law: no energy can be created or destroyed. The soul magnets worked around that concept and I think they presented the soul magnets as a kind of foreshadowing of Peter's return.
Any way, we're just going to have to wait and see what happens and what doesn't.
Please explain how Peter disappeared. Thanks!
We'll be focusing an entire article on the disappearance of Peter next week. I think it's one of the "repercussions" that Walter mentioned in the future. Having said that, I'm pretty sure he'll come back — he'll had to have existed if the First People have yet to time travel back and leave a picture of him there.
But why Peter disappeared, specifically? I'll have to sleep on it.
Surely the moment he disappeared, mid-sentence, the exact moment after whatever he said, is significant as to why he disappeared.
Also, the fact that he disappeared like a hologram and not just poof! there one second gone the next, does that mean something? Maybe there was more reasons to showing Walternate as a hologram not only just so he could shoot Future Olivia while talking to Future Peter.
Looking forward to next week's article :)
I think it might be kinda a Back to the Future thing where if you mess with time, the repercussions could be that you no longer ever existed. I could be wrong though.
I think I know what happened, Universe A and Universe B were first pulled together when Walter first went to the other side in 1985. Universe C or more appropriately Universe C-A was created when Peter stepped into the machine the first time. Universe C-A contained the remnants of Universe A but began to degrade without Universe B as a balance. When Peter stepped into the machine the second time in the future of Universe C-A, he came back to the present and formed a bridge between Universes A and B.
The retrocausal backlash from Universe C-A moving backward through time intersected with the bridge and formed Universe D where Peter was never born and Universe B was still destroyed.
Think of it as three spheres intersecting each other. One sphere is Universe A, the second is Universe B, the third sphere is Universe C-A. The volume of intersection of all three spheres is Universe D.
Why do you think the opening credits of FRINGE has fluctuating translucent spheres intersecting with each other?
While that's well thought out, I think Occam's razor definitely applies to Fringe. It's all complicated, but that explanation is TOO complicated for network TV audiences to grasp and appreciate. I think that at this point in the story, there are still only two universes.
"… the dramatic potential for Olivia's now-inevitable discovery of Altlivia's baby."
If Peter never existed, neither would Altlivia's baby.
I can't wait to see how they resolve all of this …
That was presuming Peter returns. Which he will.
Do we think that Peter doesn't exist at all now? I mean… the characters don't react when he disappears. However, if none of them remember Peter's existence now, how can they explain how this whole thing started and how will Alt-Olivia explain her baby? I am confused.
yea i know!
i think maybe the manuscript is rushed! i mean if peter did not exist at all because they both died in 1985 none of what we have been seeing in the last three seasons would have been totally waste of time! i mean none of the walters would have crossed over and they probably would not think about it since nothing is at interest in the parallel universe…they certainly would not have been standing there all together in the last scene if peter never existed…so i think they messed it up!! also peter did come back and then just disappeared–witch makes no sense at all! though we will see how they are gonna save the story! hopefully it will be something that i havent thought of and make my day! :D
GREETINGS FROM DENMARK :D
i honestly forgot to breathe in the last 5 minutes of the show. season three has been one of the best seasons of television in memories. I think JJ Abrams school of writers have certainly used their accumulated experience from Alias and Lost to good use, almost all the elements from those shows are presented in Fringe's season three, but much more thought out. can't wait for what's to come.
One thing…
If the machine was sent to the past, making, i'm guessing, Walter and others the First People – Who da heck built it in the first place? :P
it has just always been, it travels in a time loop. was never created. it was just there….. like the compass in Lost
and how in the world did they all go in the machine and how did they get back again all kind of question the producers never thought we'd ask!! HAHA i think the ones that wrote and produced fringe have failed a little ( MUCH) BUT im not gonna lie
I LOVe FRINGE!! just dont like the dominant type of girl like olivia! id much rather have a snob than her!
