LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE Burns Bright

Article first published as TV Review: LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE on Seat42F.

Hulu recently premiered LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE, a mini-series adaptation of the novel of the same name from Celeste Ng. It’s the story of two families in Shaker Heights, Ohio in the 1990s. One is comfortably upper middle-class, husband and wife with four kids. The other is a single mom and her teenage daughter, sometimes homeless, always on the move, who blow into town. One kid from the first family is a misfit, and the single mother might be, too. Their worlds collide in interesting fashion. And, of course, there’s fire and destruction, as the opening scene promises.

The cast is led by Reese Witherspoon (The Morning Show) as Elena Richardson and Kerry Washington (Scandal) as Mia Warren, both of whom are producers on the project, as well. Both of these actresses are accomplished, and both are playing characters in their wheelhouses. As such, this seems like a strong duo to put out in front of the series.

Elena is a character study of a familiar archetype. She’s definitely racist and patronizing. She sees the world as one way and wants everyone to conform to it. Her good heart, wanting to help those she thinks need it, is commendable, but doesn’t excuse the glaring flaws, except maybe in her husband (Joshua Jackson, The Affair) and peers’ eyes. Yes, Elena’s attitude was a more common one at the time this story is set, but is a character everyone will recognize, and there is definitely a new version of the personality today. The attitudes haven’t gone away. It’s good the story doesn’t try to excuse her behavior, but instead paints a full picture of the woman.

Mia is not quite as glaringly familiar, but still relatable. She is warm and loving and protective of her daughter, wanting her to succeed. But she has flaws, too, being defensive and flighty, not always opening up with her daughter, and dragging her around without warning, frequently upending her life. Having these elements to her keeps the audience from needing to side with either Elena or Mia when they’re at odds. Usually Elena is obviously on the wrong side of those disagreements, but we get to see a more complex dynamic than we might have in a lesser show.

LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE doesn’t seem to be trying to pass judgment or send a message about Mia or Elena. It’s just showing fully formed individuals whose orbits happen to intersect by circumstance. It’s kind of nice there’s no bigger message here, even though I generally like when there is. Their actions will let the audience judge them without any assistance needed from the show.

The two women are at the center of the piece, but they aren’t the whole thing, with Elena’s son, Moody (Gavin Lewis, Prince of Peoria), daughter Izzy (Megan Stott, So Shook), and Mia’s daughter Pearl (Lexi Underwood, If Not Now, When?) taking a large chunk of screen time, too. For Moody and Pearl, it’s a sweet, innocent connection between two kindred spirits, and maybe even the development of romance. (I won’t spoil anything, but if the series follows the book, it won’t be so straight-forward.) For Izzy, though, it’s an isolated cry for help, rebelling against a family and school she doesn’t fit into, and a dark turn.

The child actors are good. If anything, we don’t get enough of Izzy in the pilot to really figure out what her deal is. But there’s plenty of time with Moody and Pearl to see a dynamic develop. I wonder if the other two Richardson kids will be further explored as the episodes unfold, or if the action will mostly be confined to these three. Either is a valid choice, but it does seem a little strange to have two ‘extraneous’ siblings hanging around.

LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE is set in a specific time and place, and there’s plenty done to show that. From the fashion to Janet Reno references to the bulky car phone, to the teenagers lacking cell phones and being excited about bicycles and abandoned vans, it feels very 90s. And yet, there’s a quality to the characters that doesn’t feel dated. Perhaps because the decade was so recent, add a little technology and they could still fit in to today’s world.

In general, I enjoyed the first episode of LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE, and will probably watch more. Catch the series, currently airing new episodes on Hulu.

THE AFFAIR Rages On

Article originally published as THE AFFAIR Review Season 2 Episode 1 on Seat42F.

Maura Tierney as Helen, Dominic West as Noah, Ruth Wilson as Alison and Joshua Jackson as Cole in The Affair (Season 2). - Photo: Steven Lippman/SHOWTIME

Showtime’s THE AFFAIR returns tonight for a second season. The timeline of the series isn’t exactly chronological, so it’s hard to say exactly how long has passed when the new year begins, but there has been a very obvious expansion of the story. The premiere not only gets us back into the lives of these people in what feels like a new chapter, but also does a wonderful job deepening the existing structure.

The biggest change you’ll see, and this has been widely publicized so I don’t believe it counts as a spoiler, is that each episode is no longer split between the perspectives of Noah (Dominic West) and Allison (Ruth Wilson). The premiere is a Noah / Helen (Maura Tierney) division, with only a brief glimpse into Allison, and Cole (Joshua Jackson) will also be getting his own turn soon.

Allowing Helen and Cole their turn makes a lot of sense and is very welcome to THE AFFAIR. Tierney is a wonderful actress, and it’s nice to see her get such an expanded role. In the first season, Cole and Helen are in the dark about what’s going on, so don’t necessarily have as rich an experience to contribute. Now, brought into the proceedings, it’s good to see what they remember, too.

If I have one complaint at all about episode 201, it’s that we don’t get to see what Allison and Cole are up to, and I very much want to know. But I’m sure that will be taken care of in week two, and it’s a testament to how good THE AFFAIR is that I’m eager to return for that.

In the premiere, we catch up with Noah and Helen shortly after their separation. She is raising the kids with the help of her mom, Margaret (Kathleen Chalfant), while he is ensconced in a lake house, finishing his book and spending time with Allison. They both have different priorities right now, but their impending divorce brings them back together.

Like in the first season, memories don’t always line up. Most notably, a meeting with a mediator (Jeremy Shamos, Birdman: Or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) illustrates the schism. Where Noah and Helen are in their heads certainly influences the way they recall the event, and as we watch the same scene unfold two different ways, it gives a lot of insight into the mindsets of our leads.

