Fringe Sneak Peek 208: August

Entertainment Weekly has an exclusive look at the first scene of the upcoming Fringe episode August.

Fringe Commercial 208: August

Here is the full commercial for the next Fringe episode August, which airs November 19 on FOX.

Head over to the FringeTelevision YouTube channel to watch it in full HD.

Screenshots of the video are available at FringeFiles.com

Fringe Reviews and Recaps: Of Human Action

Here are a handful of reviews and recaps for the Fringe episode Of Human Action.

Fox: Official 'Of Human Action' Recap

Associated Content: Fringe Ramps Up the Tension in Latest Episode
IGN: Fringe: "Of Human Action" Review
LA Times: 'Fringe': Inside Massive Dynamic (mentions FringeTelevision.com!)
NY Magazine: Fringe: Mind the Mind Control
TV Fanatic: Fringe Review: "Of Human Action"
TV Squad: Review: Fringe - Of Human Action
Airlock Alpha: 'Fringe' – Of Human Action

Fringe Episode Review: Of Human Action

The episode starts out with Tyler Carson, a fifteen year old boy that has been kidnapped by two men, that are using mind control to hold him hostage and killing anyone that gets in the way. When the Fringe team arrives we learn Tyler’s father, James Carson works for the Aerospace division of Massive Dynamic.

The next scene was interesting in that it is Walter’s first actual contact with Massive Dynamic. He hasn’t seen or heard from Bell in decades but just being in the building, his presence is heavily felt. Early on we gain references and parallels to Peter’s childhood and Walter raising him. It’s the father of the kidnapped boy that says, “What I do here, it's -- it's my life. It's the only -- Tyler's mother died when he was just a boy. And now if -- if I lose him, I don't know what I'd do.” I imagine Walter was much the same way in that his work was his life. Certainly we know Peter was sick and it was his work that he tried using to save him and eventually used to bring the alter-version of him to this world. Though we don’t know much about Peter’s own mother, we do learn that Bell had been the one to introduce them at Neruobiology Conference in Berlin.

Click here to read the rest of the review...

The episode continues with a convenience store robbery and finally a ransom call from the kidnappers demanding two million dollars. Nina Sharp states that “Massive Dynamic will cover any ransom.” At this point to me, the alarm bells were going off. How many businesses would eagerly offer two million dollars to cover a ransom demand. That’s awfully generous. It’s Olivia that doesn’t buy the fact the kidnappers are after money and believe it’s a distraction for something bigger.

Walter determines the cause of the mind control is an auditory signal and white noise should be able to protect oneself with headphones and the constant pulsating noise. I do love how Walter seemed to save everything of Peter’s, including a teddy bear that emits the sound of the womb—in essence, white noise. Were those teddy bears even around when Peter was born?

The boy isn’t with the kidnappers and Peter leaves Walter to chase the money only to find himself suddenly under the control of the fifteen year old boy. It was the kidnappers that had actually been kidnapped. Imagine trying to explain that to the police and FBI.

The intensity of the episode seems to pick up now as Peter is under the boys control and when he tries to fight it, the boy just becomes reckless, swerving them through traffic, about ready to kill them. Peter gives in, willingly driving the car, learning quickly Tyler can control all or part of him. Peter tries to get inside his head, deflate the situation. It’s Peter that says, “Do you really think that you're the first kid whose father didn't think he was good enough, or smart enough? Take a number.”

We find out it’s up to Walter to disable Tyler as the cocktail he’s taken from Massive Dynamic, the hormones, and his ADD medication have given him the ability of mind control. Walter can’t seem to work, worried about losing his son again and it is Nina that finally is able to get through to him.

