So come on now, Fringe writers.
LOL.
We know that didn't really happen.
Alt!Lincoln is so obviously still alive.
We have an entire episode hitting us over the head with a sledgehammer about how Alt!Lincoln is gonna die and our Lincoln is gonna be happy in the AU and stay there in his place... and then IT HAPPENS THAT WAY?
On FRINGE?
The show that fucking REINVENTED fake-outs and surprise twists?
LOL no.
One word: SHENANIGANS.
He gets a totally non-fatal gunshot wound, is acting totally fine, even says he's been blown up before and will be fine, AND IS ASKING WHO KNEW ABOUT THE PRISONER TRANSPORT (SUSPICIOUS ALT!LINCOLN IS SUSPICIOUS), and then next we hear, he's dead (off screen), and we never get a death scene OR see a body?
FUCKING SHENANIGANS.
My top theory is that Walternate knows there's a mole at Fringe Division, showed up on the way to the hospital, and recruited Lincoln for a secret mission in which he needed someone to believably fake their death in order to work completely under the radar or possibly undercover, without the mole finding out there's anyone on a mission.
That or suspicious!Lincoln faked his own death to basically do the same thing.
But my money's on Walternate.
BECAUSE SHENANIGANS.
I do, however, so fucking fear that he'll come back ONLY TO DIE FOR REALS. But as long as he gets a properly epic and/or tragic death and death scene, I'm actually ok with this (even though Lincoln/Alt!Lincoln/Alt!Livia OT3 FOR FUCKING EVER, BEST TRIO EVER ON THE SHOW, brb making icons)... BECAUSE OMG THE SHIP. I've been shipping Lincoln!Alt!Livia basically all season even though they've only met like twice before this, so OMFG I CAN'T BELIEVE IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ACTUALLY GONNA BE CANON NOW, BRB EXCITED AND SQUISHING THEIR ADORABLE AWESOMENESS FOREVER.
...BUT ALT!LINCOLN. I just know he's not gonna survive coming back. But I'm prepared. PREPARED TO WEEP.
However, I'm also prepared to spend the entire time until that happens LOLing (read: cackling maniacally) at the CHAOS, and at all the people who think he's really dead already. Because there is literally only one thing on this entire planet that could make me believe he's really dead, and that is A FLASHBACK TO SEE HIS ACTUAL DEATH... a flashback not followed up by another scene in which he wakes up with Walternate creeping in his face going LOL WELCOME TO YOUR SUPER SEKRIT MISSION.
If we do get that, THEN I will be fucking crushed to pieces. And be pissed that he didn't get A FUCKING AMAZING HEROIC DEATH. Because killing a main character off screen in so obvious and wtf a way would just be BAD WRITING.
Until then, not believing a word of it. NOT A WORD. If for no other reason than because this show does not do bad writing.
Denial? Maybe. Shenanigans? Definitely.
LIVE ON, TYRONE
*brb snickering forever*