113: 'The Transformation'
Wr: J.R. Orci & Zack Whedon
Dr: Brad Anderson
Synopsis: Olivia and Peter go undercover to investigate after the discovery of bizarre remains at a jumbo jet's crash site.
Review: So, Zack Whedon, eh? Yup, you guessed it folks, that's Joss' brother; you know, the one whose new show is about to premiere on US TV and all the critics appear to be giving it a bit of a slamming. Zack has nothing to worry about though because 'The Transformation' is the best episode of Fringe in a while and sees the show taking an about turn from the nosedive it looked set to take in the wake of its return to our screens a few weeks ago. The annoying FBI agent intent on ruining Olivia's career is pushed to the wayside. The irritating sister and daughter, there only to give the show a chance to have a few schmaltzy heart to heart moments? Barely to be seen and when she is, it's actually relevant to the overall plot. The overall plot, meanwhile, actually offers the viewer answers (shock of shocks!) and, even more remarkably, appears to put to bed the whole John Scott narrative. Well I never! I thought we'd be clinging onto the one for at least another four seasons. And while I'm certainly not convinced that we've seen the last of the bugger, it's encouraging that the programme is at least tying the loose ends up so that it wouldn't be a bone of contention if we didn't. Thus, he tells Olivia what he was doing while she's in that bloody tank again, Massive Dynamic and Broyles reveal to Dunham that they've kept John's body and they actually explain what for, and, get this, Bishop tells her that her mind is successfully venting Scott's memories and that she'll soon be rid of him. To wit, she gets bank into the flaming tank and agrees to that marriage proposal he was always going to make. Awww. Well, that just about covers every dangling plot strand related to the whole ex-partner business and, for now at least, closes the door on this avenue. I couldn't be happier. It was, after all, more than a little contrived and essentially simply a distraction from the business of Pattern-related case solving.
Speaking of which, the investigation is pretty neatly handled this week. The premise is deliciously disgusting, its continued execution delightfully disturbing (the teeth removal on the plane is just... euck) and that undercover scene is decidedly dramatic: you could cut yourself on the tension in that one, even if it is obvious that the black ops guy is going to have another virus-induced spasm before he can reveal the crucial information. Much, much better than recent efforts this and, encouragingly, it seems to close a few less desirable narrative doors rather firmly. Let's hope this is a sign of things to come. 8.7
114: 'Ability'
Wr: Roberta Chiappetta, Glen Whitman & David H. Goodman
Dr: Norberto Barba
Synopsis: The team investigates a bizarre incident where the victim's facial orifices closed over, leaving him a faceless corpse. Meanwhile, Mr. Jones turns himself over to the authorities but refuses to speak unless Olivia passes a very particular test for him.
Review: I hate American television networks. They have absolutely no idea how to handle a show successfully; instead, they adopt ludicrous scheduling initiatives that cause programmes to be on air, off air, here, there and everywhere and then they have the temerity to get themselves in a tizz about dwindling ratings. It's no wonder new shows struggle when they have the kind of stop-start track record that Fringe has suffered in its freshman year. It was off our screens for a month and a half to accommodate Christmas and now, after four short weeks, it's gone until April. APRIL! Two months away! Is it any wonder that the casual viewer loses patience and switches over, never to be seen again?
To be fair to Fringe, the production staff do an utterly stellar job of trying to encourage people to actually come back sixty or so days down the line. 'Ability' is the best episode of the series since the mind-meltingly bizarre 'Safe', full of cryptic mythology-baiting, sinister terrorist-like plot threads and, most encouragingly of all, some concrete answers regarding the series' overall direction. Obviously, any episode that features the delectable Mr. Jones so heavily is bound to be a winner and this is no exception. He oozes weird, keeping you questioning his every move and word... not entirely unlike Ben, the fantastic antagonist from that other little show produced by J.J. Abrams. He and Ms Dunham have excellent chemistry and play exceedingly well off one another: the scene in the prison cell after he jams the surveillance equipment is nail-bitingly brilliant. This level of dramatic tension is maintained admirably throughout the episode as it is so densely layered with plot. Not only do we have Mr. Jones turning himself in (nice nod to Alias, guys: Sidney's mom, anyone?) and some kooky expo regarding ZFT, but there's a little case to investigate that's marvellously disturbing too (I don't know about you, but the idea of suffocating due to your orifices sealing themselves shut really freaks me out). Cleverly, all of these disparate elements are ultimately connected, giving the narrative a strong cohesive weight and they are peppered with some intriguing insights too. We find out what ZFT is, have a hit at Walter's possible involvement in the production of the manuscript (although, it's only his typewriter's 'y's that are unaligned, just like in the text... I suppose anyone could have typed the words!), discover the reason (sort of) for Olivia's spinal tap and abduction and, try this one on for size, have the potential overview of the entire season-spanning mythology handed to us on a plate. Two co-existing realities converging, duking it out to 'win' the right to supremacy? Essentially, a parallel universe story? Well, I'll buy into that and then some. Sounds fascinating, holds such promise and, crucially, it hasn't really been done before. If the suggestions made here are correct, this makes Fringe a completely different ball game and I, for one, am stoked to see where it takes us.
So 'Ability' works for me, then. My interest is piqued, I'm raving about the show again and I will definitely be returning for more in April. Let's just hope the viewing public were equally as convinced. 9.2
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