The search continues and we learn Tyler was lied to about his mother and it was his desire to find her, to be a family that started this whole charade. When they meet up with her, Tyler tells her he wants to go away with her, anywhere. When Seth, her new husband, sees Tyler and asks what’s going on, Tyler loses it and forces Peter against his will to pull the gun. Broyles sees the situation from outside the window and goes into the house. Broyles uses the stun gun to disable Tyler’s ability but in his effort finds himself shot by Peter, in the arm—due to Tyler’s ability. It doesn’t end just yet as Tyler forces Peter back to the road and we find Olivia, Astrid, and Walter trying to get close enough to disrupt Tyler’s brainwaves. Peter sees it working beside him and knowing he might not have much time crashes his father’s car into a telephone pole. Thankfully Peter is okay and the boy though unconscious is also given a sedative to keep his power disabled.

In the final scene, we see Nina typing on an old computer a letter to Bell that Tyler #3 displayed the ability of mind control and before they grew aware of his ability had searched out his surrogate mother. Suddenly it all makes sense. This was another experiment by Massive Dynamic.

I think this episode worked well in both a stand-alone and bigger overall story-arc. Nina writes to Bell in regards of the “Penrose-Carson experiments” and for those that have followed the show, may remember Penrose from early season one. I believe the episodes with character driven stories, where their emotions tie in and relate to the cases leave us feeling much more satisfied and invested as viewers.

Fringe Files: "Of Human Action" Photo Gallery

HD screenshots of Fringe episode 207: "Of Human Action" are now available at FringeFiles.com.

These screen caps have all been hand selected to increase quality and reduce duplicates, but if there's something that might be missing, you can request a specific Fringe screenshot.

I have already posted some of the more interesting screenshots in the Fringe Easter Eggs section, but there's more to come!

Simpsons Scavenger Hunt on Fringe

Fox has been promoting the 20th Year of The Simpsons by putting hidden Simpsons references in all of their primetime shows.

There were two Simspons Easter eggs in tonight's episode of Fringe: The Homer Simpson Pez Dispenser used by Tyler Carson to take his mind-control drugs, and the house of Renee Davies, Tyler's mom, was located in the Simpsons' hometown of Springfield.

Fringe Episode 207: Of Human Action

When a peculiar abduction occurs in Boston, the Fringe team uncovers details of the mysterious man known as The Observer. While the bizarre case takes center stage, Walter, Peter and Astrid hit the lab to analyze unusual evidence and deal with Walter's insatiable appetite for a milkshake.

Discuss the episode here in the comments.

How did you rate "Of Human Action"?

Fringe Sneak Peeks 207: Of Human Action

Four clips from the upcoming Fringe episode "Of Human Action".

Fringe Episode Review: Earthling

Let me start by telling you how surprised I was that my DVR a week ago said Fringe would be on---and on the actual day it was to air, the guide for the HD feed said MLB World Series. Oddly enough the standard feed still said Fringe. I had found out that morning the show would be airing, thankfully news travels fast on the internet. Though not fast enough for everyone, as chatter was made that many who don’t watch it live, seemed to miss out on watching it on their DVR.

So the episode, definitely a stand-alone monster of the week type story. I for one was impressed with the special effects. I don’t believe special effects need to make the show but I liked how it was done. Watching the wife’s hand at the beginning touch her husband and watching his body fall apart while turning to ash in her fingers. It was also one of the first times I could recall a special effect not making me grimace from the gore.

Broyles has a softer side. I rather liked the beginning, seeing him interacting with the young boy at the restaurant. We know from last season he was married and has children. It’s clear from this scene he’s not just the tough, no-nonsense guy we’re used to seeing. He likes kids, not a huge surprise but the rather warm interaction was what caught us off guard. It stood out to me and no wonder since we find out this case was the same one that tore apart his marriage and ultimately ended it.

Russian Fringe Science. Now there is an interesting thought. Even Walter says “I’m always amazed at their advancements. Even 40 years ago.” It’s possible we haven’t seen the end of this. Though I don’t imagine it’ll be anytime soon, it could always be a theme revisited, perhaps in season three.

In Earthling, we find out the cosmonaut brought home an organism with him from space and it was his brother that stole the comatose cosmonaut from a Russian secret quarantine facility. We’re left wondering how his brother knew what was happening to the cosmonaut and how he would have abducted him from any type of secret facility. So much for it being a secret and for the brother believing he died in space. We learn that the organism needs radiation in order to survive and in stealing that radiation from people, it in essence turns them to dust after passing through them. I find it interesting their physical form doesn’t change until something touches them (a hand, a fly, air from the fan). I suppose it makes for nicer special effects then just letting them turn to a pile of ash at the moment of transfer.