I really like the way THE AFFAIR does this. Perhaps these characters differ a bit more than most people would in telling of their shared experiences, but it provides a way for viewers to analyze the pieces and allows greater understanding of the players. Every time the departures happen, there’s a reason for it. It’s more than just a gimmick THE AFAIR uses;, it’s an important part of the story and necessary to really get what’s going on, which likely isn’t exactly what either are remembering.

The plot arc of Noah facing jail time for Scott’s murder also continues, and provides even more cohesion between seasons one and two. This is something left very much unresolved at the close of season one, and presumably why the past is being brought back up. Detective Jeffries (Victor Williams) has the unenviable task of being the character who most holds the series together while mattering very little to the primary tale. I’m glad to see this continue, and now believe that these events will not be concluded until the series is.

THE AFFAIR’s second season premiere maintains not only the same type of installment that all of the first year does in terms of quality and originality, but finds a way to grow between the two main lines set forth in that initial year. With a locked in beginning and end, filling out the middle in an interesting way is hard to do, and the writers for this program manage to do so consistently. I applaud their skill and very much enjoy their work.

THE AFFAIR airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on Showtime.

THE AFFAIR To Remember

Article first published as THE AFFAIR Review on Seat42F.

Ruth Wilson as Alison and Dominic West as Noah | THE AFFAIR

Showtime’s THE AFFAIR is an interesting slow-burn drama. As the title implies it features an affair between a man, Noah Solloway (Dominic West, The Hour), and a woman, Alison Bailey (Ruth Wilson, Luther). But what happens is far from cut-and-dry. Somehow, these two people, who both have spouses, end up involved with one another. But how that comes about and what the aftereffects of this are is up for debate.

See, THE AFFAIR doesn’t just tell a story. Alison and Noah are talking to someone (law enforcement?) and telling the events to the best of their recollection, sort of like HBO’s True Detective, but less coherent. That is because Alison and Noah remember things quite differently. It’s not clear exactly how much time has passed between the two timeframes, their hair has not turned grey or anything, but it’s definitely been awhile. And something really traumatic must have occurred, maybe the emotional toll the affair takes, but maybe something else, that has caused them to crystalize their recollections into at-times extremes.

The reason I mention it could be something else is because of the themes of death in the pilot. There are multiple scenes in which a child dies or almost dies. I won’t spoil the details, but tragedy is constantly hanging over the program. There are some very dark themes and a creepy mood in certain scenes. This implies, to me anyway, that there could be something truly depressing just around the corner, more so than what leads the characters astray in the first place.

Half of the first episode of THE AFFAIR is told from Noah’s perspective, and then the series flips and retells the tale from Alison’s. Obviously, they being different people, a lot of what is shown doesn’t involve the other. But when their narratives do overlap, the similarities are overrun by the inconsistencies. Was Alison trying to seduce Noah? Was Noah stalking Alison? Who can tell?

Even more than that, though, are the details. In Alison’s telling, Noah’s wife, Helen (Maura Tierney, ER), casts a loving gaze at him that isn’t there when Noah relates the same thing, which says something about how Alison sees Noah. Similarly, we don’t see Noah being attentive to Helen in Alison’s version, but he’s a near-perfect husband in a good marriage when he relates things, the way he sees himself.

We meet both spouses in the first hour. Helen is a busy mom of four. She and Noah find it hard to make time for sex, their kids constantly interrupting. But they do seem to love one another, and she looks to be a good person in both sides. Alison’s union with Cole (Joshua Jackson, Fringe) is more rocky. They’ve gone through something, revealed semi-late in the hour, and they are finding different ways to cope with it, driving them apart. Neither Alison nor Noah paints Cole in the best light.

I like that this series doesn’t give us the truth. In order to understand what actually happens, viewers must watch both versions, then think for themselves. Since everyone is flawed and everyone will bend their memories to what best suits them, it’s extremely likely that neither is getting it right, so you must try to make your own conclusions about what the middle ground is, just as the people listening to our protagonists are doing.

Despite the British leads, known for their work overseas, the show is American. There’s a way the production unfolds that just seems more like the fare we’re used to over here, style and tone and pacing matching other premium network fare. The quality of the action and the production is top notch, and it would probably pair nicely with Masters of Sex, another forbidden love tale with lots of pathos, which actually just concluded their sophomore run. Maybe next year, that can happen.

THE AFFAIR is a must-see offering, with the scope of a film and the intensity to such one in almost instantly. It airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on Showtime.

On the Fringe no more

Article first published as On the Fringe no more on TheTVKing.

I have been a fan of FOX's Fringe since day one. I liked the first season, and then grew to love the show as it deepened, building a rich, complex world, and making bold moves, constantly resetting themselves.

And then came season five. Yes, the concept of jumping into a future where the Observers have taken over the world, virtually enslaving the entire human race, is supremely cool. But, somehow, our team found a way to get around in this world. Observers can jump to any place in seconds, but they couldn't find those deemed most dangerous to them, even though the rebels just hung out in their old lab. Episodes became boring, as our central gang searched for piece after piece of Walter's (John Noble) forgotten plan, and barely made any progress. And many beloved recurring characters were entirely absent.

I'm not saying the whole year was terrible; there were some great moments. But overall, it lacked something that had worked very well these past few years, and I began to watch with my eye on the end, just waiting for things to pick up as the finale approached, making it all worth it.

Sadly, I can't say that the two hour "Liberty; An Enemy of Fate" redeemed the series. Again, there were great moments. Emotionally, the episode really worked because it served a few characters, and touched on elements of the past, using nostalgia to make it seem better than it was. Old cases the team investigated are used to attack the Observers. We get to see Olivia (Anna Torv) with powers again. We see Faxulivia (also Torv) and Lincoln Lee (Seth Gabel), and that they have a happy family. September / Donald (Michael Cerveris) calls upon his old friend, December (Eugene Lipinski), to assist. Broyles (Lance Reddick) gets his shining moment to face down Captain Windmark (Michael Kopsa), just as Nina (Blair Brown) previously did. Michael bests Windmark with seemingly no effort. Walter says goodbye to his cow, and calls Astrid (Jasika Nicole) by her real name. Peter and Olivia get their daughter back. And, best of all, Peter (Joshua Jackson) has his best father/son moment to date with Walter, and even says "I love you, Dad."

