Once again, going back in time has done a world of good for Fringe.
Last year's "Peter" not only flashed back to show the events that set the series in motion, it moved the series to new creative heights.
"Subject 13" wasn't quite as good as last season's 1985 episode -- and I have the same problem others do with the fact that this show began with Olivia and Walter/Peter as complete strangers -- but it offered a lot to like, including:
- Our first glimpse of both versions of Walter in roughly the same stage of their lives. They're both grieving fathers, and although "Walternate" is probably in a position of more power -- having created the "Star Wars" missile defense system -- the contrast between them is nothing like what we'll see in their 2011 incarnations.
- The extended, camcorder-eye, Walter-experiments-on-Olivia sequence. The fast-moving procedural that was Fringe, season one never would have slowed down to do something like this.
- The fact that 90 percent of the main cast was gone from this one and I didn't even miss them. The kid actors playing young Peter and Olivia, and Orla Brady as the two Mrs. Bishops, were fantastic.
- The return of the 1980s style opening credits.
Tom Coombe
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