(S02E06) "Why is this case so important to you?" - Olivia to Agent Broyles
I said in my preview earlier today that I hoped this episode of Fringe wouldn't be a stand-alone creature feature. Unfortunately, that's exactly what it was. No William Bell. No Nina Sharp. No Pattern. No alternate universe. And no Observer. At least, not front and center. Did anyone see him?
Instead, we got a little diversion into the life of Phillip Broyles; how he got so involved in a case four years ago that it cost him his marriage and family. I feel for the guy, but I'm not that interested in his life. As for the Shadow, was this an X-Files knock-off? You can tell me in the comments after the jump.
It appears that the Russians have fringe science, too. Tonight's episode of Fringe, "Earthling," ups the creep factor with an old case of Agent Broyles' that's come back to haunt him. The story centers on a cosmonaut who goes to outer space and brings something mysterious back with him that's killing people.
On first glance, it appears to be a standalone episode not connected with the alternate universe, but my feeling is that every episode is somehow connected to the big picture. The fact that this series of murders was unsolved is a good clue, and the guy in the hospital bed with half of a head is reminiscent of the people who get caught between the two universes. Any theories before we see tonight's episode?
Considering the incredible overnight ratings that Fox got for Game Six of the World Series, you might think I'm crazy to suggest that the network would be rooting for the New York Yankees last night to beat the Philadelphia Phillies, but I have evidence. All through the game, Fox was promoting Fringe and Bones, urging viewers to tune in tomorrow night -- tonight -- for new episodes. Why would the network be sending that message when there was a possibility of a Game Seven?
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This week we have spoilers for November Sweeps: 90210, Bones, Castle, Desperate Housewives, FlashForward, Fringe, Ghost Whisperer, Gossip Girl, Grey's Anatomy, Heroes, How I Met Your Mother, Melrose Place, NCIS, Smallville, Supernatural, Ugly Betty, The Big Bang Theory, The Mentalist and The Office. (SPOILERS FOLLOW!)
TV Guide has released their list of shows that are safe for the rest of the season and those that are "on the bubble," the shows that are in danger of being canceled. There are a lot of shows on the latter list that aren't a surprise, such as Hank, Gary Unmarried, Cold Case, and The Forgotten (I'm surprised Cold Case even made it to another season).
But among the list of shows are a few that I didn't think were in danger, including Gossip Girl and Fringe. I know that Gossip Girl isn't a show that gets incredible ratings, but that describes The CW in general, and I figure that even if it gets low ratings it's sort of the network's signature show. As for Fringe, the ratings are a lot worse this season than last season, but it would still surprise me if the show went away, especially since it has its fan base and it's produced by JJ Abrams.
I'm in a serious Fringe withdrawal, having had no episode to watch on Thursday night. So let's revisit "Dream Logic," the episode that aired last week. My favorite scene was near the end where Peter was yanked out of bed by ... I'm going to guess either the Walter from this universe (since we can see him in the photo above) or maybe The Observer.
There were some really great comments on my episode review, and BugKiller noticed that the poster in young Peter's room featured the Challenger Space Shuttle -- the 11th mission in 1984. Says BugKiller: "Challenger blew up during its 10th mission in 1986. This jibes with what Walter said: Earth-2 is about a decade or two ahead of us in terms of technology. It appears as if Earth-2 started their shuttle program earlier than ours, sometime in the 70's, because KENNEDY NEVER DIED on Earth-2, so they probably landed on the moon earlier, too."
When you want to up the ante on a drama, create a great villain. To this day, the best James Bond movies have always been the ones with great villains. Fox's sci-fi drama Fringe is buying into that theory, because they've gone out and hired an actor who excels at playing evil. Fringe has cast Sebastian Roche in a recurring role as a new nemesis.If you saw Roche on General Hospital, you know he's brilliant.
His Fringe character doesn't have a name yet -- and least not one that they've released -- but the storyline is that he's from another dimension, not entirely human or android, and he's on a mission. He's a soldier who's supposed to collect data to open a "stable door to the other side."
Could it be an alternate universe? A parallel dimension? Some kind of time warp? The possibilities are wide open when it comes to Fringe.
(S02E05) "Whether you admit it or not, your life is something of a nightmare." - Bowling Alley Guy to Olivia
For a minute there, I thought maybe we were in a True Blood crossover with the horned guy in the first few minutes of this episode. But no, it was the usual twisty-turny Fringe-isms involving mind control, computer chips and dream states.
And it appears that something many of us assumed had happened to Peter actually did happen -- though with this show, you can never be sure until it all plays out. It wouldn't surprise me if it's something completely different from what I'm assuming it is. All this, and Mysterious Bowling Alley Guy after the jump ...