Sadly, though, that is the surface stuff. There are so, so, so many plot holes and bits that don't make sense, that as much as I loved all of the things I just listed, the finale rings a bit hollow. If the Observers could jump to the alternate universe any time, why haven't they taken over that place, too? Where are the alternate universe Observers? Why do the Observers not try to capture and question Fauxlivia and Lincoln? Why not interrogate Broyles immediately about the whereabouts of the team, instead of wasting time by trying to follow him first? Why do the main characters take so long to abandon the lab, having discussions and watching videos, when they know that Windmark will soon be closing in? Why don't any of the many, many soldiers they pass while trying to catch a train recognize them? Why don't they park the van at the shipping lane sideways to provide cover from gun fire? Why don't they worry about bullets being fired under the trucks? Why don't September and Michael go through the shipping lane more quickly? How come the Observers don't appear and sabotage the equipment, rather than fighting man to man, thus defeating the good guys?

And the biggest question, if Michael prevents the Observers from becoming who they are in the first place, they never send scouts back, and September never grows protective of Michael, so the Observers don't have any reason to be stopped from becoming evil, so they still invade, which creates Michael again... It's all destined to happen in a loop. Telling us the universe allows such a paradox, with the only penalty to be to delete Walter from the timeline in 2015, is pretty ridiculous, and feels like a total cop out.

In short, I don't want to forget everything about the finale or the final season, but for reason, it just does not live up to the brilliance of seasons two through four. I don't know why more notice wasn't taken with the details of the story, as it has been in the past. Maybe the delicious concept they chose for the last adventure just painted the writers into a corner. Whatever the reason, Fringe will forever remain a solid and memorable show over all, with a disappointing ending.

Want to read some of my fiction? It's on my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Also, for the latest updates and article links, as well as commentary on episodes I don't fully review, please follow me on Twitter!

On the Fringe of the series

Grade: 87%

FOX’s FRINGE has tackled several universes and timelines, with characters existing, then not existing, being killed off, and then being alive again. For the fifth and final season, the series faces yet another reboot, this time moving events more than twenty years into the future.

The season premiere, “Transilience Thought Unifier Model-11,” continues the plot begun in last season’s episode “Letters of Transit.” Peter (Joshua Jackson), Walter (John Noble), and Astrid (Jasika Nicole) have been freed from their self-imposed amber prison by Peter’s daughter, Etta (Georgina Haig). Walter tells them that they must find Olivia (Anna Torv), as she has an important device that would allow Wallter to defeat the Observers, who have taken over the world.

Believe it or not, it isn’t that hard to find Olivia, and Etta is soon reunited with her mother. But in the process, Walter is taken prisoner by the Observers, and his brain is damaged severely. Will he still be able to save everyone? And why has the music died? Are songs what Walter needs to figure things out?

The futuristic world of FRINGE owes allegiance to many sci-fi stories. While it is a new, original creation, there are lots of illusions its geeky fans will recognize. The Observers say “Resistance is futile” like Star Trek’s Borg. Videos are played back on flickering blue projects, a la Star Wars. Banners and posters of an Observer hang from buildings just as they did for Big Brother in 1984. Why so many borrowed ideas? Is this purposeful, a clue meant to provide insight into events? Or have the Easter eggs included for the nerds just grown too obvious?

There are so many unanswered questions in “Transilience Thought Unifier Model-11.”  Even before the team was put in the amber, several years had passed since the previous episode. How did the Observers conquer mankind? Why was William Bell (Leonard Nimoy) in the amber with the Fringe team? When did September (Michael Cerveris) implant Walter’s brain with the key to stopping his people? Why have the Observers taken over in the first place, when previously they had only watched?

The episode itself is kind of tantalizing because it does fill in a couple of the gaps, such how Olivia and Peter came to break, and why Olivia isn’t with the rest of the team. But not a lot else happens. A plan is revealed, only to be yanked away again. Olivia is found way too easy, and the Observer’s base is infiltrated just as smoothly. Overall, it is not a strong return.

Even more regrettable is what is missing. Lincoln Lee (Seth Gabel) has been dropped from the cast, and there is no mention or glimpse of the other universe. This is an important element to FRINGE, having spent years developing that place and Lincoln’s character. To have them just disappear is disconcerting, and hopefully both will be revisited before the series makes its final bow. In fact, given the unsettling time and space jump, maybe some of these final episodes will be set back in the present day?

Broyles (Lance Reddick) and Nina (Blair Brown) are also missing. Does this allude to a shrunken universe in season five? Will the show now just concentrate on Peter, Olivia, Walter, Astrid, and Etta? These are all wonderful characters with fantastic stories, and the Bishop family (including Astrid, who is practically a member) is the heart of FRINGE. But that doesn’t mean that fans are ready to give up the rest of what is familiar about the show.

Which means that “Transilience Thought Unifier Model-11″ is disappointing. A large part of me trusts the people who make FRINGE to do right. After all, for four seasons they have not let us down, crafting this brilliant, original series. But the first installment of season five is less than promising, taking away many of the trappings fans have grown comfortable with, and revealing a whole different kind of adventure. Should the series be continuing a couple more years, this would be cool. Since there are a scant dozen episode left, it’s worrying to be taken so far off the trail FRINGE was previously on, with no signs pointing the way back.

FRINGE airs Fridays 9 p.m. ET on FOX.

