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
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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...
Adele and Jason tackle Fringe episode 113, The Transformation. Look out for some interesting theories, some John Scott closure, emails and Adele geeking out.
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Jason's podcasts can be found on iTunes - Film in Focus and Shadowy Flights.
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.
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.
"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.
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.
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'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.
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...
If you are searching for a friendly place to discuss the Fox TV show Fringe, or just a resource for keeping up with the latest news, clues and views on the series, you have come to the right place.
Last night's episode of Fringe was Ability:
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"A taser won't do anything..."
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 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
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