1x08: The Equation
Apr. 25th, 2014 08:50 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wendelah1 posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
fringe_rewatchIt 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
Date: 2014-04-25 06:48 pm (UTC)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
Date: 2014-04-29 09:38 pm (UTC)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.