fringe finale
OK, here are some rambling thoughts....
Overall I really loved the finale, and I still can't quite believe the show is over. This is the first Friday since the finale, and I kind of can't believe the show won't be on tonight. Sniffle.
So like I said, I loved it. Was it perfect? No. It had definite pacing problems, some predictable outcomes, some head-scratching. And I thought the whole idea of sending Michael into the future to prevent humanity from taking the Observer path was kind of silly. But the emotional content was so pitch perfect and true to the show and the characters, that everything else fades to the background for me. When I look back on this show, it’s the characters and the love that I’m going to remember, not the SFnal trappings (true for every show for me, let's face it. LOL.). I felt like I got everything I *personally* needed from the show ending.
The essence of the finale just keeps coming back to me in one image/concept: Walter walking through a wormhole with a little boy, to save a universe instead of to damage one. That redemption has been forecast for a long time - I particularly remember the episode where Walter was prepared to sacrifice himself for the woman in the car, and September was pleased that he was willing to sacrifice himself, finally - and it really had to happen, no matter how much we personally might have liked for Walter to stick around with his family. And while the temporary reprieve where it looked like Donald might go with Michael instead was predictable, it served an important character note as well, showing the emotional growth that September made, and how he can now truly understand why Walter did what he did. (And I also loved this ongoing parallel of Peter and Olivia being willing to do whatever it took to get their child back - even mess with time. Aaah, this show!)
What can I even say about the scenes with Walter/Peter and Walter/Astrid that would do them justice? They made me cry. I’m glad we got to see Gene one last time, hee. Walter’s “You’re my very favorite thing, Peter,” was when I STARTED crying, and naturally kept it up intermittently to the end. I’m grateful for the gifts to us that those scenes were.
And we got some really wonderful Peter/Olivia interaction, as well. I loved how his seeing her off as she’s about to go to the other universe was reminiscent of Olivia watching as Peter got into the doomsday machine. The confident solidity of their love feels so refreshing in a lot of ways, and that they are free with their emotions to each other says so much for the growth of both characters.
I just really appreciated them giving us some last moments of greatness: Olivia getting to be a motherfucking superhero, Astrid solving a puzzle, Broyles being the loyal badass that he is. And of course it was great seeing Fauxlivia and Lincoln, and not just because Lincoln Lee is my boyfriend (I loved how his hair had basically morphed into AltLincoln style, heeee). It was good to know they’d become a family, too. (And how hot was that bit where they took down the Observer together? Smoking!)
(And did Michael orchestrate the entire thing, when he stepped off the train, so Olivia would have enough cortexiphan in her system to take out Windmark? Maybe.)
I loved that we got to see a different ending to the scene in the park - the scene in the park is how the season opened, isn’t it? This season really is one long movie - and man, I just love seeing Josh Jackson interact with kids. Ahem. The ending with the white tulip was a message to us as much as to Peter - and others have pointed out how the envelope above Walter’s letter says “thank you for your support” across the top - and Peter’s final look will forever remain a bit of mystery. Was there memory there, or no? If not, I like to imagine Peter indeed finding Walter’s tape and understanding that something momentous had happened, even if he will never understand exactly what. That’s the only really sad part, to me, is Peter being left, as I imagine Walter in the future finding it one big mind-expanding adventure, despite missing his family.
Going back to the season being one long story - there have been justifiable complaints/regrets from viewers about the nature of this season. I was probably about 85% okay with it, with just the occasional twinge of missing the old vibe. But what does really work about it for me is that it all goes back to the last moments in the season four finale, when we find out Olivia is pregnant (and when September appears to Walter and says “They’re coming” - putting the plan into motion!). The story is basically, Olivia and Peter are going to have a baby, and here’s what happens in order for them to be able to keep her…and it all goes back to the Observers. It’s really the only story left to tell. Walter’s redemption and Peter and Olivia’s salvation. It’s the only way for Peter and Olivia to really have their happily ever after - which I never doubted the show would give us. (And god, how REFRESHING that was, that I never lost faith in Joel Wyman, because I knew he was the one person who loved Peter and Olivia more than any of us did.) So it all ties together for me. It’s the story they wanted to tell. And for me, it’s all good.
I’m going to miss this show a lot, and while I loved all the freakiness and alternate universes and weird doings, that’s not what I’m really going to miss. I’m going to miss Olivia, and Peter, and Walter, and Astrid. And Broyles and my boyfriend Lincoln and Nina. I’m going to miss their family dynamics, and their love for each other. And Walter’s milkshakes.
