Fringe: The Ghost Network Rewatch
June 15, 2014 9:30 PM - Season 1, Episode 3 - Subscribe
The confessional - A Hero - Dextromethorphan, clonazepam and fluoxetine - No contagion - Joy to the world - Saying goodbye - Wholly-owned subsidiary - Never been made public - Science and technology, running out of control - Nine months - Theoretically - The day job - That's preposterous! - Duck-rabbit - Barely a crime! - Not exactly rational - The gustatory cortex - Talent evaluation - Another one
"It's horrible. They're like mosquitoes trapped in amber."
The Observer is on the train at South Station, Olivia walks past him.
"It's horrible. They're like mosquitoes trapped in amber."
The Observer is on the train at South Station, Olivia walks past him.
I hope we're still doing Fringe after the end of July because that's when I have to sit for the NY Bar Exam and BOY HOWDY will I want to binge-watch Fringe and talk about it with you after that.
Which is to say, I'm glad we're doing this and I wish I could contribute but don't have time for a re-watch right now.
posted by gauche at 1:09 PM on June 16, 2014
Which is to say, I'm glad we're doing this and I wish I could contribute but don't have time for a re-watch right now.
posted by gauche at 1:09 PM on June 16, 2014
The last, however, is a cough suppressant that can cause hallucinations if overdosed on.
Fluoxetine is Prozac.
Edit: wait. I think you just meant the first of those, not the last. I gotcha now.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:25 PM on June 16, 2014
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:25 PM on June 16, 2014
Yup, I meant the first. Why I decided to rearrange my list... oh, right, I wanted it in Walter mentioned order. Sorry. And don't worry, Gauche, we've got plenty more to go after July. In fact, if you just watch the first eighteen episodes the first week of August, you'll be up to date. (So if you really binge and have plenty of time, you're all good.) I can't binge watch much until next September, when my kid is back in school, so I'm glad we're just doing a small enough amount that I can watch it some evenings.
posted by Margalo Epps at 5:26 PM on June 16, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Margalo Epps at 5:26 PM on June 16, 2014 [1 favorite]
Heh, on my part, I'm being very good (mostly) about holding back until things get posted. I'm not really watching much else these days. Maybe I need to be watching something else these days.
I'm missing what the "sick" glyph was referring to, but I watched this one ahead of time. Can somebody clue me in?
posted by moira at 5:47 PM on June 16, 2014
I'm missing what the "sick" glyph was referring to, but I watched this one ahead of time. Can somebody clue me in?
posted by moira at 5:47 PM on June 16, 2014
Generally the glyphs have to do with the next episode -- the previous episode said "child". It's not enough to give much away, but interesting once you've figured out what's going on in the episode. (Also, because you get it a letter at a time, you don't have the complete word until the end of the episode anyways.)
posted by Margalo Epps at 8:56 PM on June 16, 2014
posted by Margalo Epps at 8:56 PM on June 16, 2014
We did a whole watch thorough of Fringe last year. I really love how the last season went, and I'll probably chime in from time to time in these threads, but they sort of blur into each other to me now.
My biggest beef with the entire show is that pesky small-cast syndrome. With all of these strange events, why the hell does someone like Walter even get access to the bodies? Isn't there one scene (maybe the pilot) where Broyles is meeting with a super-secret group of people in a video conference? And then that's never discussed again. It is neat how all of the Fringe tech the discover plays out later in the series, but I doubt any super secret agency is going to keep giving them access. Unless -- and there's no evidence of this at all -- Astrid is filing reports for the whomever's higher up.
There has never been a more pro-LSD character on any show than Walter Bishop. That's worth watching the show, just for that.
The Fringepedia is your friend.
posted by Catblack at 5:37 PM on June 17, 2014
My biggest beef with the entire show is that pesky small-cast syndrome. With all of these strange events, why the hell does someone like Walter even get access to the bodies? Isn't there one scene (maybe the pilot) where Broyles is meeting with a super-secret group of people in a video conference? And then that's never discussed again. It is neat how all of the Fringe tech the discover plays out later in the series, but I doubt any super secret agency is going to keep giving them access. Unless -- and there's no evidence of this at all -- Astrid is filing reports for the whomever's higher up.
There has never been a more pro-LSD character on any show than Walter Bishop. That's worth watching the show, just for that.
The Fringepedia is your friend.
posted by Catblack at 5:37 PM on June 17, 2014
Heh, on my part, I'm being very good (mostly) about holding back until things get posted. I'm not really watching much else these days. Maybe I need to be watching something else these days.