Fringe stops a "Brave New World"

Time is running out for both universes featured in FOX's Fringe in the climatic "Brave New World." William Bell (Leonard Nimoy) intends to play god, creating his own reality, but to do so, he is going to destroy everyone else. Not only that, he is using Olivia (Anna Torv) to power the destruction, so as September (Michael Cerveris) told them months ago, Olivia must die. Which is why Walter (John Noble) shoots her right between the eyes, in front of his son, Peter (Joshua Jackson), who loves Olivia.

Could this have been a heart wrenching series finale for the strange sci-fi show that has surprised and delighted viewers for four years? No. No Fringe fan would have been satisfied with such a tragic end, Olivia dead, son hating father more than ever, and Walter sinking even deeper into a mire of guilt. We care too much about these characters, and what happens to them. It is beyond cruel to leave all three central people in a bad place.

And so, as Bell escapes, Walter finds a way to bring Olivia back. She learns she is pregnant. They all celebrate in the hospital, where Astrid (Jasika Nicole) is recovering nicely from her own wound. Happiness for all!

Or is it? What happens in "Brave New World" concludes many of this season's plots, including stopping David Robert Jones (Jared Harris) and saving the world. It's a nice, and understated, two part episode, lacking the big cliffhangers from years past. It's exciting enough, and features a wonderful guest spot by Rebecca Mader (Lost). Tt doesn't change too many rules, other than draining Olivia of the powers she once possessed.

But just a couple of weeks ago Fringe revealed its final mission, slated to play out next year, the last season there will be of the show. In the future, The Observers rule mankind harshly, and a couple of survivors, Simon (Henry Ian Cusick, Lost) and Etta (Georgina Haig, The Elephant Princess), who happens to be Peter and Olivia's daughter, pull Peter, Walter, and Astrid from amber to help save humanity. This is the final conflict, the last great challenge the Fringe team must face. This is what hangs over "Brave New World."

How did Peter, Astrid, Walter, and William Bell get frozen in amber in the first place? Where is Olivia? Why must they wait decades to stand up to their oppressors? Is this a future that can be stopped before it happens? And, in this episode, the future is shown with a blue theme song. Does that mean things will be restored to Peter's universe, where everyone remembers him, before going down this path? And if that is the case, how could William Bell still be alive? Will we even see the red universe and Lincoln Lee (Seth Gabel) again?

On top of all these questions, why isn't this future episode the season finale? Why tease fans with it, when it didn't really fit within this season's mythology, other than to build appetite for next year?

It's a strange game Fringe is playing. It pushes and pulls in unexpected directions, keeping people on the edge of their seats, always wondering what is going on. With only thirteen episodes left to tell the story, it's sure to be a wild ride. If the first four years are any indication, it will also be a highly satisfying one, full of things no one can predict except those who write the show. I can't wait!

Fringe will return to FOX for its final season next fall.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! To catch up on the Fringe you missed, buy DVDs or watch episodes instantly on Amazon.com

Article first published as Fringe stops a "Brave New World" on TheTVKing.com 

"The End of All Things" doesn't stop Fringe

FOX's Fringe this week, "The End of All Things," finds Peter (Joshua Jackson) and the others frantically searching for Olivia (Anna Torv). With few leads, it seems fortunate that the primary Observer involved in events, known as September (Michael Cerveris), shows up in Walter's (John Noble) lab. Sadly, this Observer has been shot and is near death. Peter goes into September's mind to see if he knows where Olivia is being held, and instead, Peter discovers that he has a soon with Fauxlivia (also Torv) in his timeline. The Observer advises Peter to go home, then ejects Peter before dying and disappearing.

The Observers are a mysterious race, and Fringe fans may never learn everything that they do. But what is known is that other Observers are not happy with September, and want him to suffer the consequences. Do those consequences involve death? Or did someone else attack September. Why would anyone else wish him harm?

In "The End of All Things," September reveals to Peter that the Observers are human beings from one possible future that travel through time and observe events. September feels guilty for interrupting Walter's work in this timeline, causing Walter not to save Peter's life. As such, this alternate timeline, as shown all season, is a mistake. This particular reality shouldn't exist. Why, then, is Peter in it? And why do the Observers want to erase Peter completely? If Peter is supposed to survive, without September's interference, shouldn't the others want Peter there?

Then again, in the 'normal' timeline, September intervenes and saves Peter from drowning because he is "important." Important how? To solve the paradox? And now that it is solved, why is Peter still around? Does this mean that Peter shouldn't exist, and that September interrupting Walter means nothing? The possibilities are many, and confusing.

The bottom line gleaned, though, in "The End of All Things" is that Peter must return home. Sure, September could have been referring to Peter's house, which he does go to, and it leads to him finding Olivia. But obviously the Observer also meant something more. Where is home and how does Peter get there?

An interesting concept explored in "The End of All Things" is how video cassettes can write over a recording, but images and flashes from the original video may come through. This opens up a theory about what has happened to the universe. Perhaps this Peter-less timeline is recorded over reality, and Peter's appearance, as well as Olivia suddenly developing Peter's Olivia's memories, could be the other timeline bleeding through. In this case, Peter must negate this whole existence to restore what was. Is that what has to happen? Or can the two timelines co-exist in alternate realities? Is what is happening to Olivia a symptom of a gradual shift, or does everything need to be replaced all at once? And if it is the former, how hurt will Olivia be, once everything else is back to normal, that Peter is rejecting her now?

Blair Brown must be praised for her multiple Ninas in "The End of All Things." The Nina being held by Fringe Division is likely still Olivia's caring mother figure, and is telling the truth about her non-participation in drugging and kidnapping Olivia. There is another Nina working with David Robert Jones (Mad Men's Jared Harris) who is not on the up and up. Both versions of Nina are played very well, keeping the character murky, and viewers must continually reassess what is the truth about the women. It is a truly fantastic performance!

