1x16: Unleashed

[kerithwyn]

or, the mpreg episode.

Fringe: winning at trope bingo since 2008.

Not a great episode, but our best Charlie spotlight, and the only appearance of his wife Sonia.




Writer: Zack Whedon, J.R. Orci
Director: Brad Anderson
Originally aired: 14 Apr 2009

Synopsis:
Animal rights anarchists ransack a laboratory and are killed by a ferocious hybrid creature. Walter's early work in 'Radical Transgenics' resurfaces after decades, and nearly costs a team member their life. Doctor Bishop's internal torment bubbles dangerously close to the boiling point as he starts to struggle with his sanity again.

Most Memorable Quote:
CHARLIE: You know, hunting this thing in the sewers... It's not a good idea, Liv.
OLIVIA: You got a better idea?
CHARLIE: Yeah. Don't get hurt for me.
OLIVIA: Well, that's not really very fair considering you would do the same thing for me.


Links:
Episode transcript
Seriable rewatch
Polite Dissent, medical/science reviews.

Fanfiction:
Hey, I have recs. Charlie-focused, not necessarily from this episode but some of my favorites.
Doomed by Neuroses-Isn't-Just-A-Word (Charlie/Sonia)
Redheads, Blondes, and Brunettes by Rainer (Charlie/Sonia)
The Long Kiss Goodnight by ziparumpazoo (Sonia/alt-Charlie)
More Charlie recs on my pinboard

Comments

[corwinofamber]

Another "monster of the week" story, my least favorite type.

For an episode revolving around the race to save Charlie, we really don't get much background on him. He's married. His wife likes corny jokes, and likes that he laughs at them. They're trying to get pregnant.

If I were a dog in the Bishop household, I'd have night terros too! What did Walter do to poor Rufus? :)

That thing looks nothing like a cougar! True story - there were a multitude of ostrich sightings in the area I live in a few years ago. It was the talk of the county.

A good takeaway for fanfic - Walter had five lab assistants working under him at Kelvin Genetics. A lot of potential there.

Walter: "...make it a bucket!"
Astrid: "...I'm gonna be sick..."
Walter: "Two buckets!"

The delivery of that is perfect.

That's all I have.

[wendelah1]

I'm afraid I couldn't take this episode seriously. This was the most Charlie we get until he gets killed (and turned into a shapeshifter). What a waste of an episode. All of the science blogs focused on the impossibility of creating such a creature, but the medicine seemed really suspect, too. It was very hard for me to suspend disbelief this time around.

I thought the dialogue between Peter and Walter seemed way off. They didn't have their A-team writing this one.

More flirting that won't go anywhere between Peter and Rachel.

I liked that episode began with Olivia reassuring Ella that monsters weren't real and ended with Olivia going to sleep with her bedroom light left on. Monsters are real in the Fringe universe and it's only going to get harder to get to sleep not easier. I have a really pretty icon somewhere of Olivia reading to Ella.

I also liked Walter taking responsibility for past misdeeds and trying to atone by saving Charlie. He's willing to sacrifice himself for the sake of another.

[kerithwyn]

Yeah, not much to say about this one. The chimera's an interesting idea, but the execution is too straightforward. (Ironic.)

Not particularly impressed by Walter's suicide plan--very dubious. I mean, I appreciate he's willing to risk all for Charlie, but still.

Sonia's cute.

[estella_c]

Well, I did think the monster was scarier than Flukey, and I loved the long, worm-like tail. And the kid at the playground. I actually thought the impact was pretty intense. 'Course, as soon as you imagine Darin Morgan inside the fluke suit...

I hate man-preg. Or whatever it's called.

Like W, I thought the monster bookends were good.

Walter's hysterical desire to sacrifice himself had some resonance for me. Maybe his suppression of his horrific guilt is getting to him. It's kind of leaking into his behavior and making him crazy, in a redundant sort of way.

Peter reminding Walter that "you're in a sewer; this IS the facilities" made me chuckle. And I usually don't like toilet humor.