505: 'An Origin Story'
Another intense episode and one that takes the show, and particularly Joshua Jackson's character, to some decidedly dark places. Fringe once again provides its stellar cast with the opportunity to flex their acting muscles and they do not disappoint; Noble, Torv and Jackson knocking home-run after home-run out of the park. (9)
506: 'Through the Looking Glass and What Walter Found There'
What initially feels rather like an unnecessary curveball looks likely to be one of the most pivotal episodes of this final season. Through the Looking Glass and What Walter Found There has come under some criticism for failing to convey the same sense of urgency as the episodes surrounding it and for taking its time with its storytelling but to be honest, it's all the better for it. There's an otherworldly quality to the hour, magnified largely by Jon Cassar's sublime direction, which makes for compelling viewing, and it's intriguing to see some of the pieces of the overall plan come together. Plus, there's fan-squee moments galore. Refreshingly different. (8)
507: 'Five-Twenty-Ten'
That John Noble and Joshua Jackson have yet to even be nominated for Emmys for their work in Fringe is just mindboggling. For the umpteenth time this season, and indeed, the last five years, they provide some of the finest character acting you'll see on contemporary television in Five-Twenty-Ten and they do so without overshadowing the gravitas of the plot that surrounds them. Jackson in particular is just too good as Observer Peter, perfectly capturing the mannerisms of our favourite baldies. And let's take a moment to commend Anna Torv too, particularly for that crushing scene in which she realises what Peter has become. Keep going like this Fringe and you might just survive your entire run without jumping the shark... (9)
508: 'The Human Kind'
Possibly spoke too soon there, guys. Okay, so The Human Kind doesn't exactly constitute a jumping of the shark but it is, certainly, the weakest episode of the season thus far. The quintessential problem is the flimsiness of the plot; Olivia's story, while containing a few nice dialogue exchanges, amounts to little more than 'pick up a truck, get kidnapped and escape', Peter's cat-and-mouse game with Windmark feels too slow and Walter and Astrid are a little under-served. That being said, Torv and Jackson are superb in the final scene, perfectly selling what is ultimately a rather crass means of getting around the whole 'Peterver' problem. (6)
509: 'Black Blotter'
Where season two's Brown Betty failed, so our final season's Black Blotter triumphs by striking the perfect balance between leftfield kookiness and, you know, moving the story along. With superb production values and brilliant writing, the production staff manage to realistically convey Walter's acid trip without veering too far into the ridiculous; using Nina and Carla as the 'good' and 'bad' angels on Dr. Bishop's shoulder is a neat touch and of course, the Monty Python homage is just fantastic. Crucially, we actually make logical and fulfilling progress in the development of the season arc and, on top of all this, John Noble gets to act his socks off. Again. Brilliant stuff. (9)
510: 'Anomaly XB-678346'
With only four episodes to go, Fringe feels a little like it's treading water in Anomaly XB-678346, withholding vital pieces of the puzzle where it could perhaps be teasing us a little further, but this is ultimately a minor quibble. Once again, the narrative is well structured, there are a slue of sublime character moments to get our teeth into and there's Anomaly XB-678346 who, despite having no lines of dialogue, manages to tug at all of our well-worn heartstrings. Nina's death is expertly handled and the team's reactions, particularly Walter's, eminently satisfying. And hell, even if the fact that Donald is September was fairly obvious many moons ago, it still makes for a pleasing cliffhanger. (8)
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