1x18: Midnight

[wendelah1]

"Midnight" has one of the best teasers of the series. The sleazy cheater you assume is the predator turns out to be the prey. Just when you think you have it all figured out, you don't. This episode has plenty of surprisingly little twists, plus lots of Charlie Francis and another mad scientist story. Rachel's appearances get ever more annoying. Seriously, why do the writers think anyone cares about this character? Her divorce is boring and her friends are ridiculous. Go home to Chicago already. The ending is great. Finally, we get some real dirt on William Bell.


Writer: Andrew Kreisberg, J. H. Wyman
Director: Bobby Roth
Originally aired: 28 Apr 2009

Synopsis:
Two bodies have been found with their spinal columns exposed and drained of spinal fluid. The bite marks are human. The Fringe Team is called in to investigate. The perpetrator is the wife of a scientist who was working for ZFT. When he tries to leave their employ, to punish him they infected his wife with a strain of syphilis the scientist had engineered into a bio-weapon. Before the scientist dies of complications from his attempt to create an antidote to save her life, he records a video that ties William Bell to the activities of ZFT.

Most Memorable Quote:
PETER: Great, well, maybe we're looking for Dracula.
WALTER: (hardy laugh) Finally, son, you're opening your mind to new possibilities. But, no, there are no vampires, sadly. But it'll be something exciting, I'm sure.

Oh, how the Fringe writers loved The X-Files.

WALTER: If indeed there is a soul, we must consider then that there is still time for redemption. We're not being hauled off to be judged yet, Nicholas.

Links:
Transcript
Polite Dissent: "They almost made it for a complete episode without screwing up the science…almost."
Popular Mechanics: "Fringe Takes on Spinal Fluid: The Science Misses the Mark."

Fanfiction:
If you know of any good post-eps, let us know in comments. Special Request: I need an AU where Olivia gets to raise Ella. Maybe her parents both die in a murder-suicide?

EDIT: Here's that Rachel character study I wanted. It's set during "Unleashed," but I'm putting it here in light of all of the Rachel discussion.

Spiderwebs by rainer76.
I'd forgotten about it until casually_cruel mentioned it in comments, but I liked it enough to rec it at crack_van a few years back.

image from screencapped.net

Comments

[wikiaddicted723]

Oh, I took no offence. I was simply explaining why I always liked Rachel as a character. You don't share those opinions, and that's fine. Characters can and will mean different things to different people.

I also wanted to point out that maybe you were a little harsh by making your opinion on Rachel's character a general thing, but these things can't really be 100% unbiased /o\

[wendelah1]

Oh good. I'm glad you aren't offended. I appreciate your willingness to debate the issue. Yes, I am way harsh toward the character. No question about it. My husband thinks she's just fine. He thinks Rachel seems like a normal, if somewhat unreflective person.

Maybe I really am the only person in the fandom to feel like this about her.