|
|
| Saturday, October 2, 2010 03:49 PM |
| On the Viewer - Fringe (Season 3, Episode 1 - "Olivia") |
 by Fëanor |
Yay! Fringe is back!
As usual, beware spoilers.
We open with Olivia apparently in a therapy appointment with a woman who believes that her story about being from another universe is something she made up in her head due to her recent trauma. The interesting thing about this scene is that at first it's unclear which universe we're in, and which Olivia we're talking to. Of course, when the woman holds up a picture of Lincoln Lee, it all becomes clear, but the fact that there was no way to know at first was kind of fantastic.
Walternate is trying to turn Olivia into his Olivia so he can make use of her ability to travel between universes. But he's underestimated the level of our Olivia's bad-assery. She breaks out in hardcore fashion!
Turns out the secret facility where Olivia was being held and experimented on is in the base of the Statue of Liberty. Great reveal!
More fun details about the alternate universe: we overhear a news report about President Obama appointing former President John F. Kennedy to such-and-such a position.
A video on a storefront advertises "Daily Flights To The Moon" from a company called Glatterflug.
Lincoln and Charlie still think this is their Olivia, just crazy. I have a feeling Walternate is going to pay for keeping the secret of her true identity.
Lincoln: "Melissa. Get my nanite wraps."
Uh, okay then.
There's a protester holding a sign outside the opera house that reads: "Release the ambered." Interesting - there's a movement to get the people out of the amber that Fringe Division encases people in whenever there's an "event."
Olivia reads out Henry's full ID information from memory. That chick is scary. I would not want her as my enemy.
Henry: "Jedi mind trick." I'm glad to hear Star Wars exists in the alternate universe, as well!
Man, they even gave Olivia alt-Olivia's tattoo, just to really mess with her head.
I love the moment when Olivia and alt-Charlie are pointing guns at each other, but neither can fire.
Henry points out that Olivia is a great shot - just like alt-Olivia. It's working! They're changing her! Very creepy.
A guy rides by on a penny farthing bicycle. Is that an alternate universe thing, or is he just a hipster?
Olivia is definitely changing. Just identified her S.O. as Frank instead of Peter. No!
The cab driver, Henry, could have been a throwaway character, but they got a good actor to play him and actually spent the time to develop him a little. Good stuff.
Olivia getting to see her Mom still alive in this other universe must be really mind-blowing for her. It's an intense idea. She can't resist the chance to hug this woman, but then has to reassert for herself that this is not really her mother.
Mom: "If you're never been here, how did you know to come here?"
Poor Olivia! How they've messed with her mind! She's giving in. She's become the other Olivia.
What an insane, brilliant, and unexpected twist. Walternate is now in control of both Olivias in both realities. And because he's a bastard, he won't tell Broyles why he did it, or what his plan is.
I like the way they switch us back to the other universe - a shot of a building with a zeppelin flying over it, then a blur and a deep, low sound, and the zeppelin vanishes.
We end with Peter happily kissing alt-Olivia, totally oblivious as to her true identity. Aaah!
I was really hoping we'd fix the Olivia situation quickly, for her sake, but they actually found a way to make it even worse! And to be honest, I love it. Good show, Fringe! Good show. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
