This Week in Fringe - 2/11/11

This week's episode finally takes place in the alternate universe, and while we don't really see what they've been up to this whole time, we are getting reintroduced to characters and happenings.

Episode 13 - "Immortality"

Zach says: The episode follows the standard formula of presenting a bizarre case to follow along with, while there are bits and pieces from the main story. The case this time deals with a scientist looking for a cure for the avian flu, and a page in the history books for such an achievement. Unfortunately, to finalize his immunization, he must extract an enzyme from a long extinct species of beetle. Luckily, he can just plant them in humans and they can crawl their little ways out. Lovely.

On the more important side of things, we learn that Walter and the Department of Defense are researching the machine part they retrieved from the other side, and are planning on installing it into the machine. We also learn that they've been testing that synthesized Cortexiphan sample from Olivia on patients, with them dying. The scientist dude thinks testing on children is the key, as they are young and their brains possess limitless potential. However, here we see a gentler, caring side of Walternate, in his refusal to test with children, probably due to losing his own child, Peter.

It's definitely nice to see Walternate not being completely maniacal, and having some sort of conscious. It also makes you think about the real Walter and the experiments he did on children... who is the REAL bad guy?

Anyways, we also learn a little something about Fauxlivia, who got proposed to by her long time boyfriend who has just returned from his trip. A lot has happened since he left, and while Olivia did accept the proposal, something happens to kind of break that up. Ooops. Should've had that Trojan Man there, brah.
Zach's Score: 8/10

JDW says: I'll be honest, this episode actually caught me by surprise. I mean, after what, five episodes away from the Other Side, not to mention that long winter hiatus, I kind of completely forgot that things may have been going on over there; cause they sure as hell didn't say anything about it till now. So, nice surprise to have another Other Side episode, because I'll say it again, their "case of the week" episodes are just better.

But aside from the interesting case, there's some interesting developments that better not get cut short if the show is done after this season... i.e. Fauxlivia's pregnancy. I don't want to have to have that lingering around unanswered. I mean, there's no way they're going to time skip from her being six weeks pregnant to birth, and still answer everything on both sides with just 9 episodes left in the season. But regardless, this episode was good, I just hope it all pans out well by season's end.
JDW's Score: 8.5/10

Overall Score: 8.3/10

Missed the episode? Watch it on Hulu