Disclaimer: As this post is categorized as a review, it may contain spoilers.
Episode 9 of Fringe‘s fourth season is called Enemy of my Enemy, which should give you some hints as to what we’re about to get to see. When last we left, we’d just learned that David Robert Jones (Jared Harris) was still alive and kicking in the New Universe.
In the previous episode, Peter (Joshua Jackson) had asked Walternate (John Noble) if he could help him to get back to where he belonged. The response was a “Yes, but …”, as Walternate asked him to help out in the search for the new shapeshifters and who could be behind them all.
The person behind it all is, of course, Dr. Jones, portrayed by an absolutely fantastic actor who truly knows how to convey the subtle menace that underlies the entire episode. He was a great Moriarty in the latest Sherlock Holmes movie and is proving to be an even better David Robert Jones. Still, he’s almost eclipsed by Elizabeth Bishop (Orla Brady), who acts circles around him in her extremely touching scene with Walter. Then again, considering the skills of John Noble, it’s almost like he’s become a King Midas of acting; every scene he touches turns into gold. It’s a shame that he’s “Only” ever won the Saturn award for his role on Fringe; he deserves an Emmy for it. He’s played four different Walters, each and every one with their own unique quirks and oddities.
All in all, this episode is a slow but steady build-up to a scene we knew were coming; the two Fringe teams gathered in a single room, deciding to put aside all petty squabbles they’ve had up to this point and deciding to work together. I was a little disappointed that only one of the Walters were included, but I think they did this to balance out the fact that there was only one Peter in the room.
Peter Bishop, as played by Joshua Jackson
A large part of the criticism for this otherwise excellent episode comes from people who feel that this is the sort of thing we should have gotten already in seasons two or three. The only character we saw in this episode that we’ve known from the beginnings of season 1 is Peter; the others are alternate versions of them (and alternate universe versions of the alternates!). Still, I’m beginning to like these characters. Sure, it’s not the same Olivia (Anna Torv) that I’ve watched since 2008, but it’s all close enough to make no difference. If Fringe continues past season four (and there’s some debate as to whether or not it will), I’m sure the merging of the universes will come with something carrying over from season four except for just Peter being a couple of weeks of experiences richer.
The way I see it, there are four big mysteries to follow at the moment:
- Why is Alternate Broyles (Lance Reddick) working with David Robert Jones? I don’t buy the theory that he’s a shapeshifter, he looks as if he’s being forced into cooperating. Maybe David Robert Jones has some sort of leverage?
- Is it ‘normal’ Nina (Blair Brown) or Alternate Nina (or both?) that’s secretly communicating with Dr. Jones? We already know that ‘normal’ Nina is up to no good, but we haven’t met Alternate Nina yet. Last we saw David Robert Jones, he was in the alternate world, so it stands to reason he was talking to the Nina that exists there. What if she’s is a shapeshifter?
- What’s this about Olivia having to die?
- What are we going to learn from the blood sample that Olivia gave to Astrid (Jasika Nicole)? It came from The Observer that died in the church, and we’ve got to wonder if there are any hints in their blood as to who they are. What will Walter think when he learns about the blood?