Fringe Round Table: "Forced Perspective"

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This week we delve into the Fringe episode "Forced Perspective," with TV Fanatic staff writers Sean McKenna and Carissa Pavlica and an alternate Nick, Nick Shere, who has done more than his share of Fringe analysis, making him a worthy and welcome addition at the table.

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What was your favorite scene?

Sean: I rather enjoyed the time freeze as the girl was walking through her dreams/visions. It was a cool look visually and felt reminiscent of earlier seasons.

Nick S: When Olivia is talking down the bomber. Being locked down and under control is a big part of who Olivia is, and her ability to overcome that, to experience fear and desperation and put them to use, is one of the most interesting parts of her journey as a character.

Carissa: When Walter was doing tests on the girl at the lab. It felt like old times. Has she been the first person he's tested in the lab in the fourth season? It seems like forever, and yet fit like a well worn glove.

Would you like to have a gift like the girl had?

Sean: No way. I think it would be depressing getting these flashes of people dying around you. I wonder why people who can see the future always resort to drawing it and not some other way to express what they've seen.

Nick S: Predictive powers almost never end well. If history teaches us anything, it's that prophecy leads to madness and death. But I do envy the girl's ability to enter a moment in time and see in detail, with attention. We can usually only do that with the aid of a camera.

Carissa: I have enough anxiety without worrying about the death of random people at random times. It was so much to weigh on such a young soul. This old one doesn't want it.

Do you think they're blowing the whole "Olivia is going to die" thing out of proportion, or are they right to be concerned?

Sean: I think they are right to be concerned, but there's going to be some twist involved with it. After all, Peter was supposed to exist and oh, wait, he's back.

Nick S: I'm a lot more tolerant of this storyline on Fringe than I would be on another show. We know that Peter shouldn't have been saved, but he was, and we know that in Fringe, saving someone usually means paying a price, sometimes a very terrible one, often one that could not have been predicted

Carissa: I really hadn't thought of it as a story that won't end in death but instead with some other horrible consequence. That is the way Fringe deals with things, and now I'm more interested in what that price might be. Thanks Nick!

Who do you think will be the first person to suspect either Alt-Broyles or Nina as bad guys?

Sean: That's an interesting question but I'm going to go with Lincoln. I don't know why, but I feel like they've played his character up this season and I'm sure he's going to play an even larger part towards the end. Although, I'm waiting for some character to be killed off that's not Olivia...

Nick S: Alt-Broyles and evil Nina are two of the most isolated characters on the show, so it's hard to say. If I had to guess, I'd say Peter has the best chance, because he has a different baseline to compare choices and behavior to.

Carissa: I'm all over on this one. My first thought was Lincoln for the exact reason Sean stated, and my last was Peter because he can see nuances in their behavior that wouldn't have been present before. Maybe Peter will mention it first and Lincoln will back him up. Best of both thoughts!

Carissa Pavlica is the managing editor and a staff writer and critic for TV Fanatic. She's a member of the Critic's Choice Association, enjoys mentoring writers, conversing with cats, and passionately discussing the nuances of television and film with anyone who will listen. Follow her on X and email her here at TV Fanatic.

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Fringe Season 4 Episode 10 Quotes

Which reminds me, I can't feel my urine response yet. I should probably go empty my bladder again.

Walter

I head that Walter is finally going to help you. I had to see with my own eyes.

Olivia