wendelah1 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
wendelah1) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fringe_rewatch2014-04-25 08:50 am
wendelah1) wrote in fringe_rewatch2014-04-25 08:50 am
Entry tags:
1x08: The Equation
It was a dark and stormy night...
"The Equation" is worth watching because of John Noble's stunning performance as Walter Bishop at his most vulnerable. And that's about all I have to say about this episode, except that I found the villain's willingness to abduct and torture a young child so repugnant that when she died at the hands of her co-conspirator I barely blinked.
Writer: J.R. Orci, David H. Goodman
Director: Gwyneth Horder-Payton
Originally aired: 18 Nov 2008
Synopsis: When a young musical prodigy is abducted by a woman using a device with green and red blinking lights, it triggers a Fringe investigation because of its resemblance to a number of previous abductions over the past ten years. Conveniently, Walter Bishop makes a connection to an inmate he knew from St. Claire's Hospital. At Olivia's suggestion, Walter agrees to interview his old friend to try to get information that would lead them to the kidnapped child.
Most Memorable Quote:
PETER: The best lie—the one that's easiest to remember with consistency—is the one that's based on the truth.
Links:
Transcript
Polite Dissent
Fringe's Mad Scientist: The Mind of Walter Bishop
A.V. Club recap
Fanfiction:
I'm so late getting this up that I haven't even looked. Please leave your suggestions/recs/self-recs/links to newly written post-eps in the comments.
"The Equation" is worth watching because of John Noble's stunning performance as Walter Bishop at his most vulnerable. And that's about all I have to say about this episode, except that I found the villain's willingness to abduct and torture a young child so repugnant that when she died at the hands of her co-conspirator I barely blinked.
Writer: J.R. Orci, David H. Goodman
Director: Gwyneth Horder-Payton
Originally aired: 18 Nov 2008
Synopsis: When a young musical prodigy is abducted by a woman using a device with green and red blinking lights, it triggers a Fringe investigation because of its resemblance to a number of previous abductions over the past ten years. Conveniently, Walter Bishop makes a connection to an inmate he knew from St. Claire's Hospital. At Olivia's suggestion, Walter agrees to interview his old friend to try to get information that would lead them to the kidnapped child.
Most Memorable Quote:
PETER: The best lie—the one that's easiest to remember with consistency—is the one that's based on the truth.
Links:
Transcript
Polite Dissent
Fringe's Mad Scientist: The Mind of Walter Bishop
A.V. Club recap
Fanfiction:
I'm so late getting this up that I haven't even looked. Please leave your suggestions/recs/self-recs/links to newly written post-eps in the comments.
no subject
I think I've mentioned before that I find the idea of 'the Pattern' as an actual pattern to be really interesting. I like it when they plot fringe science cases on maps and find that there are shapes and patterns in the geography, and I especially love when we learn that there are actual reasons for these geographic loci, that they represent holes between the two universes emanating from Reiden Lake in a predictable, patterned way.
In those terms, I find the parallel convergence on the equation interesting, but because with the exception of Ben, who's a child, we don't get to see any non-insane adult perspectives from those obsessed by the equation, I didn't really find the equation storyline all that interesting. It's not clear why all these people became obsessed with the equation, so ultimately nothing really felt resolved for me.
About Olivia, I keep saying that she's so relentless in her pursuit of answers that it's dangerous to those around her. The way she doesn't even consider the possibility that Walter may not want to return to St. Claire's, because she needs the information Dash has, is shocking in its lack of empathy. When she steps back, obviously, Olivia is capable of recognizing the cost Walter will have to pay and empathizing with it, but in the moment, in pursuit of a criminal, she will stop at nothing to find answers. It's one of her best traits, but also one of her most tragic flaws.
no subject
Olivia is a remarkably efficient and gracious person who has been doubly abused in her childhood. Her stepfather--about whom we learn nothing, ever--and the administrators of the special experimental group in which she was a privileged member.
I loved the fairytale qualities of this episode: the red castle was a powerful image, and I loved the math/music correlation. And the returning, degenerating mother. Strong, mythic stuff. And you really can't be strong and mythic without some ugly.
no subject
- Green Green Green Red makes it's third appearance
- Olivia and the icky donut!
- trauma induced savantism is a real life thing
- Ben's story parallels Peter's in several ways. Of course, we don't know that until the end of the season
- Peter and Walter are both working on DIY electronics in the lab, leading to "What's up, Chachi?"
- Ostler is apparently a zombie, Charlie checked for TWINS
- I love how Walter's mind works. Follow that rabbit!
- Sumner = asshole
- Peter's brain worked just like Walters in his decoding of Ostlers identity - maybe slightly more focused
- Walter sees himself, or his TWIN
- The fight scene was deliciously brief and brutal. Believable that Olivia had been a marine.
- GREEN GREEN GREEN RED
- Loeb returns. "Numbers make everything work." A call back to Lost?
no subject
no subject
no subject
I always like the music = math trope. But it's another missed opportunity for Astrid, what with her BA in music and all. (Favorite throwaway bit: Peter and Astrid sharing headphones in the lab.)
Walter moment of note: looking at the picture of Dashiell's work and only seeing the equation, not the dead body.
The highlight of this episode is, of course, Walter's bravery in going back to the asylum and facing his demons. Cue recurring wails of "Where the hell is John Noble's Emmy." I love that he sees Walternate in his delirium, the bogeyman/mirror of all his fears.
Peter's protectiveness is a really lovely character note, such a significant evolution from his attitude in the Pilot.
Dr. Sumner is clearly positioned as the antagonist/obstacle, but I don't find his conditions unreasonable based on what he knows and witnesses. The mental health of my patients is my primary concern and subjecting them to open-ended interrogations by FBI agents is hardly prudent therapy. ... It is clear that exposing him to the pressures of criminal investigations while indulging his fantastical pseudo-scientific notions has exacerbated the worst features of his mental illness. -- what else is he supposed to think? He's not privy to the secrets of Fringe Division. He's wrong, but not out of malice.
Okay, so the equation powers the walk-through-walls device. Cool.
no subject
Just a couple comments. I like Peter's backstory and wish they had done more with it. He is a sympathetic character, but he evolved a bit too quickly. I like him as a tough guy with a sinister edge. (Had a weakness for vile Krycek.) And his hostility to his father for GOING NUTS seemed unfair.
I'm not scientific. I would never expect reliable science on TV shows. I respond more to interesting images and mysteries and stuff. I'm one of the few who unreservedly loved Lost.
For instance: Dr. Sumner may have a defensible intellectual position, but he's still an insensitive SOB. And the actor was specially chosen for his SOB potential, IMO.
See? Now you want me to shut up.
no subject
Just wanted to admire the evocativeness of the melody. It's the little things that bind beauty and creep. (Too long for a t-shirt?)