I noticed his identity as the boady hooked up at the end. What was the significance of John's mother starting at Olivia at the funeral?
Fringe: "The Ghost Network" 9/23 - Grading & Discussion
- Thread starter Aragorn
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That explains Olivia's near tearfulness, but when she looked over the camera went in tight on John's mother who was staring intently at Olivia. Curious.....
It's possible she knew about their relationship or their partnership.
I voted average on this one. What I have to say may sound more negative than it is meant to be, I do like the show and hope it succeeds.
However, as another poster said, "the pattern" or formula of each episode needs to change. We're three eps in, and already it's feeling a little tired. I'm not even talking about new plots - I don't expect that from any show anymore - just something different in how the episode is constructed. A little freshness in the plot would be appreciated, though. This episode, in particular... well, I called the ending less than 15 minutes in, and nailed it. Last week's, I was able to piece together most of it, but it wasn't quite so obvious.
Beyond the stories themselves... the show just seems to be lacking something. Some undefinable quality to make it compelling, to make it stand out. The acting ranges from fair to excellent, the dialogue vacillates between scintillating and staid, and the cinematography is serviceable if uninspired.
Everyone raves about Walter, and I admit, I love the character and think John Noble does an excellent job. But I also believe that unless they balance out those eccentric outbursts and odd traits with something else, it will get tired and annoying soon. Anna Torv, often touted as "the next big thing" in reviews, leaves me less than impressed. She's just...okay. Kinda bland and lifeless. I know that Olivia Dunham is a restrained, reserved character, but other actors have been able to make a character like that interesting. So far, she hasn't. Of course, the rather predictable writing hasn't helped her much either. Quite honestly, I think the show's true acting standout is Joshua Jackson. When the show was in development and I heard he joined the cast, I was quite worried that he'd be the odd man out, and wouldn't find it with the rest of the cast. Well, in a way I suppose he is the odd man out, only in the sense that he gives what I consider to be the only really compelling performance on the series. Walter is enjoyable, but too larger than life to really appreciate on that level. Olivia is flat. Broyles is merely the "mysertious leader with a hidden agenda" stereotype. The others barely register a blip. I find Peter to be the truly engaging one, from a performance standpoint. I want to watch him (and Walter, to a degree). The others, I just don't care about. Even though -- and I just this moment realized it -- he's basically playing Tom Cruise to Walter's Rain Man, all the while spouting a lot of clunky exposition by way of translating from "Walter speak."
Beyond the characters... I really thought the concept would come off well, and I think it has, to an extent. All the ingredients for something fantastic are there, but at the same point, it's lacking spice, flavor, something to really make an impact. Fringe is basically billed as X-Files: The Next Generation, with a touch of Alias thrown in. But both of those series, especially X-Files had much more atmosphere than Fringe. Even in their earliest episodes -- as hit or miss as they could be -- there was something that really kept you on the edge of your seat. Fringe makes me yawn as much as it makes me laugh, and hasn't yet pushed me to the edge. It needs to be...scarier, I guess. Not more graphic or bloody or sexy, but more atmospheric. Freakier. Just...something more. More than it is currently, at any rate.
Maybe I'm expecting too much because it's a J.J. Abrams series. I'm not saying it needs to be Lost. Not at all. But it needs something to grab my attention, to get me involved. Lost did that from the very first scene. Fringe hasn't managed it over three hours. I hope it's just slow in developing, and that with a couple more shows, it will find its mark. And I hope that FOX actually gives it a chance.
However, as another poster said, "the pattern" or formula of each episode needs to change. We're three eps in, and already it's feeling a little tired. I'm not even talking about new plots - I don't expect that from any show anymore - just something different in how the episode is constructed. A little freshness in the plot would be appreciated, though. This episode, in particular... well, I called the ending less than 15 minutes in, and nailed it. Last week's, I was able to piece together most of it, but it wasn't quite so obvious.
Beyond the stories themselves... the show just seems to be lacking something. Some undefinable quality to make it compelling, to make it stand out. The acting ranges from fair to excellent, the dialogue vacillates between scintillating and staid, and the cinematography is serviceable if uninspired.
