Fringe Dwellers Podcast 19: Ability

Adele, Jason and Courtney listen to John Bailey's recap, talk about the many events of the Fringe episode Ability and come up with a truly bizarre Nina Sharp theory.

Listen now:


You can also subscribe to the Fringe Dwellers podcast on iTunes.

If you have a comment or question for The Fringe Dwellers, you can email them at fringedwellers@gmail.com. You can also leave a voicemail for them at (206) 333-0072, or reach them on Twitter as fringedwellers, or Facebook as Gene the Cow Worshippers

For more information, visit the Fringe Dwellers homepage.

Courtney comes courtesy of The Fringe Podcast, and Jason's podcasts can be found on iTunes - Film in Focus and The Shadowy Flight: A Knight Rider podcasts.

For more Fringe podcasts, visit the Fringe Podcast Network .

Fringe Episode Review: Ability

I didn't think Fringe could get any better than Bound, but Ability proved me wrong. Talk about a mythology download. Midway through the first season, we already know what the Pattern is, and the show's meta-narrative is being slowly revealed. In a word: fascinating.

But it wasn't just the script that worked; the score and the cinematography were both flawless. I'll go ahead and say it: Fringe is the best-looking show on television. And if it weren't for Lost, it would be the best-sounding one too.

"If I wanted to harm you, I would have...long ago."

My favorite character, the eerie Mr. Jones, revealed the reason for his infatuation with Olivia. He's been keeping tabs on her since the tender age of three, when she was exposed to the consciousness-altering drug Cortexiphan (by William Bell, no less). I think we've all suspected there's something special about Olivia, so kudos to the writers for giving us a tangible answer: she's got an unknown set of powerful mental abilities. Looking forward to seeing more of them!

Knowing what we do about Olivia, Jones and Loeb's actions start to make sense: they need Olivia's abilities. But as members of this cult-like organization, are they themselves capable of similar feats? Jones certainly seems like a powerful man. And his "that's-my-girl" pride in Olivia made me wonder if he might be her real father. I really hope we haven't seen the last of Mr. Jones (or Jared Harris). His improvised, MacGyver-esque gadgets are too cool.

"What was written will come to pass."

So it turns out the Pattern isn't completely unprecedented. It was prophesied. Predicted in an obscure, unpublished manifesto that argued against the unchecked progress of technology. And it looks like Walter may have written it himself.

The most telling clue? Jones' reaction to meeting Walter face-to-face. The man was in awe, like a disciple in the presence of his religion's inspiration. But does Walter even remember writing ZFT? Or perhaps the show is misdirecting us. We only know that the typewriter in Walter's lab was used to compose ZFT. But that also means that William Bell could've written it.

My guess? Walter. It sets him opposite from Bell, the tech-tycoon, and I like the symmetry implied.

"Only one world will survive."

Here's the real kicker. Fringe is rolling out the Multiverse Theory. The primary conflict involves a world similar to ours, "but whose history is slightly ahead of our own." When people from that world start visiting ours, bad things will happen. The technology involved must be pretty harmful. In the end, it's us versus them. This sounds like the "two sides" Mitchell Loeb was preaching about.

Could these visitors from a parallel universe be Observers? That's my best guess. I hate that we'll have to wait until April for more clues, but at least we've got plenty to chew on.

Stray Thoughts

• Best Line of the Night: "The man was clever enough to Star Trek himself out of a maximum-security German prison."
  
• Is it just me, or does Fringe have the coolest voices of any TV show? Between Jared Harris (Jones), Kirk Acevedo (Charlie), and Lance Reddick (Broyles), I could just listen to an episode and be entertained.
• I'm dying to see Creepy Cult Recruit Tests 2 through 10.
• How did Jones escape the hospital? Does using Walter's Dizray eventually transform you into something not-quite human? I gasped at the hole in the wall.

Adam Morgan is a writer for both the page and screen in Chicago, and blogs daily on writing, film, pop culture, and strange news at Mount Helicon.