Lastly, what is David Robert Jones's game? In the real timeline, he is killed before he can carry out whatever dastardly plan he is cooking up, which somehow involves Olivia's abilities. In this alternate world, he lives on, testing Olivia again. At the end of this week's installment, the other Nina and DRJ escape to the other universe, so the threat that they pose continues. DRJ is a wonderful villain, and it's great that Fringe is using this opportunity in season four to bring him back and explore him further. What is really exciting is what potential powers in Olivia his activities may unlock!

Fringe will return in four weeks to FOX, Friday nights at 9 p.m. ET.

MORE: If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! To catch up on the Fringe you missed, buy DVDs or watch episodes instantly on Amazon.com 

Fringe hunts the "Wallflower"

     FOX's Fringe ends its fall run with "Wallflower." A body turns up, nearly all pigmentation gone, and apparently, it's just one of several like this. The Fringe team tracks the bad guy, who is slowly, and unintentionally, killing himself, trying to become visible by stealing pigment. He was the subject of lab experiments, and is now too badly damaged to trust anyone. In the midst of this case, Lincoln (Seth Gabel) struggles to sleep after seeing Fringe events, Olivia (Anna Torv) has strange migraines, and Peter (Joshua Jackson) looks for a way back to his timeline.

     While perhaps not as action-packed as other Fringe episodes, especially mid-season finales, there are many important things going on in "Wallflower." At the top of that list is Peter's realization that he is an alternate timeline. Reality hasn't just been altered by his disappearance, but he is now in a whole different world. This supports the changes that Peter did not cause, as well as the new orange theme song. If Peter gets home, Peter's vision of being in the park with Olivia last week could possibly be a time jump, rather than a dream.

     Of course, this world and Peter's are much more similar than the alternate universe and ours. Both still exist in this both timelines. But there are also notable differences, and this may be best observed by the absence of strong attraction between Peter and Olivia.

     In the regular Fringe timeline, there is something between Peter and Olivia almost immediately after they meet. Even if it takes three years to come to fruition, the flirt and interest is there. Not so in this version of Fringe, where Olivia prefers the geeky Lincoln Lee instead. And he likes her. Peter isn't jealous, knowing that as similar as the two are, this is not his Olivia. Perhaps he finally learns his lesson after being fooled by Fauxlivia last year, and can now tell the subtle differences, since he is intimate with the "real" Olivia.

     Olivia's migraines are a very important clue to something going on in this world. Could they possibly be connected to the experiments Walter (John Noble) ran on her when she was a girl? Certainly Nina (Blair Brown) is involved. As to how long this has been going on, that's anyone's guess, but it could easily be Olivia's whole life. With Nina raising Olivia, she has always had access to her. And viewers know that Nina currently leads a team to drug Olivia in her sleep. This is a really interesting, dark story, and I have no idea where it will go from here.

     Olivia realizes in "Wallflower" that she is not as affected by the Fringe events as her teammates, especially Lincoln, and even Astrid (Jasika Nicole). This could also be linked back to childhood, given that Olivia grew up around strange events and people with unusual abilities. Olivia wonders if there is something wrong with her, but the real issue may just be that exposure breeds complacency. No one has more exposure to the weird than Olivia. Thus, not only this Olivia, but likely the "real" one, too, have a different outlook than most people. This makes her unique, and serves her well in her job.

     At one point in "Wallflower," Olivia expresses sympathy for what the killer goes through. She understands the adverse side effects of being a lab rat, and can understand his reticence to return to a lab, even if it is to help him this time. As such, she offers him assistance, rather than just trying to arrest him. Hopefully, this is just a ploy, since he has her gun. She may understand some of the emotions involved, but as someone who overcomes much, she cannot possibly justify murder, no matter what reason this guy gives for it.

     All told, "Wallflower" is a finale that gets much better upon reflection. Fringe will return to FOX in January.

     To catch up on the Fringe you missed, buy DVDs or watch episodes instantly on Amazon.com

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Article first published as TV Review: Fringe - "Wallflower" on Blogcritics.

A Double "Novation" for Fringe

     After being delayed due to baseball playoffs (completely unacceptable, but that's a whole other article), FOX finally returns Fringe this week with "Novation." Peter (Joshua Jackson) is locked up, and no one is quite sure what to do with him, as they don't remember anything about him. Especially not Walter (John Noble), who feels too guilty for destroying the two universes to allow himself any joy about seeing his deceased son grown. But then Peter proves valuable when the team investigates a shape shifter who has kidnapped a scientist. Peter shows Fringe Division how to track the shifter. They find the kidnap victim, but the shifter gets away, with a new formula that will solidify its DNA, making it virtually indistinguishable from humans.

     The threat posed in "Novation" is an extremely scary one. With no way of knowing who might be a shape shifter, short of cutting them open, things become very risky for everyone in the world. Anyone could be replaced, and no one would know it. World events may be influenced, nuclear weapons could be fired, or worse. If anyone in the Fringe Division is taken out, this opens up the potential for an undetected invasion from the other side, as is clearly the goal. At the end of "Novation," the shifter prepares for "others" to come join it.

     How can Fringe protect against such an invasion? Perhaps an x-ray could be done to identify the disc, but what's to stop the shifters from finding a way to move the disc within the body? Not to mention the harmful effects of radiation from multiple x-rays. This is where Peter might really come in handy. As he understands the shifter disc technology, he could possibly build some kind of detector that might pick up the chip from outside the body. This is the only possibility that jumps to mind, and that doesn't stop the shifters from coming over. Instead, it only prevents further incursion when the shifters get near the device.

     Given the new shifters' ability to replicate DNA, how soon before the Fringe team starts thinking that Peter might be a shifter, built from the DNA of Walter's dead son? It's a logical conclusion, given Peter's appearance now, and his knowledge of shape shifters. He could be just trying to trick them. However, that doesn't explain Peter's wealth of classified knowledge about Fringe Division, and thus, he should be wiped of suspicion.

