fringe 3.4 spoilers (this is so awesome)

a.) Walter owning Massive Dynamic is like, the most amazing thing ever. It's like a combination of WTF and Well, Yes, That Actually Makes a Weird Sort of Sense, which it really does. Walter is goddamn brilliant, and weirdly, I think the crazy made him moreso, because normal limits no longer apply. This is assuming he doesn't try to like do anything financial or try and run the company's anything at all but R&D and traumatizing other scientists and grad students and what not. Which you know what, he should.

b.) The actress who plays Olivia/Bolivia is ridiculous good. As Bolivia, even the body language is different, not just the attitude and her overcompensating for her lack of Olivia's natural empathy. Peter's right about her being different, and it's interesting how he's willing to overlook that so thoroughly because he really can't believe it and also, he really wants to take their new relationship to the next level (ie, fucking); it's not even a question of whether he'd want to, which is going to be fascinating when he gets past 'can't' altogether. Interestingly, Olivia-as-Bolivia in alternate world is off as well; I wonder if that has something to do with her lack of fear. Bolivia isn't nearly as reckless either, which Olivia-as-Bolivia most definitely still super reckless.

(Note: Does Bolivia know that Olivia is nailing her bf? I mean, sure, that seems small on the scale of things, but still. Maybe banging Peter is like, balance for that? IDK, I wonder if Walternate was clear on "she will be living your life with your memories, including in your bedroom" because loyalty and the mission and all are fine, but matching tattoos are kinda commitmentesque.)

c.) What is with the hair color? The blonde--which I guess is due to lighting--goes between peroxide blonde (which seemed logical if she had to strip out the auburn and wasn't a natural blonde) and dishwater blonde (totally definitely lighting) and something in between. I have no idea why I'm focused on this, but the bangs bother me in some weird way that makes no sense.

d.) Peter's panic over Walter is adorable. I was getting kind of irritated with his "woe, you betrayed me and stole me and sure I'd be dead twice but lies and stealing" but in a more positive note, he's not overdoing it into dramatics, which is shockingly refreshing on TV. It comes up, he expresses himself, obviously is torn about it, and moves on. It's like, IDK, an actual adult coming to terms with something in fits and starts of progress.

e.) Walter's thing for food continues to be one of my favorite things ever. I was really surprised in season two when his brain pieces--that I write those words without giggling--were being accessed that they talked about smell and sound and taste being such memory kickers, but looking back on season one--which I want to rewatch just for that--all that focus on food makes a huge amount of sense if he's, consciously or not, using it to focus himself and follow memories. It was also mentioned at another time, but I'm curious how often he has a strong inspriation or relevation or moment of sanity directly after talking about food, consuming food, or having a food-related moment. God do I love his focus on food.

f.) Shapeshifters have real emotions. Color me totally unsurprised. That Walter worked this out was also a complete non-surprise.

g.) I love Astrid's calm and rather resigned understanding that as far as Walter's lab goes, nothing can shock, surprise, or even throw her off anymore. Playing with brains in the earlier episode and Walter asking sincerely if she ever worked at a deli got barely a nose-crinkle, and I think most of that was the realization that yeah, this is her life now, holding brains, being the most practical person in their little group, and making sure Walter doesn't start himself on fire for fun.

h.) I'm always impressed with a guy who makes his own acid for his own consumption. And let's face it--Walter trying to go pantsless is not any worse than sitting through House's hiring procedures or watching him lecture to students. Like, come on.

i.) I'm trying to nail down what Abrams is going for on universal morality, since there's a lot of it being thrown around. I haven't come to any conclusions quite yet, but this show may be the first I've seen that balances past actions against future returns. Ie, being the victim (Alterworld) of Walter's actions (which okay, I could be wrong, but I'm not entirely convinced of this being all that and a bag of chips, as it seems a popular hobby for people to cross back and forth, especially those in Alterworld coming here) does not necessarily make them all that sympathetic or right in their actions. It's not just the means to an end thing, either; it's more that everyone's actions are supposed to be balanced. Yes, Walter fucked up and also, his non-crazy version self was kind of a dick, period (Walternate is just--no. God, no. Crazy is ten times better than whatever he is), but his current actions now are supposed to count in his favor.

(This is what I hated about Angel and Joss' approach; you can never be redeemed! You can try, but you will fail! Life is meaningless! Also, souls don't make sense ever! Blah blah blah.)

j.) no idea yet, but I rarely get to j and that's very cool. I miss Olivia as Olivia like whoa. Bolivia and Peter--oh, interesting complication. I'm actually--and this is a first for me--really excited how these divided loyalties and shenanigans play out in interpersonal relationships. Usually I loathe these sorts of triangle-pentagonal-shaped relationship things--they always drag on and on and angst forever and end up with someone blaming someone for something that wasn't their fault or like, never getting over it until Something Huge Happens seasons later (I'm not looking at Friends, X-Files, Moonlight, or any network television show or anything), but this might be like, interesting and not leap on my embarrassment squick like a trampoline event at the Olympics.

k.) If Walternate is how Walter could have been--and the brain pieces thing kind of suggests that Walter was very much someone I would not spend time with like, ever, no matter how brilliant--then yeah, crazy Walter is so much better. Bell's confession that this was what Walter wanted--because the man he was becoming and wanted to be wasn't compatible with the man he was, and I assume he was worried a Walternate was in his future--was rather sweet and yeah, if I knew I was becoming him, oh man, brain surgery is much more logical.

l.) really want to know the truth about what happened in Walter's lab in that fire nineteen years ago.

m.) Alterworld never cured the worms thing. Because let me say it again, Walter and Astrid are the most awesome duo ever and there's a part of me that really wants--and I know this is crazy--for them and Peter and Olivia to like, buy a huge house and all live together and solve crime. I am that kind of a person. Maybe just take over a floor of Massive Dynamic. God knows there's enough space.

n.) Is the cow moving to Walter's new lab? Please move the cow. I miss the cow.

Comments

[chaseasteroid]

Someone linked me to this, and all I want to say is: I agree with EVERY SINGLE FUCKING THING ON THIS LIST. ESPECIALLY ASTRID. ESPECIALLY THE FIRST PARAGRAPH. ESPECIALLY ALL OF IT.

...*FLAILS*