I also find it strange that the surveillance at the hospital picked up the shadow organism. Why is it that surveillance video could see it but no one else in all that time at the hospital had witnessed it. Also if he’d been working at the hospital for years, why had there been no incidents? We saw the batteries that the brother was hooking up to the cosmonaut after he took him from the hospital and brought him to a hotel room. Was he getting enough radiation at the hospital and finally he needed more? How many coma patients get regular doses of radiation? Yes the cosmonaut was in a coma but why not focus on a cancer ward where radiation would probably be in higher doses more often? Perhaps that would have been the shadows next move.

In the end, in order to stop the organism that has become one with the cosmonaut, it is Broyles that is forced to shoot him--as the brother that kidnapped the cosmonaut is now dead--and he does so without a second thought. This certainly gives us a glimpse that there is perhaps a darker side to Broyles. Is it because this case has haunted him for the last four years or was he just doing what was entirely necessary to stop more lives from being lost? Fringe Division returned the cosmonauts body in a lead case to the Russians and we find out in the very last scene that in fact, a shot to the head, did not kill a comatose cosmonaut or the entity. Confusing, much? Just a little. I could understand the organism being alive but shouldn't the lead case---or rather coffin have prevented the entity from escaping? Why send it out into space? Do the Russians assume that the organism, being closer to the sun, getting higher levels of radiation---where they found it in space---is safer?

I do enjoy a good stand-alone episode but this one left an avid viewer like myself, feeling as though it came up short. Perhaps the stand-alone stories are the writer’s attempts at bringing in casual viewers without overwhelming the new audience. Maybe it’s the fact I’ve been following the show since the beginning, eagerly waiting to learn more about the shape-shifters, observers, the alternate reality, William Bell, Olivia’s ability, and Peter’s childhood. There’s still so much great story-telling and this show in its second season could easily attract new viewers.

Fringe Files: "Earthling" Photo Gallery

HD screenshots of Fringe episode 206: "Earthling" are now available at FringeFiles.com.

These screen caps have all been hand selected to increase quality and reduce duplicates, but if there's something that might be missing, you can request a specific Fringe screenshot in the Fringe Easter Eggs section.

Fringe Episode 206: Earthling

Fringe Division takes on a puzzling investigation where victims are inexplicably disintegrating into ash. The shadowy case casts light on Special Agent Phillip Broyles' past and leads the team to the possibility of foreign Fringe Science. Emotions run high as the alarming events stack up and revealing personal details emerge about the leader of the Fringe Division.

Discuss the episode here in the comments.

How did you rate "Earthling"?

Fringe Episode 205: Dream Logic

The Fringe team travels cross-country to Seattle after learning of a mysterious incident involving a man who attacked his boss because he believed he was an evil ram-horned creature. As these puzzling occurrences continue, the team tirelessly explores strange and creepy links to dreams. In pursuit of additional information, Agent Broyles has a disconcerting meeting with enigmatic Massive Dynamic executive Nina Sharp that leads the investigation in an unthinkable direction.

Discuss the episode here in the comments.

How Would You Rate "Dream Logic"

Fringe Files: "Momentum Deferred" Photo Gallery

HD screenshots of Fringe episode 204: "Momentum Deferred" are now available at FringeFiles.com.

These screen caps have all been hand selected to increase quality and reduce duplicates, but if there's something that might be missing, you can request a specific Fringe screenshot in the Fringe Easter Eggs section.

Fringe Preview 205: Dream Logic

Here is the preview for Dream Logic, the fifth episode of Fringe season two, which airs October 15th, 2009 on FOX.

Head over to the FringeTelevision YouTube channel to watch it in full HD.

