2x20: Brown Betty

[kerithwyn]

This episode is the show.

The whole story is laid out here, including foreshadowing of s5. I've found a bunch of links offering analysis--please chime in with others, since I'm sure there are more.





Writer: Jeff Pinkner, Joel Wyman, Akiva Goldsman
Director: Seith Mann
Originally aired: 29 Apr 2010

Synopsis:
Olivia is watching Ella for the day, but has to work. She leaves her niece in the capable hands of Astrid and Walter at the lab. Not shy to the task, Walter spins a wild fable to entertain the young lady.

Most Memorable Quote:
ASTRID: You've been smoking marijuana.
WALTER: I'd hardly classify what I've just smoked as marijuana. It's -- it's a hybrid. Of Chronic Supernova and Afghani Kush. I call it Brown Betty.

FICTIONAL WALTER: Peter. Peter, please. I can change. I can fix the damage I've done. Please, give me another chance.
ELLA: ...and Peter looked inside Walter's eyes and realized there was still goodness inside him. So Peter took his special heart, and with all his might, he split it in two. And the heart was so magical that it still worked. And together, they made goodness, and lived happily ever after. The End.

Links:
Episode transcript
Brown Betty and s5 gif set comparison
Fringetelevision.com Brown Betty analysis
Brown Betty symbolism


Fanfiction:
This episode is notable for spawning a specific genre of Olivia/Astrid fic: Olivia/Esther! I ship it.
Brown Betty fics on AO3
Esther Figglesworh on AO3