TVSquad

(S02E07) "Truthfully, I really don't spend a lot of time thinking about what human brains would taste like." Astrid to Walter, while he's dissecting a brain

As with last week, this episode of Fringe wasn't completely centered on the alternate universe and its goings-on, but that's ok. We still got plenty of good stuff to tie us over to next week, when it's all about The Observers.

What struck me most about this episode in terms of relationships is how broken up Walter was over the loss of his son. As mentioned in my other reviews this season, Walter is like the kid and Peter is the parent. John Noble does a fantastic job of portraying a scared kid who's lost his dad in a department store. I've said it before, and will again: He deserves an Emmy and whatever other awards are out there.

The whole idea of mind control is creepy enough, but the idea of a kid doing it is even creepier. It occurred to me at the beginning that it was the kid who was controlling things and not the two guys, but he seemed to have no conscience whatsoever when it came to killing cops and others who got in his way. We learned why at the end -- he's "one of the Tylers." Do you think the surrogate mom was somehow in on it?

Hmmm ... we've returned to the storyline about the clones. Is this the "army" that's being built? Based on the whole mind control idea (and harking back to the season one episode with the people jumping off the roof), I'm guessing yes.

And I knew that Massive Dynamic and Nina Sharp weren't all nicey-nice, as they've seemed earlier in this season (cooperating with the FBI and offering their full services). It's just a matter of time before the Fringe Division figures out what's really going on. You'd think that Nina's comment about Dr. Carson performing "sensitive and highly classified work" would be at least a tiny tip-off, but I guess that description covers a lot of ground these days.

And speaking of covering a lot of ground, a bit more on Walter. The scene where he was pondering how much William Bell had achieved during his absence while he was in the mental hospital ... you have to think Walter is piecing a few things together. He noted again that he and William once shared a lab and thought of building a company together. Also, that William had introduced Walter to Peter's mother after a conference in Berlin.

Other Observations:

• Walter being bummed out that there's no food at the crime scene.
• The interior of the Massive Dynamic building is like a giant alien spaceship.
• "Think the FBI will give me a gun?" - Walter to Peter
• "Thank you for your attention, and have a nice day." - Walter to the FBI team, after testing the microphone with the sound-muffling headphones (and teddy bear!)
• "You know, you're a real son of a bitch." - Peter to Tyler in the car, after Tyler used mind control / pain on him
• "Don't be ridiculous. You were abducted. Of course you need crepes." - Walter to Peter, trying to comfort him after it was all over

And of course, the end scene with "the Tyler" being wheeled down the hallway as Nina writes a note to William Bell telling him what happened. A partial transcription: "In light of this, I am suspending the experiments indefinitely. Mind control is possible, given the right conditions. So despite the unfortunate circumstances, we can consider the project a success. As always, I hope this finds you in good health. Warmest regards ... Nina