Fringe 3x01 - Amber 31422
OLIIIIIIVIA!!!!
I think that's going to be my standard reaction every time we see more of original flavor Olivia because she's still my prime Olivia!
So many echoes in this episode! The amber, the twins storyline, Olivia's glasses (alt Olivia wears glasses!) and ELLA!
Popular fan theory is that Ella would be instrumental in pointing out altOlivia isn't Original Flavor Olivia but wow, I could never predict that Ella would be instrumental for Original Flavor Olivia to rediscover herself!
And OMG, Olivia's slip sliding through universes? Most Awesome Ever.
Season three once again delivers in tying up the B Plot and the A Plots through effective use of emotional resonance and foreshadowing. I've been feeling this since the last episode but I have this horrible feeling that something bad will happen to altOlivia and because of what the bank robber brother did at the end, the bad thing is that altOlivia will sacrifice herself for Olivia.
For the second but longer time I felt something for Walternate other than an instant recoil of fear, he seems more human here and I could see our Walter in Walternate. His description of the Amber was chilling and yet you could see how that decision pained him but he's been using the 'greater good' motto for a good long while and his world is degrading but it seems like an easy crutch he keeps falling into.
But can I just. OLIVIA. How are you so continually badass and awesome? Going on leads alone, reverting to her original personality, taking every case personal and finding the leads people miss, taking charge. And, hearing the gas leak? I don't know but somehow it reminds me of the second season episode when Olivia had crazy hearing senses.
Basically though, this episode had fantastic echoes to the first season. The Broyles and Olivia dynamic felt so familiar Olivia rushing into Broyles office alone, letting loose her crazy hunch with her intense fast talk. Broyles reprimanding Olivia but doing so out of concern then congratulating her. It seems like altBroyles is coming to like and respect OurOlivia very much like ourBroyles have and it gives me warm fuzzies because every Broyles should like Olivias.
Charlie having a hunch on his own and going off on his own too (no wonder Olivia and Charlie worked out as partners they basically have similar personalities. It's funny how in a world there's a loose Olivia there's also a looser Charlie).
I loved, loved that altAstrid and Olivia had a scene together and they kind of clicked and altAstrid seemed to have a strange reaction, like it's the first time anyone spoke to her as if they were brainstorming and not just getting information from her. Olivia was also contributing, giving altAstrid something to work with. It was a give and take and not just take, take, take.
Can I also mention Mama Dunham? 'Cause I really like how they work out so many of Olivia/altOlivia's relationships with other people outside of work. And, poor Olivia seems just so tired and we see her kind of let her guard down again because this was her mother.
Plus, I liked seeing Olivia's processes intuitive leaps, she gets lost in her own mental leaps (very much like altAstrid) then focuses again and leaps straight to work.
(Okay, speaking of mental!Peter. First we had mental!John kissing Olivia and now we have mental!Peter kissing Olivia too. Miss Dunham, I think your subconscious likes yourself too much! Heh.)
Lincoln Lee really is the Peter analog, huh? But can, I just, I love Olivia's Boys so much! They care for Olivia a LOT and it's just fantastic.
Over There episodes really are awesome and I'm going to miss them when they're gone.
Another echo to the first season is the sensory deprivation chamber and Olivia's willingness to step into it again and again to learn the truth. I remain so much in love with how this show refuses to be Male Gaze-y at Olivia -- she's not even in her underwear for the sensory deprivation tank! That's really fantastic!
Also, when Brandon said Olivia wasn't scheduled to go into the tank and Olivia's response was:
Olivia smirk! Heh. I love that her response to any kind of obstacle is to smirk and somehow talk Brandon into letting her into the tank, kind of like how she charmed and threatened Henry to not reporting her.
Olivia witnessing the loss of the Two Towers again was a really fantastic touch. You can see the loss and the wonder in her eyes as she rediscovers the world again. It's something I wish they touched on with altOlivia. It had to affect her being in a different world where the Two Towers fell instead of the White House and Pentagon.
I don't think I've ever felt so much from a character just dialing a phone but every number Olivia punched in, you could see her realize the truth slowly and then hearing Ella's voice! Oh, man, that smile!
Then, of course, she gets pulled back and the first thing she sees on her return to the Other Side is Walternate. The scene was so very reminiscent of Jacksonville from Walternate dropping his head and shoulder when he thinks his experiment didn't work and down to the last shot of Olivia and that familiar anger in her eyes that she reserves for Walter tempered.
Oh, man, someone is going to be Dunhammed!
I squee'd when I saw Olivia in glasses! I squee every time I see Olivia in glasses, there is never enough Olivia in glasses and I love that bit of continuity! Also, Olivia pouring through files is such an Olivia thing to do!
One thing though, I see Olivia replaced drinking too much alcohol with popping meds instead. Not saying anything but just observing and, also, there are waaay too many drugs in her system now.
This scene. Man, this scene where Olivia rediscovers the fall of the Twin Towers... hmm there's a theme on twins here.
Her smile! I love that the thing that made Olivia believe that she might be from the other side wasn't her romantic connection with Peter, the two towers but Ella.
That look there? So very much like the look she gives our Walter when she's reminded what Walter did to her and the other Cortexikids.
'What the hell's wrong with you? You did this to little children?'
--
Fringe continues to be the show of my heart. I love how it tells its story. Sure sometimes it meanders of the mytharc but it tells the story it wants to tell and asks all the right questions without trying to paint its main character in a Male Gaze-y point of view. I love that it addresses the abuse, shows its effects on all the characters and while that lovable kooky man is lovable the narrative never, ever makes me feel that Olivia is wrong to be angry at Walter. Ever.
And, just, this whole show! ♥
This entry was originally posted at http://grimorie.dreamwidth.org/102154.html. Please comment there using OpenID.
comments.