     So will Peter's name soon be cleared so that he can join the team? They've seen their share of strange things over the years. Surely Peter's truth is something that they can eventually accept, when his story isn't able to be proven wrong. There are signs that even Broyles (Lance Reddick) is grudgingly beginning to tolerate him, like the funny moment when Broyles notices Peter's escape attempt, but can't say anything about it, because he needs Peter's help. Lincoln (Seth Gabel), the person least connected to Peter-related events, seems least concerned, and most willing to work with Peter. Prediction: Peter will be permanently out of a cell by next week, two weeks at the latest. As it should be.

     Walter is punishing himself for connecting the universes when he kidnaps alt-Peter as a boy, twenty-five years ago. Despite Nina's (Blair Brown) insistence in "Novation" that this might be a second chance for Walter, he sees it only as temptation, or a reward that he doesn't deserve and cannot accept. The Walter of the first three seasons isn't so mired in self-loathing because part of him is glad that he succeeded in saving Peter, no matter the cost. But this Walter never has that taste of partial victory, and thus, allows himself to be mired down in the negative feelings. While Peter is good at handling Walter, without Walter's part of the connection, it may prove nearly impossible. While makes for a more erratic, unpredictable Walter, an enjoyable circumstance for Fringe fans.

     Olivia (Anna Torv) has an even bigger conundrum than Walter. She understands why son would appear to father, but not why Peter haunts her dreams. Viewers know that the pair love each other, and certainly so does Peter, though there is no good way to broach this to a woman who thinks of him as a stranger. But sooner or later, Olivia will have to put together the pieces that he means something serious to her. There is no other way to explain their connection when Peter didn't fully exist in the universe.

     And why is Peter appearing now? The Observer (Michael Cerveris) is ordered to destroy any trace of Peter left. Instead, Peter is allowed to take solid form again. How does this come about? Why aren't the other Observers swooping in and getting rid of him? It makes sense that Fringe doesn't know about the Observers, since their connection was through Peter. But surely these bald watchers have a way of getting to Peter! It's curious that they don't do it prior to Peter being found by the government.

     The Peter issue is only part of what is going on. When Peter appears as a ball of blue energy to Olivia, she experiences small time jumps, repeating a minute or so. It is assumed that this is some kind of side-effect from what is happening with Peter, until it occurs again this week, with some paperwork. So that time jumping is its own problem, one that will need to be addressed before it becomes more serious. Given the preview for next week's episode, it appears that the poop is about to hit the fan in a huge way.

     There is one more major mystery pertaining to things that change in a Peter-less world, and that is Nina taking in Olivia and her sister as children. Could it be because she sees the pain Walter experiences from losing Peter, and wants to help a child? Whatever Nina's reason, this gives Nina and Olivia a different relationship than they have previously, and makes Olivia much more trusting of the woman. The implication here is that if Nina is hiding something, and she is surely hiding many things, Olivia is less likely to distrust her and look for those secrets. How much this will hamper future investigations is anyone's guess, but the Fringe writers wouldn't act randomly. There is some real danger in this revelation, and it will manifest itself at some point, likely sooner rather than later.

     The changed dynamic between Walter and Nina, on the other hand, explained in "Novation," is nothing to worry about. The reasons were predictable before the discussion happens, and they shouldn't matter towards anything important. Other than that Walter no longer owns Massive Dynamic. Nor is he in any position to capably own any corporation.

     One small complaint is that, so far in season four, Fringe is sticking to a more procedural format than last year. However, "Novation" isn't too procedural, and indications are that it is leaving the formula behind again soon. The reason the show may have reverted back to cases of the week could be to allow the differences in the world to creepy up slowly, and see a new normal. But several episodes just didn't love up to the usual high standard. The series is always much better as a heavy serial, which is what it should be.


     Watch Fringe, easily one of the best shows currently on television, Fridays at 9 p.m. ET on FOX. Fringe also stars Jasika Nicole.

     To catch up on the Fringe you missed, buy DVDs or watch episodes instantly on Amazon.com

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

Article first published as TV Review: Fringe - "Novation" on Blogcritics.

Fringe is "Neither Here Nor There"

    FOX's Fringe is back! The fourth season premiere, "Neither Here Nor There," finds Olivia (Anna Torv) and Fauxlivia (also Torv) exchanging Fringe files. Olivia is interrupted from studying them when an agent is killed. The agent's partner is Lincoln Lee (Seth Gabel, now a series regular), whose alternate version works with Fauxlivia. Olivia and Lincoln track the killer, who claims many more bodies. They are disturbed to discover it is a new type of shape shifter, casting doubt on their truce with the other side. Also, the Observer (Michael Cerveris) is tasked with wiping Peter (Joshua Jackson) completely out of existence when a flash of him keeps appearing to Walter (John Noble).

     It is a little odd to not have Peter on Fringe. Yes, it's only going to be temporary. And sure, while Walter and Olivia are a bit different without ever having had him in their lives, they are still recognizable characters. But what Peter brings to the team, the compassion, and calming influence, is missed. He is more than just his effect on people. He is an important element in solving the Fringe cases. Without him, Olivia may still save the day, but she won't have as easy a time of it.

     Perhaps that explains why Lincoln joins the Fringe team in "our" universe. Besides already being a familiar face, he has some of the same characteristics as Peter. Plus, there wasn't a Peter on the other side, so fans have already gotten to see what Lincoln brings to the table. Surely he is a welcome influence. He won't be the same as Peter, of course, and doesn't share the history with Walter. But he does care about others, something Olivia needs in a partner.

     It is likely there are other things that are different without Peter around that aren't immediately obvious. What those things are is hard to predict, but they will probably show up little by little as this season plays out.

     The Observer was tasked with making sure Peter served his purpose, and then was gone. Since the first part happened, but the second didn't, is it possible that the Observer has something to do with why Peter keeps appearing? Might he have done something improperly to preserve Peter, intentionally or otherwise? Could he have formed an attachment to the man he has watched all of these years? The Observer seems to be readying himself to wipe out Peter once and for all, but maybe, just maybe, he has another plan.