Exclusive: Alternate Ending For Ability

FringeTelevision.com has an exclusive look at the final page of the script for the Fringe episode Ability. In the episode, Walter is silent after typing the "Y" in "Ability", but in the script, he poses the question "Why?" Either way, it's clear that the ZFT manuscript was typed on the same typewriter, but it is still unclear who actually typed it - Walter Bishop or his lab partner William Bell.

Want more? Head over to the Fringe Spoilers section for another exclusive - the title to Fringe Episode 117.

Will WB Move Fringe Filiming To Canada?

Crain's New York Business is reporting that there may be trouble up ahead for Fringe. Due to the recent financial turmoil, the tax incentives offered for filming in NY have dried up. Legislators in Albany are uncertain whether they will renew the fund, leaving production companies already filming in NY in a bind.

“We are trying to make sure that Albany understands the severity of the situation,” said Alan Suna, president of Silvercup Studios in Long Island City, Queens. “These jobs are going to be eviscerated from the New York economy with no replacements.”

While Fringe is shown on FOX in the US, and based in Boston, it is produced by Warner Bros in NY. The WB has stated that they will not stay in NY without the tax breaks. This could mean that the show will move back to Canada, where the pilot was filmed. In fact the producers of Fringe are already scouting stage space in Toronto and drawing up budgets to start shooting there.

According to my inside source, Toronto is where TV shows go to die, and by moving the show to Canada to save money, it will also allow the WB to fire 220 US crew members.

Film workers have started a petition to fund the incentive program. In just two days, more than 6,000 signatures have been collected. Please sign your name to show your support. You may also contact the NY officials directly:

NY Governor
David A. Patterson
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
Phone: (518) 474-8390
Click here to email the Governor

Speaker of the New York State Assembly
Sheldon Silver
250 Broadway
Suite 2307
New York, NY 10007
Phone: (212) 312-1420
Fax: (212) 312-1425
Click here to email Assembly member Silver.

New York State Senator Majority Leader
Malcolm A. Smith
250 Broadway, Suite 1930
New York, NY 10007
Phone: (212) 298-5585
Fax: (212) 298-5605
Email: masmith@senate.state.ny.us

Walter's Lab Notes: Fringe 114 Ability

Walter's Lab Notes from the Ability include the ZFT manuscript, and some various parts of David Robert Jones' tests. The notes take a strange turn in the middle, where it looks like Walter switched to his (or Dr. Bell's?) old typewriter.

FYI, the notes mention:

• Ribosomal S6 Kinase - is a protein involved in signal transduction, i.e. cell conversion
• Keloiding - is a type of scarring, noted for overgrowing the original scar area
  
• Hatfields & McCoy's were two 19th century families involved in a bitter feud
• Al Capone & Bugs Moran were rival mob bosses involved in the St. Valentines Day Massacre
• York & Lancaster were two Houses of England that fought each other in the War Of The Roses.
• Adenine, Guanine, Thymine, Cytosin are the four components that make up DNA
• King Canute - was an 11 century ruler that (unsucessfully) commanded the tide to halt.
  

Click here to read the text of Walter's Notes

- Project 1097 - Exploration 1 -

The Bos Taurus is, of course, a notable exception to the one-half rule — one I had hoped to explore via the cast of Gene's udders. An exploration that must now be placed on hold, whilst I investigate this curious skin condition. The cause, it appears, is overproduction of ribosomal s6 kinase along with a hyperactive keloiding process. But why the body receives orifices as wounds, I have not yet been able to detaerlmar sdlf;qpie vllzuadsf; xyayayurf ---------------------

A book of revelations, fallen into my lap. "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird." Now I envy the experimental subject's ignorance. He knows nothing, needs to know nothing, indeed is required to know nothing. Like these poor victims -- sightless, speechless, breathless, and constipated -- someone's warped parody of a double-blind experiment. Thank heavens we remained in the control group. We'll not have an easy time of it, trying to keep up with the Joneses. I need someone to tell me why -- why why why why why -- he ran away. And I wonder if they'll let me stay. I ordered the lasagna platter and the waiter told me it came with two sides, but I was unable to choose. Hatfields or McCoys? Al Capone or Bugs Moran? york or Lancaster? Survey says: BZZZT! The opposition has a chance to steal. They'd steal all four bases if they could: adenine, guanine, thymine, cytosine. None can hold back the rising nucleotide, not even King Canute. One two, contract the flu. Three four, infect by spore. Five six, genetic mix. Seven eight, procreate. Oh well. The malady was only skin deep, but 'twas enough. And sad as it was, i just had to laugh; I saw the photograph. I took my secret box and dumped out all the pieces, but I couldn't see the big picture. The big becomes the little when you see it back a bit, and that's about the size of it.

