Fringe Discuss: What Is Different In The New Timeline?

It's Wednesday, and time for another round of Fringe Discuss, where we throw out a question to you and you post your opinions.

Recently in an interview with Maris Roffman of GiveMeMyRemote.com, executive producer Jeff Pinkner, said the following regarding the lack of Peter Bishop's influence on other characters in the series:

[Peter's] influence on the characters on the other side only dates back to the end of season 2. So things on that side are far less touched by Peter’s presence. Having said that, alt-Broyles was dead because he helped Olivia escape. So we can assume that because he’s alive, that didn’t happen. Elsewhere, without trying to set up a game, there are obvious clues and opportunities for the audience to figure out what’s different and what’s the same because of Peter’s presence. And we’re not trying to be elusive. With the things that are important, we will make very plain. And with the others that are less important, we will allow to color the show.

Today's Fringe Discuss question: What other changes, due to a lack of Peter Bishop, do you think the executive producers "will make very plain" in the upcoming episodes?

Please post your comments below, and remember that spoilers do NOT belong here! Fringe spoilers are very welcome at the "Fringe Spoilers" page you can access by clicking on "Fringe Spoilers" at the top of this page.

Also, please be courteous of your fellow posters, as there are no right or wrong answers to this week's question, just healthy speculations.

Fringe Reviews Roundup: One Night In October

Here are some reviews from around the web, in no particular order, for the Fringe episode "One Night In October":

• FringeTelevision.com: Fringe Season 4 Episode 2: Review by Old Darth
• FringeTelevision.com: Fringe 402 Review: One Night in October by Josie Kafka
• FringeTelevision.com: Fringe Recap/Review #402: One Night in October by Aimee Long
• FringeTelevision.com: Observiews 4.02 One Night in October by Cortexifan
• Entertainment Weekly: 'Fringe' recap: Suffer The Cheerleacher!
• LA Times: ‘Fringe’ recap: How does that make you feel?
• Spinoff Online: Fringe Season 4: 5 Questions About “One Night In October”
• io9: The Most Fascinating Relationship on Fringe This Year
• TV.com: Fringe: Take a Look in the Mirror
• MTV Geek: Fringe- 'One Night In October' Recap
• TV Overmind: Fringe 4.02 "One Night in October" Review
• Crave Online: Olivia teams up with the alternate Fringe team to use a professor to track down his own dangerous counterpart.
• AV Club:  Fringe “One Night In October”
• Polite Dissent: Fringe — Episode 2 (Season 4): “One Night In October”
• Cordial Deconstruction: Deconstruction Review of Fringe, Episode 2 Season 4, One Night in October
• The Faster Times: Fringe Recap (Season 4, Episode 2) “One Night In October”
• ScreenRant: ‘Fringe’ Season 4 ‘One Night In October’ Recap & Spoilers Discussion
• HitFix: A case Over There may have huge ramifications for both worlds 
• TV Fanatic: Fringe Review: "One Night in October"

Have any favorite reviews, or reviews we should add? Let us know in the comments.

'The No Doctor Cop Lawyer Show':How 'Fringe' evolved into a great TV show

Oct 4, 2011 03:54 PM ET
'The No Doctor Cop Lawyer Show': How 'Fringe' evolved into a great TV show
by Darren Franich

Even the most die-hard TV fans have their blind spots. Until a couple weeks ago, mine was Fringe. I had watched the series premiere way back in 2008, thought it felt like warmed-over X-Files with a dash of The Nutty Professor, and immediately checked out. While I was off falling victim to the short-lived charms of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and Kings, Fringe was slowly but surely transforming into an exciting, wholly unique TV show. (EW’s TV critic Ken Tucker named it the second-best series of 2010.) In preparation for the new season of Fringe, I marathoned through the show’s first three seasons — a Fringe binge. I’m a better person now, and I’m also working on a new romance self-help book, Olivia or Fauxlivia?: How To Make Sure Your Lover Hasn’t Been Replaced By an Alternate Universe Duplicate.

You can read the rest of this article and see the video at popwatch.ew.com

Watercooler:In Praise Of "Fringe's" NewLivia

Today's News: Our Take

Watercooler: In Praise of Fringe's NewLivia
Oct 3, 2011 11:03 AM ET
by Damian Holbrook

Let us not feel anger at those who didn't watch last Friday's Fringe. For while yes, they helped contribute to one of the show's lowest Nielsens ever, they too deprived themselves of a showcase for Anna Torv's latest iteration of her Agent Olivia Dunham. Call her NewLivia. And pity the fools who missed this standout episode.

Having already given us Original Recipe Olivia, the alt-world's Bolivia (or Fauxlivia), Bolivia-As-Olivia and the Spock-possessed BelLivia, Torv is now up to her awesome in the fifth version of this complex Fringe Division dame: An Olivia who never knew Peter Bishop. An Olivia who offed her abusive stepfather. An Olivia with swagger. An Olivia we LOVE.

In the season's second episode, fans got a buffet of bad-assery as NewLivia and Bolivia were forced to play nice together in order to catch a serial killer from Over There. Playing opposite herself in several scenes, Torv got to turn the lights up on the differences between these two women and develop sides to the Bishop-less version that — gasp! — made us possibly like her even more than the one we have spent the last three seasons with. She's looser, funnier, more accessible and completely entertaining. So here's hoping that she is also here to stay... especially once Peter returns and has to pick between the two Dunhams who loved him.

Do you adore Torv's newest Olivia persona?

