It's hard to believe how much Fringe has kicked its game up since the hiatus. For the most part, every episode has been on point with the arc of Walter hiding the big alternate universe from Peter driving the show forward. It culminated in "The Man from the Other Side," perhaps the second best to the brilliant "Peter." The overriding issue that has been haunting Walter is now out in the open and we can move onto the plan for the end of the season. which involves "the man from the other side," referred to by Newton only as "secretary." I think it's safe to assume it's Walternate, who must be angry and will have years and years of pent up rage to unleash.
The plot itself wasn't that spectacular, but the pacing along with the visuals really kept me in the episode. Mostly it was Newton and his shapeshifter minions systematically killing people and installing vibration devices around the city. The team does the usual slimy science thing, including an interrogation of a disgusting, yet-humanized shapeshifter. Using harmonic vibrations, Walter and Peter are able to prevent the bridge from fully materializing. However, the "secretary" had already crossed to the other side of the bridge, so the team ultimately failed.
Peter puts the clues together--the old photo Walter carries, his mother's suicide, him not disintegrating like the FBI agent--and confronts Walter about them. As expected, their relationship is no longer the same and Peter runs off at the end of the episode. I doubt they will ever fully mend their bond which is, to be fair, built entirely on a big lie and an abduction.
Score: 9.4/10
Friday, April 23, 2010
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