print
Fringe needed its enigmatic figure, and The Observer (Michael Cerveris) fits that bill quite nicely. Bald with no eyebrows. Impeccably dressed. Likes his roast beef sandwiches with precisely 11 jalepeños, though claims he wouldn't much be able to taste Dr. Bishop's rootbeer float. Present at three dozen instances of the pattern. Doesn't seem to age. Oh, and he can read Peter Bishop's thoughts.
With Lost, creator J.J. Abrams has always been reluctant to dole out
answers, but until the fourth episode of Fringe, it seemed he couldn't even be bothered to reveal the questions, much to the show's detriment. But things
are starting to get interesting as the limits of communication and even
death are burst wide open. The team has begun to gel, as well, with
Peter's almost silly skepticism in the face of the unimaginable finally
fading.
It still has a ways to grow before it reaches the level of its
spiritual predecessor The X-Files. But at least it now has its own
Smoking Man.
Related Links:
Fringe episode 1.3 "The Ghost Network" review
Fringe episode 1.2 "Same Old Story" review
Fringe episode 1.1 Searies pilot review
Listen to The National's Contribution to the…
Awake Review: "Turtles All The Way Down"…
Modern Family Review: "Baby on Board" (Episode…
Leaked Community Memo Addresses Showrunner's Departure
The 50 Best Movies of 2011
The 50 Best Movies on Netflix Instant
The 50 Best Movies of the Decade…
The 20 Best Movies of 2011 (So…
From The Vault: The Byrds - "Eight…
Video Premiere: The Wooden Sky - 'Grace…
Live From SXSW: The Belle Brigade (Full…
Live From Paste: Adron
The mystery continues to expand on Fringe and I’m guessing that The Observer holds the key to understanding The Pattern or at least part of it.
I’m still banking on there being something “special” about Peter. Something more than his near death experience as a child. Is it coincidence that Peter unknowingly knew information Walter hadn’t shared? Is there something more to their relationship? Are they connected in a different way than most fathers and sons?
Peter’s mom was mentioned again, but only in the fact that Walter considered her small-minded and that she questioned Walter’s judgment (I can’t imagine why).
And who did Peter call when he was planning on bailing on Walter responsibilities?
Did anyone else think that Olivia’s reaction when she heard Henry Jacobson was a little weird? But when they met she acted like it was a pleasure to see him. And then he advises her to stay away from the cylinder. Was that because he was worried about her or was it a warning?
Favorite parts:
Walter reciting the formula for root beer at 3 a.m. because he might want to make some in the lab.
Walter sending Peter out in a hurry for aluminum because their lives depend on it and then asking him to stop off and pick him up a root beer float.
Walter likes to talk to Peter naked because he prefers the breeze.
I'd agree that all the best scenes involve Walter, though The Observer is pretty fun to watch himself.
Favorite line of the night: Joshua Jackson: "Now, what kind of man would I be if I left just as a can of magic space soup dropped out of the sky?"