Fringe Recap - 214 Jacksonville (Act VI)
Click here for previous Act.
Cuts between the Fringemobile and the Tech Lab. Olivia is frantically driving around a suspiciously empty New York City (dudes, there's not even a cab in sight!) trying to find the building. Broyles and Peter are trying to get her to narrow down the address, as there are still too many candidates. While they're working, a quake starts quaking, so we know Time Is Up.
Olivia is driving like a bat out of hell and all over the road, but hey - at least she's using a hands-free cellphone device. Safety first! She finally discovers the building must be on Washington, which rings a bell with Walter as there was a hotel there. Peter finds it: “Brayson Place Hotel, 13th and Washington.” Broyles immediately barks out orders to get help out there, then whips out his cell, calls the hotel, identifies himself, and tells them to evacuate everyone ASAP.
Screeching to a halt in front of the glimmering hotel, Olivia arrives at the end of the evacuation. See, Olivia? This is why you needed The Plan, so that you don't have to do everything all by yourself! People can start things without you! Hence why Broyles could call and give the heads up to save so many lives. Even Bell - the one who put this whole You Are The Guardian burden on you in the first place - told you would need help. At the very least, from Peter.
Anyhoo, she gets out of the Fringemobile and runs towards the hotel, like a fish going upstream, as everyone else is running away from the hotel in panic. There's a weird moment where Olivia bumps into a guy who loses his glasses, then looks down and watches said glasses shaking with the force of the quake quaking. She then Pell Mells it to the random extra I shall dub Manager (even though I have no idea if he is or not) who's holding the door open for everyone to escape. “Okay, is everybody out?” Manager's only line: “I think so.” As the quake quaking gets even MORE quakier, Olivia grabs him and yells: “GO!”
They run away as Glimmering Building starts its trip to the Other Side. They fall, and hang onto the sidewalk as the force of the imploding hotel tries to take them with it. Manager lets go, taking Olivia with him, and the suction drags them both across the street. Olivia manages to grab onto a pole and holds on tight as Poltergeist Hotel does its final death throes. It's a neat glimmer effect, including all the lights from the glimmer flashing, plus the wind blowing everywhere. Normally, though, I'd also bitch yet again about how long all this takes (it is a tad too long IMO), but someone was cool enough to get some cellphone videos of Fringe shooting this scene. It's really impressive all the background work that goes into what you finally see on-screen. Man, for a random extra with only three words and ninety seconds on air, he sure got to do a lot of fun work!
With Poltergeist Hotel now gone, Olivia and Manager get up to assess the damage. Pulling a shot I last saw for Reaper, they walk over to the gaping hole left behind. Poltergeist Hotel took everything, it seems. Towels, bathrobes, little soaps, and the entire foundation. Olivia looks over to Manager and deadpans: “I guess it's safe to say you've got the rest of the night off.” Heh. Funny, but a line more in character with either Peter, or more accurately Walter, so I didn't enjoy it as much as I could have. It seemed a bit odd coming from Olivia.
Broyle's Office. News Anchor on TV: “Not a single casualty as hundreds miraculously escaped what Federal authorities are calling an unscheduled controlled demolition at the Brayson Place Hotel.” Olivia just arches an eyebrow. (No, she doesn't actually. She makes some comment about conspiracy theorists having a field day, which reminds me of Opie's big brother, Live Long and Prosper Guy from 119 The Road Not Taken, but I'm gonna pretend she doesn't. Olivia's patented WTH? face is more fun to watch.) Broyles: “You'd be surprised what you can make the general public believe.” Like Sarah Palin being a good choice for VP or Prez? Yeah, I'll buy Broyles' statement.
Olivia goes to leave, but Broyles stops her. “You saved a lot of people.” Shockingly, Atlas!Olivia demurely responds, “We all did.” Whoa, where'd THAT come from? It certainly can't be character growth. Broyles: “This ability you've demonstrated. What finally activated it?” Olivia smiles enigmatically. “I think it was just time.” Aaaaaand there I go again, rolling my eyes. Crimineys.
BTW - I'd call this the Clever Wrap Up Scene Where All The Themes Are Tied Together - that is, if I hadn't already seen the rest of the episode and know exactly how not clever it actually was. Therefore, this is really the Thinks It's Clever Wrap Up Scene instead.
Bishop House, night. For the purposes of this scene I am going to take a cue from the writers and pretend the elephant of Elephant!Peter (and his elephant-forgetting father) doesn't exist. Why? Because unlike the other scenes where he made his appearance, this one is actually worth watching. Also, I'm fanwanking our Dynamic Duo have not visually seen each other since the near kiss, even though in no way do I believe Peter didn't immediately go looking for Olivia after her near one-way trip to Other Sideville.
