In Berlin, but that's not going to keep me from watching Fringe
OH MY GOSH. It was better than I thought actually. Has alot of the same thrill of S3's "Olivia" but in a different way.
This world they're building -- these characters and the way they are without Peter....it just clicks for me. It makes sense. It fits.
Like Astrid seemingly not as patient with or compassionate when it comes to Walter, because she's not always in the lab "baby-sitting" but she's a real field agent.
But then we have Olivia...who OH MY GOSH YOU BREAK MY HEART OLIVIA. Anna Torv is flawless, truly. The way she portrays Olivia without Peter is EXACTLY the way I imagined. Intensely more vulnerable, acutely aware of her loneliness, but somehow living through it...surviving for answers, fighting for a greater purpose, for an entire world without even the solace or comfort of a love (like Peter) to depend on...oh gosh, Peter needs to come back (not yet though, because they do need to milk this storyline for what it's worth and right now, I like the direction it's going).
Anyways, it's interesting how she comes off so harsh (especially to Lincoln) in the beginning. Much more strict, to-the-book...no Peter to play cards with or have a few drinks with after all. But, on the other hand, SHE is the one more patient and understanding when it comes to Walter...asking him about that book that he'd read at St. Claire's at the end of the episode. Talking about how he's brilliant to Lincoln. It's an Olivia who has learned to be patient with Walter, because there's no Peter there to be patient for her and be the mediator.
I really, really love the Walter/Olivia dynamic on the show and was excited somewhat for Peter to be out of the mix to see those two explored more and I'm really loving it so far.
Also, Lincoln Over Here just works...surprisingly, I might add. Don't get me wrong, I loved him in "Stowaway" and Alt!Lincoln is quite charming, but I think it's still a risk to bring the Blue Verse character into the fold in such a huge way as *almost* filling Peter or Charlie's role, right in the beginning of the season. Maybe not such a big risk to other people, but I don't know...I was skeptical of being able to relate to his character but not wanting his story to overshadow in any way the main story of the three or Astrid or Broyles etc. But, based on this first episode, it works. Everything is so new to him -- we get a bit of an outsider looking in thing...a newbie to the team, and we need a fresh perspective even with the reset. Or, I guess, because of it.
Also, wanted to hug Walter when I saw him sleeping in a bed in the lab. No hotel room or apartment house with Peter. :( Awww....
And DUDE, the way they started with that face-off confrontation between the Olivias?! Could've been too much, but I think it set just the right tone. The animosity is just crazy, yet makes sense (especially with the whole stealing of our Olivia's life and everything -- like how they kept that and how we get to see our Olivia confront Alt!livia about it like we never got to in S3) and clearly Peter still needs to exist to mediate between these two sides maybe. The Walters relationship doesn't sound much better, from the way our Walter talks.
OH GOSH I JUST LOVE THIS SHOW.
Like, really.
It's amazing. <3
Not perfect, but it's risky and exciting and challenging and fun and fresh and keeps you wanting more.