Fringe Season 2 Ep 8  “August” Review:

This week brought the return of some of my favorite elements of this series; a return to the central themes, with a focus on the role of “the observer”.  A brief visitation with Olivia and her niece (I had been wondering where her family had disappeared to), and a continuation of the Walter/Peter alternate universe storyline.

Fringe took a risk with the introduction of the concept of multiple observers, a race of observers, and with the insertion of the “observers” into highly significant historical events. Fringe often treads lines that lesser shows could not walk without falling flat into a pile of cringe worthy sentiment manure. There was only one moment this episode where my shoulders raised and I braced myself slightly for discomfort “I believe this is what the humans call – feelings.” Ultimately, I bought this scene, and the performances. Although I find it somewhat shorthand to have the “alien” (in whatever way the observers are alien to us) species be emotionally bereft and then find their way to the ultimate glory of human feelings, I decided that I liked that what made this girl special was how ordinary she actually was.  There really is no reason to rationalize love. In fact to do so is to strip it of its heat and mystery, the very best things it has to offer.

I enjoy the notion that the aliens are “observing time” rather than traveling through time. This is reminiscent of the fourth dimensional reality of the alien species in Kurt Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse Five”. The species that so often had to cover their eye (yes, eye singular) in shame at the limited silliness of their human “pets”. There was the implied promise of things to come in Peter’s reflection that the observers were looking for something (“Were looking for them, but they’re looking for us too – that’s why they keep coming back.”) As well as the Massive Dynamic reveal that there had been only two dozen occurrences in 5000 years of the observers presence at events, but that they had tracked 28 in the last three months alone. Perhaps the war between universes that we have been hearing about is finally cresting. This does beg a question however, if all is done, and unchangeable, then what could the observers be “looking for”? Would they not already be privy to any information they may desire about the outcome of events on Earth; including the final outcome of this impending war.

This episode raises a larger question in terms of the inevitable. We see that the observers have in fact affected the outcome events and therefore shifted the trajectory of time. Why else would they have needed to make “corrections” when an “irregularity” occurred? We see that they have seen no future for Christine Hollis and yet here she is, with a future ahead of her, due to her “observer’s” actions. Most importantly in the overarching storyline of Fringe, is the revelation that the observers interceded for Walter and Peter – to correct some mistake, some irregularity of their own creation. What mistake could they have been responsible for that caused them to intercede for these two, and what deal did Walter strike with them as a result of this intercession. Is it possible that they played a part in Walter’s cross dimensional kidnapping? It seemed a pointed thing that only Peter was able to fire the observers’ gun. My assumption would be that this has something to do with his, er, universe of origin. Yet it can’t be possible that he comes from the same place as the observers, he bears no resemblance to them. Walter promises Peter “you’ll have your answer son”. This seems a promise to us, the audience, that clarity is at coming and that an acceleration of the stories we have invested in is at hand. I for one certainly hope this is true.

In a show full of promises of things to come, it concluded with one final and rather overt promise “Look how happy she is, it’s too bad things are about to become so difficult for her.” Um, ok, about to become difficult – maybe “observers” aren’t so observant after all. Because as far as I can tell this woman’s fiancé died after she found out that he was a possible traitor to oh, human kind. Then she finds out that the war to end the world is at hand and (no pressure here) she plays a central role in its outcome. Oh, and her parents let science freaks experiment on her, including the one she now works with. And PS, she got tossed through an inter-dimensional windshield and is now subject to the worst acid flashbacks known to man. So, about to get difficult – geeze what are you gonna do set her on fire, coat her in honey and toss her into an oversized wasps nest?

Overall, I feel a sense of excitement about where show will take us next week and am most pleased that they have come back on track with the characters we have invested in. I found this to be one of the best episodes of the season and I’d love to know what you think! Please post comments below here on thinkhero. You can also follow us on twitter – @thinkhero and @ jrothc that’s me.

Thanks guys!

Roth