Fringe: "Peter" 4/1/10 - Grading & Discussion

[Trent Roman]

Even the Walter started the war between the worlds shocker wasn't one. It was either going to be Walter or Bell, since they created/instigated the tech to begin with. Now we just know (or assume at this point) it was over his kidnapping of Other Peter.

I'd say we already knew this as well; at least, that was my surmise from last season's finale, when we discovered that (A) Our Peter was dead, yet here's another; (B) there's another universe at war with us and; (C) the Manifesto of these cross-dimensional terrorists was written on Walter's typewriter--or, rather, Walternate's typewriter. Logical conclusion: Walter abducted another universe's Peter, and that universe's Walter founded a radical, scientific/terrorist movement to fight against such intrusions and take the battle to the other side.

But while it's nice to get confirmation of these things (I hate it when shows like the X-Files always leave things implied, so they can keep changing the scenario to shock the storyline into life), this episode really wasn't about the plot but the delivery. And it delivered well.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[Aragorn]

I'm wondering if Bell had already crossed over (which is why he wasn't at the funeral or tried to stop Walter), and now he can conveniently blame Walter for the war.

Of course, that might conflict with the brain thing Bell did to him.

 

[AJBryant]

So what's the opposite of jumping the shark?

Kicking the shark right in his little goolies?

 

[Obiwanshinobi]

Huh? The Stoltz thing was in the other universe.

Ohh ok I must have missed that, I was thinking all the scenes were taking place on our side, until our Walter crossed over. I need to rewatch

 

[Aragorn]

^ They showed a zeppelin overhead the theater and then revealed the Eric Stoltz credit.

 

[Checkmate]

I get the distinct impression that the Walternate is the man behind the oncoming war now, and Walter's guilt about what he did to the Walternate is what lead him down the road to insanity. It also explains why he would have written his war journal, and why the soldiers from the other universe were seeking him out to reclaim the data about his universe jumping machine.

The Walternate probably developed a means of sending people over, but it required extensive augmentation and alternations to their bodies (hence the quicksilver stuff). But in order for him to send a proper army over, he needs Walter's machine; a machine he couldn't create due to that universe's lack of advancement in that particular area for whatever reason. That, plus it's the only means of bringing his son back without having to transform him into a monster, too... which is likely the driving reason.

I mean, if Walter flipped out about losing his son and became obsessive and willing to destroy the universe, why wouldn't the Walternate? Especially knowing, courtesy of his wife, that an exact doppleganger showed up to steal him?

 

[Obiwanshinobi]

^ They showed a zeppelin overhead the theater and then revealed the Eric Stoltz credit.

Ah ok I was distracted while watching the episode

without getting into too much detail, let's say it involved fellatio

Which is why I need to rewatch

 

[Ayelbourne]

I get the distinct impression that the Walternate is the man behind the oncoming war now

Ever since There's more than one of everything, I suspected that Peter's abduction is what caused this conflict between worlds and that "Walternate" is the pissed off mastermind behind all of it.

 

[Checkmate]

I'm just surprised that Walter hasn't used the mirror to see what's going on. Or that Olivia didn't think to mention it either. A magic mirror is kinda-sorta a big deal when it comes to recon.

 

[DWF]

I'm just surprised that Walter hasn't used the mirror to see what's going on. Or that Olivia didn't think to mention it either. A magic mirror is kinda-sorta a big deal when it comes to recon.

I thought Walter brought it after he kicked it since he didn't use afterward.

 

[Checkmate]

Even if he did break it, it's not like he didn't build it in the first place. So repairing or just building a new one is hardly out of the question.

 

[DWF]

Even if he did break it, it's not like he didn't build it in the first place. So repairing or just building a new one is hardly out of the question.

I got the feeling he didn't build it by himself had William Bell's help and he was committed not long afterward. And it seemd to me that we wanted to bond with young Peter so took out to the beach house alot. Plus it appears that he worked just about every secret project that ever existed, something I still find alittle odd.

 

[Checkmate]

Considering he build the machine to actually jump to the other universe, I really have my doubts about him not being able to repair the mirror. I also get the distinct impression that Walter was the real talent behind the two. Bell was more of the administrative/commercialization brains instead.

 

[DWF]

Considering he build the machine to actually jump to the other universe, I really have my doubts about him not being able to repair the mirror. I also get the distinct impression that Walter was the real talent behind the two. Bell was more of the administrative/commercialization brains instead.

I think Bell was already on the other side well before Walter went over there or he made his own mirror.

 

[Checkmate]

Now that I think about it, Walter showed an (unbroken) mirror to Olivia early in the episode when he was explaining everything, too.

 

[sidious618]

If you voted this anything less than an excellent you have no taste.

I'm kidding.

But seriously, you have no taste.

 

[propita]

Ditto on all the positive comments already posted--particularly John Noble's appearance and acting. WoW!!

As for the Observer...Peter is "important" and evidently must live. Somewhere, Peter must live--but the Observers didn't seem to care too much which or where, did they? When the Observer (August?) screwed Alt-Peter's chance to survive in the other universe, he was to ensure that Alt-Peter survived in our universe (though this was before Walter decided to keep him). So they kinda abetted things.

Now, WHO are the Observers? They are aware of both universes and seemingly traverse them without problem--yet are not supposed to interfere (which is why this one had a problem with screwing alt-Peter's survival). Who are they? Personally, I don't want a good-evil thing going on, I've had enough of that with "Lost."

 

[AJBryant]

Peter is "important" and evidently must live. Somewhere, Peter must live--but the Observers didn't seem to care too much which or where, did they? When the Observer (August?) screwed Alt-Peter's chance to survive in the other universe, he was to ensure that Alt-Peter survived in our universe (though this was before Walter decided to keep him).

This is a critical point. I think Peter is probably supposed to be some great cross-dimensional hero or character. Specifically, I gather, they wanted ALT-Peter to survive (they were watching Walternate, after all, not Walter. That *our* Peter died was, perhaps, inconsequential. THAT Peter had to live. The fact that he lived here instead of there just makes it more... interesting. Perhaps, it also highlights how Peter is to matter -- he is to matter cross-dimensionally, rather than just "there."

 

[propita]

Re: Peter

Walter goes to the alt-universe, takes Peter and lies to Elizabeth--who undoubtedly asks Walternate where their son is. And then Walternate somehow makes the connection that there's another universe? Or does Belly get Walter to send him there and Belly starts the brouhaha?

And why isn't Walter using his magic window to monitor things?

 

[Checkmate]

Walter goes to the alt-universe, takes Peter and lies to Elizabeth--who undoubtedly asks Walternate where their son is. And then Walternate somehow makes the connection that there's another universe? Or does Belly get Walter to send him there and Belly starts the brouhaha?

Why not? Walter makes crazy leaps based on minimal input. Why wouldn't the Walternate? There are three big clues. The first is that "he" showed up to kidnap their son, that "he" knew Elizabeth intimately, and that "he" claimed to be doing it to save Peter's life. Due to the odd clothes, his first guess might have been himself from another time, but like the main Walter, he'd have made some seriously goofy leap to lead him to figure out what really happened.

And why isn't Walter using his magic window to monitor things?

No idea. Even Olivia didn't mention it after Walter bringing it to her house and explaining what it was.