     And what of these new shape shifters? Is Walternate (Noble) moving against "our" universe, or is there a new villain that has not yet been revealed. Either possibility is intriguing, and could have far reaching consequences. The thing with Fringe is that it is never predictable. Which is fine, because it certainly keeps stories interesting.

     Plus, cool new yellow theme song!

     Watch Fringe Fridays at 9 p.m. ET on FOX.

     To catch up on the Fringe you missed, buy DVDs or watch episodes instantly on Amazon.com

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

Fringe shows us "The Day We Died"

     Last night, FOX's Fringe delivered a truly game changing finale. "The Day We Died" is set in 2026, with the alternate universe long destroyed, and "ours" rapidly deteriorating. Fringe Division is led by Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv), and her agents include husband Peter (Joshua Jackson), niece Ella (Emily Meade), and Astrid (Jasika Nicole) with a new hair do. A terrorist by the name of Moreau (Brad Dourif, Deadwood) is setting off explosives in New York City, and the team soon discovers that the villain behind him is old foe Walternate (John Noble), who is trapped in "our" universe, having come to ask for help shortly before the destruction of his. To stop Walternate, Peter must ask Senator Broyles (Lance Reddick) to let Walter (also Noble) out of jail. But it may already be too late.
    

     This episode is not what is expected at all, and the preview aired last week is certainly misleading. While many thought Peter has traveled in time 15 years into the future, Peter soon becomes less confused, and has all the memories of the past fifteen years. So it's not a standard time travel story. Instead, it's a look at what happens because of a choice Peter makes fifteen years ago. The choice to step into the machine, which leads to the annihilation of the alternate universe from whence he came.

     There are a couple of notable absences in the future scenes. Nina (Blair Brown), who never gets enough screen time, appears only at the funeral. Lincoln Lee (Seth Gabel) is missing entirely. While the Lincoln in "our" world has only been seen once, he has become quite enjoyable as part of the alternate universe Fringe Division. It is disappointing that circumstances are not set to draw him deeper into the group. Since he isn't seen, we don't know where he is. Perhaps he does work for Fringe Division, and just is somewhere else during the episode. However, with much more important stories to tell, Nina and Lincoln are just not vital enough to be included in "The Day We Died."

     This is the story of how Peter destroys the world. Following in his father's footsteps, as Walter is the one who creates the first tear between the two worlds in the first place, Peter is the one that ends their war. But his ending is flawed, as once he destroys the alternate universe, "ours" is doomed, too. They are not separate entities, but rely on each other for survival.

     What a fascinating concept! While months have been spent worrying that whichever side won, billions of innocents would die, in the end, that is not the issue at all! The main characters all think the universes can not both co-exist, but instead, they now discover that they must co-exist. What a turn!

 
     The First People are finally explained. The whole episode is part of a paradox. A machine destroys the world. In the future. Walter learns that, and so he and others, the First People, build and take the machine back through time. Presumably, they use the wormhole in Central Park, which explains that particular disaster's necessity in this story. It is not explained how the second machine gets into the alternate universe's past. Yet, once Walter takes the machine back, and somehow gets Peter's 2011 consciousness to live through the 2026 events, then use that knowledge to save the world, both doomsday and Peter are wiped from time and history.

     What does this mean for Fringe? Obviously, this is a good storytelling device to get the characters from the two universes on the same page. "The Day We Died" ends with Walter, Walternate, Olivia, and Fauxlivia in the same room, reluctantly ready to cooperate. Apparently, season four of Fringe will focus on both sides working together to save their worlds. They are now in a position to do so, with Liberty Island allowing free passage as a bridge back and forth. This also exposes Fringe Division to the public, and makes known the events going on, leading to many more possible stories. A rich trove ready to mine!

     But what of Peter? No one remembers him, so no one is even poised to search for him. The Observers know Peter is gone, but as he served his purpose already, they have no reason to bring him back. Did they, or one in particular, create Peter to save the world? Or is Peter an anomaly that threatens destruction, until he changes course and fixes things, thus negating his own existence? What would the return of Peter mean? Would things reset again? Can Peter survive in a fixed world? Does Peter's son, Henry, still exist? Is Fauxlivia still will the previous boyfriend? The questions are endless and far from answered.

     However, Joshua Jackson is part of the central trio the series is about, and Peter is a very popular character. The producers have already confirmed he is still under contract for next year. The last has not been seen of Peter. Will the one Observer most often shown (Michael Cerveris) experience sadness at losing the man he spent so much time watching and seek to return him to life? He has shown a willingness to break the rules before. Will the others try to stop him? The Observers seem the most obvious element to use to bring Peter back, but that is not at all confirmed by the creative team behind the show, which have repeatedly proven how good they are at delivering the unexpected.

     In the future, Peter and Olivia are married. This backs up the hope of many fans that they will end up together. On screen, we have now been shown a stable, long-term marriage existing between the two. Once Peter finally is restored, which is inevitable, will the show pursue it wholeheartedly? Even when Peter comes back, will she remember him? They have just begun their relationship as season three ends. Is this a sign from the writers that they plan on keeping that romance alive? If so, it is a welcome one.

     Ella, Olivia's niece, is also introduced as an important character, working with her aunt. It is surely disappointing for the actress playing her that the series jumps back to its present at the end of the episode, thus negating any need to continue to use her. But, in a jam packed episode, this is not just a feel-good insertion. It is a sign that Ella will be more involved somehow moving forward. Considering how deliberate Fringe is with what they choose to include versus what they leave out, it is a remote chance that Ella's story is over. This has to be a major clue to the future.

