Fringe (TV series): Difference between revisions

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Critical reception was at first lukewarm but became more favorable after the first season, when the series began to explore its mythology, including parallel universes and [[wikipedia:Alternate history|alternate timelines]]. The show, along with cast and crew, were nominated for many major awards. Despite its move to the "[[wikipedia:Friday night death slot|Friday night death slot]]" and low [[wikipedia:Nielsen ratings|ratings]], the series developed a [[wikipedia:cult following|cult following]]. It also spawned two six-part [[wikipedia:comic book|comic book]] series, an [[wikipedia:alternate reality game|alternate reality game]], and three novels.

== Creation, life and death ==

The [[fringe:The Vacuum|Vacuum]] (or [[fringe:The Vacuum|the Machine]]) exists in both universes and has the ability to create or destroy worlds. It was designed by [[fringe:Walter Bishop|Walter Bishop]] in 2026 and sent back in time through a wormhole in the shattered universes' fabrics. Somehow, [[fringe:Walternate|Walternate]] acquired the device with the intention of destroying the other universe in order to save his own. He used his son, [[fringe:Peter Bishop|Peter Bishop]], in his insidious plot as nothing more than a pawn in his elaborate agenda.

The device is an ontological paradox, having never been created or destroyed, instead, existing in a time loop. It was originally thought to have been created by an ancient civilization called the [[fringe:First People|First People]]. Several sketches were created detailing the device and its uses, most prominently being the one of Peter Bishop activating the Machine with fire coming out of his eyes amid the backdrop of a destroyed city. The artist of these sketches is currently unknown. ("[[fringe:Over There: Part 2|Over There: Part 2]]") Another sketch depicts Olivia Dunham acting as the crowbar.

In the year 2026, Walter realized that the First People were actually not prehistoric beings, but himself. He realized that he could revert the damage by sending the Machine back in time, knowing that it would be discovered by the Fringe Division. He altered the Machine by creating a system that would send Peter's consciousness forward in time. In the future, Peter would be able to see the repercussions of destroying the Alternate Universe and make a different choice.

Naturally, the most logical decision would be to not send the Machine back at all, thus guaranteeing the Alternate Universe would never be destroyed. However, because the Machine was indeed sent back in time originally, Walter had no choice but to send it back again or else risk creating a paradox. Walter explained to Peter that by instituting a technology that would allow Peter's consciousness to travel forward in time, he would be able to circumvent the rules of time and give Peter the opportunity to create a different choice.

Walter intended to send the Machine back through time by way of a wormhole, meaning that he, himself, was actually the origin of the First People myth and that the Machine paradoxically exists but cannot exist. ("[[fringe:The Day We Died|The Day We Died]]") As it was transported back to a time period before the two universes split, it was duplicated when the Alternate-Universe was created.

== Father - son relationship ==

The main character, Walter Bishop, has a son named Peter. Peter was born in the [[fringe:Alternate Universe|Alternate Universe]] in 1978. In 1985 at the age of 7, Peter had an incurable illness, just like his counterpart Over Here. His father desperately searched for a cure, as did the Walter Bishop from Over Here. The other Peter Bishop died before Walter could discover this cure.

The main character, [[fringe:Walter Bishop|Walter Bishop]], has a son named Peter. Peter was born in the [[fringe:Alternate Universe|Alternate Universe]] in 1978. In 1985 at the age of 7, Peter had an incurable illness, just like his counterpart Over Here. His father desperately searched for a cure, as did the Walter Bishop from Over Here. The other Peter Bishop died before Walter could discover this cure.

However, unwilling to let his son go, Walter continued searching for a cure by watching [[fringe:Walter_Bishop_(Alternate_Universe)|Walternate]] search for a compound through a window with the capability of seeing through universes. [[fringe:Walter_Bishop_(Alternate_Universe)|Walternate]] discovered the correct compound, but [[fringe:September|September]], an [[fringe:Observers|Observer]], distracted him.

The Observer, whose job it was to see moments of historical significance, did not realize the ramifications of distracting Walternate. The scientist turned away from the experiment, missing the signal that the compound had worked. When he demanded September to leave his lab and turned back to his experiment, the indicator had faded, leaving Walternate to assume the test had failed. However, Walter Bishop had seen the experiment and was able to reproduce it.

Now, knowing that he was the only hope for the dying child on the Other Side, Walter crossed over, intent on giving the cure to the boy and proceeding to pick up the pieces of his life without a son. However, the vial containing the cure shattered, leading Walter, in a final act of desperation, to kidnap Peter, bring him Over Here, cure him, and return him to his rightful home. However, when the two returned, they fell through a patch of ice into a lake. With their fate apparently certain, Walter and Peter were saved by the same Observer, who seemed to have a job of saving Peter's life after he accidentally distracted Walternate.

There were even more consequences which even Walter could not foresee. The crossing between universes fundamentally weakened the very fabric of the universes. Crossing over to return Peter would risk ripping the universes apart at the seams. Coupled with Elizabeth Bishop's love for her son, Walter decided to raise Peter as the son that he had lost.

~~However~~, ~~unwilling to let~~ his ~~son go~~, ~~Walter continued searching for a cure by watching Walternate search for a compound through a window~~ with the ~~capability~~ of ~~seeing through universes. Walternate discovered the correct compound, but September, an Observer, distracted him~~.

Throughout his childhood, a rift between him and his father developed. After Walter was institutionalized, Peter moved to Allston with his mother because she could not afford the mortgage of their house in Cambridge.

== Emotions and conscience ==