This Week in Fringe - 9/23/10

Fringe makes its third season premiere tonight, and it catches everybody up on the finale, more or less. Where will the season go though? Well, we'll have to wait and see how everything plays out it seems. Oh, and welcome to the new (yet somewhat familiar) two-person format!

Season 3 Premiere - Episode 1 - "Olivia"

Zach says: The only thing out of place in the universes is the Olivias, who are swapped. The Olivia in the alternate universe has been captured and is undergoing drug experimentation to replace her memories with those of the alternate Olivia, so she will forget who she is. She makes a valiant escape, but after some time, the drugs take effect and she appears to be slipping into thinking she is the alternate Olivia. Walternate has reasons for doing this, but they remain hidden, and everyone else in the alternate plane believes she is the regular Olivia.

Other than that, the premiere didn't really show too much. It was a little disappointing in that way, as the only thing that really happened was Olivia getting brainwashed, in a very literal sense. I'm sure the story and plot points will pick up quickly in the following episodes, but thus far, nothing too terribly exciting.
Zach's Score: 6.5/10

JDW says: Well, if this season of Fringe plans on being different, then I suppose I'll have to adjust to the different set up of this feature... meaning Zach's hash scoring. Having suffered through and reviewed the many lows of last season, and the few but great highs, I think I have a bit better understanding about to judge Fringe, and this season premiere was definitely not a low point of the series, trust me.

For one, unlike last season's premiere, this episode cut right to the point and directly followed up season two's finale. I was really disappointed last season when it took them four episodes to follow up on the first season's shocking finale. Sure, not that much happened, but we got insight into how the other side is different, and the great lengths that Walternate will go to get his way. Plus, much like my favorite episodes of the end last season, there was no "creature/case of the the week" as would be expected from the show, instead focusing on progressing with and expanding the show's overall story and mythos. Not that I'm expecting the rest of the season to be this way, the preview for next week already looks to be more of the same, and on our side. But for now, different is good.
JDW's Score: 8/10

Overall Score: 7.3/10

Missed the episode? Watch it on Hulu