Fringe 4x18 - "The Consultant" (Live Commentary, Spoilers)

[Procutus]

Ah, a not so obvious Lost reference. Bolivia had 108 suspects on her list. 108 being the sum of the Lost numbers 4, 8, 15, 16, 23 and 42.

It's an obvious shortcut. Next week, all Desmond will have to do is type in '108' and hit the button.

 

[Enterprise is Great]

Speaking of this week's upcoming episode...it will have a new opening credits just for this episode:

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Gu8iAoyxaEA[/yt]

 

[auntiehill]

Oooo! Cool.

 

[Procutus]

^

Ditto that! Very cool indeed. I am really looking forward to this ep.

 

[Gary7]

the best ep out of the last 4 episodes aired--it wasn't great by any stretch but it was one thing the preceding three episodes haven't been--entertaining. Granted it is only set-up but it was entertaining nonetheless. The downside though is Fringe's track record with providing a satisfying payoff--it can set up all the intriguing set-up they want and has been repeatedly demonstrated can't provide satisfying development or resolution to them i.e. The First People, The Machine, Where Peter was this season Why Peter continued to exist even after being erased, Sam Weiss etc etc

So I fully expect to be letdown when the season wraps up when it comes to how everything plays out--this is one element the Fringe scribes have successfully replicated from their Lost predecessor.

But I will say for all the show's faults--from the episodes I've watched especially this one the actors and writers have been doing a great job in the interpersonal interactions whether Walter and alternate Olivia at the apartment or what have you--too bad this wasn't present in the earlier seasons as it might have helped me take more of an interest in them.

I liked the revelation Col Broyles wasn't a shapeshifter but the actual person who was being bribed with treatment for his ailing son--although the emotional beats expected from this fell flat I thought.

At first, season 4 seemed like it was going to be a good one. But once Peter finally returned, it all began to diminish. I also started getting this "LOST" feeling about it. If there's one thing Fringe had been doing well, it was following through on what has been built up. We get an understanding of things, but with answers that yield more questions. LOST never really answered very much at all.

I was very dedicated to watching the first 3 seasons. However, this season I've actually missed a couple of episodes (and caught up with them thanks to torrent downloads). Never thought it would happen, but I'm just not held as captive for season 4. This past episode was one of the better ones this season, no doubt about it. I'd also describe it as having more of an early Fringe feel about it. It's interesting to see how Lincoln gradually realized his attraction to Altlivia and then acted upon it by finding a way to make himself useful in the alternate universe. I'm very curious to see how this will play out. Since his counterpart is dead, will he see about making a "transfer"? There might be a more compelling reason for this with Col. Broyles having been nabbed.

So... Observer Wars? Weird idea. Maybe this upcoming episode will do a decent reveal on more of their back story.

In any case, based on the rather low ratings this show is pulling, I also feel like this is it. Last season of Fringe. I just hope they can wrap it up much better than they did with LOST.

Btw,

In late January 2012, Fox and Warner Bros. Television were working on negotiating a lower licensing cost for the show to allow a fifth season to occur; this would not only help Fox reduce its losses on the show, but would also bring the total number of episodes above 100, giving Warner Bros. a better opportunity to syndicate reruns of the show. Wyman and Pinkner have stated that they have created a series finale for the end of the fourth season should the show be cancelled; Wyman stated "We want to take care of the fans. We want them to see where it would have gone, but we also know the show has been a commitment and we want everyone to be satisfied with it."