Fringe Promo Photos 114: Ability

Here are the promotional photos for Fringe episode 114 Ability.
(for those that avoid the Fringe Spoilers section.)

[photos: Craig Blankenhorn/FOX]

Last Night On Fringe: Ability

Last night's episode of Fringe was Ability:

German agents question Olivia about her "relationship" with David Robert Jones, an escaped prisoner questioned months earlier now living in the U.S. Meanwhile, the Fringe Division investigates a threatening case where victims die faceless from their orifices suddenly sealing. With few leads and many questions, German authorities turn to Olivia, Peter and Walter to help makes sense of the return of Mr. Jones and the foreboding mysterious occurrences. As the investigation unfolds, Olivia is put to test

Ability links:

• Re-watch the entire episode over at Fringe Episode, where you can also leave comments and discuss the episode.
  
• Check out what you might have missed in the Fringe Easter Eggs section.
  
• Did you spot The Observer?
  
• The Fringepedia Wiki will be hard at work organizing all the Fringe facts
• High-Def screen captures from the entire episode will be available soon in Fringe Gallery.

Fringe Episode 114: Ability

German agents question Olivia about her "relationship" with David Robert Jones, an escaped prisoner questioned months earlier now living in the U.S. Meanwhile, the Fringe Division investigates a threatening case where victims die faceless from their orifices suddenly sealing...

Which Guest Character would you like to see become a Recurring Character?

Akim Tess Amaral Lucas Vogel

Fringe at NY Comic Con Photos

Here are some official Fringe photos taken at the New York Comic Con this weekend.

BTW, If you have any photos or videos from the event, we'd love to see them!

Fringe Dwellers Podcast 18: The Transformation

Adele and Jason tackle Fringe episode 113, The Transformation. Look out for some interesting theories, some John Scott closure, emails and Adele geeking out.

Show notes are available at the Fringe Dwellers homepage.

Listen now:


You can also subscribe to the Fringe Dwellers podcast on iTunes.

If you have a comment or question for The Fringe Dwellers, you can email them at fringedwellers@gmail.com. You can also leave a voicemail for them at (206) 333-0072, or reach them on Twitter as fringedwellers, or Facebook as Gene the Cow Worshippers

Jason's podcasts can be found on iTunes - Film in Focus and Shadowy Flights.

For more Fringe podcasts, check out the Fringe Podcast Network.

Fringe Scenemaker 113: The Transformation

Scenemaker is a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Fringe. This episode shows the making of the Flight 718 plane crash, from the Fringe episode The Transformation.

You can watch previous episode's scenemaker videos here.

What Would You Ask: David Robert Jones?

Later today, we will be interviewing Jared Harris, who plays David Robert Jones on Fringe.

The interview will be a one-on-one, so there should be opportunity for a lot of questions.

What would you ask David Jones?

Fringebusters 114: Ability

For each episode of Fringe, Popular Mechanics asks experts to analyzes the science of Fringe, and separate the science fact from the science fiction.

For "Ability," PM's Andrew Moseman analyzes quantum teleportation, and answers the question: Could Someone Really Teleport Out of Jail?

PopularMechanics.com: Hollywood Fact v. Fiction: Fringe Episode 14 - Ability

Fringe Episode Review: The Transformation

After last week's mild letdown, I was optimistic that The Transformation would be a return to form. Luckily, I was right.

The Transformation was a successful hybrid between a standalone mystery and a serialized story. We got a fascinating Freak of the Week, plus new layers to our beloved characters and a few hints of mythology. J.R. Orci and Zack Whedon did a great job incorporating all of the above into fifty minutes, and Brad Anderson's direction was masterful. Especially that long take of the plane crash, starting with the reflection in the minivan window.