Everyone raves about Walter, and I admit, I love the character and think John Noble does an excellent job. But I also believe that unless they balance out those eccentric outbursts and odd traits with something else, it will get tired and annoying soon. Anna Torv, often touted as "the next big thing" in reviews, leaves me less than impressed. She's just...okay. Kinda bland and lifeless. I know that Olivia Dunham is a restrained, reserved character, but other actors have been able to make a character like that interesting. So far, she hasn't. Of course, the rather predictable writing hasn't helped her much either. Quite honestly, I think the show's true acting standout is Joshua Jackson. When the show was in development and I heard he joined the cast, I was quite worried that he'd be the odd man out, and wouldn't find it with the rest of the cast. Well, in a way I suppose he is the odd man out, only in the sense that he gives what I consider to be the only really compelling performance on the series. Walter is enjoyable, but too larger than life to really appreciate on that level. Olivia is flat. Broyles is merely the "mysertious leader with a hidden agenda" stereotype. The others barely register a blip. I find Peter to be the truly engaging one, from a performance standpoint. I want to watch him (and Walter, to a degree). The others, I just don't care about. Even though -- and I just this moment realized it -- he's basically playing Tom Cruise to Walter's Rain Man, all the while spouting a lot of clunky exposition by way of translating from "Walter speak."
Beyond the characters... I really thought the concept would come off well, and I think it has, to an extent. All the ingredients for something fantastic are there, but at the same point, it's lacking spice, flavor, something to really make an impact. Fringe is basically billed as X-Files: The Next Generation, with a touch of Alias thrown in. But both of those series, especially X-Files had much more atmosphere than Fringe. Even in their earliest episodes -- as hit or miss as they could be -- there was something that really kept you on the edge of your seat. Fringe makes me yawn as much as it makes me laugh, and hasn't yet pushed me to the edge. It needs to be...scarier, I guess. Not more graphic or bloody or sexy, but more atmospheric. Freakier. Just...something more. More than it is currently, at any rate.
Maybe I'm expecting too much because it's a J.J. Abrams series. I'm not saying it needs to be Lost. Not at all. But it needs something to grab my attention, to get me involved. Lost did that from the very first scene. Fringe hasn't managed it over three hours. I hope it's just slow in developing, and that with a couple more shows, it will find its mark. And I hope that FOX actually gives it a chance.
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I voted Excellent.... For some reason this episode really clicked with me. The humor, the characters, the plot. And the whole cast/group actually acted like a team. And come to think of it, even Joshua Jackson didn't bug me.
The best episode so far, I think.
Oh... As for the poster who noted the outdated phones (I did too)... Well the episode did explain that one. A neat little detail for those of us who paid attention to it)
My only nagging annoyance is the actress who is the public face of 'Massive Dynamics'. She bugs me.
The best episode so far, I think.
Oh... As for the poster who noted the outdated phones (I did too)... Well the episode did explain that one. A neat little detail for those of us who paid attention to it)
My only nagging annoyance is the actress who is the public face of 'Massive Dynamics'. She bugs me.
I'm enjoying the show... but more because of this new "experiment" with TV formats. Right now, it's the only 50 minute drama on TV - that's 8-10 more minutes than every other one hour drama, and I think they're using the extra time pretty well.
The only thing I don't like is the taint of Lost that appears at the end of every episode. I really don't need to hear the sharp, crescendoing violins over a lame "shocking cliffhanger". They might as well flash "LOST" at the end of the show instead of the weird animal pictures.
The only thing I don't like is the taint of Lost that appears at the end of every episode. I really don't need to hear the sharp, crescendoing violins over a lame "shocking cliffhanger". They might as well flash "LOST" at the end of the show instead of the weird animal pictures.
I really don't need to hear the sharp, crescendoing violins over a lame "shocking cliffhanger". They might as well flash "LOST" at the end of the show instead of the weird animal pictures.
yes lol thats what got on my nerves too. Also the big "DUM" that ends each commerical.
Seriously. I wonder if they're just trying to trick people into think they're watching Lost somehow. 
"Maybe if we use the same sound effects as Lost after each break, people will like our show! I mean, that's why they watch Lost right?!"
"Maybe if we use the same sound effects as Lost after each break, people will like our show! I mean, that's why they watch Lost right?!"
I think the pattern is all the strange events leading back to Massive Dynamic which then leads to the rambaldi device then a mysterious institute and finally a creature attacking New York
Alias did that sharp, crescendoing violins too. Maybe the season finale will have the cast of "Fringe" crash landing on the "Lost" island(which is part of Massive Dynamic and the dharma institute)
Walter- I can get us off the island!
Peter- Please don't tell me it involves coconuts
Walter- If I can just remember where I stashed that jetski from twenty years ago on this island>_>
Seriously. I wonder if they're just trying to trick people into think they're watching Lost somehow.
"Maybe if we use the same sound effects as Lost after each break, people will like our show! I mean, that's why they watch Lost right?!"
Alias did that sharp, crescendoing violins too. Maybe the season finale will have the cast of "Fringe" crash landing on the "Lost" island(which is part of Massive Dynamic and the dharma institute)
Walter- I can get us off the island!
Peter- Please don't tell me it involves coconuts
Walter- If I can just remember where I stashed that jetski from twenty years ago on this island>_>
We really, really need to move on from the:
Mysterious Event.
Take problem to Denethor.