I think that's going to be my standard reaction every time we see more of original flavor Olivia because she's still my prime Olivia!
So many echoes in this episode! The amber, the twins storyline, Olivia's glasses (alt Olivia wears glasses!) and ELLA!
Popular fan theory is that Ella would be instrumental in pointing out altOlivia isn't Original Flavor Olivia but wow, I could never predict that Ella would be instrumental for Original Flavor Olivia to rediscover herself!
And OMG, Olivia's slip sliding through universes? Most Awesome Ever.
Season three once again delivers in tying up the B Plot and the A Plots through effective use of emotional resonance and foreshadowing. I've been feeling this since the last episode but I have this horrible feeling that something bad will happen to altOlivia and because of what the bank robber brother did at the end, the bad thing is that altOlivia will sacrifice herself for Olivia.
For the second but longer time I felt something for Walternate other than an instant recoil of fear, he seems more human here and I could see our Walter in Walternate. His description of the Amber was chilling and yet you could see how that decision pained him but he's been using the 'greater good' motto for a good long while and his world is degrading but it seems like an easy crutch he keeps falling into.
But can I just. OLIVIA. How are you so continually badass and awesome? Going on leads alone, reverting to her original personality, taking every case personal and finding the leads people miss, taking charge. And, hearing the gas leak? I don't know but somehow it reminds me of the second season episode when Olivia had crazy hearing senses.
Basically though, this episode had fantastic echoes to the first season. The Broyles and Olivia dynamic felt so familiar Olivia rushing into Broyles office alone, letting loose her crazy hunch with her intense fast talk. Broyles reprimanding Olivia but doing so out of concern then congratulating her. It seems like altBroyles is coming to like and respect OurOlivia very much like ourBroyles have and it gives me warm fuzzies because every Broyles should like Olivias.
Charlie having a hunch on his own and going off on his own too (no wonder Olivia and Charlie worked out as partners they basically have similar personalities. It's funny how in a world there's a loose Olivia there's also a looser Charlie).
I loved, loved that altAstrid and Olivia had a scene together and they kind of clicked and altAstrid seemed to have a strange reaction, like it's the first time anyone spoke to her as if they were brainstorming and not just getting information from her. Olivia was also contributing, giving altAstrid something to work with. It was a give and take and not just take, take, take.
Can I also mention Mama Dunham? 'Cause I really like how they work out so many of Olivia/altOlivia's relationships with other people outside of work. And, poor Olivia seems just so tired and we see her kind of let her guard down again because this was her mother.
Plus, I liked seeing Olivia's processes intuitive leaps, she gets lost in her own mental leaps (very much like altAstrid) then focuses again and leaps straight to work.
(Okay, speaking of mental!Peter. First we had mental!John kissing Olivia and now we have mental!Peter kissing Olivia too. Miss Dunham, I think your subconscious likes yourself too much! Heh.)
Lincoln Lee really is the Peter analog, huh? But can, I just, I love Olivia's Boys so much! They care for Olivia a LOT and it's just fantastic.
Over There episodes really are awesome and I'm going to miss them when they're gone.
Another echo to the first season is the sensory deprivation chamber and Olivia's willingness to step into it again and again to learn the truth. I remain so much in love with how this show refuses to be Male Gaze-y at Olivia -- she's not even in her underwear for the sensory deprivation tank! That's really fantastic!
Also, when Brandon said Olivia wasn't scheduled to go into the tank and Olivia's response was:
Olivia smirk! Heh. I love that her response to any kind of obstacle is to smirk and somehow talk Brandon into letting her into the tank, kind of like how she charmed and threatened Henry to not reporting her.
Olivia witnessing the loss of the Two Towers again was a really fantastic touch. You can see the loss and the wonder in her eyes as she rediscovers the world again. It's something I wish they touched on with altOlivia. It had to affect her being in a different world where the Two Towers fell instead of the White House and Pentagon.
I don't think I've ever felt so much from a character just dialing a phone but every number Olivia punched in, you could see her realize the truth slowly and then hearing Ella's voice! Oh, man, that smile!
Then, of course, she gets pulled back and the first thing she sees on her return to the Other Side is Walternate. The scene was so very reminiscent of Jacksonville from Walternate dropping his head and shoulder when he thinks his experiment didn't work and down to the last shot of Olivia and that familiar anger in her eyes that she reserves for Walter tempered.
Oh, man, someone is going to be Dunhammed!
I squee'd when I saw Olivia in glasses! I squee every time I see Olivia in glasses, there is never enough Olivia in glasses and I love that bit of continuity! Also, Olivia pouring through files is such an Olivia thing to do!
One thing though, I see Olivia replaced drinking too much alcohol with popping meds instead. Not saying anything but just observing and, also, there are waaay too many drugs in her system now.
This scene. Man, this scene where Olivia rediscovers the fall of the Twin Towers... hmm there's a theme on twins here.
Her smile! I love that the thing that made Olivia believe that she might be from the other side wasn't her romantic connection with Peter, the two towers but Ella.
That look there? So very much like the look she gives our Walter when she's reminded what Walter did to her and the other Cortexikids.
'What the hell's wrong with you? You did this to little children?'
--
Fringe continues to be the show of my heart. I love how it tells its story. Sure sometimes it meanders of the mytharc but it tells the story it wants to tell and asks all the right questions without trying to paint its main character in a Male Gaze-y point of view. I love that it addresses the abuse, shows its effects on all the characters and while that lovable kooky man is lovable the narrative never, ever makes me feel that Olivia is wrong to be angry at Walter. Ever.
And, just, this whole show! ♥
This entry was originally posted at http://grimorie.dreamwidth.org/102154.html. Please comment there using OpenID.
comments.