Click here to read more...

"A taser won't do anything..."
JJ Abrams and Co. do not look kindly on the airline industry. Or nosebleeds, for that matter. Marshall Bowman's Jekyll/Hyde routine was fun to watch, and I'm glad the director only showed us a few quick frames of the monster in action before the title sequence. Anything more would've been hard to swallow. Was anyone else reminded of Shyamalan's "Tartutic"?

I was hoping Walter would elaborate on the "transformation" itself. We know Bowman's genes were rapidly altered by the virus, but I was interested in the details. What physiological changes did it cause, and why was the virus designed to cause them? I suppose Conrad's just a modern-day Dr. Moreau, which "happens" to be Conrad's last name.

The Exchange
The best sequence of the ep was undoubtedly Olivia and Peter's undercover exchange with Conrad's men. Talk about tension. How appropriate that Brad Anderson, who helmed a few eps of The Wire and The Shield, was behind the camera.

The exchange sequence was also nice way to get Peter involved, which I hope becomes a regular occurence. I was impressed by his improvisations, and by Olivia's resolve. These are smart characters, and that's one of the reasons they're so much fun to watch. Olivia's quip to Conrad at the end was an especially nice touch.

Dead Man Talking
Those of us rooting for John Scott to be a misunderstood hero were rewarded tonight with a big reveal. He wasn't a traitor after all, just a devoted agent working undercover to expose runaway scientists like Conrad Moreau. Olivia's sudden flashes of John's memories were a nice touch. It was also interesting to take another trip to the whitewashed halls of Massive Dynamic, where Nina Sharp's motives are suggested to be entirely benevolent and transparent. Do you think that's all she was doing with John's body?

I'm still a little iffy on the dreamlike tank sequences. I like the idea; it's cool when Olivia watches herself in the past. But the logic is a little funny. When John interacts with her, what exactly is happening? Is a part of John still alive inside Olivia's brain? Is it only possible because of the cryogenic chamber his body's in at Massive Dynamic? Or are we really just watching Olivia's subconscious cope with her conscious emotions?

Conclusion
The concerns I had after last week have been washed away. The Transformation was a fun ride, and deftly handled the notion of a procedural/serial hybrid. The biggest questions: what's with those glass discs? And where do John Scott and his colleagues fit in the "two sides" scheme of Mitchell Loeb? Maybe next week's ep, which features the return of Jared Harris' wonderful Mr. Jones, will offer some clues.

Stray Thoughts

• Chuck fans: did Olivia's flashes of memory feel familiar?
• I loved Olivia's intercession during Hick's transformation, when she won't let Walter administer the antidote until Hicks talks.
• What's with the poofy black vest-slash-life-preserver Olivia wears in the tank sequences? To quote Back to the Future, did she jump ship or somethin'?
• John and Olivia's scene by the lake was fun to watch, knowing that the actors are married.
• Astrid still isn't quite working for me. I'm looking forward to seeing her become a real character instead of a plot device.
• The overhead shot of Chicago? You could see the building I worked in last fall.
• It was funny to see the "archer" from Garden State play Conrad's man, Gavin. And I'd have been suspicious too, if Olivia took such long pauses before answering any of my questions.

Adam Morgan is a writer for both the page and screen in Chicago, and blogs daily on writing, film, pop culture, and strange news at Mount Helicon.

Fringe Promo Photos 113: The Transformation

Here are the promotional photos for Fringe episode 113 The Transformation.
(for those that avoid the Fringe Spoilers section.)

Walter's Lab Notes: Fringe 113 - The Transformation

Walter's Lab Notes from the The Transformation include a photo of Marshall Bowman after he transformed, a vial of the reverse-mutator for Conrad's deadly virus, and a plumbing-inspired diagram of how the neural system works. The notes themselves are a long-winded analogy between a backed-up toilet, and John Scott's memories clogging Olivia brain.

Click here to read the text of Walter's Notes

- Project 269 - Exploration 20 -

She comes to me one more time, demanding another dip in the tank — to commune with the dead man who lives on in her mind — to ask him more questions — to plumb his thoughts... Plumbing! How did I now see it?

