Fringe's second season has really been getting into the mythology of the series while maintaining the week-to-week theme of a procedural. Episode 2.18 of the series, "The Man from the Other Side," is obviously one of those episodes -- you can just tell from the title. The "Other Side," along with "Over There," is a term often used on the show to delineate the alternate universe which has been causing such a big problem for our characters. You know, big problems like shape-shifting soldiers taking on the appearance of Olivia's dead partner and plotting to kill her.
Those soldiers haven't been seen much since "Grey Matters," where they briefly kidnapped Walter. They're led by Thomas Newton (Sebastian Roche), who is also a shapeshifter. The one thing I'm still not sure about them, though, is what exactly they are. We know that they're at least partially robotic -- they bleed mercury and can have their decapitated heads reattached like nobody's business. But, as the press release for this episode shows, they can also apparently be fetuses. At least, there can be fetuses that are shapeshifters. It's really confusing. Check out these promotional photos from the episode, which will air April 22.
NEWTON AND SHAPE-SHIFTERS RETURN ON AN ALL-NEW “FRINGE”
THURSDAY, APRIL 22, ON FOXWhen two teenagers on a date turn up “dead” at an abandoned warehouse with the three puncture wounds to the soft palate – a trademark of the shape-shifters – the Fringe team investigates the evidence as well as the motives of mastermind Newton. Upon discovering a shape-shifting embryo, Walter returns to the lab to conduct further analysis, and Olivia and Peter head to Massive Dynamic for answers. Meanwhile, Peter reveals a family secret to Olivia as Walter struggles to recall what Newton knows about “building a door” in the all-new “The Man from the Other Side” episode of FRINGE airing Thursday, April 22 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (FR-218) (TV-14 L, V)
Cast: Anna Torv as Olivia Dunham; Joshua Jackson as Peter Bishop; John Noble as Walter Bishop; Lance Reddick as Phillip Broyles; Blair Brown as Nina Sharp; Jasika Nicole as Astrid Farnsworth
Guest Cast: Sebastian Roché as Thomas Jerome Newton; Ryan McDonald as Brandon; Peter Bryant as Ben McCalister; James Pizzinato as Dave; Katie Findlay as Jill; Shawn MacDonald as Daniel Verona; James Tsai as David Wu
its 2.19 man! from one writer to another; u people did once again with the olivia.revolver epsode. carefull guys
There's actually been a little discrepancy with the numbering of the episodes. The "Unearthed" episode was actually an unaired episode from season one. Some people count it as episode 2.11, some count it as 1.23. We choose to count it as 1.23, since it doesn't quite fit in with the canon of season two (Charlie's still alive, after all). Since we count it as 1.23, that means "Johari Window" was 2.11, "What Lies Below" was 2.12, and so "The Man from the Other Side" will be 2.18. Thanks for fact checking us, though — we appreciate it!