Fringe Episode Review: Bound

Hi Fringe-philes, Adam Morgan here, a newcomer to FringeTelevision. I'll be posting weekly reviews for the rest of season one, sharing my reactions, thoughts, and theories with you. Feel free to disagree with me in the comments!

After a listless seven-week hiatus, Fringe stormed back last night with its best episode yet. Bound was like a shot of adrenaline into the show’s ongoing narrative, filled with action, suspense, mythology, and considerable character development. I was a fan before tonight, but I think in a few years I’ll look back and remember Bound as the episode that hooked me for good.

From a production standpoint, everything worked. The dialogue was crisp; Michael Giacchino’s score was perfect; the location shots were gorgeous; the direction was compelling (especially the low-frame-rate action sequences); and most perhaps importantly, the chemistry between cast members hit an all-time high.

From a narrative standpoint, Bound covered a lot of ground...

Click here to read more...

Dunham Done ‘em

One of Bound’s greatest strengths was its focus on Olivia Dunham. We met her sister, her old rival, and learned a few new things. First, that she is lethal. My jaw literally dropped when she single-handedly took out half a dozen men and escaped from the warehouse. Second, that she can be vulnerable, too. Anna Torv did a marvelous job conveying conflicting emotions in this episode, oscillating between fear, distress, and anger. I was worried that her sister’s appearance would become subplot fodder, but their scenes together were nicely tied into the main theme of the episode: Olivia’s struggle to persevere under any circumstance.

Mystery of the Week

Of course, I chose to eat dinner while watching this episode, on a night that features gastrointestinal slugs and spinal taps. Per usual, this week’s scientific mystery seemed tangential at first, but wound up connecting right back to the ongoing story. Two renowned epidemiologists were poisoned with giant single-celled cold viruses that grow to maturity even faster than Lorraine Daisy Alcott’s baby in The Same Old Story. The biggest question here, as usual, is why?

In the Pilot, Phillip Broyles theorizes that someone is using the whole world as their lab, with human beings as test subjects for bizarre experiments. But as the show progresses, this explanation becomes less and less relevant. If you wanted to experiment with a weaponized parasite, why on earth would you target two prominent epidemiologists? It doesn’t add up. Unless it’s more than an experiment. A demonstration of power, perhaps? A cunning move in a worldwide game of human chess? More on this later.

Mitchell Loeb and the Big Tease

As Walter might say, Mitchell Loeb gives me a case of cutis anserina (goose bumps). First he was just another agent the team saved from a parasite (a tentacled fellow that looked like the villain from Monsters, Inc). Then he was a double-agent who used that incident to get information out of a dead man. Then he was a wall-phasing bank robber. The guy gets around.

In Bound, Mitchell is revealed to be even more than he seems once again. We all assumed he was a villain since the end of episode 107, In Which We Meet Mr. Jones. But Loeb’s seemingly genuine confession to Olivia in the interrogation room makes him sound like a misunderstood protagonist. JJ Abrams is up to his old tricks. See Benjamin Linus and virtually every character from Alias.

They weren’t kidnapping Olivia to kill her, but to save her. Who is “they”? And who or what were they saving her from? Loeb’s next lines were the highlight of the night for me: “Do you not understand the rules? What we're up against? Who the two sides are?” Talk about a can of worms. In just a few seconds, Loeb revealed a huge, fundamental layer in Fringe’s mythology.

We were initially led to believe the Pattern was some kind of experimentation by Massive Dynamic. I think we’ve moved beyond that now. To make a Lost analogy, I think that’s like “the Monster is a dinosaur” or “they’re all in purgatory”. Now it appears as though there are two competing factions contributing to the Pattern, both of whom aim to achieve still-illusive objectives that somehow directly involve Olivia Dunham and the research of Walter Bishop. Brilliant. It hints at so much yet to come.

Overall, this was a huge breakthrough for the show. Almost like a second pilot. I’ve enjoyed Fringe from the beginning, but was waiting for an episode to launch the story into the stratosphere with the greats like Lost and The Prisoner.

I think the wait is over.

Stray Thoughts

• Not much Walter this week, but he still shined when given the chance. His coy remarks about Peter’s feelings for Olivia were cute, and a great way to create tension between two stoic characters. Also, his cavalier slug-trapping maneuver got the biggest laugh of the night from me.
  
  
• Not much Peter either, but Josh Jackson continues to do a great job establishing Peter as a level-headed, resourceful go-to guy. The man gets stuff done, and I like that. I was worried at first, given his Dawson’s Creek pedigree, but Josh has won me over. I’d like to see him get more physical in the future, and can’t wait to learn more about his past. And the man certainly dresses dapper for a globetrotting-opportunist-slash-black-market-entrepreneur, what with the pea coats and scarves from the Gap and all.
  
