FOX
(Season 1, Episode 7)
Well, it looks like things are starting to come together on the set of Fringe. It’s interesting that in the “What has come before” recap segment that started the show they pretty much only covered what happened in the pilot. I guess everything between then and now has been completely disposable. Maybe this is the first episode to have come out since they started getting the critical responses to the early episodes.
There was a frenetic pace from beginning to end, even though Olivia managed to squeeze an international flight into it. And the Pattern almost stood up front and center screaming “Look at me! Look at me!” Oh, and I saw the Observer. Did you find him? No, I’m not going to tell you. I suspect he may appear in every episode, so we’re going to make a game out of it! The first person to comment and correctly identify where he was gets to write this intro sequence for next week’s episode.
Question: “Where is the Gentleman?”
Answer: “Little Hill”
Follow-Up: “What the hell does any of that mean?”
I’m glad to see the larger mystery getting some more play. Broyles gave Olivia a little more information on what they already know about the Pattern which begs the question: Why the hell is he still withholding information from her? He gave her that pretty speech about how great she is. Isn’t it time to fully bring the girl into the fold, if he still hasn’t?
Walter was up to his typically brilliant craziness, with Peter right there by his side, getting gum and getting electrocuted in the name of science and saving lives. But it was the chilling moment at the end when a distraught wife is sitting by her husband’s side, he having nearly died of a disgusting parasite. And we found out it was all a carefully orchestrated ploy to get the above mentioned answer. Color me intrigued, Fringe.
Clacked by Jason Hughes 
on Nov 12, 2008 @ 04:01 EST5EDT
The Observer was at the airport in Germany, when Olivia first arrives and meets her ex there. Bottom right of the screen I believe.
I was really disgusted by the parasite and I enjoyed the twist at the end. A good episode.
Crap! I totally missed the Observer. Of course, I didn’t know I was supposed to be looking for him…is he going to be like the pineapple in Psych?
I really enjoyed this episode, but I’ve really enjoyed all of the episodes. Maybe I’m simple, but I haven’t really had any problems with this show at all. Sure, some of the relationship aspects are cheesy and predictable. It took me a while to get used to Walter’s eccentricities which at first struck me as just, well, bad writing. Overall, though, I think it’s a great show.
Thanks for the review!
Another good episode, although I’m really frustrated that Broyles won’t come clean with Olivia on what he knows about the Pattern.
I loved that we finally got to see Olivia smile. I was beginning to wonder if she could. Of course, it took a guy to make it happen. I wonder just how close she and Lucas were. And when?
Well know we know of at least one experiment Walter did on Peter. Who hooks up car batteries to their child? Makes you wonder what else he’s done to Peter.
My favorite Walterism is when he’s at the hospital looking at the parasite in Loeb. They ask Walter if he can help. He replies that he can, but not here. His breath is atrocious. I loved his obsession with gum/mints this episode.
At first I didn’t like Olivia’s seemingly unchanging slight cringe either, but then I realized: she’s not the only character on tv with this problem. Ever watch Prison Break? Michael and Linc have maybe 2 or 3 pained expressions that they rotate, with a rare smile or laugh here or there. Is it because she’s a woman that we hate her seriousness? I like to think not BUT haven’t come up with a better explanation yet.
did anyone else think the parasite was just one of those pirahna plants from super mario bros? that thing looked awesome!
oh yeah, i love that walter still doesnt get astrid’s name right. he called her astro & asteroid & maybe more this ep
astro is my favorite so far–the dog from the jetsons, lol. i wonder how many they can come up with before they have to either start repeating or just have him remember.
Xnifex, we think it’s hilarous how Walter can never get Astrid’s name right … yet he remembers the cow’s name all the time. This show has a great way of injecting some humor to cut the tension and we look forward to the weekly mutilating of ‘Ass-trid’ and Jean sightings. Walter is the best character on the show.
This show is like night and day to me. Night is when Olivia is on…she is one of the most awful characters on television. Absolutely nothing appealing about her. I feel like someone throws a blanket across my screen when she is on it. Then it’s ripped off when Walter and Peter are on…it’s so unfair that they have to share screen time with the likes of her. They are shiny and bright and intelligent and fun. Walters one liners are wonderful – “well, its a good thing it wasn’t on your head” to Peter. He always makes the mundane seem hilarious.
I loved the parasite, the story idea, the execution. The insertion of Trini Alvarado into the storyline was too easy to figure, which annoyed me. Otherwise, loved everything but Olivia…and honestly, her presence makes me look away so often that I do consider not watching again. I’m not sure that the rest will be enough to keep me interested or not. She’s that bad to me.
Maybe they’ll kill Olivia off at the end of the season and replace her with a better character/actor.