1x13: The Transformation

[wikiaddicted723]

So, JJ Abrams is terrified of airplanes. 

 

Now that we've established that, I feel this episode is one of the highlights of season 1: the character development is fantastic, and, pardon my french, the complete lack of fucks given in the science (SKIENCE!) department drives the point home that this is not a show that really cares about realism much, outside of an emotional and psychological sense. Like comic books and Stephen King before it, all that matters in Fringe Division is that crazy science has a cost that is too high eleven out of ten times, and that its fallout resonates with the characters as people, and aids in the exploration of their psyches. 

 

Like most of the other great episodes of the season, this one is personal for Olivia. It is the resolution of John Scott's arc, and it deals with that niggling doubt that Olivia has carried like a ton of bricks since her once-lover died in the pilot. In the end, this episode is meant to restore Olivia's confidence in her own judgement and her own feelings, and leaves her ready to face the personal hardships that will come by giving her a sense of closure on the events that got her involved with Fringe Division in the first place. It struck me about this episode that the writers were willing to close off the well of possibilities that was having John's memories in Olivia's head, but I remain grateful that they never backed down on that decision, and in retrospect I'm glad of it; John was a weight Olivia needed to let go of to start the journey of becoming the best she could be. 

 

Also of note is the little shown but greatly appreciated inclusion of Astrid as a definite part of the team. Someone whose judgement Olivia trusts and is willing to listen to. Astrid is the person that, by virtue of being shoved to the sidelines so often, has had the chance to learn who each one of the people she works with is, and what makes them tick. Astrid can recognize Olivia as a great judge of character only because she is one herself--the mere fact that she is willing to work with Walter, after being assaulted in the way she was, speaks volumes about the person Astrid believes Walter to be: damaged, cruel, crazy and arrogant, but ultimately both necessary and redeemable.

PS. UNDERCOVER SHENANNIGANS! There should have been more of those. Hell that could be another series. Maybe there's an alternate universe where Fringe Division does corporate espionage for the US government as some sort of regulatory organism for scientific development.

 

 

Writer: J.R. Orci
           Zack Whedon
Director: Brad Anderson
Originally Aired: 03 Feb 2009

Synopsis:  The team delves into a bizarre case when the freakish corpse of a passenger is discovered at the crash site of another international aviation disaster. Olivia's memories tip the team toward a promising lead, but the bigger picture and mysterious threat eludes them. With limited options and insufficient intelligence, Olivia and Peter go undercover to expose an international bio-arms merchant.

Most Memorable Quote:

OLIVIA: You didn't have to come with me, you know.

PETER: Shady deals with shady guys in shady hotels is my M.O. - and typically, if someone is going to kill you, it's a good idea to have an ally in the room.

OLIVIA: I'm not scared.

PETER: Being fearless doesn't mean you're being safe.

Links:
IGN Review
AV Club Review
Polite Dissent

Fanfiction:
The Blueverse, by Cotillion66 - this one hasn't really gotten to The Transformation (The Equation is the latest chapter) but more than a fic it's a very well written episode-by-episode novelization, full of good character insight. 

If someone's got any more episode specific recs, please leave them in the comments!

Comments

[kerithwyn]

(Rewatch fail: Gonna just have to go back to the previous four episodes at some other time, oh well.)

hee, you said SKIENCE! :D

Porcupine-man on a plane! Where's Sam Jackson when you need one?

(I was hugely amused when s4 reused/recreated this opening scene.)

Scenes with Olivia and Ella will never not be desperately charming. First and last mention of a mysterious "Aunt Missy," who I'm taking to be a friend of the family.

OLIVIA: Okay, this is going to sound insane. So let's just put it in the category of "crazy things happening in Walter Bishop's lab."
CHARLIE: Okay.

-- Charlie was the best.

NINA: For what it's worth, it was not my decision to keep this from you.
-- Oh, really? We're told later on she has no reciprocal contact with Bell--that she's been sending messages she doesn't know if he's been receiving. Who the hell else is going to tell Nina Sharp what to do? Nina is a lying liar who lies.