Screenshots of the video are available at FringeFiles.com

Fringe Episode 204: Momentum Deferred

Recuperating from the traumatic and alarming meeting with Massive Dynamic founder William Bell (guest star Nimoy), Agent Dunham consumes a powerful “fringe” concoction that Dr. Bishop prescribes to stimulate her memory. Meanwhile, the Fringe Division investigates a series of robbery cases that are tied to shape-shifting. As clues are tracked and memories are jogged, another woman experimented on by Dr. Bishop is introduced and a flashback reveals more about Olivia’s visit to the alternate reality.

Discuss the episode here in the comments.

How would you rate "Momentum Deferred"?

Tonight On Fringe: Momentum Deferred

Happy Fringeday! It's time for another LIVE Fringe chat from 9:00 PM to 12:00 PM ET, if you want to talk with other Fringe fans during or after the show. We'll try to get there a little early if anyone has questions they want answered.

To join the chat, visit the Fringe chat room, enter your name or a nickname, and join the fun! (please don't use the default mib_xxxxx nickname!). If you'd like to use your own IRC client, connect to irc.mibbit.net and join the #Fringe channel.

I will try to be there (as FringeTelevision) along with AdamMorgan. In the past we've been joined by people from the show ...you never know who might show up!

To discuss this or any other Fringe episode, head over to the Fringe Episodes section!


Here are some previews of tonight's episode:
EW.com: Watch 'Fringe' tonight. Do it for yourself and for Spock, will ya?
SciFiWire.com: 6 Fringe questions Leonard Nimoy can answer (and 3 he can't)
Zap2It.com: 'Fringe': William Bell returns, Olivia is recalling memories & someone's getting shot
TVOvermind.com: Leonard Nimoy Returns to Fringe Tonight – "Momentum Deferred"

How would you rate "Momentum Deferred"?

Fringe Files: "Fracture" Gallery

HD screenshots of Fringe episode 203: "Fracture" are now available at FringeFiles.com.

These screen caps have all been hand selected to increase quality and reduce duplicates, but if there's something that might be missing, you can request a specific Fringe screenshot in the Fringe Easter Eggs section.

Fringe Preview 204: Momentum Deferred

Here is the preview for Momentum Deferred, the fourth episode of Fringe season two, which airs October 8th, 2009 on FOX.

Head over to the FringeTelevision YouTube channel to watch it in full HD.

Screenshots of the video are available at FringeFiles.com

Fringe Episode 203: Fracture

Peter, Walter, Olivia and Broyles pursue a strange and deadly occurrence in Philadelphia where a bomb blew up inside a train station but left no trace of any explosive device. The perplexing and unexplained set of circumstances returns Walter to the lab to closely examine the human remains where he uncovers an unlikely energy source that triggered the explosion. With the explosive threat of more bombs and links to a classified military project, the intense investigation leads Olivia and Peter to Iraq

Discuss the episode here in the comments.

How Would You Rate "Fracture"

Episode Review: Night Of Desirable Objects

Adam Morgan is out this week, so this week's guest episode review is by fringeobsessed.

A second episode in a series' new season has a tough job in keeping the momentum going that started in the premiere. Episode 2.02 entitled "Night Of Desirable Objects" pretty much meets that goal. Although there is not a lot of action in this one, we find out where the characters are at this point in time both mentally and physically.

Unlike any previous Fringe episodes Peter has chosen a case to pursue after researching the FBI's missing persons files looking for Pattern-like occurrences. He finds a cluster of 6 missing persons in two month's time in a northeastern suburb of Philadelphia. Four of the missing were said to have vanished into thin air [like Olivia Dunham?]. He meets with Broyles on a busy Boston street to discuss it (apparently he didn't requisition an office). We learn in the scene that Peter had requested a list of items from Broyles to use at his disposal in finding and hopefully solving Pattern-related cases. Broyles informs Peter that everything on his list has been approved (including new housing for him and his father-hmm) except for a C130 transport plane. Now you may ask yourself why Peter would need one. Do you remember back in the pilot episode when Olivia read off Peter's former jobs on his bio? Among them was "cargo pilot." Is this an old Peter 'con-man' Bishop request? Peter does not argue with Broyles about the plane, saying they will not need it for the Pennsylvania case. Broyles asks the younger Bishop how Agent Dunham is doing. Interestingly, Peter replies "Olivia?" implying that they have a closer relationship by calling her by her first name. After a pause he says "She'll be fine," but Broyles is not so sure and shoots Peter one of those Broyles looks.