  
• Broyles was a thrill to watch this week as well. Lance Reddick is so…severe. I’m hoping he gets to do some physical stuff too sometime soon. I’d like to see him take down Sanford Harris, for starters (who didn’t impress me, acting-wise).
  
  
• That was an extremely long cold open.
  
  
• Between her more-than-palpable good looks and her more-than-capable resourcefulness and intelligence, Dunham is becoming the best female lead on television.
  
  
• Lost fans: did Loeb’s speech on “rules” and “sides” remind you of the dynamic between Ben and Charles Widmore?
  
  
• Kudos to Michael Giacchino for that beautiful variation on his main Fringe leitmotif at the end of tonight’s episode. I want a Fringe soundtrack later this year.

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.

Walter's Lab Notes: Fringe 111 - Bound

Here are Walter's Lab Notes from the Fringe episode Bound. Also pictured are a cheesesteak sandwich, a slug virus, a photo of some sort of organism, and Betty's slug tracks. In the notes, Walter mentions:

• Ouranos, also know as Uranus, and Cronos are from Greek mythology
• Buri and Borr (Bor) are from Norse mythology, the Grandfather and father of Wōden (Wotan), also known as Odin.
• The quote is about "The Kraken", from Snorri Sturlson's "The Prose Edda"
• ROUS - Rodents Of Unusual Size, a term from The Princess Bride

Click here to read the text of Walter's Notes

- Project 1087 - Exploration 1 -

First an overgrown protozoan wrapped 'round the heart; now a mommoth virus grown in the belly. How difficult it proves to separate myth from fact, and fact from myth! Gigantism abounds in legend. The giant Ouranos begat Cronos, also a giant; and from his belly burst the Olympians, themselves giants in the eyes of men. And likewise did Buri beget Bor who begat Wotan...

Straightway the Allfather cast the serpent into the deep sea, where he lies about all the land; and this serpent grew so greatly that he lies in the midst of the ocean encompassing all the land, and bites upo his own tail.

So said Snorri of the overgrown serpent. Always giants within giants within giants — of course! This gorgeous creature is not, in fact a giant virus. The rhinovirus takes the form of an icosahedron, not a slug. No, she is a gigantic human cell — from Dr. Kinberg's own intestinal walls — mercilessly overtaken and supersized by the giant virus that infected her.

SUPERSIZED! A new word in my lexicon. Such a brillian concept: to order a tasty meal and, with one simple command, expand it in all dimensions. The wonder and horror of it; for how could I not observe the astounding synedoche between the consumers and the consumed? Giants within giants again. To What othe purposes might this remarkable technique be applied? Squashes that will squash the county fair records? In class mammalia, order rodentia, the rise of the ROUS's? Even we hominids might take part. More than a few females might wish to grow thier assets; men, too.

But, caution is essential — for the pace of protien production must have been astonishingly rapid to sustain both cellular growth and .. oh, my. This volume of cytoplasm could only have one purpose: large-scale viral production. Within this slug-like sack, there could be millions of copies of its pathogenic parent. Extra care must be taken to contain her. No more afternoon walks for Betsy, I suppose. Wait... where did I see her last?

Fringe Episode 111: Bound

After shifty FBI Agent Mitchel Loeb orchestrated David Robert Jones' otherworldly escape from a German prison and Olivia's alarming abduction, indications of a larger threat begin to emerge. Adding to the intense circumstances, one of Olivia's former adversaries is called in by Internal Affairs to conduct a formal review of the Fringe Division, and Olivia's sister, Rachel (guest star Ari Graynor), pays a visit...

How would you cast the yuck-factor (aka Gross) on Fringe?

Tonight on Fringe: Bound

Finally! After seven week of waiting, FRINGE IS BACK! Tonight's episode is Bound to wrap up a few loose ends:

After shifty FBI Agent Mitchel Loeb orchestrated David Robert Jones' otherworldly escape from a German prison and Olivia's alarming abduction, indications of a larger threat begin to emerge. Adding to the intense circumstances, one of Olivia's former adversaries is called in by Internal Affairs to conduct a formal review of the Fringe Division, and Olivia's sister, Rachel (guest star Ari Graynor), pays a visit. The timing couldn't be more inopportune, as Olivia, Walter and Peter race against time to solve the wildly grotesque murder of an esteemed epidemiologist - which may link to Olivia's own abduction - before a catastrophic epidemic is unleashed.

After the show, you can discuss the episode here in the comments, or over the Fringe Television forum for Bound. Also, 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, and screen captures from the entire episode will be available soon in Fringe Gallery.

The preview for next week's episode - The No-Brainer, can be found in the Fringe Spoilers section here.

Funny Fringe Fan Videos

Here's a little shout out to obsessive Fringe fans Kevin Nalts and Caitlin Hill, for creating these funny Fringe videos. Enjoy!

Kevin Nalts: I Love Walter (Fringe):


Caitlin Hill: I'm going to be on Fringe!

