Night of Desirable Objects


(WARNING Review Contains Spoilers)

Fringe has always been a show of ups and downs. Its filled with complicated and intriguing multi-episode arcs that not only deliver, but excite. Its also known for its equally fun, and creepy one shot episodes. However, for every interesting one shot, there is one that just doesn't fit in ,and seems not only pointless, but just overall bad. This episode falls somewhere in between those two one shot categories.

The episode follows the teams search to find out the kidnapper/killer of several men in rural Pennsylvania. Attacked by someone or something from underground the men disappear leaving no trace behind them. Once again Olivia, finally out of her bed, but experiencing strange headaches and sensations, Peter, and Walter travel to discover the origins of these attacks. There investigation leads them across the county investigating law stations, and happening upon a cranky farmer widower.

The shape shifter plot from last episode also continues, providing some of the episodes creepier and visually interesting scenes. The two way typewriter device is incredibly cool to watch and imaginative, and it is a pleasure to see it used in any scene at all.

The episode is intriguing and fun for the first two thirds, but then reaches a point of total unbelievability and just overall poor quality that makes the episode drop in quality. It is revealed that the farmer had a wife, whose unusually harsh womb was incapable of carrying children. So the farmer, having once been a geneticist (trust me it gets weirder), decides to make an artificial child out of scorpion and mole DNA so that it will survive the mothers womb. Apparently scorpions are incredibly resilient and moles are well moles. I mean honestly? A scorpion baby? What were the writers smoking when they wrote this? Fringe has never been one for realistic premises, but most of the time it is done so in away that seems remotely believable. All this would've been believable if the payoff of the creatures appearance was well handled. Although, the initial jump scare that it appears in is well handled, it becomes apparent rather quickly that the creature is a poorly created puppet. One scene when it attacks Peter literally looks like some crew member threw a dummy at him. The creatures death is even lame. It burrows under a car, and it falls on him. I'm not joking.

However, the episode ends on a good note. Olivia is introduced to her strange bowling alley owner tutor, who is to help her regain her memories about her pandimmensional trip. Gladly, this was a storyline that would actually lead somewhere.

Score: -B