Fringe returns on January 13 with "Back to Where You've Never Been," the episode that should have been the midseason finale before it was pushed back by the World Series. And while Fringe left us on the oddly pensive note that was "Wallflower," Friday's episode will make it obvious that the series meant to go to the winter hiatus with a bang. "Back to Where You've Never Been" is the best episode of season 4 so far, better than previous title holders "Novation" and "And Those We've Left Behind." The episode marks the season gaining momentum after a few episodes of spinning its wheels, and at least in one regard, that momentum is going somewhere. Fringe is back, baby.
Peter seems to have been growing as frustrated as we were with just sitting around, and in this episode, he takes initiative. As the countless trailers and promos released for this episode have indicated, he hatches a plan to the alternate universe, which seems more familiar than our universe, because the ramifications of his disappearance aren't nearly as severe. Of course, that doesn't mean that everyone is friendly. Things don't go smoothly at all (but did you really expect them to?).
Check out these promos and behind-the-scenes photos from the episode.
The episode moves quickly, dodging opportunities to stall and instead hurrying right on to introducing new mysteries -- and bringing back some old ones. The episode sees the return of an old foe, while a familiar face is put into mortal danger. Someone we thought would be bad turns out to be good (perhaps), and someone finally gives John Noble credit for great acting. Here's one last little hint: this episode will leave you craving some "Lysergic Acid Diethylamide."
Fringe looks to be heading into what I've been told is an energetic second half of the season. "Back to Where You've Never Been" would have been a fantastic midseason finale, but it makes a pretty great midseason premiere, too. A
Fringe returns on Friday, January 13 at 9/8c with "Back to Where You've Never Been." Check back to TVOvermind afterward for Nadine Ramsden's in-depth review of the episode.
Wait, you didn't think "One Night in October" was the best episode of Season 4? Not sure how to take this review, then…
I'll try to use "oddly pensive" as euphemism for atrocious, whenever I can.
If I’d meant atrocious, I would have said it. I actually liked “Wallflower,” though it didn’t move the plot forward enough to merit being a midseason finale.
The X-T-Shirt Man!?!?!? PLEASE!
I'm always craving LSD.
So does that mean there will be another animated sequence like Lysergic Acid Diethylamide?
Does it?
No it doesn't. It means the Observer talks about the man in the X shirt.
Pinkner and Wyman have taken a beautiful sentiment from fans on the where is Peter Bishop video and squandered it. No matter how great this episode is it does not excuse the lack of Peter in the first 7 episodes. Word is that Fringe is closed to being cancelled. Well if you take fans trust and love and mess with it you get ratings that are dire and the ratings are dire. Nice try but see you on another series and here is a hint…actually treat fans with respect next time please.
Wow, really? Because I think there were four episodes that Peter wasn’t in (and even then he was kind of in those).
Sam….in those 4 episodes Peter was a MacGuffin. In the following 3 he was a MacGuffin who was on screen. They were 7 incredibly poor episodes narrative wise. Episodes 2 and 6 were great MOTW and strong performances by the guest stars but fans (via the Where is Peter Bishop fan video) have been craving more Peter and a Peter arc. Wyman and pinkner gave on the nose clunky dialogue and repetitive rubbish. This show needs to kick up a few gears and I think based on the ratings fans have lost faith. They promised a Peter season and obviously lied and are paying the price. Karma.
Wow really mike? They may have promised a Peter season, but you can't just take Peter out of the equation at the end of season three and then pop him right back in. If that was the case, then it would have been pointless to end season three the way they did. I have loved every episode this season so far, and learning about how these characters have developed with the absence of Peter has been done wonderfully.