At 8, ABC has a new FlashForward, followed by new episodes of Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice.
CBS has a new Survivor at 8, then new episodes of CSI andThe Mentalist.
NBC has a new Community at 8, followed by new episodes of Parks and Recreation and The Office, the season premiere of 30 Rock, and a new Jay Leno Show.
FOX has new episodes of Bones and Fringe.
The CW has a new Vampire Diaries at 8, then a new Supernatural.
TBS has Baseball Playoffs at 8, the Dodgers vs. the Phillies.
At 9, Spike has a new TNA Wrestling.
MTV has a new Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory at 9, followed by new episodes of Bully Beatdown, Nitro Circus, and Pranked.
Cartoon Network has a new Total Drama Action at 9, then a new Stoked.
At 10, Lifetime has a new Project Runway.
FX has a new It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia at 10.
Call me Fringe obsessed, but after commenter Schwack mentioned something about "Easter eggs" hidden in the graffiti on the wall during Charlie and Olivia's fight scene in last night's episode, I had to go back and take a look myself.
Specifically, Schwack wrote in the comments: "Some are saying there are some "easter eggs" in the mural/graffiti during Olivia and Charlie's fight scene. I went back to it and I did [see] the Fringe's seahorse, a portrait of Van Gogh and another man, though I don't recognize him.
I found the episode on SlashControl and took a few screen shots to see what I could see, enlarging and sharpening as much as I could without crashing our pages. Above is the main one and I must admit, I see nothing. The guy on the far end looks a little like Leonard Nimoy, but that would be too easy. More after the jump...
A little over a year ago, CBS was all a flutter with thoughts of a new Hawaii Five-O. Jane wrote about it and even allowed herself to get geeked about a new Jack Lord and company. Well, that incarnation by Criminal Minds executive producer Ed Bernero failed to make it into production. I guess it didn't have enough "Book 'em, Danno's" -- or maybe it had too many. Whatever the reason, that version died and a new one has been ordered. CBS now has a new plan for an updated Hawaii Five-O.
(S02E04) "Momentum can be deferred, but it must always be paid back in full. As I always said to Walter, physics is a bitch." - William Bell to Olivia, on the dangers of jumping universes
Cryonics, frozen heads, worm juice, mercury blood, shapeshifters, and Leonard Nimoy were all featured in this episode, and I loved it all.
Let's start with the worm juice. Olivia must have been seriously craving her William Bell memories to drink that awful stuff. And what a trooper that she was able to keep it down, too. I guess it must have worked. She got some of her memories back, along with some help from the bell -- both the bell they chimed during Rebecca's psychedelic adventure and William Bell. Or Willem, as Olivia used to call him.
Is she right not to trust him? Could he have started the war? It's certainly possible, given his mysteriousness. He said for reasons she might understand later, he couldn't come back to this universe right now, possibly never. Why? What's he doing over there? Is he the one building the army? Is he being forced to? Will he and Walter face off eventually?
(S02E03) "Get my portable chemistry set ... this means bodies!" - Walter to Astrid
This episode of Fringe sort of went along without too many shocker moments -- until the last few minutes, that is. I wasn't all that surprised about the serum that turned people into human explosives, or even that it might be part of a top-secret military experiment. But I was wondering when our friend The Observer would turn up again in a big way and dump something spicy all over his plate of food.
It's great to be J.J. Abrams. His newest spec script about a married spy couple is currently undergoing a bidding war that it looks like NBC is winning. On top of that, he's got a new comedy on Fox and he's behind one of the best revitalizations of a franchise in the history of the medium. The script is co-written by Josh Reims, who worked on shows such as ABC's Brothers & Sisters and Dirty Sexy Money.
As others have noted, this new spec script could play as a sequel to his hit show Alias. That show did end with Sydney and Michael married with two kids being asked to return to service. Sadly, I think Jennifer Garner would consider that a backwards step in her career no matter how much she owes Abrams. Perhaps she could make a cameo?
It's interesting that the television spinoff of Mr. & Mrs. Smith didn't last long and had the very same premise. But then, Abrams wasn't behind that one.
Syfy has a Legend of the Seeker marathon all night.
When you want to up the ante on a drama, create a great villain. To this day, the best James Bond movies have always been the ones with great villains. Fox's sci-fi drama Fringe is buying into that theory, because they've gone out and hired an actor who excels at playing evil. 
At 8, ABC has a new FlashForward, followed by new episodes of Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice.
(S02E04) "Momentum can be deferred, but it must always be paid back in full. As I always said to Walter, physics is a bitch." - William Bell to Olivia, on the dangers of jumping universes
It's great to be J.J. Abrams. His newest spec script about a married spy couple is currently undergoing a bidding war that it looks like 
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