Source:tvguide.com

Fringe: The Bridge

Fringe executive producers Jeff Pinkner and Joel Wyman, and Fringe stars Jasika Nicole, John Noble, and Anna Torv discuss the "bridge" that connects the two universes.

Fringe Tease: "Here Is Peter Bishop"

Throughout the summer we have been teased by the “Where is Peter Bishop?” video series.

Now, here is a “Here is Peter Bishop” Teaser!

FRINGE: GMMR Interview with John Noble

At the Fox Fall junket, FRINGE star John Noble talks with GiveMeMyRemote.com's Marisa Roffman about Walter's new relationship with Peter, the uneasy trust between universes and more.

Where Is Fringe Online?

If you are not watching Fringe live this season, not only are you missing out on some fabulous prizes, but many of you are finding that watching online has become much more difficult.

Unlike previous seasons where you could view Fringe (and other Fox shows) on Fox.com or Hulu the next day after it aired, this season has introduced an 8-day delay (unless you are a Dish Network customer.)

In addition, Fringe season 4 is NOT available at all on iTunes or Amazon.

I contacted Fox for an explanation, and received this reply:

“Unfortunately, FRINGE is unavailable to subscription services like iTunes, Amazon and Hulu. We are working with Warner Bros. Television, the studio that produces FRINGE and owns the rights to the show, to make the show available to fans through other channels. We hope to have this matter resolved soon but in the meantime, please watch or DVR FRINGE on Fridays at 9/8c on FOX.” 

I don't believe the only reason for the change is to drive people people to watch Fringe live, since other shows are affected as well.

My guess is that it might have something to do with the recent Fox/Amazon deal, but that's wouldn't explain why Fringe is not on Amazon either. I'm sure whatever the real reason is, it comes down to money. Hopefully this will be resolved soon, and we will let you know if we hear any news.

Out of curiosity, how did you watch Fringe last season (see poll), and how has this season's changes affected your viewing?

How Did You Watch Fringe Last Season?

Observiews 4.02 One Night in October

Welcome to the Observiews for Season 4 of Fringe. I call them Observiews because they are more visual observations than deep thinking reviews, if that makes sense.

All screen caps are taken from FringeFiles.com. All observations are mine and therefore could be totally off the wall, and/or wrong. I have not read or looked at any recaps or reviews.

2.15 Peter

Olivia: “I don’t even know… how to begin to work this out.” 

That’s what I feel like. This week’s episode was awesome and so full of deep thinking stuff that I’m glad I chose to go the visual route :)

The glyphs have already been spelled out and the Observer has already been sighted so I’ll skip that part.

Read more »

Fringe Recap/Review #402: One Night in October

The Moments and People that Define a Life

“Just as there is no loss of basic energy in the universe, so no thought or action is without its effects, present or ultimate, seen or unseen, felt or unfelt.” -  Norman Cousins

It is amazing:

How one night can change and define the course of a life.

How one person can make such a large difference to the lives of many.

How the Fringe world has changed.

As this episode opened, a man was viewing a picture as another spoke to him. Pictures play an important role throughout the series. They are visual reminders of the past, good or bad, and of people that we love or not… In any case, they are the footprints of influence on life’s journey. What happens when the footprints of another are erased from the sands of time? Even if they’re not visible, are there still remnants that always reside in the soul?

In typical Fringe style, there are many callbacks for this scene:

In the episode Dream Logic, Dr. Nayak tapped into the dreams of his patients in order to receive an intense high.

Also, there are some serious elements from Grey Matters. Recall the scene in which the shapeshifter Newton interrogated Walter in order to map his neural pathways. Newton was looking for specific memories so that he could locate Walter’s doorway that he built between the two universes.

Here, the killer taps into the specific and happy memories of his victims, in order to receive a similar effect that Nayak sought.

Our Fringe Division was called upon to assist with this case. Olivia’s look to Broyles as she reviewed the Over There Olivia’s file, was one of disbelief. It seemed to say, “Sure, I’ve Noooo problem working with a woman that kidnapped me and stole my life.”

Read more »

Fringe 402 Review: One Night in October

“I’ve always though there were people who leave an indelible mark on your soul. An imprint that can never be erased.”

Fringe has set itself a difficult task. To resolve the missing-Peter problem too quickly would diminish the impact of his absence. But creating a new, overarching narrative goal other than the restoration (in whatever form) of Peter would frustrate both our desires and the naturalistic progress of storytelling. Fringe must take its time to show us this Peter-less world, while still giving us something to invest in.

Read more »

Fringe Season 4 Episode 2: Review

Out of the Darkness Into The Light

Fringe: Season 4 - Episode 2

One Night In October

The big question going into Season 4 was how the Fringe writers were going to utilize the new timeline for story telling possibilities.  The first episode of the season gave a universe load of exposition.  This time the episode cuts to the chase right from the get go.  A serial killer is on the rampage on the Other side and Our side is asked to help out by bringing his counter part over to work on the case.  A counterpart whom just happens to be an expert on serial killers.  

All set up within minutes of the episode start.

The story can take off so quickly because this new timeline has been used to strip back a lot of the continuity baggage both Olivias are carrying.  They have been reduced back to their basic qualities; both Olivias void of any impacts that Peter has made on them.  A concentrated distillation of their characteristics has been attained in Season 4.  This leanness of character is a deliberate decision by the Fringe show runners.  It allows them to highlight the similarities between the two Olivias.  And the differences.  It also streamlines story telling setup.

So close yet so different.

Read more »