There's More Than One Of Everything
Jan. 19th, 2013 11:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
andrasteAfter a fifth season that was shaky in many ways, a finale that was good in its own right and brought closure to what went before. I could be writing about either Merlin or Fringe, but it's actually Fringe today *g*.
And in five years, I never did learn not to eat in front of this show. I mean, you would think that after the very first melting-jaws-on-a-plane scene I would have realised that there were going to be plenty of gross-out moments, but I never really remembered it was a bad idea.
I actually experienced a flood of nostalgia over the giant microbes, despite the fact that they horrified me in their first appearance. One of the things that was good about this season was seeing the team weaponize all the wacky stuff they've investigated over the years. That walk down the corridors to Broyles' cell was like a grossest hits parade of sorts. "You have no idea how lucky you are that this cell doesn't have ventilation" indeed. Walter making osmium bullets purely because he thinks it's neat was just perfect.
The Walter and Peter hugging scene was touching, and I loved Walter telling Peter 'you're my favourite thing'. What actually made me tear up, though, was his saying goodbye to Astrid by telling her she has a beautiful name. Also: GENE!!! I wonder what they're going to do with her back in the alternative present now that Walter is no longer there to make milkshakes :(. Yet for all that he didn't want to leave the people he loves, I can't help thinking that Walter is going to find 2167 an interesting experience. Imagine the exciting new drugs they must have invented by then!
One of my major complaints about this season has been the lack of Broyles, so it was lovely to see him back in the game. I'm delighted that they went and rescued him and he got to help with the shooting - he's earned the right to gun down some Observers as much as anyone.
It was also nice to get a look back at the AltVerse, although I'm sorry we didn't get to see Charlie one last time. Still, glad to hear Walternate is still making himself useful at the age of ninety. I was hoping for one last William Bell appearance, but Leonard Nimoy is old and probably expensive and there wasn't really room. Maybe it's appropriate that he ends the series as he began it - somewhere out of sight.
Most importantly, though: OLIVIA!!! SAVING THE WORLD WITH HER SUPERPOWERS!!! This was always how Fringe had to conclude, and I'm very glad that the writers realised that.
So despite being predictable in many respects, founded on a time paradox that made very little sense even by Fringe standards and revolving around a kid who was a plot device rather than a character, I thought this was enjoyable on the whole. There was a bunch of stuff about this season that didn't really work, but overturning the premise of the show was a brave thing to do and I'm glad they ended here and not in Season Four. (Or even Season Three, really, despite Season Two and Season Three being the strongest parts of the show over all.) Say what you like about Fringe, its arcs went somewhere. Not always where I'd have liked them to go, but I'm happy we got a resolution to the Observer plotline and an appropriate conclusion for Walter.
And in five years, I never did learn not to eat in front of this show. I mean, you would think that after the very first melting-jaws-on-a-plane scene I would have realised that there were going to be plenty of gross-out moments, but I never really remembered it was a bad idea.
I actually experienced a flood of nostalgia over the giant microbes, despite the fact that they horrified me in their first appearance. One of the things that was good about this season was seeing the team weaponize all the wacky stuff they've investigated over the years. That walk down the corridors to Broyles' cell was like a grossest hits parade of sorts. "You have no idea how lucky you are that this cell doesn't have ventilation" indeed. Walter making osmium bullets purely because he thinks it's neat was just perfect.
The Walter and Peter hugging scene was touching, and I loved Walter telling Peter 'you're my favourite thing'. What actually made me tear up, though, was his saying goodbye to Astrid by telling her she has a beautiful name. Also: GENE!!! I wonder what they're going to do with her back in the alternative present now that Walter is no longer there to make milkshakes :(. Yet for all that he didn't want to leave the people he loves, I can't help thinking that Walter is going to find 2167 an interesting experience. Imagine the exciting new drugs they must have invented by then!
One of my major complaints about this season has been the lack of Broyles, so it was lovely to see him back in the game. I'm delighted that they went and rescued him and he got to help with the shooting - he's earned the right to gun down some Observers as much as anyone.
It was also nice to get a look back at the AltVerse, although I'm sorry we didn't get to see Charlie one last time. Still, glad to hear Walternate is still making himself useful at the age of ninety. I was hoping for one last William Bell appearance, but Leonard Nimoy is old and probably expensive and there wasn't really room. Maybe it's appropriate that he ends the series as he began it - somewhere out of sight.
Most importantly, though: OLIVIA!!! SAVING THE WORLD WITH HER SUPERPOWERS!!! This was always how Fringe had to conclude, and I'm very glad that the writers realised that.
So despite being predictable in many respects, founded on a time paradox that made very little sense even by Fringe standards and revolving around a kid who was a plot device rather than a character, I thought this was enjoyable on the whole. There was a bunch of stuff about this season that didn't really work, but overturning the premise of the show was a brave thing to do and I'm glad they ended here and not in Season Four. (Or even Season Three, really, despite Season Two and Season Three being the strongest parts of the show over all.) Say what you like about Fringe, its arcs went somewhere. Not always where I'd have liked them to go, but I'm happy we got a resolution to the Observer plotline and an appropriate conclusion for Walter.
(no subject)
Date: 2013-01-21 06:06 pm (UTC)Only on THIS SHOW do you find yourself cheering on giant bugs and germs and horrible flesh-growing bacteria.
-- thank you, that sums up my feelings quite succinctly. ;)
(no subject)
Date: 2013-01-27 02:36 pm (UTC)From now on, I think every time I see something like this on TV I will feel nostalgic for Fringe.
"So despite being predictable in many respects, founded on a time paradox that made very little sense even by Fringe standards and revolving around a kid who was a plot device rather than a character, I thought this was enjoyable on the whole." -- thank you, that sums up my feelings quite succinctly. ;)
I kept oscillating between 'but this makes no sense!' and 'awwwwwww, I love you all!' throughout, but ultimately the latter feeling won *g*.