(May contain spoilers) Fringe Fans - A few thoughts on Masculinity, Rape, Fringe Season 3

[salymander]

Ok I have some thoughts and I don't know where else to post them, because none of my friends watch Fringe so they're not dissecting it feministly

Comments

[astraevirgo]

I actually really like this analysis, and I hadn't thought of it. I have been very admiring of the way that he's been reaching out to Olivia, but, like Olivia, hadn't thought about the damage to Peter -- other than what the actors have said in interviews.

[salymander]

Thanks!

[aryas_zehral]

Might want to put that under a cut with a spoiler warning for those of us not in countries where the most recent eps have been shown. Its considerate.

[qkellie]

I've thought for quite some time that Peter was raped. (I remember thinking something similar about a similar storyline on Buffy years ago, and I think Fringe is exploring the fallout a lot better.) I feel like everyone around them is treating both Peter and Olivia very poorly, but it's sort of realistic within the context of emotional and sexual abuse fallout. I'm actually finding this storyline has some very interesting things to say about both abuse issues and feminist issues.

[salymander]

When Faith took over Buffy's body and had sex with Riley? I agree, they sort of pushed the fact that that would have been rape aside and ignored it completely.

I definitely think the emotional reactions of Peter & Olivia are much more realistic. And I agree, I find the portrayal fascinating. I do wish we could see a little bit more into Peter's head. Like we got to see Olivia ripping apart her apartment and crying when she found Peter's shirt in the washing machine. And we do see Peter kill a bunch of people--but it's not really the same amount of internal turmoil on screen.

[kerithwyn]

Just found this post and wanted to say thank you, yes, I agree. The Fauxlivia love (especially post-"Bloodline") is really getting to me. I wrote after that episode that being pregnant and a sudden mother does not make her any less of a rapist. All her sins are not washed away with motherhood.

I wish we'd seen more of Peter's reactions, too.

[salymander]

I totally agree. Though they're obviously moving past the betrayal to Fauxlivia as some kind of alter-heroine. At least, that's what it seems like.