4x05: Novation

[wendelah1]

This isn't a bad episode and it certainly has a lot going for it. "Novation" brings back Agent Lee to continue the plot arc begun in the season opener about the shape-shifter responsible for killing his partner. We discover that they are human-shapeshifter hybrids, an idea borrowed from The X-Files and given a Fringe-y twist. Peter uses his shifter expertise from the other timeline to strike a bargain with Fringe Division: his knowledge for a chance to plead his case with Walter Bishop.

We still don't know much about these shape-shifters, except that they're new to everyone, including Peter. And we don't know any more about how Peter reappeared in this timeline, despite being erased from it by the Observers. This episode continues Peter's journey to find out where he belongs, and Lincoln's quest to find out who's responsible for the death of Robert (which mirrors Olivia's first season investigation into the death of John Scott). And, of course, it's still very much about the redemption of Walter Bishop. What this season is not about is Olivia Dunham. To me, she feels very much at the periphery of this season so far, and that is a shame, especially since it didn't have to be that way.


screencap by ladymanson.com
Writer: Graham Roland and J.R. Orci
Director: Paul Holahan
Originally aired: 04 Nov 2011

Synopsis: Nadine Park, the defective shape-shifter who got away in the season opener, makes her comeback appearance. To no one's surprise, she's looking for a former employee of the Ninth Circle of Hell Massive Dynamic, one Dr. Malcolm Truss, whose research involved tissue regeneration. She finds him and abducts him at gunpoint. In one of the series' less credible sequences, after Nadine twists his arm--and breaks it--Truss goes ahead and fixes her, even though he knows she murdered his wife. During the investigation, Peter succeeds in making himself useful to the Fringe Division, but they put him back in his cell anyway. Better luck next episode, Peter.

Most Memorable Quote:
WALTER: Every day... for the past twenty-five years... I've tried to imagine what you would look like as a man... my son. But I don't deserve this. I don't deserve you. I realize now this was my punishment. You were sent to tempt me, to see if I would repeat the mistakes of the past. You shouldn't be here.
PETER: Walter, no.
WALTER: Wherever you came from, however you got here, it doesn't matter. I can't help you.

Links:
Transcript
The A.V. Club
Den of Geek
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EW: Joshua Jackson on his big return

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Comments

[purpleyin]

I read Truss agreeing to fix Nadine as purely coming from his survival instinct. His first attempt was to try to poison her once he knew she'd killed his wife but she knew too well what he was doing and broke his arm. He knew she was serious about doing anything to get the fix, so I think he was just getting on with it hoping she'd spare him or keep him alive for his knowledge for future use. He might even been trying to stall for time doing so in hope someone would turn up to save him/give an opportunity to escape.

The fact Fringe HQ has intercoms inside cells that prisoners can hack seemed like really poor planning to me, though I know it was just meant as a moment to show what a whizkid Peter is with tech.

[wendelah1]

Yeah, I think you're right, that's got to be his motivation, but I'd have thought a guy that smart would have been able to come up with a better plan.

The fact Fringe HQ has intercoms inside cells that prisoners can hack seemed like really poor planning to me, though I know it was just meant as a moment to show what a whizkid Peter is with tech.

That was a plot device for sure, and a fairly clumsy one. Writing 22 episodes per year means some clunkers get through. I do enjoy watching Peter being smart.