Send in your feedback to 304-837-2278 or feedback@thefringepodcast.com.

In this past season of Fringe, the fans of the show have been asked to take a leap of faith as the series re-spun itself into a new timeline.  Now that the season has come to its conclusion I would like to know if you all thought it was worth it.

We all know Peter was removed from the time line only to be re-inserted into a world where no one knew who he was (except for Olivia eventually, and we’ll get to that shortly).  Was it worth it to you all for Peter to be transported to this strange new land?  Did you feel it betrayed the earlier narrative of the previous three seasons?  Or, are happy no matter what Fringe does to itself as long as the series continues?

Here are a few more “gripes” that are worthy of examination.

• What of Olivia and her reformed memory?  Was Walter 2.0 correct in declaring Peter responsible for this transference?  How did Olivia retrieve the memories of a time line she was not a part of?  How can September tell Peter, “She is your Olivia” when no one else in that world is?
• What of the downfall of David Robert Jones?  He was heavily invested in his Shape-shifters, so much so that he cried when he sacrificed one of them.  Yet the Shape-shifters played no role at the end and Jones himself was reduced to a pawn set to ash.  How does that sit with you?
• What of the ultimate master puppeteer, William Bell?  He is now cast as the bad guy.  He is shown to be utterly delusional and beyond redemption.  Shouldn’t he be allowed absolution the same way Walter 1.0 was?  He declared himself a god.  Isn’t that beyond redemption and goes against one of the major themes of the show of hubris and forgiveness?
• Back to Olivia.  She finally comes to terms with her abilities and is told by Nina that she was capable of this all along.  Yet when push comes to shove she was reduced to an “off” switch by taking a bullet to the forehead.  For all her sacrifice and suffering she was still a lab rat to Walter and Bell.  Bell manipulated her as a simple battery and the Walter pulled the plug on her.  Is that fair to the character?
• Has Fringe become too clever for its own good?  The original title of the last two episodes were “End Game, Parts 1 and 2.”  When Leonard Nimoy was secured to play William Bell once again, it wasn’t long before the season conclusion was renamed “Brave New World Parts 1 and 2.”  Fringe loves to make call backs to its characters and stars’ previous work.  Nimoy was in a 1998 made for TV movie as the character, Mustapha Mond of  a “Brave New World” .  A little too clever of Fringe?  Did this inclusion of Nimoy lead to a re-write of the final episodes that some mistook for the filming of two alternate endings of season four?

These are just a few of the head-scratchers we were presented with this year.  There are many things to be thankful for and many other things that Fringe did well.  So if you are fine with all of the aforementioned than please tell me so and share your thoughts with the rest of the community.

If some or all of these things don’t sit well with you then by all means tell us how you feel also.

Freedom of speech no matter what time-line, universe or dimension!

(The above GIF comes from the tumblr page, “Observer Totalitarianism” visit it here.)

Back To You In Time

You’re Not Alone

Is That Lemon Jello

I Am

TV Guide Article on Fringe Postmortem

Send in your thoughts and feedback to 304-837-2278 or feedback@thefringepodcast.com.

Send in your thoughts and feedback to 304-837-2278 or feedback@thefringepodcast.com.

I’ve thinking since Bell’s return was hinted at, why does Nina appear to not know? Is she lying, or has Bell been running his operation in secret without involving Nina?

Bell returns, doesn't tell Nina?

Everything in the show points to Nina not being aware that Bell is alive. She claims to have seen his dead body. My theory there is that it was the body of the alt Bell who we have always been told died in a car crash. Makes sense that in this timeline Blue Bell could have used the misfortune of Red Bell to his advantage that way.

In the Beyond the Fringe comics #5A and #6A, Ghost Writer Part 1 and 2, some time in the past Nina’s robotic arm (a previous model) started writing clues and leading her to a secret chamber. Once in the chamber there’s those immortal words *along the lines of* “If you’re listening to this, I’m dead…” and presents her with her new (the current model, as far as I could see) arm.

It’s been clear throughout the TV show and comics of Fringe that Bell and Nina were close, and that Nina could be a very useful ally for Bell if she was onboard with his idea. So why not trust her?

Let me know what you think…

Send in your thoughts and feedback to 304-837-2278 or feedback@thefringepodcast.com.

