After last week’s teaser of watching Olivia (Anna Torv) become possessed by William Bell (Leonard Nimoy), we were treated to another episode from the twisted minds of the Fringe creators. There were several things I loved (as usual) and a some things that didn’t quite rub me the right way.
I loved the interaction between Bell and Walter. The actors did a superb job here. Particularly amusing was the comment Bell made about realizing how binding a bra was. There was also the scene where they were thinking about transferring William Bell’s soul in to the cow and how Walter would have to milk him.
Anna did her homework studying Nimoy’s mannerisms (including the trademark Spock eyebrow at one point), however I would like to see the method employed on Stargate Universe when they use the stones to switch bodies and use the actor in that place. Seeing Torv do Nimoy was entertaining for a while, but I feel it would have made for a better episode to have Nimoy playing his role of William Bell, especially when they get introduced to Lincoln Lee and he has to say “Olivia Dunham, Fringe division.” Perhaps Nimoy wasn’t available, who knows.
The main story about Dana Gray not being able to die was interesting and kept us guessing throughout the show along wit the characters. Their initial thought about a “soft spot” in the fabric of the universe was a good one, but then we started getting to the heart of the matter with special agent Lincoln Lee. (Julie suspected he might be a plant from the other side after I pointed out the actor played the “burn guy” from the other side. Good guess Julie, but they haven’t left us any clues on that yet.) I thought that he bought in to the idea of a woman who couldn’t die just a bit too quickly. It seemed by the end of the show, he was part of the team. I’m not so sure any FBI agent (aside from Scully and Mulder) would adapt so quickly. I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of Agent Lee in both universes.
Regarding the end of the show, I’m not convinced that Dana Gray is really dead, but they never showed that tell-tale twitching finger at the end so we’ll have to trust she doesn’t make another appearance. 🙂
The epilogue between Bell and Peter was also interesting in their assumption about destiny and why she couldn’t die because she was here to save the people on the train. When Bell said he was scientific and believed things happened for a reason, I had thoughts of Fox’s other hit show “Bones” and how Dr. Brennan didn’t believe in fate or destiny, yet Bell does. Two different approaches by two sets of writers had me comparing two of my favorite shows (again.)
Of course, we’re left with another cliffhanger moment when we hear bells ringing and Olivia briefly shows through at the end only to be overcome by William Bell again. This is getting more interesting….
Overall rating: 8.5/10
