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[anti_social_ite]

So, like every other sane person out there, I've been watching Fringe, and I think the latest episode has sparked a fair bit of discussion, and while I do have theories and all that, flatlined  just linked me to a post on Peter's role in the most recent season, and I had thoughts. And they're going to go under a cut to save your flists. Probably also going

Comments

[amelia_eve]

Thanks for this. I'm afraid I have to side with the original blog post, though. I loved Charlie to bits and I was so happy to see him on the other side, and I was devastated that our Olivia didn't have any real reactions to seeing him again. Yes, I realize that her main focus had to be her own survival, but I would have liked to see her respond at least a little bit to the alternate characters and try to figure out their relationships a little more, too

[anti_social_ite]

Oh, don't be sorry at all! I think the original blog post does bring up some very good points as well. I agree that it would have been really good to have seen Olivia's reaction to Charlie - obviously not at first, cause she still thought she was Alternate Olivia. But later, it would have been nice to see her being torn about going back - because here, she has her mother, she has Charlie, she has Lincoln. And a good place they could have placed that would have been just after she realised who she was, but before she had to go home. But I guess there wasn't really time for that - Walternate was about to cut her head open, and I suppose the writers wanted to move things along

[anti_social_ite]

Oh true, I forgot about that. I guess I feel like it would have been nice for her to be slightly torn about going back to her original universe, because there's so much going for her Over There. But I definitely agree with you about Olivia being stoic and being prepared to sacrifice everything for her job.

I didn't really think Peter/Olivia was rushed much either, but I guess the point that some people are making is that - nothing was actually happening with them yet? They weren't actually together, just nearly together, and her being so cut up about it seems a bit much? I don't know. I do actually think that them not actually being together yet would make it that much harder for Olivia, because it means that, well, she didn't get that chance. She was ready to take the chance, and now he's gone ahead without her, with who he thought was her, and she's (almost) never going to be able to be with him without wondering

[back2real]

So she needs Peter, both to anchor her - because, really, the poor girl has lost everyone else that is aware of these screwed up things in her screwed up life - and because she needs her family unit back. And then she gets back to Over Here, and realises that they didn't need her. They didn't realise she was replaced, they didn't realise that Alt!Livia wasn't her. And she loses them all over again.THIS. This is what I think Olivia's biggest problem is. She was replaced for two months and no one figured it out. What does that say about the people who you are closest to? Her local barista would have noticed the change in her coffee preference, but no one in her life noticed what HAD to be bigger, more significant changes. I can barely even imagine how that feels, but it has to be a HUGE blow to her self worth, something she has to face every day, not only with Peter, but with Broyles, Astrid, everyone in her world

[anti_social_ite]

it has to be a HUGE blow to her self worth, something she has to face every day, not only with Peter, but with Broyles, Astrid, everyone in her world.

Exactly. And it'd also be nice if we could see that too - that grappling with fitting back in this world - not just because of Peter, but because her place doesn't fit her anymore. I know she promised AltBroyles that she would find a way, but I think she really just needs to get away from it all. And visit Ella and Rachel, because surely there was some part of her life that AltOlivia didn't get to? Surely. But I think the reason why they haven't brought Ella and Rachel back is because of logistic issues with the actresses. But it is a real pity, because it would be brilliant if they did.

The scene of her taking the drugs? In the altverse, when she was trying to suppress her real memories? Do you think she's going to start taking drugs over here to suppress Altlivia's memories? Sorry, confused. But I agree with you, I think they have to get back to this at some point as well. The

[back2real]

I'm not sure what the drugs were, but I thought they were something she believed would make her visions of Peter stop. I'm sure once she got her REAL memories back she stopped taking...whatever they were.

I wonder, now that she made that amazing shot to kill the guy during the party this week if they won't finally start addressing that she has parts of Altlivia inside her still? Or...that she at least has the potential to be as confident and adjusted as Altlivia is (or at least appears to be).

[anti_social_ite]

Ahh. That makes sense. I didn't really have a clue what they were for, just saw them as potential angst plotlines later. I guess Olivia's tortured enough. :)

I hope they will. Because that shot definitely seemed all AltLiv - not that Olivia isn't a great shot herself. Also, I thought it was interesting that she mentioned that Altlivia even wore dresses, and then promptly donned a (very nice) dress herself later in the same episode.

[luckytohaveher]

I agree with everything you said :D

I think this is the first Fringe major freak out I've seen on my flist (so many people discussing the same thing). Only took three seasons! Ha!

[anti_social_ite]

Mm, and people have been really polarised about AltLiv on tumblr as well. Some people are really overdoing it and calling her a whore and all that, and others love her so much. I just. I think the writers know what they're doing, but I really really really don't want any AltLiv pregnancies, or Peter having to choose between two girls. This is not The Bachelor, writers!

<3

[back2real]

AHHAH! NOT THE BACHELOR, good one! I'm REALLY hoping that there's going to be an amazing, we could never have predicted twist to all of this. And please no baby, but regarding that, I'm surprised no one has mentioned the fact that IF Altlivia is preggers, what effect would crossing over to another universe do to the fetus? You can't tell me that it would be normal???

[anti_social_ite]

Definitely looking forward to the unpredictable twist. Please, writers, surprise me! :) And that's an interesting point - I'm really not sure what it'd do to a potential baby. I'd say that a baby from Peter and Olivia would have more potential to have 'powers', than Altlivia and Peter though - because while Peter has the connection to the machine, Olivia is the one with Cortexiphan in her brain, not Altlivia. Interestingly, in past seasons, Peter has also seemed to have had a connection to Olivia herself as well..

[anti_social_ite]

Thanks! I definitely wish that Ella and Rachel are around more - I feel Olivia becomes happier and ... easier ... when she's around them. I'd love it if they noticed. I was always of the camp that Ella should have been the one to notice that her aunt had been replaced.

Although, I was also of the camp that Peter should have known AltOlivia was playing him and played her right back, and look how that turned out. ;)

I haven't really been involved in much Fringe discussion myself either, and I find that sometimes when I get into fandom, it may ruin the show for me - because of overanalysis? I don't know - but I'm enjoying my foray into the melee thus far. :) I'm glad you agree with me though, because I really don't think Peter being Olivia's anchor has been anything particularly new - he's always been there, and she's always been there, and, well, I like it. :)