I am not spoiling the enjoyment of this scene.
We open to Peter chatting on his cell. He's pleased, and it carries in his tone. I'd swear he even has a twinkle in his eye (hey, don't knock it, they had the word in today's crossword and it fits). “Yeah, Monopoly's great. He loves the different colored money.” A small chuckle from him and side note from me: Peter really looks like he's chewing an invisible toothpick. It looks really funny, and again, I mean that using both terms of the word.
Walter, eating of course (pudding, and in a way that would make Bill Cosby proud), walks by just as Peter hangs up. So who was he talking to? Turns out it's Walter's favorite babysitter. “Walter, that was Astrid. She's going to come over and play some games with you.” Awwww. While I'm sure Walter can manage for a few hours on his own, it's really cute how Peter still goes out of his way to keep him happy. He would make a very good dad. I really do love the Bishop Family Show.
[ blue sunflower] ugh i really don't know how to say what i want to say
[ blue sunflower] i've been trying for the last two days
[ catko] well try me
[ blue sunflower] peter never had a childhood that would lead him to a normal life
[ blue sunflower] walter was abusive
[ blue sunflower] and well...not nice
[ catko] oh wow
[ blue sunflower] nightmare
[ catko] but they're still tight?
[ blue sunflower] then walter was taken away when peter was 13 to the insane asylum
[ blue sunflower] and no, peter HATED him
[ blue sunflower] i'm pretty sure his mother died, and she was his only family
[ blue sunflower] i think that's why he dropped out of high school, and therefore couldn't go to college
[ blue sunflower] according to peter "i kinda lost myself for a few years"
[ blue sunflower] he got into a lot of bad stuff
[ blue sunflower] and was basically sort of living like a mercenary in a way
[ catko] oooh
[ blue sunflower] i think peter likes to hide in general, like he did when he was a boy and his mom had to board up all the cubbyholes
[ blue sunflower] and i really think peter likes to hide the fact that's he's walter's son, and is a lot like walter
[ blue sunflower] which i think is a reason why he doesn't use his 190 IQ much
[ blue sunflower] at least not in a scientific way
[ blue sunflower] but i think his attempt at being a college professor was his attempt at a normal life, albeit the only way he knew how
[ blue sunflower] and i think if walter had given that normal life to peter as a child, then that's how peter would have turned out
[ catko] oh sure, that makes sense
[ blue sunflower] a good guy, geeky as a professor, but one who comes home for dinner and tucks the kids into bed
[ blue sunflower] and that's not what happened
[ catko] oh yeah
[ blue sunflower] then he was forced (blackmailed by olivia actually) to get walter out of the insane asylum
[ blue sunflower] and then was forced to take care of him
[ catko] so he's kind of living a parallel universe version of himself
[ blue sunflower] peter and walter don't get along much at the beginning of season one
[ blue sunflower] but gradually peter starts loving his dad, and it shows
[ blue sunflower] he really does start acting like kids do when they want daddy's love
[ blue sunflower] and he's turned into an excellent caretaker for walter
[ blue sunflower] and walter's a SERIOUS burden
[ blue sunflower] Big Time
[ blue sunflower] but peter doesn't mind
[ blue sunflower] not any more
[ blue sunflower] in fact, they seem really to be healing each other
[ blue sunflower] walter's turning into a nice guy,
[ blue sunflower] and peter's starting to connect with people again
[ catko] so they're bringing each other back from the edge
[ blue sunflower] walter commented that maybe peter's place in life was by walter's side, and in a way i kind of agree
[ blue sunflower] exactly
[ catko] and together create a sense of normalcy
[ blue sunflower] EXACTLY
[ catko] so what's the part that's hard to explain?
[ blue sunflower] they are FINALLY living that Normal Life
[ blue sunflower] uhhh...doing it in only a few sentences
Ultimately, though, this also makes me sad because I can see The Writing On The Wall. At some point, Peter is going to have to learn the truth. Damn you show!
Now it's Walter's turn to be pleased. While Peter heads towards the stairs, Walter somehow manages in between gulps of pudding to exclaim, “Oh good! I hope she likes Monopoly.” Walking towards the stairs, Peter exasperatedly throws his head back, then assumes a posture of amused defeat. Heh.
