Fringe: "Subject 13"

I can never get tired of the 80s retro-themed Fringe intro. Or Walter's hair, either. Do you?

Several months after the events in the season 2 episode "Peter", Peter wanted to get back to his home at the bottom of the lake. Unfortunately for him, his real home is much farther in dimensional space than the lake. His home in in the alternate universe, where Walternate and Alt-Elizabeth are grief stricken.

Their marriage is falling apart. Walternate, who has built the "Star Wars" defense system has turned to drinking, and buries himself in his work at Bishop Dynamics.

But, back to our universe... Peter no longer trusts Walter or Elizabeth and continues to tell them that they are not his real parents. Both Walter and Elizabeth chalk this up to Peter's sickness, but it falls on deaf ears. Worried that Peter might try to kill himself, Elizabeth takes Peter to Jacksonville where Walter is doing the Cortexiphan trials on several kids, including Subject 13, aka Olivia Dunham.

Olivia, as she would explain to an adult Peter many years later, was abused as a child by her stepdad. As we saw last night, during times when she was scared, Olivia would be able to travel Over There for a few moments. After one trip, she drew a picture of a blimp that she saw Over There. (Also remember, that Olivia told Peter years later that she shot her stepfather when she was 9, though she didn't kill him. Shortly after that, the man left).

Walter realizes that Olivia can travel to The Other Side, and performs several tests to see exactly how she can travel to The Other Side. Because if she can, then Peter can go home. After several different tests, Walter concludes that fear is the reason she can travel. But when he tests this hypothesis, Olivia sets the room on fire. After this, Olivia runs away. Peter later goes after her, where the two meet in a field of white tulips. Peter convinces Olivia to return with him and face her fears.

They both return to the Day Care Center, where Olivia is notified that her stepdad is on his way over. Olivia is terrified, and begs to see Walter. She runs into his office, hands over her sketchbook, and tells Walter that her stepdad is hitting her. Upon telling him this, someone else comes in the room- Walter.

For a brief moment (which completely fooled me), Olivia traveled to The Other Side and told Walternate about everything that happened. She ends up telling Walter the same thing. Walter threatens Olivia's stepdad to not hurt her again.

Meanwhile, Peter approaches his "mother" and tells her he believes her and Walter. And even calls her Mom. Apparently, Olivia inspired Peter in the same fashion that he inspired Olivia. This huge secret causes Elizabeth to begin drinking, which will ultimately lead to her suicide years later over the guilt.

After looking through Olivia's sketchbook, Walter finds a drawing of Olivia and Peter. He calls up his wife, and tells her he has discovered what happened to Peter. The war between the Universes has begun.

Subject 13 was a really great episode. I'm curious how often we will be getting these type of episodes. After all, we are left with some questions. Why can't Peter and Olivia remember the stuff when they were young? And the longer we go without seeing Nina Sharp in the Alternate Universe, the more important I think she is.

Unfortunately, Fringe is not on next week. But we'll see a new episode in two weeks. Until then, this week's glyphs translate to:

SWITCH.