Fringe: Northwest Passage

By Rhea Dee

Peter on his own is an interesting Peter. He’s not nearly as brooding and angst ridden as I expected him to be, given all the recent revelations. Peter on his own just wants to run away, geographically and emotionally. Peter on his own just wants to go to Mars. Instead, he ends up in Twin Peaks. Well, Washington State. In a town that kind of reminded me of Twin Peaks.

A girl Peter makes arrangements to meet is kidnapped before she has a chance to meet up with him. Peter thinks he’s been stood up, but when he heads back to the diner she worked at, he notices a crime scene. Peter sees Newton (aka Mr. Detached Head) in the crowd, and thinks that the girl may have been killed so that Newton could locate Peter. After initially being treated as a suspect, Peter reveals that he was an FBI Consultant in Boston who worked on weird cases, and that he thinks this girl’s death is related to his work (she had some of her brain tissue removed). The Sherriff of the town, Mathis, believes in paranormal phenomena and decides to let Peter help with the case.

Peter and Mathis worked amazingly well, even though Peter was keeping so much hidden from her. Mathis’s interest in the unexplained gave Peter quite a free reign, in terms of theories and clues and solutions. But Team Peter and Mathis was more of a showcase for Peter’s skills, and how amazingly smart and resourceful he is. Peter’s time with Team Fringe made him much more adept at figuring out weird cases, and at using unconventional methods to figure out weird cases.

In a way, watching Peter on his own was like watching how much Peter learned from Walter, and how useful that knowledge is in the real world. Peter may not realize it, but his unconventional way of solving this case rang of his Dad, his weird, wacky Dad who, despite thinking of the weirdest ways to solve problems, always solves them.

At the end, we discover that the murders and Newton’s mysterious appearance aren’t related. But Newton was in Washington for a reason: to introduce Peter to the mysterious Mr. Secretary, Walternate.

Last Thoughts: Walter’s breakdown in the grocery store just about broke my heart. Also, Olivia and Astrid will live on eternal in the “Coolest Ladies Ever” camp. When they offered their help to Walter, and he sarcastically said “What? Should I call you every time I run out of pudding pops?” Olivia’s no nonsense “Yes” was just amazing. I imagine she would put a bullet in someone’s head if they prevented her from getting Walter his pudding pops. How does she make something that simple so badass?

Another heartbreaking moment? Peter’s face at the end of the episode when he saw Walternate. Just when I thought things might be okay, he shows up. Damnit. I feel like this story is starting to turn into The Face on the Milk Carton.

Next Time On Fringe: Broyles in a tight black t-shirt! And other stuff, too. But, BROYLES IN A TIGHT BACK
T-SHIRT!

Rhea Dee spends her time collecting vintage junk, daydreaming about Eli Roth, and pondering the genius of John Carpenter soundtracks.  She really likes horror films.

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