Since he missed Peter's teenage years, Walter decides to re-enact them. “Where are you going?” Peter: “Me? I'm going out for drinks.” Walter: “Who're you drinking with?” Peter: “Olivia.” Walter's besides himself with joy. “Agent Dunham? A date?” Peter laughs. “No, just drinks. Apparently that's what normal people do. They go out for drinks.” Snerk. So now we have proof that not only does Peter come from the Other Side, evidently his home was Denialand. Peter then leaves up the stairs to get ready for his Not!Date, and Walter does a side-splitting Happy!Happy!Joy!Joy! shuffle. Very cute exchange.
Cut to Olivia, who's getting dressed for Not!Date. Just before she leaves, she takes one last look in the mirror and literally Lets Her (Ponytail) Hair Down, which is amusing since she's also wearing an outfit that looks like she's either going to burglarize someone's house, or jump on the back of a Harley with the nearest Hells Angel. It'd be the perfect outfit for our beloved Season One Bad!Boy!Peter - that is, until we cut back to Peter...
...who's now wearing, whoa. Where did this guy come from? OMG. I'm sorry, but this is not Usual Peter. This, IMO, is who Peter would be if Walter had given him more of that before-mentioned Normal Life. The guy sitting at the table - so concerned about Walter he's writing the number of the restaurant where he'll be, even though Walter and Astrid both know his cell (and Astrid also knows Olivia's) - is dressed exactly like the MIT college student I can imagine he'd be. He's literally channeling his inner Tobey Maguire, only minus the nerdy glasses. He's happy, relaxed, and dare I say it? Why yes, I will: Carefree.
And that sucks. Because honestly, I think it's all due to the Normal Life he's been living with Walter. Yes, the P/O relationship probably puts him at ease, but what's changing him is his relationship with his dad. For all the crimes Walter will have to atone for when he finally meets his Maker, I really think his actions that destroyed Peter's Normal Childhood, which of course will lead to the destruction of his current Normal Life, are some of the biggest. No wonder Peter's so screwed up he can't get close enough to anybody to connect (as Tess accused him of back in 109 Dreamscape), nor does he use his IQ in anyway that might even remotely make anyone think he's his father's son.
Anyways, since Peter refuses to fret nervously over his Not!Date, Walter decides to do it for him. The doorbell rings. “She's here, Peter!” Peter just chuckles again. “I know, I heard it too.” Walter asks if he should get the door, but is promptly shut down: “Absolutely not.”
Peter goes to get the door, and wow has Josh lost weight from his Dawson Creek years. “In fact, it would be my preference if you could be somewhere else altogether.” Walter asks helpfully, “Oh, where?” Peter just smirks. “Chicago?” HA! This Peter/Walter stuff really just drips all kinds of adorable.
Opening the door, we get the requisite Hi's. Peter invites Olivia in, and Aw, Man. This is it, isn't it? Dammit.
Olivia walks in, and Peter just beams at her. (Me: Oh God, the pain, make it go away!) Then the camera cuts to Olivia while he says, “I know a great place, it's just a couple blocks away. Thought we'd walk.”
Oh, this totally sucks, and complete kudos to Anna Torv for this moment. We get a full-on shot of Olivia's reaction, and you can actually see the EXACT moment realization strikes. The light literally leaves her eyes. It's such a subtle change though, that while it's completely obvious, it's also completely obvious why Peter doesn't catch it.
Walter doesn't miss it though. He comes out from where he's hiding behind a doorway. “Agent Dunham.”
Oblivious to what's going on, Peter happily tells Olivia: “I'll go get my coat.” Cut to a shot of Peter, only this time as Olivia sees him: Glimmering. (Side note: I prefer Rebecca's glow better. This new glimmer effect makes it look like you're viewing Peter through a prism, or the reflection off a pool. It's too distracting.)
My heart, as well as audience members everywhere, breaks a little. The music doesn't help, as it's perfect for this scene. Very, Very, Sad. Walter walks over to the statue also known as Olivia. Both watch Peter as he runs up the stairs - Walter sadly, and Olivia in shock.
Walter's quiet plea: “Olivia. Please don't tell him.” She looks like she's barely keeping in a sob.
End Act VI at 43:17. Excellent, excellent work from Josh, John, and Anna.
Final Glyph is L. Combined glyphs spell REVEAL, which I'm assuming refers to this episode and all its “reveals”. Too bad the only thing really revealed was the writers inability to craft a truly revealing episode.
Final grade for 214 “Beating a Dead Horse With A....er, Jacksonville”: C. There's enough in it to save it from a failing grade, but it could have been so much better.