     Will we ever get to see the future again? Or the First People in the past (Imagine that theme song!)? Fringe shows a willingness to go where the story is, often in way that viewers cannot predict. The writers will only take the story to the future or past if it is necessary for the continuation of the series's plots. Considering that the distant past has now been fully explained, they will probably not go there. Yet, by mentioning it, a door has been opened. A lot of fans will want to see those events. How can they become relevant again, so there is a necessity to see them?

     The same can be said for the future. The 2026 in this episode will no longer occur, so all the future versions introduced are now gone. Peter changed the course of history majorly. The positive aspect is that Olivia didn't die at Walternate's hand. But that also means a carefully constructed world will only appear in one episode. That is a crying shame. Hopefully, there will be reason to get around the quandry. Could next season go back and forth in time, as this season did between the universes?

     Olivia's death at the hands of Walternate says much more about his character than hers. In fact, despite one of the central trio getting hit dead square in the forehead by a bullet, the moment holds no tension. There are no tears evoked. No strong emotional reaction. Even the funeral scene is more ripe for curiosity than grief.

     Is this simply because events are already on course to be corrected? Olivia is killed fifteen years into a future that will not happen. Sure, the characters are sad, but as a viewer, the moment seems insignificant in this episode, which is highly surprising. For Olivia's death to be a minor thing in "The Day We Died," it really demonstrates just what an earth-shattering episode it is.

     Walternate, on the other hand, is shown as pure evil. Yes, he has his reasons. His son chooses the version of Walter that kidnapped him as his beloved father, turning his back on Walternate and destroying his world. That would be enough to make anyone angry and long for revenge. But Walternate has kept up this attitude for fifteen years. He has truly crossed beyond any ability to redeem himself. He is chock full of malice, and must be stopped.

     Watching Walter and Walternate has been very interesting because they are the same man shaped by very different circumstances. To see Walternate take such a drastic turn to the dark side means that Walter is capable of it, too, under the right conditions. How much will Fringe explore this? How much can they, without ruining a character who has shown so much growth? Now that they are together, will they begin to rub off on one another? The convenience of Walternate allows a consideration of the options without reflecting poorly on Walter. Truly brilliant. Which makes Walter's jail sentence in the future, as well as all of humanity's hatred for him, most regrettable, though under the circumstances, understandable.


     Fringe has been renewed for a fourth season and will return to FOX next fall.

     To catch up on the Fringe you missed, buy DVDs or watch episodes instantly on Amazon.com

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of my Current Season Reviews.

Article first published as TV Review: Fringe - "The Day We Died" on Blogcritics.

Fringe: Countdown to the Season Three Finale: "The Day We Died"

     This third season of FOX's Fringe has been a wild ride from start to (almost) finish. It started with Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) kidnapped on the other side and replaced by Fauxlivia (also Torv). Olivia's memory is altered to believe she is Fauxlivia, while Fauxlivia makes love to Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson) and, without him knowing, gives birth to his child. Meanwhile, Walter (John Noble) and Walternate (Noble) both work to save their universes, knowing that one or the other must perish. Peter is in the middle, raised by Walter, but son of Walternate. With the season finale, "The Day We Died," airing this Friday, I'd like to take a look back at the three most recent episodes and try to figure out what to expect.

"Lysergic Acid Diethylamide" / "6:02 AM EST" / "The Last Sam Weiss" / "The Day We Died"

     I have not seen this episode, so what follows is speculation and musings, not actual spoilers.

     The previous episode ends with Peter waking up in the future (the previews tell us fifteen years later) on a war-torn New York City street patrolled by Fringe Division. He is addressed as Agent Bishop, and looks older, so he is definitely a part of the group. Which implies that he has only time traveled mentally, not physically. Time travel is expected, because of the old sketches, but not into the future. I was expecting the past!

     Rewatching the preview for "The Day We Died", Peter appears to be at some sort of end-of-the-world event. The question is, what is causing it? It seems unlikely that the machine that Walternate turned on is hte problem, as it surely wouldn't take fifteen years to even take out New York City, where it sits. Plus, Peter is now in the machine, so he will repurpose it for good.

     Who will Peter meet in the future? It seems likely from recent interviews with people involved in the show that he is going to run into Walter AND Walternate, but where? Are they now in the same universe? Did a merger of some kind happen? Are there pathways to easily traverse back and forth?

     Fringe has itself in a corner, where both universes can't co-exist, but destroying either one would results in the death of innocent billions, a real conundrum. There will be no joy in saving either world. I have wondered if perhaps some sort of evacuation of one side to the other could take place, but the logistics of feeding and housing a suddenly double populations seems prohibitive.

     Will the battle of the universes even end in this one episode? So much time has been spent setting up the two worlds, and no end is in sight. How could things tie up so neatly in merely one episode? It just doesn't seem likely. With Fringe already renewed for season four, will much of the emergency be put off until next season?

     Future episodes are cool, because fans get to see how their favorite characters end up, or at least how they might end up. Yet, usually when a series does them, which isn't often, it's not a big season finale where a major problem needs fixed immediately. Time can't be taken to explore alternate personalities adequately in the middle of such an occurrence. Might the future world be next season's alternate universe, featuring heavily in many episodes?

     It's interesting how Fringe likes to show different versions of the same people. The more that is learned about the alternate universe, the more similarities can be drawn between both versions of a character. Yet, there are stark differences, usually caused by the events they have gone through. So Fringe seems to come down on the Nurture side of Nature versus Nurture.

"Lysergic Acid Diethylamide" / "6:02 AM EST" / "The Last Sam Weiss" / "The Day We Died"

     However things play out, it is fairly certain Fringe will be delivering a heck of an exciting finale! Catch the episode "The Day We Died" tomorrow night (Friday) at 9 p.m. EST on FOX.

     To catch up on the Fringe you missed, buy DVDs or watch episodes instantly on Amazon.com

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of my Current Season Reviews.

Article first published as TV Review: Fringe: Countdown to the Season Three Finale on Blogcritics.