There's quite a bit of wriggle room for the writers to bring Peter back in the next season, and it's tied to the (somewhat flawed) assertion that Peter never existed. Certainly, to the characters from both universes Peter never existed, but to the Observers he did, despite his vanishing act. Remember that they are talking about Peter even after he disappeared at the end of the episode. If they remember him, then he existed, and if he existed, then he can be brought back.
The plotting for this season was absolutely masterful, and it always kept me guessing. I think the Fox executives who decided to give this show another season need to be congratulated on their wisdom and farsightedness. Will "Fringe" ever be a ratings giant? No. Sadly it will probably always perform marginally at best. Will it continue to provide thought-provoking stories aimed at a group hungry for intelligent television and new ideas? Absolutely! And more power to the execs for recognizing that.
Oh, and how amazing did future Astrid look with the straight hair?
The sort of break in the self-contained paradox involving the machine (it's been sent through time so Peter and co. can find it and try and fix everything only to have them do it all over again and succeed that time around) granted Peter useless in both timelines. The machine was made (by whom?) for him, and that's why he was necessary. Given that they broke the loop of "times we had to go back and try to fix this mess".
Peter (both of them) had no business existing in the first place. They both had to die, that's how you give the universe it's balance back. THAT"S WHAT PETER DID AT THE END!! He pretty much erased himself from existence because he HAD to die. I'm pretty sure they're going to find a way of bringing Peter into the show again, but I think that (what I said up there) would be a terrific way of making a character's redemption, so to speak.
Btw, he was erased from "existence" because of Walter, who crossed to the other-side and helped Peter survive. He literally cheated Destiny. He bent the rules of nature. Walter created a conflict when there was no need for one to begin with. That's what "Firefly" was trying to say. If Walter had just accepted the rules, none of that would ever happened (and we wouldn't have our show. So… Way to go Walter!!).
When Peter cleaned his father's mess, he stopped existing, 'cause the Observer that took Walter and Peter from the frozen lake only did it because he knew that they were going to need Peter eventually, but try to prepare Walter for his loss. Thus beginning the self-contained paradox for the machine. Then, they broke that paradox with tonight's finale.
though they still all from both universes was standing where peter disappeared! that would never had happend if peter wasnt saved in 1985… also there wouldnt be a fringe division if peter never existed!! so ur wrong… peter did not clean up his fathers mess so he must still be alive!!
I think that "not existed" does not necessarily mean "dead". One could exist in a particular time, or particular place but not in another. If Peter time traveled, then not existing in the timeline where the characters from the alternate universe and the characters from our universe merged into one scene or timeline, then perhaps Peter was just placed somewhere, sometime so the conflicts could be fixed.
Now, how Pater will be brought back will be one of the many reasons we will be anticipating season 4. I can't wait already, can we travel forward to September already? =)
Here's a flaw that I haven't thought about until reading your comment. We are dealing in the realm of multi-verse theory of quantum mechanics. In that theory (which is the actual predominant theory in physics at this time), there are an infinite number of universes existing simultaneously in the same place, yet all invisible to one another – Fringe hits the nail on the head with this one with their representation of 1985 Walter's "window." Continuing, each time every single person is presented with a choice, and they make a decision, a new universe is created – because that other universe was created in which the person made the other choice. Essentially, when you meet the fork in the road and you choose to go left, another universe is created where you chose to go to the right. If this were to hold true, 2026Peter would still live out his life in which Olivia was dead. I know 2026Walter wanted to ease his son's pain, but that particular Peter would never feel the effects of any possible change in the past/future. I don't know if its germane to Fringe's plot, but it got me thinking nonetheless. Drunk and full of heartbreak 2026Peter will be destined to keep swilling vodka from the bottle and punching refrigerators.
HAHA thats so funny
Good review! Great Episode but the 40 minutes felt a little crammed.
I think Peter have become a part of Olivia. She's already been a vessel for Bell and she seemed different after Peter disappeared.
