# Fringe - Feb 25, 2011 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 26, 2011, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fringe-feb-25-2011/572681 "2011-02-26T08:21:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fringe-feb-25-2011/572681/21 "2011-02-27T03:59:22Z")
> [@Nobody](#): > > Because she temporarily switched universes. The Walter sitting at the desk was Walternate. That’s what I suspected, but suddenly she’s back in the Blue universe, with “our” Walter behind her in the doorway. Rather than the shimmering, or whatever is used to show a person has made the universe switch, all we had was a reverse angle edit. That’s what confused me. Maybe they were low on the SFX budget. Since the whole episode was based on Walter trying to learn how the universes could be traversed, it seems like kind of a cheat to be told that it really takes nothing. Olivia just pops back and forth randomly for no particular reason. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fringe-feb-25-2011/572681/22 "2011-02-27T04:11:15Z")
> [@randwill](#): > > Since the whole episode was based on Walter trying to learn how the universes could be traversed, it seems like kind of a cheat to be told that it really takes nothing. Olivia just pops back and forth randomly for no particular reason. No, it takes extreme emotions (and I would think Olivia getting ready to confess about her Stepdad beating her counts as pretty emotional). The hard part is controlling it. Just popping over and then popping back seconds later doesn’t really help him. ---
**Author:** ![beartato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@beartato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beartato)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fringe-feb-25-2011/572681/23 "2011-02-27T04:11:24Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > I liked this episode, but it’s really hard to swallow that kids that old wouldn’t remember meeting each other. Not to mention we have no idea why/when Peter forgot that he was from the other side. 7-8 is pretty old to completely forget everything in Peter’s case, even if Olivia has the excuse of being tramatized (which also is flimsy). Yeah something about the ages seemed off all episode. I know Olivia is supposed to be around 8 but the actress looked a few years older - understandable, I think an actress a few years younger would have a tough time getting the character right (the girl did a great job, getting Torv’s mannerisms down really well). Anyway, so you had a girl who looked to be ten drawing pictures that looked to be drawn by a young child, and the school looked really pre-school/kindergartenny. Also, I’m thinking we’ll see some sort of MIB-esque brain wipe down the road on Peter and possibly Olivia. Walter hasn’t really shied away from experimenting on them. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fringe-feb-25-2011/572681/24 "2011-02-27T04:43:49Z")
> [@Nobody](#): > > Walter didn’t know about the abuse until after it happened. He knew about it, but thought that sending her back to her stepdad would be helpful in stimulating her ability to cross over. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fringe-feb-25-2011/572681/25 "2011-02-27T04:53:39Z")
> [@beartato](#): > > Yeah something about the ages seemed off all episode. I know Olivia is supposed to be around 8 but the actress looked a few years older The actress is 11 and looks it, unfortunately. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fringe-feb-25-2011/572681/26 "2011-02-27T04:59:58Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > He knew about it, but thought that sending her back to her stepdad would be helpful in stimulating her ability to cross over. He finds out after he sees Oliva’s black eye. He then sees the drawing of the blimp, figures out she crossed over, and runs experiments to find out why. After getting no results for a while he finally figures out it must be fear, and then theorizes that a love/fear relationship, like the one she has with her father, must be the key. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fringe-feb-25-2011/572681/27 "2011-02-27T05:16:06Z")
As for the ages, I thought Peter and Oliva were supposed to be about 10 or so, I didn’t realize they were supposed to be about 8. And a while ago I thought I heard or read something about Walter erasing Peter’s memories of coming from the other side. I’ll have to look that up. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fringe-feb-25-2011/572681/28 "2011-02-27T06:15:23Z")
> [@Nobody](#): > > As for the ages, I thought Peter and Oliva were supposed to be about 10 or so, I didn’t realize they were supposed to be about 8. Both Peter and Olivia were born in 1978 (evidence: Peter’s tombstone in the S1 finale, Peter and Olivia’s S1 bio posters, all found [here](http://www.fringefanwiki.com/page/Fringe+-+events+timeline)…clearly Peter is a few months older from the ages stated on the posters), and this episode took place in 1985. As for erasing his memories, maybe that’s part of the experimenting on him that Peter mentions in the first season? He did mention them several times. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fringe-feb-25-2011/572681/29 "2011-02-27T08:47:23Z")