ASTRID: My mother always says I stick my nose in places it does not belong. I know we haven't known each other that long. But you are one of the best judges of character I've ever met. So, I guess the question is what's your instinct? When you were with John, when you were looking into his eyes, was he for real?
-- Critically needed perspective from an impeccable source. Two things: "mother says," present tense, implying her mother's still alive in this timeline; and "we haven't known each other that long," implying Astrid *didn't* work with Olivia before Fringe Division. (Both statements make hash out of the Astrid fic I was theoretically writing, so...hell, I don't know, I'm not writing at the moment anyway.)

The whole weapons-buy sting is great. Love how Peter and Olivia work together and pick up on each other's signals. This is how I like their relationship, SHOW. You keep your fated/destiny nonsense to yourself. ...but that's a rant for another time.

I do like that the John Scott arc was resolved, but I also love fic that explores the possibilities of his survival/existence in Olivia's head. The John Scott tag at AO3 offers up more goodies in that regard.


OLIVIA: That's all right. I know the truth. And that's enough.

-- Mulder, take note. :D

[corwinofamber]

The freak so memorable it returned in another timeline!

As always, don't watch this show for scientific realism. The writers actually hung a good procedural case around the porcupine man, and had the typically good characterization.

When I first saw this episode, the minor reveal that Peter was Olivia's backup in the sting truly surprised me. He thinks this a terrible idea, loudly makes sure Olivia knows it, and goes along to make sure she's safe.

I love Olivia's 'tude during the meet. She sticks her hand out for a shake - and leaves it there until he shakes her hand. And this gem:

Weasel: "Who's he?
Olivia: "Who are they?"

And I noticed something. The Big Bad in this episode is Conrad Ettienne Moreau. The Little Bad in "The Day We Died", decades later is Moreau. I hope they're related.

Somebody said once that this episode closes out the prequel to the real Fringe show.

One of my favorite season 1 episodes.

[wendelah1]

I also love the episode, though not for the plot, which is absurd and implausible. There is no possibility of a virus that could completely rewrite someone's DNA and turn them into Porcupine Man. Why on earth would Broyles and that asshole Harris, who's still allegedly in charge of Fringe, let Peter--of all people--go undercover with Olivia on this critical mission?

Never mind the idiotic plot, what I loved was the ending. The scene between Olivia and John Scott at the lake was breathtaking. The first thing my husband exclaimed as we were watching was "They're ripping off The X-Files again!" I can see his point. The scene at the lake is very reminiscent of the scenes from "One Breath" of Dana Scully, drifting on the tree-lined lake in her rowboat, her loved ones still onshore, watching her decide whether to live or to die. In "One Breath," the lake represents the uncertainty of outcome and an inability to express emotions--Scully's feelings for Mulder, and of course, his feelings for her. In "The Transformation," the clear calm waters of the lake must represent inner peace--Olivia's sense of release at finding out the truth about the man that she loved.





You probably need to have seen both episodes to recognize the similarities in the visual language. The truth is "One Breath" is a much better episode from beginning to end than "The Transformation"; even though the science isn't any more credible, the writing is better overall.

Even so, I thought the actors nailed this scene, and so did the writers. For whatever reason, I don't think I'd connected completely with Olivia's character before this episode. In fact, thinking back to my first viewing back in 2010, I'm not sure I even liked her. But by the end, Anna Torv and Mark Valley, portraying the doomed lovers Olivia and John, had tears running down my face. This scene resolves their arc in the best way possible, given the circumstances, and it allows Olivia closure, a way to move forward.

[estella_c]

Maybe Harris was in the bathroom. It's hard (I suppose) being full-time vile.

A pretty good ep with pretty good drama. I am once more reminded that Olivia is trigger-happy. She is stressed in her dreamspace and grabs the gun off the bed and shoots--- Well, he was her lover but he was dead anyway.

Wen, I adored the final scene with that *impossible* contact between lovers. It was beautiful and a suitable resolution of conflict and lost love.

It moves me that you and I agree on it. Of course, it IS magical realism. All that tank stuff is. The mind is magic. It is the source of, gosh, TV shows like Fringe.

[estella_c]

I forgot to say--what most know--that Torv and Valley were briefly married. Not relevant, unless there is some urgent desire to write/read RPF.