Fringe: "Olivia" - Sept. 23 - Grading & Discussion

[label]

Strong start. They definitely seem to really be hitting a nice groove after a so-so first season and much stronger second season. Not sure if Olivia was really consumed by Altlivia's blood or whether she's decided to fake it now that she has some memories/abilities to work with. My money's on the she's faking it.

Either way, nice twist and potentially could introduce some long term effects that might transform Olivia's character.

Speaking of which, one has to wonder if Altlivia will be moved/changed at all being around our Walter or whether she remains solidily against our reality.

Given the complete and utter lack of anything remotely competing with Fringe in the Sci-Fi/fantasy in terms of quality or production values, I continue to be absolutely amazed at the lack of audience that this show has, even among Sci-Fi fans on this board who turned off early and missed how far the show has come. I dunno, maybe I'm missing something and there's better sci-fi out there but I have yet to find it.

Since Lost went off the air, this is about as good as it gets for me for Sci-Fi. Here's hoping season 3 stays strong.

 

[Starbreaker]

There's nothing better out there in terms of sci-fi. It's simply in a terrible time slot. It's up against CSI, Grey's Anatomy, and The Office, three of the most popular shows on television. It's just not getting the younger viewers.

 

[Forbin]

Altlivia

They're going with "Fauxlivia."

At first I found the nicknames ("Walternate" ) cute, but now they're starting to grate on me.

 

[Greylock Crescent]

I think that's an inherent downside to dealing with mirror characters on a regular basis. DS9 only had them about once a year so it was easy to keep track. With the mirrors on Fringe featured so prominently, I'd grow even more annoyed having to say "Alternate Olivia" and "Real Olivia" (or "Olivia Prime" ) than saying "Folivia" and "Olivia".

 

[Snick27]

I think that's an inherent downside to dealing with mirror characters on a regular basis. DS9 only had them about once a year so it was easy to keep track. With the mirrors on Fringe featured so prominently, I'd grow even more annoyed having to say "Alternate Olivia" and "Real Olivia" (or "Olivia Prime" ) than saying "Folivia" and "Olivia".

But whats your real Olivia might be others Alt Olivia. Im cheering for red side(hence this episode opening was in red and not blue) as the Blue side attacked us first and taken a child from us. Hell you guys cant even go to the moon, pathetic.

 

[Greylock Crescent]

But whats your real Olivia might be others Alt Olivia. Im cheering for red side(hence this episode opening was in red and not blue) as the Blue side attacked us first and taken a child from us. Hell you guys cant even go to the moon, pathetic.

Touché.

 

[Samurai8472]

A rocking premiere...holy crap! She's brainwashed...or is she? Is she just playing along? Hmm....

I did, at the end, scream at Peter "Wrong girl!!!"

You have it wrong, right girl, wrong universe.

He's probably thinking

"Hey what does it matter? I've got an Olivia"


The end was a nice to transition from sinister "Walternate" to the brains for mush Walter we have. Reduced to licking the insides of Oreos lol

 

[Procutus]

That was fucking awesome. Pretty much one hour of Anna Torv giving the finger to everyone has ever said she couldn't act.

I have to agree. I never really thought Torv had the chops to carry a whole ep on her own, but she sure as hell did it with this premier. I loved seeing more of the alt-verse, the little subtle details and the larger ones as well (the whole idea that they're still using dirigibles is kinda cool).

Definite thumbs up and I can't wait until next week.

 

[Starbreaker]

I still wanna use Scarlie.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Altlivia

They're going with "Fauxlivia."

At first I found the nicknames ("Walternate" ) cute, but now they're starting to grate on me.

Doesn't bother me except when the characters themselves use the terms which sounds false to me.

That was fucking awesome. Pretty much one hour of Anna Torv giving the finger to everyone has ever said she couldn't act.

I have to agree. I never really thought Torv had the chops to carry a whole ep on her own, but she sure as hell did it with this premier. I loved seeing more of the alt-verse, the little subtle details and the larger ones as well (the whole idea that they're still using dirigibles is kinda cool).

Definite thumbs up and I can't wait until next week.

I've always been impressed at the way she seems to make Olivia and Fauxlivia distinct from each other. Like when the memories start to take hold and she gives that big grin it seemed really obvious that she had crossed over.

 

[Aragorn]

Doesn't bother me except when the characters themselves use the terms which sounds false to me.

Well "Walternate" originated from Walter when he first observed his double in the alternate universe. No one else has in-show nicknames.

 

[stj]

The original Olivia is such a drip I had always assumed that Torv must have some talent, as well as looks, to keep me from throwing something at the television set. So I'm not surprised she copes well with the transition scenes.

The random taxi cab driver who becomes so enamored of his hijacker that he waits to watch over her even after he is finally released is kind of, well, pukey is the adjective that come to mind (stomach?) The Olivia adoration has been the Achilles' heel of this show from the first episode, and we get it hit hard this episode.

Otherwise, it is just another instalment in a serialized story. There's no meaningful choice for any character to make here. Olivia naturally wants to escape, which is all that really happens. Not that it happens with any great plausibility. Just because she's so wonderful she can swim five miles in bad currents? This really isn't the good stuff.

I got bored watching it, hoping for the end. Below average.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Doesn't bother me except when the characters themselves use the terms which sounds false to me.

Well "Walternate" originated from Walter when he first observed his double in the alternate universe. No one else has in-show nicknames.

I know, it's just I get the sense it was the writer's pet name manifesting itself. However, Walter is quirky enough to come up with such a term I suppose.

 

[The Habs Fan]

Excellent

I liked seeing more of the alternate universe in this episode. Looking forward to next week and the return of Newton (it looked like him in the preview).

 

[bigdaddy]

I think that's an inherent downside to dealing with mirror characters on a regular basis. DS9 only had them about once a year so it was easy to keep track. With the mirrors on Fringe featured so prominently, I'd grow even more annoyed having to say "Alternate Olivia" and "Real Olivia" (or "Olivia Prime" ) than saying "Folivia" and "Olivia".

I thought the writers were going with Bolivia. As in B universe Olivia.

 

[Wynterhawk]

Oh great, a whole episode dedicated to Olivia. I have yet to be impressed by the character or the actress who, while thrown into fantastic situations, still proves to be as dull as mud and not terribly attractive at that. I want more Astrid.

 

[Mr Light]

So... was anyone fooled for a second that Olivia's escape from Bizarro Prison was legitimate, or that the cabbie wasn't a plant?

 

[propita]

Great episode.

I liked how Scarlie's worms are still in him.

As posted, Olivia had heard about the "show me"s before. And she initially asked the cabbie for his id, then asked for his show me. And I do like the cabbie.

Is Olivia just playing along? I hope so, but I'm not sure.
Will Fauxlivia stay with her mission, or get "seduced" by our universe (and Peter), and decide to help. I doubt she'll waver, but it'd be interesting if they both "switched sides."

 

[sojourner]

So... was anyone fooled for a second that Olivia's escape from Bizarro Prison was legitimate, or that the cabbie wasn't a plant?

^Yea, because the scenes of the alternate Fringe division saying they can't find her were totally faked in order to confuse the viewer. And, planting a cabbie in just the right place at just the right time among literally dozens of cabs to choose from? easy.

 

[Aragorn]

^ Hey, that sort of thing happens on soap operas all the time. And on 24 if you're Habib Marwan.