Is This An Alien Invasion

Nursery

Peace Out

The Art of Chess

Fringe fans, here is your opportunity to sound off about last Friday’s episode of Fringe, “Brave New World; Part One”.  The character of William Bell has made his return and he is once again portrayed by the magnificent Leonard Nimoy.  Clint and Darrell do a terrific job in getting to as much feedback as they can during the podcast but there is only so much time.

So here is your opportunity to sound off on the episode.  I’ll include some basic topic but feel free so share your thoughts on anything you felt about the episode.

• What did you think of Bell’s return?
• Were you surprised to see Leonard Nimoy again?
• How close does this parallel the events of season one?
• In your opinion, how do all the events of the last episode effect the story line?
• Tell us if you like the direction of the show.
• What do you anticipate for the second half of the finale?

Remember, you don’t have to answer all or even some of the above.  Just let us know how you feel, what you like or dislike and what your theories are.  Have fun and by all means, “live long and prosper!”

Fringe Comic Review – Beyond The Fringe #4A

Writer: Adam Gaines

Artist: Mike S. Miller

Colourist: Randy Mayor

When I first heard about the Beyond The Fringe comics series I was excited by the prospect of 14 more Fringe comics, with the “A” stories being canon, and the “B” stories being “What If?” stories, fun hypothetical scenarios with our favourite Fringe characters. Oddly, here we find that even the “A” comics have gone down the “What If?” line, but I calmed my rage when I heard the title:

Imagine If… Peter was a Superhero

OK, I’m a Fringe fan and I’m also a comic book fan. This is gonna be good. Story-wise, we learn early Peter’s superhero name is The Pattern, an obvious Fringe Season 1 tie-in and not the worst name either. The Pattern operates in “Boston City”, where soft spots have created several threats he must battle. Immediately we see the P-shaped bat-signal (Patt-signal?) shining on the cloudy skyline, and we see that this is a comic book that is going to riff off the idea of Peter being a Fringey Batman (awesome!).

Billionaire playboy Peter Bishop and his faithful butler Alfred Walter discuss the odds of a Spandex-free night as Peter prepares to answer the call. Swooping down from the rooftops like a kind of bat… man, The Pattern first puts a stop to an attempt by Newton to rob a bank with mind control powers. The soft spot area is sealed with Amber and the Pattern is next seen talking to Commissioner Broyles who informs Peter that Mr KFT has escaped St. Claire’s Asylum. Mid conversation, The Pattern sets off, leaving the commissioner talking to himself in true Batman style.

Mr ZFT, with a Z-shaped scar cut into his face has kidnapped an aide from the asylum by the name of Olivia when he was escaping. ZFT uses The Pattern’s concern for humanity against him by hurling Olivia off a dock and ZFT’s goons attack and restrain Pattern while he’s lunging to save her. The Pattern could get out of this pickle if only he had his utility belt, but it’s been removed. Olivia uses her powers of telekinesis to send it Peter’s way and a few pages and a shot of cortexiphan later, The Pattern has saved the day once again. Back at Wayne Bishop Manor, Walter, Peter and Olivia discuss the problems facing Boston City and decide that Olivia should become The Pattern’s new partner in fighting crime. The comic ends with a nice splash page where we see The Pattern and Olivia in full costume waiting for their next adventure.

Walter and his Red Vines…

 As a Fringe tie-in, this has some neat moments, and many of the show’s great characters in fun new roles, but ultimately is just that, a bit of fun. We see Walter eating a Red Vine, several fresh takes on plot points like cortexiphan, ZFT and Olivia’s abilities, but it’s about as far from canon as you can get and it’s odd that after the Joshua Jackson-penned “A” issues 1-3 they’ve already gone away from attempting any ‘real’ storylines. On the other hand as a one-shot comic it’s fun, well-paced and if you know anything about Batman you’ll probably manage a chuckle at several similarities between the lives of Peter “The Pattern” Bishop and Bruce Wayne. The art is solid, although this isn’t the first time it seems the artist of a Fringe comic has struggled with drawing Broyles, and the colouring from Randy Major is excellent. Plenty of red and blue as you’d expect from something Fringe-related and the Amber and the action scenes look great.

My biggest criticism – Olivia never gets her superhero name revealed! We see a cool looking costume but no logo or letter to go on, unlike The Pattern’s “P” insignia. Olivia deserves a cool name, but the best I’ve come up with so far are The Olive (lame) and Cortexigirl (better?).

Story 4/5

Art 4/5

Did you read Beyond the Fringe #4A? Did you like it? And what should Olivia’s superhero name be?!