The mid-season faff is over, and the finale begins here...

This was quite possibly the finest hour of the series yet. Previous episodes may have surpassed it on one level or another but few have achieved this kind of synthesis of plot, character, and theme. Effective as it was, last week's episode failed to reach this synthesis because it was handicapped by a "monster of the week" that was a complete contrivance. It was basically treading water narratively in order to give Walter (John Noble) a chance to express himself. But with only four episodes left, it's late enough in the season to stop treading. The Man from the Other Side goes right at the heart of the story, bringing back the shapeshifters and pushing the Walter-Peter storyline to the breaking point.

Which is why we're all came here in the first place I assume.

The opening hook has a young couple engaging in some "4:20" action much later in the evening while parked by some abandoned buildings. When they see a strange flash of light, the young man leaves the girl in the car to investigate. Why he does this instead of driving off is best chalked up to the THC (which should make you more paranoid but whatever).

NOTE TO FUTURE FRINGE VICTIMS: IF YOU ENTER A DARK BUILDING AND SEE SEVERAL THROBBING SACS OF FLESH WRITHING ON THE FLOOR, DO NOT QUESTION, ANALYZE, POKE, OR PROD THEM. RUN. AS FAST AS YOU CAN. AS FAR AS YOU CAN. THAT IS ALL.

Of course the young man does everything he's not supposed to and ends up with a shapeshifter in his face doing that "jumper cable" thing with the tongues. The girl left in the car is happy to see her "boyfriend" return and I'll leave it for you to fill in the rest.

So, it seems that the shapeshifters are back. Even though they're a man down, they are still intent on completing their mission. Not surprisingly, it seems to involve bringing something from over "there" over "here" again. While this intrigue is going on, Walter has finally worked up the courage to tell Peter (Joshua Jackson) the truth when they are, of course, interrupted by a text from Olivia (Anna Torv) regarding the aforementioned shapeshifters. The fact that Peter casually calls Walter "Dad" for the first time should be indicative of the 12-car pileup this is all headed towards in the end.

Peter keeps sensing that something is wrong and seeing that Walter has all of their old family photos laid, out he begins to think it involves his mother. In a finely written and acted scene, he tells Olivia that he thinks Walter wants to finally tell him the truth... about what really happened to his late mother. Peter knows that she committed suicide. Olivia can only say that he should remember that Walter loves him very much.

Walter finally figures out that the shapeshifters are trying to triangulate a space once again in order to perform the dimensional exchange. He also figures out how to stop it using a process very much like a noise cancellation program. When it comes down to Hyde Park or a location with a demolished bridge, Olivia decides it's the bridge since it's important to be near water in order to create a successful transfer. Peter doesn't say anything, but clearly the fact that Olivia knows this is disturbing to him.

"Joshua Jackson has often received short shift from the writers, who seem more attracted to writing for Olivia and Walter with their previously set up backstories, but this changes the whole game for Peter"

The episode builds to a very tense climax as the shapeshifters face off with Olivia, Peter, and Walter at the bridge. It's here that the writers deliver the synthesis of all they've been building towards. As in many previous episodes, you have "fringe" science fighting against "fringe" science and in a very immediate way. Something is coming and must be stopped. This is all very well done, but we've seen similar "down-to-the-wire" endings in many earlier episodes. What takes this to the next level is that it's driven almost completely by character. Peter has come to love and need his father very much and when it seems that Walter is going to risk his life he fights desperately to help him. He takes over and has Walter taken away by the FBI. As Peter stands on the precipice of the bridge, he can see that the missing part of it is trying to cross over and even more shocking, that the barely visible shape of a man is walking across it-across the dimensional divide-to meet him on the other side.

Peter was warned by Walter that the energy produced by the crossover was large enough to tear a man apart and this is proven when the FBI agent next to him disintegrates. Peter is finally able to stop the process but is himself knocked unconscious by the powerful aftershock of energies.

Awakening in a hospital bed, Peter is told by Olivia that he's been out for a day and a half but that he will be fine. Peter seems distant and cold. He asks to talk to Walter alone. It seems that he learned something while standing on the bridge. While the FBI agent could not withstand the energy, both the man on the other side and HE could. He puts all of his suspicions together and figures it all out by himself. If he could survive it, then he must be from the other side. Walter tries to explain but it's too late, Peter is filled with hate for him believing that the truth caused his mother to kill herself. Walter is shattered.

Joshua Jackson has often received short shift from the writers, who seem more attracted to writing for Olivia and Walter with their previously set up backstories, but this changes the whole game for Peter. This is the moment we've been waiting for all season and Jackson delivers this monologue with quiet intensity:

"There was another man on that bridge. When Newton's device started to work, I saw him there, just walking down the bridge. You said the effects of Newton's vibrations would be devastating. They destroyed that FBI agent, just disintegrated him like he wasn't there. But they didn't kill the man from the other side, and they didn't kill me. I'm not from here, am I? You didn't just open up a hole to the other side; you went through, and you brought me back. That's why I was able to survive Newton's device. It's why I can't remember my childhood. It's why my mother committed suicide, isn't it? She knew, didn't she? And when I left, the guilt was too much for her, the lie ... I understand, Walter. I understand everything now ... I am not your son ... I'd like to be alone now."

The episode ends with Walter desperately wanting to visit Peter in the hospital the next day only to be told by Olivia that Peter checked out the night before and cannot be found.

Olivia: He's gone.

In a cliffhanger ending, we see that the "man from the other side" seems to have made the crossover intact, though in less than perfect wear. It will be interesting to see who this man will turn out to be. The obvious idea is that he's Walter's opposite number, a fringe scientist whose son was taken from him. We'll soon see.

"I'm curious to see where the writers go from here. The Man from the Other Side had all of the elements of a season ender, complete with a huge open ending. I can only imagine that they must have something really, really big up their sleeves for the remaining episodes"

I'm curious to see where the writers go from here. The Man from the Other Side had all of the elements of a season ender, complete with a huge open ending. I can only imagine that they must have something really, really big up their sleeves for the remaining episodes. Only not the next episode. It looks like we're getting one of those novelty ones like the black and white Moonlighting or the musical Buffy. Here it's a film noir fantasy in Fringe-world complete with Olivia as a "dame" and Peter as a "gumshoe". It'll be interesting to see how they weave the science and supernatural into it but it looks like fun. Just don't expect any major plot developments.

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