Fringe, The Wire, and as of last night The Prisoner. Multiple simultaneous rewatches and discussions is how I now keep myself from watching an entire show at once. I hope nobody starts doing Breaking Bad any time soon because that's on my list too and there's already so much. I might have a problem.
Generally the glyphs have to do with the next episode
How does 'child' relate to this episode?
I thought at first that it referred to Roy McComb's status as a former patient of Walter, but they said that he was a sophomore in college when he volunteered for the procedure. Not exactly a child. But when Broyles confronts Nina about poaching Olivia there's a ton of wink-wink-nod-nod stuff about Olivia's past. (Tempted to spoiler this up but good here, resisting.)
Anyway, any thoughts?
posted by carsonb at 3:31 PM on June 19, 2014
Fringe, The Wire, and as of last night The Prisoner. Multiple simultaneous rewatches and discussions is how I now keep myself from watching an entire show at once. I hope nobody starts doing Breaking Bad any time soon because that's on my list too and there's already so much. I might have a problem.
Generally the glyphs have to do with the next episode
How does 'child' relate to this episode?
I thought at first that it referred to Roy McComb's status as a former patient of Walter, but they said that he was a sophomore in college when he volunteered for the procedure. Not exactly a child. But when Broyles confronts Nina about poaching Olivia there's a ton of wink-wink-nod-nod stuff about Olivia's past. (Tempted to spoiler this up but good here, resisting.)
Anyway, any thoughts?
posted by carsonb at 3:31 PM on June 19, 2014
Astrid is filing reports for the whomever's higher up.
When she escorts Roy out of the lab at the end of the episode saying something like, There are just some release forms I'm going to need you to sign, those words have never ever sounded sweeter and less-threatening coming from an FBI agent on a TV show.
posted by carsonb at 3:34 PM on June 19, 2014 [1 favorite]
When she escorts Roy out of the lab at the end of the episode saying something like, There are just some release forms I'm going to need you to sign, those words have never ever sounded sweeter and less-threatening coming from an FBI agent on a TV show.
posted by carsonb at 3:34 PM on June 19, 2014 [1 favorite]
I'm guessing "child" refers to the man-child who was conceived and aged to death in a single day.
posted by Margalo Epps at 3:52 PM on June 19, 2014
posted by Margalo Epps at 3:52 PM on June 19, 2014
(Tempted to spoiler this up but good here, resisting.)
I thought rewatches are green light for spoilers?
posted by moira at 4:00 PM on June 19, 2014
I thought rewatches are green light for spoilers?
posted by moira at 4:00 PM on June 19, 2014
Yeah but this show takes so many hairpin plot turns before it gets to that stuff, it's like 3 seasons down the line I think? There's just so much more to talk about in the meantime.
posted by carsonb at 4:50 PM on June 19, 2014
posted by carsonb at 4:50 PM on June 19, 2014
Margalo Epps, I guess my real question is whether the glyphs are related to the episode they're shown during or the following one? I keep re-reading your comment and it seems to me like you're saying that they refer to the subsequent episode, but so far they seem to be easily related to the episode that shows them.
I think 'sick', specifically in Latin, refers to Roy McComb's magnetic blood condition, and the fact that he overhears communiques in Latin.
posted by carsonb at 4:59 PM on June 19, 2014
I think 'sick', specifically in Latin, refers to Roy McComb's magnetic blood condition, and the fact that he overhears communiques in Latin.
posted by carsonb at 4:59 PM on June 19, 2014
I've found them to relate in a (usually) vague way to the next episode. While it's not often enough for me to recall what the next episode is about, it does sometimes, and I tend to see how the word relates to either the central mystery or something big going on with the main characters. I haven't kept track of them in Season 1 before, though, and looking through a few of them now, I see that they appear to be self-referential. I'm not sure when it makes the switch, but I did write down the glyphs through season 2 (rewatch) and 5 (original watch). A quick glance through episode glyphs and recaps hasn't shown me where it switches yet though, so I guess I'll just be paying attention as I watch this time.
posted by Margalo Epps at 9:25 PM on June 19, 2014
posted by Margalo Epps at 9:25 PM on June 19, 2014
The last, however, is a cough suppressant that can cause hallucinations if overdosed on.
I'm pretty sure that Walter is not overdosing on anything - rather, all his dosages are carefully calculated and controlled to produce exactly the effects he wants.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 7:59 AM on June 20, 2014
I'm pretty sure that Walter is not overdosing on anything - rather, all his dosages are carefully calculated and controlled to produce exactly the effects he wants.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 7:59 AM on June 20, 2014
I thought at first that it referred to Roy McComb's status as a former patient of Walter, but they said that he was a sophomore in college when he volunteered for the procedure.