This episode was great! I don't agree with a point in the review which is that the baby will be discovered by Olivia next season. If Peter never existed for them then there is no baby to be revealed at this point because she never had one. Altolivia won't remember any of that because for her it never happened! I thought that was really cool & amazing. Poof! He's gone & neither Olivia ever knew him. It will be cool to see how they bring it back around especially for the Olivias'. Maybe Altolivia will feel off somehow without the baby but not know why. The possibilities of what they can do are fascinating!
i guess the Peter had to die when he traveled back in time and Walter kinda knew it, it happened just like the way Walternate spoke with Peter before killing Olivia in 2026 only differences was the Walter had to send Peter back as well along with the concept of holography, its clear that they had this tec in 2026 may be Peter was an image in the whole story from the start, its just the ppl conscious that made them believe that he is real, and once the purpose was complete he disappeared from ever where even the minds…. Walter had to do something to make things go right, but y did Walter go at the 1st place? may be he had to live in the other universe and marry Alterolivia to have a baby and die…..the observer ruined everything when Walternate was making the cure……so to fix that he had to live somewhere, and the whole drama was created the holes were made in both the universe i suggest the baby has a big role to play in season 4 and hy!! what about the girl who was saved by an observer at the cost of his life, he said he sense his importance, so is she coming up as well in season 4?? wohh!! a lot to c :P
I think we need to be careful taking the Observers comments as gospel. All we know is this is their (considerable according to their place as characters) opinions about what happened to Peter. I've never gotten the impression they are infallible or omnipotent, even if their view of history is beyond everyone else's in Fringe.
I agree and I've never trusted that what the Observers are doing is in earth's or humanity's best interest. I have never seen them as the keepers of time or some benevolent group seeking only to help people. They seem like time travelers or aliens that look upon humans as an experiment within their universes. The Observers are actual corporeal beings that have been injured and have also "made mistakes." The mistakes that September and August made were both centered around the idea that concepts of "compassion" or "love" were not allowed or incorrect.
"Love can conquer anything"s is a central theme of Fringe and the ever expanding love story between Olivia and Peter is the most important example of that. Olivia, despite being pulled into another universe and being brainwashed to not "know," remembered the idea of Peter. She loved him and he loved her back. Walter found a way to go to the other side because he loved his son so much he could not watch him die again. Love is a concept that the Observers do not understand.
The Observers view Peter as a mistake that had to be corrected. But they were the ones that allowed him to become a mistake. Through compassion, September allowed Peter to live. It was an Observer going against their own scripted version of history and making a different choice. Peter existed because of the people that loved him and will continue to exist despite whatever arrangements the Observers or First People made. The Observers have an agenda and it most likely involves covering their own "mistakes."
I don't trust the Observers and I'm certainly not buying Sam Weiss' line of BS about just having an important lineage. Wasn't that an anagram from last seasons finale "Don't Trust Sam Weiss?" We still have an entire season (or more) of Fringe. I don't think we've come close to understanding the Observers or the idea of "First People."
"LIKE"
We used to love Fringe, but after 3+ seasons – the continuity is a fail, the storyline is becomming a mis-mash of disconnected, unresolved threads from earlier seasons, and the writers seem to be becoming haphazard and lazy. Even the most basic premises are still annoyingly unknown – What are "The Pattern" events about and how are they interconnected? Who are the Observers"? Who are the shape-shifters? Who are the "other fighters"? I had my hopes for the series … but it wouldn't surprise me if it fails to get renewed and like so many other series before it … is cancelled without a finale.
From what I have gathered, "The Pattern" seems to be merely a title for the events that have occurred since Walters' travel to the other side in 1985. As to the observers, I am not sure of who or what they are. My guess is they may, themselves, be "The First People" – seeing as their technology and their calligraphy have yet to be figured out. The shape shifters, I think, were an implement of Walternate? Who knows – they could also be "The First People"? Or an implementation of "The First Peoples'" technology??