It was more than fantastic to finally have Fringe back on television, airing new episodes. What made it even better was that tonight’s episode, “Inner Child” was easily one of the better episodes of the season, and possible the best procedural-based episode I can remember.
The episode started out great, when they found Gollum, I mean mini-Observer, it was definitely Lord of the Rings freaky. Walter and Peter were fantastic, as always, but what stood out the most to me, character-wise, was what a fantastic job Anna Torv did on this episode. For probably the first time this season, I felt that there was an emotional connection and that she might actually be human. Even the scenes with her sister and niece had warmth and compassion, something that has unfortunately been lacking in some of the other episodes with her character. Don’t get me wrong, I love Olivia, but her character has come off as cold and less than warm in many episodes.
Walter’s Dance
Definitely the best Walter moment of the episode was his terrible but funny little dance to loosen up mini-O. It was very cool to see that it worked and even produced the boy’s first smile. Its great that Walter can be so clueless most of the time, and so on-the-mark the rest of the time. Makes you wonder just how much of it all he’s faking, and how much is real.
Best Line of the Night
Walter: Don’t be such a prude. I’m sure Agent Dunham knows what a penis looks like. Don’t you Agent Dunham.
Serialized vs Procedural
This is something that’s been on my mind since Fringe first started, and this seems like as good a time as any to mention it. Its no secret that I prefer serialized television shows. They certainly aren’t popular with the masses these days, and typically struggle for ratings, but they’re usually the better shows and the ones that make me want to come back from week to week. I find that procedural shows get into a grove of the same old same old, and although they might still be good shows, I’ve got so many other things to do that might be more entertaining. I remember hearing about how the creators of Fringe planned to incorporate both into this show, and I’ve never thought they’ve done a good job at it. The episodes tend to either be serialized episodes, or procedural episodes. In my opinion, the proceduralized episodes usually suck…bad, and typically involve some insanely weird and proposterous item such as the gelatinous disk of mystery, or the computer hand that magically reached out of the computer screen. The more serialized episodes, full of great mythology, pull me in and make me love this show (such as 1.14, “Ability”). Tonight, however was one of the unique episodes where they proved to me, maybe for the first time, that they can in fact do both procedural and serialized drama successfully at the same time. Tonight’s episode was definitely a stand alone procedural, but because of how it was written the procedural aspect of the episode actually became part of the mythology. If Fringe could do this every week, consistently, the show would be a huge success and none of us would have to worry about whether or not it gets picked up next season.
Speculation on the meaning at the end
The end of the episode tonight was both enlightening and mysteriously confusing at the same time. Mini-O seemed happy for the first time, heading to his new home. Then, abruptly the happiness seemed to fade and we saw The Observer on the sidewalk. Mini-O’s reaction was almost similar to his reaction to the CIA agent, which makes one wonder if he is scared of the Observer for some reason. However, after the enlightening in 1.14, Ability, in discovering that Walter wrote the manifesto that describes how two different groups of people can’t both survive it seems obvious to me. Mini-O found himself enjoying life for the first time. However, The Observer quickly reminded him that they are not their for enjoyment and happiness. They are there for a reason, and the reason is not a happy or pleasant one for people like Olivia and Peter. The sadness on mini-O’s face was because he knows what has to be done, and it saddens him to have to do it.
That wraps up my initial thoughts on the episode. I’ll be posting investigations and easter eggs tomorrow when I have time to do some screen caps. If you have any specific requests please email me at astrojones@gmail.com.
Bryan Jones (aka AstroJones) is a Human Resources Professional by day, and a web designer and writer by night. Bryan is a hard core television & movie fan and also writes for TVOvermind.com, & MovieOvermind.com, & Docarzt Lost Blog. Bryan lives in Norman, Oklahoma with his wife and three daughters. You can keep updated on all of Bryan's writings by following him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/astrojones2 or on Facebook.
I really enjoyed this episode too!
I totally didn’t see the twist of the boy being a Mini-Observer until that last scene. When the boy saw the Observer everything clicked and my mouth dropped to the floor. I am very surprised I didn’t see it coming earlier. It’s been to long without Fringe!
Agreed… arguably one of my favorite episodes of the season. Don’t feel bad Adam, it didn’t click for me until the end either, and that even includes me having the Observer in the front of my mind after seeing him on American Idol.
I suspected mini-o when he refused to eat the m&m’s and his lack of emotion (at least in the beginning) his pale complexion , no brows and bald head was pretty much a dead give away to me too.
I thought for a split second that maybe he refused to eat the candy because it was too unfamiliar to him but he didnt eat anything not even the dry toast, as Walter pointed out.Perhaps they should have offered him roast rat but I dont agree with walter there, I don’t hink he ate rat….at least I hope he didn’t.
Thanks Jeremy! I thought I was the only one. Haha! I caught the Observer part of American Idol on Youtube. He looks bloody freaky. Imagine what people who haven’t seen Fringe think of him…
MsDee: yea there were quite a few clues and looking back on it, it seem like we are meant to guess that hes like the Observer from the start…
Well, I thought that right away, but as the episode lingered on I began to second guess myself, until the very end.
I am wondering if it is more than “we are meant to guess that he’s like the Observer.” Could this be another time travel situation and mini-O is past Biggie-O? As we all know time travel shows are all the cult rage, i.e. Lost, Life on Mars, Heroes.
Consider the following:
Biggie-O had a relationship with Walter earlier in the season… Mini-O’s first smile was with Walter. Perhaps Walter’s assylum dance creates an on going trust between the two.
They do look alike and have the same personality type.
They never did determine how he managed to be in the crypt basement (which i felt was the one thing lacking from the episode). Biggie-O has the ability to show up all over the place – the show has time and again shown us that it is possible to travel though solids and even terra firma. It would not be out of the realm of possibility for Biggie-O to have mastered such techniques.
mini-O didn’t like m&m’s. Biggie-O only likes food with tons of hot sauce on it
Great Episode! Glad to have it back!
Dude, you’re making my nose bleed.
Well, I must be clueless. I didn’t even guess that mini-O was an Observer! I thought it meant that he was going to a place that wouldn’t have a happy family for him,that the CIA got him in the end. That he saw the Observer and knew there was no happiness. Never guessed….will have to go back and rewatch it again!
I really loved this episode – I just found Fringe last weekend so I’ve been catching up on the series, thus my late reply here! – this is one of my favourite episodes, and I agree that Olivia is warmer and gentler here than she has been in most of season 1. I’d guess it’s partly she’s getting over John’s death, plus the fear of mini-O, his terror, makes her more gentle than she’s has had reason to be with anyone else. It was nice to see how warm and gentle she could be!!