Is this the point where it gets a bit like Alias? You know, by season 2 on that show, everyone is outed as either a spy, or the child of a spy, or surreptitiously killed and replaced by a doppelgänger who's a spy, or something. By this point in Fringe, you're starting to wonder just how much of what's going on is traceable back to something Walter and Belly did one afternoon back in '77 when they were both off their tits on Brown Betty, Steppenwolf, and red vines.
posted by Sonny Jim at 7:19 AM on June 21, 2014
Is this the point where it gets a bit like Alias? You know, by season 2 on that show, everyone is outed as either a spy, or the child of a spy, or surreptitiously killed and replaced by a doppelgänger who's a spy, or something. By this point in Fringe, you're starting to wonder just how much of what's going on is traceable back to something Walter and Belly did one afternoon back in '77 when they were both off their tits on Brown Betty, Steppenwolf, and red vines.
posted by Sonny Jim at 7:19 AM on June 21, 2014
...and just when you're like, "Geez, are those two responsible for the entire universe?!" it's revealed that actually yes but it's two universes, maybe more.
posted by carsonb at 7:23 AM on June 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by carsonb at 7:23 AM on June 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
Fringe Red Vines Rewatch:
5:17 They mention the pattern, my theory is this is an international knit bomb conspiracy, perhaps encasing the moon in a giant sock?
18:01 I am in love with Charlie's nose, especially in profile. It is, in my opinion the best nose on television. I want to run away to Hawaii with it. Why Kirk Acevedo never got an Emmy for that, I don't know.
27:00 Just as well none of us have metal in our blood or we'd have to be careful of giant magnets. Like the North Pole. Isn't that a giant magnet? #science!
34:13 Brontosaurus is a silly dinosaur to choose to be Peter. Very silly.
[Spoiler alert]
Red Vines sighted: 0. I did think I saw some around the 35 minute mark but it was just a wire.
posted by BAKERSFIELD! at 8:07 AM on June 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
5:17 They mention the pattern, my theory is this is an international knit bomb conspiracy, perhaps encasing the moon in a giant sock?
18:01 I am in love with Charlie's nose, especially in profile. It is, in my opinion the best nose on television. I want to run away to Hawaii with it. Why Kirk Acevedo never got an Emmy for that, I don't know.
27:00 Just as well none of us have metal in our blood or we'd have to be careful of giant magnets. Like the North Pole. Isn't that a giant magnet? #science!
34:13 Brontosaurus is a silly dinosaur to choose to be Peter. Very silly.
[Spoiler alert]
Red Vines sighted: 0. I did think I saw some around the 35 minute mark but it was just a wire.
posted by BAKERSFIELD! at 8:07 AM on June 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
37:55 Potentially a cable knit sock
posted by BAKERSFIELD! at 8:08 AM on June 21, 2014
posted by BAKERSFIELD! at 8:08 AM on June 21, 2014
34:13 Brontosaurus is a silly dinosaur to choose to be Peter. Very silly.Yeah. Most kids I knew at that age wanted to be a dimetrodon, not a brontosaurus. I know I certainly did. What a freak Peter must have been.
posted by Sonny Jim at 8:10 AM on June 21, 2014
Most kids I knew at that age wanted to be a dimetrodon,It's not a dinosaur.
You told me that.
posted by BAKERSFIELD! at 8:14 AM on June 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
5:17 They mention the pattern, my theory is this is an international knit bomb conspiracy, perhaps encasing the moon in a giant sock?You can always tell who the knit bombers are. They're the older guys in suits with PhDs from Harvard or the Marie Curie Institute. You see those guys hanging around outside Nandos all the time.
posted by Sonny Jim at 8:18 AM on June 21, 2014
18:01 I am in love with Charlie's nose, especially in profile. It is, in my opinion the best nose on television.But what about Josh Charles's nose in The Good Wife? That's got to be a contender, surely?
posted by Sonny Jim at 8:22 AM on June 21, 2014
[Spoiler]
In the next episode Philip Broyles sets up an Etsy account to catch the people behind the pattern, but he quickly gets distracted when he sees a squirrel cushion which would match perfectly with his sofa, and spends the next 4 working days looking at all the variants of squirrel themed cushions.
posted by BAKERSFIELD! at 8:24 AM on June 21, 2014 [3 favorites]
In the next episode Philip Broyles sets up an Etsy account to catch the people behind the pattern, but he quickly gets distracted when he sees a squirrel cushion which would match perfectly with his sofa, and spends the next 4 working days looking at all the variants of squirrel themed cushions.
