My biggest complain about Fringe has been that the episodes are taking their sweet time with the overarching plot. I still want to know what Walternate is planning and what the mysterious ancient machine is going to do. That being said I didn’t mind the fact that episode was a filler episode.
Olivia is back and has to come to terms with the fact that a stranger has been living her life. This episode may be not be on the same epic caliber that last week’s episode was, but it was important none the less. This is a fallout episode, and without fallout episodes the blockbuster episodes loose their impact. The interpersonal relationships are shaken up dramatically. Fringe Division has formed a surrogate family for each other, but the impostor could have destroyed that. I want to know how this will effect things going forward for Peter, Olivia, Walter, and the rest as much as how I want to know what that damn ancient machine does.
I really respect Anna Torv as an actress. She’s able to do stubble things to completely change her character. She made Bad Olivia, seem so sinister with a change in tone, or a quick glance past the camera. In this episode she’s able to portray Olivia’s vulnerability and feeling of violation without sacrificing any of the character’s strength.
Something interesting to ponder. The people of the alternate world are under the impression that our world is a war with them. Alternate Broyles helped our Olivia because he wanted hope for peace. Alternate Olivia spent time over here and knows that, our world is defiantly not at war with theirs. Does she even care? It only adds to the mystery and creates potential for a great evil villain.
On a scale of 1 to Epic, (Epic= 10) I’d give it a 7.2.