Overall I really loved the finale, and I still can't quite believe the show is over. This is the first Friday since the finale, and I kind of can't believe the show won't be on tonight. Sniffle.
So like I said, I loved it. Was it perfect? No. It had definite pacing problems, some predictable outcomes, some head-scratching. And I thought the whole idea of sending Michael into the future to prevent humanity from taking the Observer path was kind of silly. But the emotional content was so pitch perfect and true to the show and the characters, that everything else fades to the background for me. When I look back on this show, it’s the characters and the love that I’m going to remember, not the SFnal trappings (true for every show for me, let's face it. LOL.). I felt like I got everything I *personally* needed from the show ending.
The essence of the finale just keeps coming back to me in one image/concept: Walter walking through a wormhole with a little boy, to save a universe instead of to damage one. That redemption has been forecast for a long time - I particularly remember the episode where Walter was prepared to sacrifice himself for the woman in the car, and September was pleased that he was willing to sacrifice himself, finally - and it really had to happen, no matter how much we personally might have liked for Walter to stick around with his family. And while the temporary reprieve where it looked like Donald might go with Michael instead was predictable, it served an important character note as well, showing the emotional growth that September made, and how he can now truly understand why Walter did what he did. (And I also loved this ongoing parallel of Peter and Olivia being willing to do whatever it took to get their child back - even mess with time. Aaah, this show!)
What can I even say about the scenes with Walter/Peter and Walter/Astrid that would do them justice? They made me cry. I’m glad we got to see Gene one last time, hee. Walter’s “You’re my very favorite thing, Peter,” was when I STARTED crying, and naturally kept it up intermittently to the end. I’m grateful for the gifts to us that those scenes were.
And we got some really wonderful Peter/Olivia interaction, as well. I loved how his seeing her off as she’s about to go to the other universe was reminiscent of Olivia watching as Peter got into the doomsday machine. The confident solidity of their love feels so refreshing in a lot of ways, and that they are free with their emotions to each other says so much for the growth of both characters.
I just really appreciated them giving us some last moments of greatness: Olivia getting to be a motherfucking superhero, Astrid solving a puzzle, Broyles being the loyal badass that he is. And of course it was great seeing Fauxlivia and Lincoln, and not just because Lincoln Lee is my boyfriend (I loved how his hair had basically morphed into AltLincoln style, heeee). It was good to know they’d become a family, too. (And how hot was that bit where they took down the Observer together? Smoking!)
(And did Michael orchestrate the entire thing, when he stepped off the train, so Olivia would have enough cortexiphan in her system to take out Windmark? Maybe.)
I loved that we got to see a different ending to the scene in the park - the scene in the park is how the season opened, isn’t it? This season really is one long movie - and man, I just love seeing Josh Jackson interact with kids. Ahem. The ending with the white tulip was a message to us as much as to Peter - and others have pointed out how the envelope above Walter’s letter says “thank you for your support” across the top - and Peter’s final look will forever remain a bit of mystery. Was there memory there, or no? If not, I like to imagine Peter indeed finding Walter’s tape and understanding that something momentous had happened, even if he will never understand exactly what. That’s the only really sad part, to me, is Peter being left, as I imagine Walter in the future finding it one big mind-expanding adventure, despite missing his family.
Going back to the season being one long story - there have been justifiable complaints/regrets from viewers about the nature of this season. I was probably about 85% okay with it, with just the occasional twinge of missing the old vibe. But what does really work about it for me is that it all goes back to the last moments in the season four finale, when we find out Olivia is pregnant (and when September appears to Walter and says “They’re coming” - putting the plan into motion!). The story is basically, Olivia and Peter are going to have a baby, and here’s what happens in order for them to be able to keep her…and it all goes back to the Observers. It’s really the only story left to tell. Walter’s redemption and Peter and Olivia’s salvation. It’s the only way for Peter and Olivia to really have their happily ever after - which I never doubted the show would give us. (And god, how REFRESHING that was, that I never lost faith in Joel Wyman, because I knew he was the one person who loved Peter and Olivia more than any of us did.) So it all ties together for me. It’s the story they wanted to tell. And for me, it’s all good.
I’m going to miss this show a lot, and while I loved all the freakiness and alternate universes and weird doings, that’s not what I’m really going to miss. I’m going to miss Olivia, and Peter, and Walter, and Astrid. And Broyles and my boyfriend Lincoln and Nina. I’m going to miss their family dynamics, and their love for each other. And Walter’s milkshakes.