And Those We've Left Behind

What a truly amazing episode. It does exactly what sci-fi does best: look at the humanity in us all through the lens of science fiction.

That no matter how much advance, how much we build cool toys... that all our advances cannot take away that we are fragile human beings.

Moral and ethical dilemmas abound, THIS is what sci-fi is about. It reminded me of the great episodes of The Outer Limits that will stay with you for ages after.

I love the arc of Fringe, it's what I think is what drives it and provides the best of the stories... but for this one episode i just wanted the arc to slip away and instead focus on the amazing character piece that was playing out with the guest actors.

Wow! If there was an opportunity, I would give this episode 12/10! This is precisely why I love Science Fiction as a genre - it is so creative, and still it is possible that we could mess up the world we live in so that the laws of nature as we knew cease to exist. What we lost with the absence of Peter character in the beginning of the season, now slowly returns: the warmth that Joshua Jackson's interpretation gave to Peter Bishop character, his emotional bonds with Olivia and Walter, and his intellectual brilliance are back to town. I can't stop applauding how easy and how effectively the time jumps are solved! The only thing I still dislike about the new season is what Walter Bishop is turned into - a stereotypical "mad scientist", who is paranoid in unpleasant way. His character's witty sparks, renaissance personality and - courage, combined with wonderful father figure, gave "Fringe" something genuinely unique in previous seasons, something that is missing now, I hope not for good. Astrid's character is also sadly marginalized in the new season so far, she also used to have her glorious moments.

For hard core scifi junkies, it is thought that two of the best stories ever penned were both from the legendary Richard Matheson. Both were made into movies. In one, to find the woman he loves, a man travels through time. In another, to rescue the woman he loves, a man literally commits suicide so he can be condemned to Hell (which is where she is trapped).

Combing elements of passion (humanism) and scifi is not easy. It takes a deft touch.

This episode of Fringe nails it. Not only do have one of the most powerful stories of the series but there is juxtaposition of the love story in the short (episode) arc against the longer arc where Peter and Olivia no longer recognize each other.

Stephen Root, known for comedy, gives the performance of his life.

I keep this short as the eight reviewers before me are all spot on. I was also blown away by this episode. This is TV at its best, better anyways than most scifi movies they make these days. Everything just clicked: the intelligent story, the acting, the effects, the whole human touch, even the soundtrack (not many people notice or even comment but I do). Peter's return of course is making all the difference (his absence in the beginning of this season was sorely felt) and it appears that Walter is slowly warming to him. Fringe is back with full force.

When a series of time disturbance happens bringing events from 2007 to 2011, the Fringe Division is assigned to investigate. Broyles orders Olivia and Lincoln to bring Peter with them to help the investigations. Soon Peter suggests a means to locate the source of the disturbance and Walter helps him to find the spot. Soon they discover that the electrical engineer Raymond Green and his wife, the professor of theoretical physics are the responsible for the events and there is a time bubble surrounding their house and keeping the place in 2007.

"And Those We Left Behind" is a touching story of time disturbance caused by an old man that keeps his house in 2007 to maintain his beloved wife safe from the deterioration of Alzheimer's disease. Olivia's reaction in the end of the show hoping that Peter meets the Olivia of his original timeline is also a beautiful scene of this romantic episode. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "And Those We Left Behind"