Fringe: Next Episode Clue #8

In addition to an appearance by The Observer, each episode of Fringe contains a hidden clue (Easter egg), that foreshadows something that will happen in the next episode. Over the next few hours leading up to the spring premiere, I will be posting videos of the clues from each Fringe episode.

Here is the "Next Episode Clue" from Fringe episode 108: The Equation

Previous Clues:

• "Next Episode Clue" from Fringe episode 107: In Which We Meet Mr. Jones
• "Next Episode Clue" from Fringe episode 106: The Cure
• "Next Episode Clue" from Fringe episode 105: Power Hungry
  
• "Next Episode Clue" from Fringe episode 104: The Arrival
• "Next Episode Clue" from Fringe episode 103: The Ghost Network
• "Next Episode Clue" from Fringe episode 102: The Same Old Story
• "Next Episode Clue" from Fringe episode 101: Pilot

For more hidden clues, check out the Fringe Easter Eggs section.

Fringe: Next Episode Clue #7

In addition to an appearance by The Observer, each episode of Fringe contains a hidden clue (Easter egg), that foreshadows something that will happen in the next episode. Over the next two days leading up to the spring premiere, I will be posting videos of the clues from each Fringe episode.

Here is the "Next Episode Clue" from Fringe episode 107: In Which We Meet Mr. Jones

Previous Clues:

• "Next Episode Clue" from Fringe episode 106: The Cure
• "Next Episode Clue" from Fringe episode 105: Power Hungry
  
• "Next Episode Clue" from Fringe episode 104: The Arrival
• "Next Episode Clue" from Fringe episode 103: The Ghost Network
• "Next Episode Clue" from Fringe episode 102: The Same Old Story
• "Next Episode Clue" from Fringe episode 101: Pilot

For more hidden clues, check out the Fringe Easter Eggs section.

Fringe: Next Episode Clue #6

In addition to an appearance by The Observer, each episode of Fringe contains a hidden clue (Easter egg), that foreshadows something that will happen in the next episode. Over the next five days leading up to the spring premiere, I will be posting videos of the clues from each Fringe episode.

Here is the "Next Episode Clue" from Fringe episode 106: The Cure

Previous Clues:

• "Next Episode Clue" from Fringe episode 105: Power Hungry
• "Next Episode Clue" from Fringe episode 104: The Arrival
• "Next Episode Clue" from Fringe episode 103: The Ghost Network
• "Next Episode Clue" from Fringe episode 102: The Same Old Story
• "Next Episode Clue" from Fringe episode 101: Pilot

For more hidden clues, check out the Fringe Easter Eggs section.

Fringe: Next Episode Clue #5

In addition to an appearance by The Observer, each episode of Fringe contains a hidden clue (Easter egg), that foreshadows something that will happen in the next episode. Over the next five days leading up to the spring premiere, I will be posting videos of the clues from each Fringe episode.

Here is the "Next Episode Clue" from Fringe episode 105: Power Hungry

Previous Clues:

• "Next Episode Clue" from Fringe episode 104: The Arrival
• "Next Episode Clue" from Fringe episode 103: The Ghost Network
• "Next Episode Clue" from Fringe episode 102: The Same Old Story
• "Next Episode Clue" from Fringe episode 101: Pilot

For more hidden clues, check out the Fringe Easter Eggs section.

Change is coming... to Fringe Television

Over the next few days, I'll be making some minor changes to FringeTelevision.com - mainly updating the look, and moving some stuff around.

This is your opportunity to let me know what you like about the site, what you don't, and what you think might be missing that should be added, or any other ideas you have. For example, do you like the content separated into different sections - news / episodes / Easter eggs... or would you prefer everything on the front page? (The Fringe Spoilers section will always remain separate.)

I'm also looking for a few good men (or women), preferably with blog experience, who want to help contribute to the site, especially the news and Easter eggs sections.

Fringe: Next Episode Clue #4

In addition to an appearance by The Observer, each episode of Fringe contains a hidden clue (Easter egg), that foreshadows something that will happen in the next episode. Over the next six days leading up to the spring premiere, I will be posting videos of the clues from each Fringe episode.

Here is the "Next Episode Clue" from Fringe episode 104: TheArrival

Previous Clues:

• "Next Episode Clue" from Fringe episode 103: The Ghost Network
  
• "Next Episode Clue" from Fringe episode 102: The Same Old Story
• "Next Episode Clue" from Fringe episode 101: Pilot

For more hidden clues, check out the Fringe Easter Eggs section.

Fringe: The Whole Series In Five Minutes

FOX has created a 5-minute recap video of the first ten episodes of FRINGE. If you are new to Fringe, or need a quick refresher course, this excellent video will get you up to speed with all the player and major plot points.

For some reason, FOX don't let people embed their videos, so jump over to Fox On Demand to get ready for the premier of Bound on Jan. 20th.

BTW, If you've missed any episodes, you can watch them for free online, in our Fringe Episodes section.