Yeah, I think I remember that Peter got experimented on, and that’s how he lost his memories. Wow, that link shows that next year Nina will be 70. Damn, she looks good for her age. And Broyles looks great for pushing 50. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fringe-feb-25-2011/572681/30 "2011-02-27T11:18:15Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > Yeah, that was a great touch. And they didn’t just contend themselves with doing it, which would have been great on its own, but went through the trouble to do it well – replacing the modern fringe science buzzwords – singularity, transhumanism and whatnot – with appropriate '80s ones, like cold fusion etc. is one particular instance of attention to detail that was added just for the extra touch. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fringe-feb-25-2011/572681/31 "2011-02-27T16:12:12Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > And they didn’t just contend themselves with doing it, which would have been great on its own, but went through the trouble to do it well – replacing the modern fringe science buzzwords – singularity, transhumanism and whatnot – with appropriate '80s ones, like cold fusion etc. is one particular instance of attention to detail that was added just for the extra touch. This was the second time they used it, though, right? I mean, they didn’t change it since [Peter](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_%28Fringe%29). ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fringe-feb-25-2011/572681/32 "2011-02-27T16:14:04Z")
Here, for comparison, is the opening of the episode “Peter.” [Fringe’s opening](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbaG3C1GQ-c) ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fringe-feb-25-2011/572681/33 "2011-02-27T16:24:27Z")
It’s too bad they didn’t start this episode in the Alt-Universe. I would’ve liked to see the the red version of the 80’s opening. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fringe-feb-25-2011/572681/34 "2011-02-27T16:52:27Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > This was the second time they used it, though, right? I mean, they didn’t change it since > [Peter](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_%28Fringe%29). No, they didn’t. Wonder why I didn’t remember it… Maybe I missed the intro when I watched it? Thanks for the link, though. ---
**Author:** ![Chopper9760](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Chopper9760](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chopper9760)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fringe-feb-25-2011/572681/35 "2011-02-28T17:20:00Z")
I was really irritated by the ages too. I appreciate the performances of the kids though, we probably wouldn’t have gotten that quality of acting from younger actors. I wish they had had gone over why Olivia and Peter don’t remember the events covered in the episode. As others have said, I think it’s been explained but between the significant events and the ages of the actors, I could have used the reminder for the sake of suspension of disbelief. I hate Peter, I think his character is exceedingly boring and it doesn’t help that Joshua Jackson is a tool. I wish he wasn’t integral to the plot. I have to give Kid\_Peter props though, he’s pretty interesting. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fringe-feb-25-2011/572681/36 "2011-03-01T00:16:58Z")
> [@Nobody](#): > > By the way, since a new episode won’t be on in two weeks, what’s coming up next week that will preempt it? NAACP Awards. :rolleyes: Loved that they brought back the 80’s intro, btw. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2011, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fringe-feb-25-2011/572681/37 "2011-03-06T22:27:56Z")
I’m rewatching the first season, and found more evidence for their ages being younger than the actors’: According to episode six, “The Cure,” when Olivia was nine her stepfather beat her mom and took off for a while. When he came back, Olivia shot him twice. He slunk off after that, only communicating with her via birthday cards. ---
**Author:** ![beartato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@beartato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beartato)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fringe-feb-25-2011/572681/38 "2011-03-07T08:45:35Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > NAACP Awards. :rolleyes: I doubt that’s the reason. Many shows (e.g. NBC’s Thursday night block) are on a two week hiatus. ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fringe-feb-25-2011/572681/39 "2011-03-07T09:24:50Z")
I like the way that they are humanizing Walternate. In the first episodes he comes across as an evil Walter, but as the series goes along we realize that what we see now is the result of decades of having to make hard choices. When he refuses to use Cortexiphan on children, then we realize there is actually a decent man inside the shell. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fringe-feb-25-2011/572681/40 "2011-03-07T10:23:46Z")
From the [Fringe Spoilers](http://www.fringespoilers.com/) Website I post from, from time to time > [@](#): > > **PW: Does any portion of those eight seasons include additional universes?** > Jeff: Well, science has acknowledged that there are a zillion of them – a multiverse. Thus far, our story has only taken place in two but that’s not to suggest there won’t be more down the line. > > **PW: What are some things we’ll see as the season winds down? The Doomsday Machine being activated?** > Jeff: We absolutely will. > > **PW: One universe winning out?** > Jeff: Without spoiling anything, I will say that things unfurl in a very unexpected way for the characters and the audience. I can say that with confidence. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fringe-feb-25-2011/572681.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fringe-feb-25-2011/572681.md?page=3)