Another title for this episode could have been "Off-Balance,"as all of the characters seem to be off their mark after the events of the premiere, except maybe Nina Sharp, it's just too hard to tell with her. We see Peter come to rescue Olivia from the yucky memories of the New York hospital/her accident/the shapeshifter. There is a very touching P/O scene where Peter sees Olivia's trigger hand shaking but doesn't comment on it. He tells her out loud minutes later that she'll be fine. A little denial here? Barely after they arrive back in Boston he asks her if she'd like to go for a ride, i.e. back to work. Evidently it's too soon as the second time they return to PA and suspect Andre Hughes' house she nearly shoots Peter in the head (misses him by what, an inch?) just because she heard something. Peter's look is priceless. Later in the episode Broyles tells Peter that Dunham's report says that her gun went off. Peter's answer? "It was a misfire." But Peter's poker face apparently is not working anymore when it comes to things Dunham. Broyles sees right through his meager attempt at lying, and gives him another one of those Broyles looks.

Walter is still quite off-balance in this episode, well, more than usual. He appears quite driven with Astrid's assistance trying to re-create Olivia's car crash/disappearance with the aid of a toy car, IV bags as weights, a pulley system, a frog, and 5 Polaroid(another fine Boston-base company)land cameras. He tells Olivia she was missing for an hour and thinks she was in an alternate universe. In his most interesting line he gets choked up and says "When I saw you lying there...I don't know what I'd do without you!" This is in reference to the premiere when he freaked out seeing Olivia's dead body. But is he really talking about her, or his pre-deceased Peter?

The shapeshifter is alive and still in Charlie Francis' image. He was spying on Olivia and Peter as they exited the hospital(interesting to note that Peter seemed to sense this). But is he well? Several times we see him grab his chest or stomach area with a grimace. Maybe there's a time limit to the body-change process? He visits the Selectric typewriting store and uses the spooky mirror/typewriter in the back room. He tells whoever's on the other side of the looking glass that the target trusts him completely and still believes he is her partner. Towards the end of the episode we see "Charlie" driving Olivia home from the Philadelphia crime scene. She tells him maybe it's a good thing she can't remember things from her other-worldly experience but he disagrees. He tells her she should remember and he will be there to help her. Creepy. Speaking of creepy, the featured creature supposedly is a 17 year old boy-mutant that has the DNA also of a scorpion and a mole-rat. The visual effects people did another great job on this one.

In the most unusual event of the episode Nina Sharp sneaks up on Olivia from behind while she is getting dressed at her follow-up doctor's appointment and tells her she is pleased that Olivia is making progress. Without being asked Nina writes something on a piece of paper and gives it to Olivia telling her that she may need this man's help at some point to put her back together, and that "Sometimes the physical injuries are the easiest to get over." Olivia assumes it's a psychiatrist and tells her the FBI can take care of that. In typical Nina Sharp style she just smiles and says "Oh, he's not a psychiatrist" and offers no further explanation.

Not THE best episode ever, but it moved things along and helped us get a snapshot of where everyone is at present(we hope).

Other Thoughts:

Best line: Walter Bishop to Sheriff Golightly(couldn't someone have picked a better name?): "We're all victims of our own gene pool. Someone must have peed in yours."

Best scene: The look on Peter's face when he realizes how close Liv's bullet came to his head.

Best new thing: Agent Dunham has super-hearing! Imagine what a pain that would be.

Biggest disappointment: A tie between Astrid only getting a couple of lines, and Agent Amy Jessup apparently only investigates Bibles.

Error?: The information in the newspaper clipping on Eveline Hughes' and her son's death is repeated at least once in different columns.