3 Moments of Goodness from Fringe “Through the Looking Glass (And What Walter Found There)” 

[Warning: Spoilers for the latest episode of Fringe]

Fringe‘s “An Origin Story” was a huge episode as a grieving Peter did the unthinkable: he implanted an Observer’s chip in his own brain. And, of course, it happened just as Olivia was ready to open up to to Peter. This whole season there was this distance between them — and she finally wanted to close the gap. Needless to say, she had no clue how insane things were about to get. Or should it be, how more insane things were about to get.

This week’s Fringe has to be one of the best episodes of the final season so far. Peter and Olivia continued to deal with Etta’s death; Walter’s search for his plan to save the world — the plan the Observers wiped from his memory — took him to yet another reality (the pocket universe); and, of course, the effects of Peter’s self-surgery started to develop in badass fashion.

Top 3 Moments from Fringe “Through the Looking Glass and What Walter Found There”

Peter and Olivia reconnect at Etta’s apartment

After taking such a monstrous step, one he did not consult Olivia on, Peter went to Etta’s and watched an old hologram message of his late daughter’s over and over again. Olivia found him there and she told him what she was feeling:

Olivia: “It’s fine that you come here, just tell me. I want to understand what you’re going through and I want you to understand what I’m going through.”
Peter: “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

Peter didn’t divulge what he had just done to Olivia, even though she had accidentally felt the injured portion of his neck. However, together, in each other’s arms, the two watched Etta’s message. The grief that both Joshua Jackson and Anna Torv conveyed as a struggling Peter and Olivia, was so palpable. I kind of got teary at this point I was so in the moment with them. That reaction wasn’t a fluke. It happened again when I re-watched.

Peter goes all Observer on the Observers

Walter, Astrid, Peter and Olivia escape the pocket universe and Observers are on their trail. Peter tells the group to get to the monorail — he’ll throw the Observers off their scent and then meet them there. Peter goes mano a mano (so to speak) with an Observer but, at first, he gets overpowered. Then, all of a sudden, everything kicks in. His reflexes are instantly better, faster, stronger and he’s able to give the bad guy a serious smackdown. But it doesn’t come without a warning:

Observer: “I know what you have done. You have made a grave mistake. You do not realize what is happening to you.”

Then in a split second, Peter transports behind his opponent and snaps his neck. Me? I about freaked out. Especially when Peter quickly vanishes a la the Observers. Before things progress to the next scene, we see the main Observer (Captain Windmark) with a strange smile on his face. So eerie. So badass. I’m really scared about what’s going to happen to Peter. Later on the train, his vision changes — he starts seeing life in a more tech-like fashion. Oh Peter…

Walter and Peter’s conversation on the monorail

John Noble showed, once again, why he needs to win an Emmy already, or at the very least, be nominated for one. Recognition for this man would be great, that’s all I’m asking. Anyway, Walter and Peter are sitting across from each other on the monorail after having entered and escaped the pocket universe.

Walter had a one-track mind with this latest mission. He went solo and when he was in this alternate reality, he didn’t really show much empathy for the guy that had been stuck in there for 20 years. Walter’s actions scare him and cause him to come to a certain conclusion about his obsessive behavior:

Walter: I saw a man…half-starved. And I used him because it suited me. Because he was nothing more than an acceptable loss as long as I got what I needed. Is that who I am, Peter? Is that something you can see coming from my mind? From my heart? Am I the person that would leave in the middle of his night on his own?”
Peter: “Walter.”
Walter: “Those are the actions of a man of hubris, arrogance, and that’s not me, Peter. That’s him.”
Peter: “Him?”
Walter: “Don’t you see? I’m not safe. It’s my mind. Ever since the pieces of my brain were re-implanted, it’s been changing…me…back into the man I was before. Bit by bit…I’m losing myself, Peter. I’m losing the man that you helped me become.”
Peter: “Listen to me, I’m not going to let that happen. We need you. You are our only hope to defeat the Observers. And I’m going to be here with you every step of the way.”
Walter: “Please son, whatever happens, don’t let me go.”
Peter: “I won’t, Dad. I promise.”

I had to quote a lot of their conversation because it was so good. Some of my favorite moments on this show are the ones between father (Walter) and son (Peter). Noble and Jackson have such a great chemistry, it’s a joy to watch their scenes even though so many of them have been tragic.

Peter and Walter are kinda sorta in the same boat right now. Their minds have been tampered with (one forced, the other by choice), which means they both may be losing themselves little by little. I wonder how far the show will take this? And was Peter right to promise his dad that he’ll be there for him and not let him go? What if he can’t? Whatever the answers, I’m still in awe of this show. I really am.

Random Notes

• Kudos to Jon Cassar, the director for “Through the Looking Glass…” He and his crew did a phenomenal job depicting life in the pocket universe as well as with the Peter vs. the Observer and monorail scenes.

• When are we going to meet Donald? And why would he take the Observer child?

• That Cecil dude sure was a red shirt, wasn’t he? I felt bad for him. He thought he was in the pocket universe for five days. He was actually in it for 20 years. Time and physics are totally skewed in that reality. And then he ends up getting killed. RIP, Cecil.

Fringe airs Fridays at 9/8c on FOX.