Tonight’s episode of Fringe continues Peter and Lee’s adventures in the alterverse as the team starts to peel the layers off the shapeshifter mystery. When they corner the person behind the attacks, its no other than our unverse’s Fringe team’s nemesis, David Robert Jones. Peter helps the Fringe groups try to stop Jones from launching more shifter attacks in both universes. An emotional plea to Walter from an unlikely source may help Peter take another step to going home. Lastly, we finally learn what’s behind Nina Sharp’s behavior so far this season.
Who’s David Robert Jones and why does he look familiar?
Jones was the big bad all the way back in the first season of Fringe who led a terrorist group and was trying to cross over to the alterverse. He was nearly successful until Peter killed him in the first season’s finale, “There’s More Than One of Everything”. It’s understandable if you have a hard time remembering him, his face was covered by bandages through most of the season while he dealt with his molecular degeneration. His death at Peter’s hand was also overshadowed by the amazing final scene of that episode when Olivia first meets William Bell in the alterverse. In the alternate timeline of Season 4, Peter was not around to stop Jones from crossing to the alterverse, hence why he’s back and as evil as ever.
I loved that the writers decided to bring Jones back to the show as the main bad guy for this story arc. Jared Harris plays Jones with a complete Bond villain vibe, the guy who is always one step ahead of those chasing him. The best example of this is his demonstration to Bolivia and Lincoln of what he’s capable of doing to his own shapeshifters, it was pure evil and so much fun to watch. Then we see Harris’ great acting when Jones is talking to Peter in the interrogation room. While the writing for the scene was excellent, the payoffs come from how Jones reacted to Peter’s questions, especially how the scene was shot to focus on Jones’ face. I’m sure we’ll see more of Jones throughout this season and I can’t wait to see how he’ll be a thorn in the side of both Fringe teams.
So two Fringe teams are better than one, no?
Maybe. The “lets have everyone sit across their alterverse double” scene near the end of the episode was a little cheesy. I’m cutting the Fringe folks a little slack on this because I think its the first time they’ve done it with all the main characters who’s last name isn’t Bishop. It was fun to see how each character seemed to be measuring themselves up against the other universes’ counterpart, though Peter’s speech fell a llittle flat for me. Now the real question will be how these two groups will be able to coexist considering some of the different personalities and sure to still be there latent mistrust of the other universe. Then of course there is the whole “I’m so not a shifter, except I am” alt-Broyles situation. I would’ve thought that someone other than Lee would have brought up the insane number of deep soul searching stares alt-Broyles and David Robert Jones were sharing while at Fringe Division. Now we know there will likely be some growing pains as the two teams mesh to work together, but what I wonder is how are they going to involve Walter into equation?
Why was Jose reaching for the tissues in this episode?
In all the great moments in tonight’s episode, to me the best one was when Elizabeth Bishop visited Walter in the lab. Story wise the scene worked on so many levels. Since Peter was unable to convince Walter to help him, the only one who could really incite that kind of change in Walter was his wife (or her alterverse version in this case). There’s also a sense of some closure in the scene, with Walter basically confessing to Elizabeth and her forgiving him, I think that was a key step for Walter to start turning things around. Then you add the great performances of John Noble and Orla Brady and you too would start feeling a little verklempt. Last year, John Noble had a complete season’s worth of Emmy moments, and this scene is right up there with those. Emmy voters I hope you’re paying attention!
Wait, Nina did what?
If you haven’t seen the episode yet (and if you haven’t why are you reading this – but hey thanks for reading), stop and go watch it. The last part of the episode we finally get to see what is behind Nina’s actions this season. It appears that David Robert Jones is not acting alone in his plans, he has his own personal Mata Hari who enjoys shooting up Olivia with chemicals that give her migraines. It’s an excellent twist that really throws the Nina-Olivia relationship into question and has to lead to an awesome reveal at some point this season. Also liked that instead of the cross-universe typewriter from the last couple of seasons, this timeline has upgraded to what looks like an Apple IIe or Commodore 64.
My Favorite Parts of “Enemy of My Enemy”:
- “Take me to your leader” – David Robert Jones to Bolivia and Lincoln before they arrest him.
- Walter’s Spherical Pastrami and Parmesan Ice Cream sound delicious to me. Astrid needs to expand her palate.
- “I lost a universe!” – Peter
- The two Lee boys working together
- “We’re in the wrong universe.” – Peter realizing Jones has outfoxed them
- “It was more than a mistake. I broke universes.” – Walter to Elizabeth
- Olivia’s close call chasing Jones back through the portal. Great little cliffhanger with a nicely done visual at the end.
- “You should know that your mother was a wonderful woman… every version of her.” – Walter to Peter.
One more thought for this episode. Jones announced to Bolivia and Lee that he had made 47 shapeshifters. Does that mean 47 for both universes or 47 in each one? Either way sounds like the Fringe team will be busy.
What did you think of tonight’s episode? Did you like the two Fringe teams coming together? How did you react during the Walter and Elizabeth scene? Please let me know what you think in the comments.
The next episode of Fringe, “Froced Perspective”, has the team working with a woman who can see deaths before they occur. Meanwhile, Olvia tries to understand the Oberserver’s message for her. Make sure to tune in next Friday at 9PM on FOX.
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