What an episode of Fringe! I never saw an accelerated birth on the horizon, or even a birth this season. Ever since we found out that Fauxlivia was pregnant, I eagerly awaited our return Over There. Would Fauxlivia try to return to our side and find Peter, or what would she do? This outcome, I didn’t even consider.
When the episode began, and we found out that Fauxlivia potentially had VPE (Viral Propagated Eclampsia), that wasn’t a good sign. Would Fauxlivia even be able to keep the baby, or would she have to end the pregnancy? And, that situation ended up not even really mattering because Fauxlivia was kidnapped.
From the beginning I thought Walternate was involved in the kidnapping; it didn’t make sense for anyone else to do it. Why did he do it? Was that a strategic decision having to do with the two universes? Did he just want his grandchild for himself? I’m not sure where this is headed, but I kinda like the mystery. I was surprised at how convincing Walternate was in his conversation with Lincoln. No hint that he was behind the kidnapping at all; he seemed genuinely concerned for Fauxlivia.
I found it intriguing that Walternate told Fayette again, “We are not experimenting on children. I have made myself clear,” yet went and experimented on his own grandson. Based on what happened and the way the doctor and nurse acted, it didn’t appear to be a standard procedural Over There. Even though I thought Walternate was involved in what happened to Fauxlivia, I didn’t really believe it until I saw Fayette hand him the blood test card.
When Fauxlivia was giving birth, I seriously thought she would die. That would have ended the issue of two Olivias and only one Peter. I’ll come out and say it: In that moment, I wanted her to die. Yes, I did. I know many people really like Fauxlivia, and while she has grown on me, I wouldn’t have minded if she died. It would have been so much simpler to have her out of the picture; but, this is Fringe and nothing is simple! When she opened her eyes, I was both disappointed and relieved at the same time. See what this show does! Within the matter of minutes, I went from being ready for her to die to being relieved that she didn’t die.
Until this episode, I didn’t have any attachment to the Over There universe. The people were fine, but I didn’t care all that much about them. I wanted our side to survive and that was it. This episode humanized the Over There characters for me. I love Lincoln; he has become the centerpiece of Over There; he is the Peter. He loves Fauxlivia and is smart, attractive and will do anything to find out the truth. When he was holding Fauxlivia and the baby, they were the perfect family. Fauxlivia really should be looking in his direction, because, well … Peter is taken.
I was glad to see Henry again. He helps humanize Over There and is a connection between Olivia and Fauxlivia. I hope he somehow joins Lincoln and Charlie in their quest to find out the truth about what is going on.
The Observer is once again part of the story from watching Fauxlivia to saying, “It is happening.” at the end. What is happening?
This episode raised quite a few questions, just like most Fringe episodes. Will the baby continue to grow at an accelerated rate? Is it possible it is Peter and Fauxlivia’s son pictured in the machine and not Peter? Will Peter find out about his son and what will he do about it?
Fringe returns on Friday, April 15th, and we are back on our side, so it looks like these questions will have to wait. It looks like we will find out what happens to Bellivia. Will Olivia survive (I’m sure she will!), how about Belly?
Clacked by Carla Day 
on Mar 25, 2011 @ 23:17 EST5EDT
I had the exact same reaction that you had with Fauxlivia. I first i has hoping she would die, but when she didn’t i has both happy, and a little disappointed…, don’t know if a like her or hate her!!! :)
My favorite person over there is Lincon too, so i hope we see him over here with the real Olivia soon, Peter needs a little competition after all!!! :)
I kept thinking the whole episode that Fauxlivia was going to die and Walternate was going to blame the death on our universe somehow. And I was extremely wrong. I actually started to feel sorry that she was going to die during the episode. Damn you Fringe she is supposed to be evil version of Olivia! If this was Star Trek she would have a slick little goatee. Stop making me feel sorry for her!
And if the Lincoln in our universe sticks around do we need to assign a new name to ‘over there’ Lincoln?
*POST AUTHOR*
I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who kinda wanted her to die. I felt like such a horrible person :)
But, for me this episode really changed over there for me. I care now. I don’t want to, but I do. And, I think that was the point. We will feel the pain of the decision to pick a side (though I still think it won’t be an either/or situation).
Lincoln over there is Lincoln to me. When Lincoln over here comes back and has a larger role (which I assume will happen), I think then he will get a new name.
There was something about this episode that has really stuck with me. I’m not even sure what it is, but I watched it on Wednesday and again last night and I am still pondering it.
I thought the episode was going to end with the evil doctors stealing the baby, and that would be the twist, but the fact it seems the doctors who hired from Walternate was interesting and that the Observer was in on it in some way was even more interesting.
I too kind of hope Boliver would die, and then glad she didn’t. “Over There” wouldn’t be the same way without her.
*POST AUTHOR*
I’m not so sure the baby is safe. I can see Walternate still kidnapping him, though I’m glad it didn’t happen this episode. The ending was perfect. Happy, yet, still a mystery.
I also thought from the beginning that Walternate was beyond the kidnapping and acceleration. It looked a lot like what Massive Dynamic did to Olivia in the first (or second?) season.
But I too was not completely convinced until Walternate was handed the card. And then I thought, “This baby has Peter’s DNA.” So, of course, does Walternate. So, will Walternate be willing to sacrifice his grandson? Or will he try to clone him with DNA from the blood sample? There doesn’t seem to be a lot that the alternate universe side can’t accomplish, apart from moving freely between the two universes and stabilizing the universe. Well, what can you do?
I like Lincoln a lot too, but I really like Fauxlivia! I might even (gasp) like her a little bit more than I like our own, sullen, beloved Olivia. At any rate, I know that I’m in the minority for wanting Peter to end up with Fauxlivia, but I do. I have a feeling they are going to set her up with Lincoln, though. I wonder if Olivia has the same pregnancy risks?
Don´t think so, remember that here Olivia’s sister has a healthy daughter, and over there Astrid has Asperger’s, so i don’t think that deseases work that way :)
Walternate has said several times know that no harming children, so I don’t think he will harm his grandchild.
I suspected Walternate from the beginning, but knew for sure when they took blood from the baby and put it on the PKU card wrong. (All 4 circles on the card must be completely filled or the test is invalid).
Who knows what the rules and regulations are “Over There”.
awesome episode … can’t say much more than was said above …
BTW … was this the first time we saw one of those weird double-decker cars (like the toy Walter and Bell pulled out of the alternate universe long ago?)
*POST AUTHOR*
I’m not sure. I didn’t notice the double decker car (though not sure how I could do that!). I will have to go back and look.
I plan on watching the series from the beginning this summer and writing up posts about what happened in the earlier episodes that are reflected in the future episodes. I got intrigued during an interview I did with the Executive Producers when they mentioned characters that show up in season 1 episodes that viewers just saw as extras, but actually show up again.
That car crossing the screen stood out for me as well. I love the details they put in “Over There” to differentiate it from the “Other Side”.
I didn’t want Fauxlivia to die, but I was okay with it happening because I trust the writers and the direction ths show has taken so far. That is, until Lincoln finally opened up and confessed that he loved her. He’s the reason I changed my mind in that second before she stirred.
And with that little “family” scene, I became invested in the fate of “Over There”. I’m hoping the creative team finds a way to save both universes…..