The fluid in the reservoir maintains a constant level, even when small quantities of fluid are added, as the excess flows out of the siphon pipe. But! Forcing a larger volume of fluid (say 7.5 L) into the reservoir completely fills the pipe, at which point gravitational pull on the fluid in the pipe creates a suction that nearly empties the reservoir of its contents.

Crucial caveat: Any solids within the reservoir must be smaller than the diameter of the siphon pipe, or at least soft enough to squeeze through. Otherwise the solid matter may become stuck in the pipe. The the excess fluid accumulates in the reservoir, overflowing once its surface reaches the rim.

Likewise, Scott's consciousness has become lodged in the plumbing of Dunham's brain, interrupting the free flow of neural impulses. Additional thoughts, encountering the obstruction yet failing to dislodge it, accumulate in the reservoir of the mind. Overflow naturally results — and as homeowners know too well, the watery mess oft contains bits of the obstruction, unpleasant reminders of the past.

Restoration of function requires enough force to remove the blockage from the tube. A rubber bulb affixed to a rod can be of utmost assistance here, as proper positioning in the mouth of the siphon pipe creates a powerful suction. Like Poseidon's trident, whose watery bursts bring forth the tide. The two basic operations are PUSH and PULL. Forward thrusting of the rod PUSHES the obstruction toward the tail end of the pipe, while retraction of the rod PULLS the obstruction back toward the reservoir. Once the blockage breaks free, siphon action takes over — resulting, one hopes, in a satisfying flush.

The synaptic transfer system provides our metaphorical bulb on a rod: a means of PUSHING and PULLING the neural blockage to an fro in the theater of mind. With appropriate manipulation of the chemical formula, the suction should be powerful enough to overcome the neural friction. With luck, Dunham may at last achieve the purging she seeks.

Tonight On Fringe: The Transformation

Tonight's episode of Fringe is The Transformation:

When the Fringe Division delves into another bizarre occurrence aboard an international jumbo jet, freakish remains are discovered at the crash site. Memories tip the team toward some promising leads, but the bigger picture and mysterious threat eludes them. With limited options and insufficient intelligence, Olivia and Peter go undercover.

After the show, you can:

• Discuss the episode in the Fringe Epsiode comments, or over the Fringe Television forum.
  
• Check out what you might have missed in the Fringe Easter Eggs section.
  
• Did you spot The Observer?
  
• The Fringepedia Wiki will be hard at work organizing all the Fringe facts
• High-Def screen captures from the entire episode will be available soon in Fringe Gallery.

Fringe Episode 113: The Transformation

When the Fringe Division delves into another bizarre occurrence aboard an international jumbo jet, freakish remains are discovered at the crash site. Memories tip the team toward some promising leads, but the bigger picture and mysterious threat eludes them...

Mark Valley + Anna Torv: HOT or NOT!

Joshua Jackson will be at NY Comic Con!

Comic Book Resources is reporting the Joshua Jackson will be at New York Comic Con this weekend. Also, due to the huge demand, they will be moving the Fringe panel to their biggest room - the IGN Theater. The Fringe panel is scheduled for 2:00 PM ET, directly following the Dollhouse panel with Joss Whedon and Tahmoh Penikett.

Also, the cast will be available afterward to sign autographs in the rear of the Exhibition Hall.

Don't forget, you can WIN a free pair of tickets to NY Comic Con, by entering our contest!

Fringe Dwellers Podcast: Episode 17 - Bound & The No-Brainer

Adele and guest co-host, Jason, cover the two episodes that have screened since the long hiatus - Bound and The No-Brainer.

Show notes are available at the Fringe Dwellers homepage.

Listen now:


You can also subscribe to the Fringe Dwellers podcast on iTunes.

If you have a comment or question for Adele & Jen, you can email them at fringedwellers@gmail.com. You can also leave a voicemail for them at (206) 333-0072, or reach them on Twitter as fringedwellers, or Facebook as Gene the Cow Worshippers

For more Fringe podcasts, check out the Fringe Podcast Network.