posted by BAKERSFIELD! at 8:24 AM on June 21, 2014 [3 favorites]
How would he account for that on Time Tracker? Would he need to set up a new activity? Or could he just attribute that time to the existing case?
posted by Sonny Jim at 8:26 AM on June 21, 2014
posted by Sonny Jim at 8:26 AM on June 21, 2014
Sorry that was [Spoiler from Alternate Universe Fringe]
posted by BAKERSFIELD! at 8:29 AM on June 21, 2014
posted by BAKERSFIELD! at 8:29 AM on June 21, 2014
I have deep admiration and respect for Josh Charles' nose but I wouldn't call it love.
posted by BAKERSFIELD! at 8:32 AM on June 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by BAKERSFIELD! at 8:32 AM on June 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
The non-science of Fringe: The Ghost Network
posted by the man of twists and turns at 10:14 PM on June 29, 2014
posted by the man of twists and turns at 10:14 PM on June 29, 2014
I watched this one broken into pieces around my very busy couple of weeks, and I don't have a ton of realizations or comments, but there's one thing I noticed.
When Olivia and Peter are breaking in to the Bishop's old house, and he feels around in the heating ducts or whatever, there's a moment when he finds nothing, and he sits back and Olivia looks at him
and Peter is out of focus.
The door behind him is in focus, and he's slightly out of focus. It is almost certainly a production error and not a subtle portent of Peter's origins, but I really want it to be otherwise.
posted by gauche at 1:02 PM on August 22, 2014
When Olivia and Peter are breaking in to the Bishop's old house, and he feels around in the heating ducts or whatever, there's a moment when he finds nothing, and he sits back and Olivia looks at him
and Peter is out of focus.
The door behind him is in focus, and he's slightly out of focus. It is almost certainly a production error and not a subtle portent of Peter's origins, but I really want it to be otherwise.
posted by gauche at 1:02 PM on August 22, 2014
For those interested, here are links to Walter's medications Dextromethorphan, Clonazepam, and Fluoxetine (and by the way, Peter, the word is "anti-psychotics"). The first two can indeed be used to treat things like depression and anxiety. The last, however, is a cough suppressant that can cause hallucinations if overdosed on.
Not only that, if you combine dextromethorphan with fluoxetine (or other SSRI; or MAOIs for that matter), you might get serotonin syndrome, which doesn't sound like much fun. Even if you are Walter, and your normal behaviour is hard to tell apart.
I once had a brief panicky moment when I bought cough medicine and then realised I shouldn't have blithely answered "no" when the pharmacist asked me if I was on any medication. But it wasn't dextromethorphan, so that turned out okay.
posted by Athanassiel at 9:52 PM on October 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
Not only that, if you combine dextromethorphan with fluoxetine (or other SSRI; or MAOIs for that matter), you might get serotonin syndrome, which doesn't sound like much fun. Even if you are Walter, and your normal behaviour is hard to tell apart.
I once had a brief panicky moment when I bought cough medicine and then realised I shouldn't have blithely answered "no" when the pharmacist asked me if I was on any medication. But it wasn't dextromethorphan, so that turned out okay.
posted by Athanassiel at 9:52 PM on October 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
I just caught a very nice transition: at the end Olivia asks Peter to play Bach. He declines and plays Gershwin instead, "Someone to Watch Over Me" (which could pretty much be the theme song of the whole show). Anyway, then in the next scene you have Broyles looking out for Olivia in his conversation with Nina, trying to protect her. And now my mind is going crazy with trying to work out who's looking out for whom. But yeah, just at that immediate level it was nice.
And now I have Gershwin stuck in my head. Could be worse.
posted by Athanassiel at 6:30 AM on October 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
And now I have Gershwin stuck in my head. Could be worse.
posted by Athanassiel at 6:30 AM on October 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
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For those interested, here are links to Walter's medications Dextromethorphan, Clonazepam, and Fluoxetine (and by the way, Peter, the word is "anti-psychotics"). The first two can indeed be used to treat things like depression and anxiety. The last, however, is a cough suppressant that can cause hallucinations if overdosed on. (And yes, I do assume that is how Walter is using it.) As always, a weird mix.
Oh and if anyone wants to follow along on the hidden messages, here's the alphabet (with no episode spoilers, just the glyphs). I wasn't following along this time, but Fringepedia says the word was Aeger, Latin for sick.
posted by Margalo Epps at 12:27 PM on June 16, 2014 [1 favorite]