Fringe – Poor Olivia!

Are we still in the new timeline? For the first time, Fringe seemed more “normal” than it has since Peter entered the machine, was erased, and eventually returned. Walter was in the lab working with Peter like nothing happened. But, this isn’t the old timeline, is it?

Emily Mallum, a young girl with the gift or the curse of foreseeing death, entered the picture to remind us. If she came across someone whose time was coming, she would get an overwhelming vision of their death and then draw it. She came to the notice of Fringe Division when she gave one of her drawings to a soon-to-be-killed man.

This Fringe case didn’t directly relate to the case regarding Peter’s existence, the shapeshifters, or the two universes. But, Emily’s story paralleled Olivia’s prophesied death, while clarified some of the differences in this new timeline.

Even though Olivia didn’t understand what an observer was, she believed that he forsaw her death. This haunted her, but not enough to trust Peter. When he saw the picture of the Observer, he acknowledged that he was familiar with them. Peter had to see the interest/lie in Olivia’s eyes, but he didn’t press her when she withheld the truth about her meeting at the theatre. That’s not his Olivia. And, she’s not her Peter. Or, so they believe.

Even though it wasn’t specifically addressed in the episode, I still believe that Peter is “home” and that these people are “his ” people. That’s why Peter can’t let this Observer thing go. By helping Olivia, he will bring himself closer to getting her back. Just as it took them time in the old timeline to find each other, they can do the same now.

This case also showed that Massive Dynamics is not the clean run company from our timeline. Even though Nina told Olivia they no longer use children, they clearly were after Emily. And, this brings us to what are they doing to Olivia?!?!

Olivia never met Peter as a child, she killed her step-father, and has Nina has a major influence and support system. I cringed when Olivia told her she was like a mother and loved her. Ugh! How heartless is Nina to experiment on Olivia after all she went through as a child?

Of course, there is the possibility that Nina is helping Olivia, but I don’t believe that. Not with her working with Jones and Alt-Broyles. Will she use this new medicine as a way to administer the mystery drug?

In the end, Emily knew she was going to die with her father by her side at the lake. And, Olivia knows that she must die. By the way, what does that really mean anyway? Everyone dies, right? Regardless, Olivia is feeling her mortality. When will she let Peter in on the secret?

Clacked by Carla Day
on Jan 28, 2012 @ 22:30 EST5EDT