grimorie | [Episode Reaction] Fringe 3x09

Marionette

The ffwd button was in much use this episode. I'm a very squeamish person and its a wonder I don't use that button much in Fringe but last night… I was forced to do so.

Again, the interesting aspect about this casefile was the parallels they had with Olivia's situation other than that…. ffwd button.

Olivia had such a big smile on her face, she was finally happy after her long hell, which makes the following minutes after so hard.

I think Olivia's had it up to here with mad scientists who can't LET GO and move on.

I really liked that Olivia called altBroyles her friend and she told ourBroyles all about altBroyles. I loved that. I also loved Broyles figured it out and the rapport between them is stronger. Olivia kept using the past tense… but does she really know altBroyles died? Or did she suspect it but didn't know that he came over in our side?

Olivia never had an easy time making friends and after the easy camaraderie she had with the altBoys, I feel all the more sad for Olivia. altOlivia's life was full in a way that ourOlivia is hard pressed to do. Thinking of the people she could lean on emotionally here in the Blueverse... I really want to reach into my screen and give her a much deserved hug.

Seriously. Why has no one given her a hug yet? A really big hug. She needs hugs people. It breaks my heart to see Olivia curl into herself and breakdown.

There really is such a difference between altOlivia and OurOlivia's style. Seeing ourOlivia in her natural environment where altLivia was before, the differences are striking. ourOlivia doesn't just stand back and wait for other people to properly sift through information, after processing Broyles' briefing, she immediately offers up information and takes the lead on the case.

Which makes it very frustrating because, really, how could her team miss that crucial fact? Olivia leads. altLivia follows.

ASTRID AND OLIVIA sharing a scene and being FRIENDS! It doesn't show it often but I LOVE Astrid's support for Olivia. OLIVIA needs friends! Also, she needs a hug. Why don't people give her a hug?

But more than that. I LOVE that Astrid and Olivia had a scene together!

I love that it was Astrid who said it was not okay and it made Olivia pause and stop the denials. Because, yes, it isn't okay and Olivia pretending it was, was not okay.

I'm really happy seeing Astrid more active and being Junior Agent-y. Really, the investigation during season 2x01 didn't need an outside junior agent to head the investigation. They already had an Astrid. Unless of course Astrid didn't get her field rating until after the events with the gross worms.

One of the best things I love about Olivia is that she doesn't like drama. She tries to avoid that as much as she can and I wasn't surprised when Olivia tried to be a trooper about Peter's relationship with altLivia. But, man, the moment she figured out what Peter was telling her? Gutted me (the first of many!).

The episode, in the long run wasn't about the frankenstein story but about Olivia slow journey to realizing that she wasn't okay. She wasn't okay with what happened to her and she isn't nearly as fine with Peter taking up with altLivia, as blameless as he was for it (kinda). Peter was caught up in a rock and a really blind place.

Olivia knows it isn't fair to blame Peter for that. She knows this and this is why she doesn't try to take offense. She really tried. But the reality of the situation was far more horrific than going on 'vacation' and finding her mail opened. Another person was in her home-- a safe place (and we know from 3x01 how much Olivia(s) valued their safe places-- in her clothes, in her life. On her skin and in her mind. In every aspect of her life and even Peter, who her mind conjured up as her 'safe person' wasn't safe.

He was the first to fall for the trick... and from how he worded it: Quicker to smile. Less intense (and indeed, how he was with altLivia) he seemed to enjoy altLivia's company a lot. And, Olivia could tell, you could see it from the way her smile faltered but it stayed on thinking that was the only revelation Peter would give until that long, long shot on Olivia's face as she realized that, no, what happened was a lot worse.

But, I think, initially Olivia was more upset learning that everyone knew about Peter and her alternate. To Olivia, it must have felt like it was John Scott all over again. Her personal life and failure opened for everyone to see.

Olivia slowly breaking down, starting from the moment she glimpsed her reflection on the mirror with the bangs to the tattoo on her neck... it must have been suffocating to be reminded of a person who invaded her life so well that seeing Peter's shirt in her laundry was enough to send her over.

To Peter's credit, and the show's, I'm glad that they didn't let a few episodes pass by with Olivia in the dark about altOlivia and Peter's relationship. Peter could have not told her but he manned up and he did tell her even though Olivia gave him plenty of opportunity to back out.

The scene in the garden. OMG. Talk about heartbreak. The way Olivia's emotional journey moved from repression to breakdown and finally that admittance of anger. An anger, which, again, the show doesn't show as wrong. Yes, it really wouldn't be fair that Peter would be expected to just look or be with altLivia and know she wasn't ourOlivia. But. Well. altCharlie suspected. Nina suspected. On the other end, Linc refused to believe because he was blind to the differences.

But it doesn't remove the fact that what happened hurt Olivia and her anger about that, as always was genuine and real. More real because she tried to explain it away. And I just really love the show because again they never showed that Olivia's anger was wrong but also, that Peter wasn't totally at fault and I felt for both.

I really love Olivia's anger.

'She wasn't me.' How far we've gone. From Olivia pleading for altLivia's help 'because you're me' to that statement and from what she's experienced and felt as altOlivia, she's a better judge now.

I just… need to put this out there. But, are we watching the right universe? I mean, head!Peter explained Rachel moved with her husband, who we know she divorced and now Broyles referred to himself as 'Colonel Broyles' of the FBI. The only time our Broyles referred to himself as 'Colonel' was in season 2 premiere. It's always been Special Agent Broyles of the FBI.

It might be nothing. Might just be the writers forgetting… then again. This is a show with multiple universes…

Next episode Fringe will move to Fridays:(( On the other hand, the first episode on Friday will be called 'Firefly'. Oh, showrunners, you geeks!

[Episode Reaction] Fringe 3x09 - Marionette

no subject