Denethor caused problem.
Go to Denethor's old pad and find mysterious incomplete machinery.
Denethor magically makes the machinery work 30 years later using magic science.
Problem fixed.
Tag on two extra scenes to make it look like there's any connection between everything whatsoever. Instead, it all looks ludicrious.
It was all going well until half way through this episode, when I realised its been the same each week.
Plus, why does every male actor in the show outside of her boss, Joshua and Denethor look exactly the same?
Mysterious Event.
Take problem to Denethor.
Denethor caused problem.
Go to Denethor's old pad and find mysterious incomplete machinery.
Denethor magically makes the machinery work 30 years later using magic science.
Problem fixed.
Tag on two extra scenes to make it look like there's any connection between everything whatsoever. Instead, it all looks ludicrious.
It was all going well until half way through this episode, when I realised its been the same each week.
Plus, why does every male actor in the show outside of her boss, Joshua and Denethor look exactly the same?
Average, pretty much like the last episode. This show seems to be far too formulaic for its own good. And they keep talking about the "pattern" and I keep not caring, because it's just talk so far. I don't know where they're going with this, but I really think something like this "pattern" business should have been introduced later, after at least a dozen episodes.
Plus, Olivia keeps talking like she's investigated lots of weird science, when this is her third case? It is like the moment in the pilot when she says she wishes things could go back to normal, when for all she knows things are going to go back to normal.
And how many times is Walter going to remember some device or research that he hid away years ago that will just happen to come in handy with the particular case that Olivia is working on?
Plus, Olivia keeps talking like she's investigated lots of weird science, when this is her third case? It is like the moment in the pilot when she says she wishes things could go back to normal, when for all she knows things are going to go back to normal.
And how many times is Walter going to remember some device or research that he hid away years ago that will just happen to come in handy with the particular case that Olivia is working on?
They're using generic white guys for the baddies? 
See, even though it's not the best thing, I just kind of wish that people would watch this because maybe it will lead to other Fox shows going 50 minutes... then maybe all shows will be 50 minutes. It would be like we were living in the 60s again!
See, even though it's not the best thing, I just kind of wish that people would watch this because maybe it will lead to other Fox shows going 50 minutes... then maybe all shows will be 50 minutes. It would be like we were living in the 60s again!
I have to say I totally love the short commercial breaks and I even more totally love that they tell us how long the break is. I know exactly how long to fast-forward that way.
I liked this episode. The idea of someone being an unintentional receiver is pretty cool and freaky. But the formula needs to be shaken up a bit.
I liked this episode. The idea of someone being an unintentional receiver is pretty cool and freaky. But the formula needs to be shaken up a bit.
Yes, it did seem like quite some time had passed between this and the last episode.
- The team was working more together
- The FBI guy who before was wondering what she was involved in now seems to be "in on it"
So either they intended to make it appear like a time gap, or perhaps the
episode was shown outside of production order
Either way I don't mind, because I liked the group interactions much better in this episode than what came before.
The only 'pattern' I'm noticing is me watching a show with so much potential; The show doing absolutely nothing with it; And me wanting 50 minutes of my life back.
This was the best episode so far, but, I was hooked 3 episodes into Lost and 3 episodes into Alias. With this show (aka CSI: Weird Shit Happens) I'm not hooked. I keep watching, hoping, that something will happen. Something more significant then Walter's wacky jokes.
If this show was cancelled next week I wouldn't be starting a petition to save it.
This was the best episode so far, but, I was hooked 3 episodes into Lost and 3 episodes into Alias. With this show (aka CSI: Weird Shit Happens) I'm not hooked. I keep watching, hoping, that something will happen. Something more significant then Walter's wacky jokes.
If this show was cancelled next week I wouldn't be starting a petition to save it.
1. Is it to early to call bullshit on the pattern talk? Can we blame the writers yet for making it all up as they go along and not having at least an outline of where this is all going?
2. I managed to put my finger on something that was bugging me in the previous episodes. The show "wants" to be now where Lost and Alias were after maybe a whole season or two. Those two managed to let the story evolve. Fringe forces the story background down my throat with a lot of exposition since it didn't have the opportunity to show me yet.
3 How many cases will it take for Walter not to be responsible for the mess Olivia is investigating?
I'm out for now. I'll catch up again, if the show manages to reach it's true potential.
2. I managed to put my finger on something that was bugging me in the previous episodes. The show "wants" to be now where Lost and Alias were after maybe a whole season or two. Those two managed to let the story evolve. Fringe forces the story background down my throat with a lot of exposition since it didn't have the opportunity to show me yet.
3 How many cases will it take for Walter not to be responsible for the mess Olivia is investigating?
I'm out for now. I'll catch up again, if the show manages to reach it's true potential.