Fringe Season 4: 5 Questions About “Letters Of Transit”

Saturday, April 21st, 2012 at 7:30am
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Fringe Season 4: 5 Questions About “Letters Of Transit”  

After weeks of hinting at the subject of time-travel, last night’s Fringe on Fox took us into the future, and dropped more than a few bombshells about what’s been going on in our present. No wonder we have questions about “Letters of Transit.”

I think we can all agree: This was a wonderful episode, if one that came completely out of left field, seemed oddly disconnected to where the storyarc from this season has been headed, and was strongly reminiscent of Dollhouse‘s “Epitaph” episodes, which may not be the best thing considering what happened to that series. And yet… There was so much to deal with this week. For example…

Why Did The Observers Take Over In 2015?
Okay, so we’re told in exposition that the Observers had ruined the Earth’s environment by 2069, and so were making trips back in time to prepare to take over the former world and create a new society (Shades of Terra Nova). But… why 2015? It’s clear that that wasn’t the date when people became aware of the Observers, because Simon said that his family were members of the resistance before The Purge, so presuming that the Observers made their existence public before The Purge, what was so special about 2015 that prompted them to take over the world?

(Also, again: How important is Peter to this? The Observers had wiped him out of history, which suggests that his very existence was important – and then, his non-existence as important – so does his being awoken in 2036 mean that his presence was going to turn the tide?)

What World Was It?
Between the Fringe Division logo, the use of Amber and the Fringe headquarters… That was all the alternate Earth, wasn’t it? Did this episode happen on that Earth, or does “our” Earth take a turn or several towards the alternate at some point in the future? That Walter and Peter were both present doesn’t really skew things one way or another, considering the number of times they’ve crossed over in the past – Similarly, Etta’s presence could just mean that she was raised on the alternate Earth, perhaps. But was this Earth-1, Earth-2 or another Earth altogether? Was this a merged version of the two Earths we’ve been following all this time?

(Another reason why I think this might be the alternate Earth – I am, for some reason, convinced that the Agent Broyles we saw was Colonel Broyles, from the alternate Earth… Something about him, and his uncertain loyalties, just gave me that impression.)

(And while I’m parenthesizing: Was that really our Walter, or Walternate? After all, when his brain had regenerated, he definitely seemed like Walternate, and knowing that William Bell was trapped in amber means that the voluntary lobotomy didn’t have to have taken place in the show’s past – it could still be something to come from our contemporary point of view…)

What Happened To Olivia?
“After what he did to Olivia… Even you couldn’t be that compassionate,” said Walter when explaining why he abandoned William Bell to Astrid. Earlier, too, Nina Sharpe had said that when the Fringe team had last saved the world, they did so at a terrible cost… Both references to back up the idea that Olivia has to die in order for everything to turn out okay, as suggested by September. But… If Etta is Peter’s daughter, doesn’t that mean that she’s Olivia‘s daughter, too? And neither Olivia is pregnant yet, as far as we know, so she would apparently live on past the finale of this season… Not to mention, there’s nothing to tie what’s going on the main storyline with William Bell (yet), and if he bears responsibility for what ultimately happens to Olivia, we must be some distance away still… Right?

(Also: The reference at the top of the show to Etta being something unusual – She had her mother’s powers, perhaps? Or she’s a Cortexephan baby, and that’s important somehow…?)

Where Has William Bell Been All This Time?
I admit it: The appearance of William Bell in amber caught me by complete surprise, and that’s despite my wondering what his story is in the rewritten timeline at multiple times this season. Was this just something thrown in to blow our minds, or a hint about what’s to come in the last couple of episodes this year?

What Happened To September?
Another throwaway line from Walter suggested that a dramatic fate awaits the friendly Observer… but it was so vague that we can’t tell if it was a bad fate or a good one? Or, perhaps, something that is determinedly vague on purpose (He disappears?). Should we be watching out for hints in September’s actions and fate in the next few episodes that could give us more understanding about his this storyline will play out? For that matter, will we ever see anything or anyone from 2036 ever again?

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  • http://squidoo.com/retroblogs Atomic Kommie Comics

    They killed off Peter.
    He got better.
    If they kill off Olivia, she’ll get better, too.

  • http://squidoo.com/retroblogs Atomic Kommie Comics

    “Why are there no female Observers?”
    The Observers are either…
    1) androgynous test-tube humans
    or
    2) hermaphrodites, possessing both sets of gentials.

  • Devi Redtroll

    “He does seem to have some of the grim purposefulness of Walternate…”. I agree it was our Walter. When Walter had the lobotomy removing those parts of his brain, he did so because he did not like the man he was becoming. Walternate IS the man Dr Bishop was scared to become. So in episode 19 when the removed pieces are returned, and his brain regenerates, it stands to reason that what woke up is a new Walter, closer in demeanor to Walternate than the old Dr Bishop.

  • victoriansquid

    At the end of Season 3, Peter is transported to 2018.  The young blond Agent Dunham he meets there is Ella Dunham, Olivia’s niece by way of her sister Rachel.   Ella appeared numerous times in Season 1-2.  

  • jedijesse

    That was the end of season 3, it was 2026, and that wasn’t their daughter…that was Olivia’s niece Ella and I’m fairly certain she had brown hair.

  • Poop

    The episode took place in our universe, not the alternate. If you look at the NYC skyline the new world trade center is digitally completed. In the Alternate Universe the Trade Centers still stand.

  • David Delacruz Jr

    we all know it is dr bishop for the simple fact that they injected his missing brain piece.
    The whole reason why he took it out in the first place was because he did not like the way he was heading with his personaility. which i believe why walternate  was the way he is because of that specific brain piece. leading to the conclusion that dr bishop is acting similar to walternate because he now has the same brain chemistry as walternate.

    As far as olivia goes september did say there is no other way you have to die. but as to all of the future characters they thought the old fringe team did die! so its all on how you look at it. I think olivia is still alive but is with september in a different time or world. To all in this time line and future she is practically dead waiting for the right moment to strike! but that is only my opinion we shall all have to wait to see!!

  • ryanmalcoms

    “The hybrid animals on the ark”

    In the episode, Windmark tells broyles that he ‘loves animals.’ What if both of those plot lines are connected???

  • Alexandra Vallianatos

    Good points! I think that the Agent Dunham in 2016 was Olivia’s niece Ella. Could be wrong, I love this show, but I do get a little hazy with all the timelines/universes! ; )

  • Domenic Ianiro

    The agent Dunham in 2016 is Ella Dunham. Olivia’s niece.

  • Rich

     I think Etta and Walter’s machine will be sent back to our time to save the future from the Observers.

  • jelyba

    Wasn’t that blonde girl Olivia’s niece though? In the season 3 finale time jump? I’m pretty sure it was Ella, Rachel’s daughter. Peter and Olivia didn’t have any kids in that version of the future.

  • x51

     I think the “Device” they need Walter to build to defeat the Observers will be a part of “The Machine” Peter used to bridge the worlds. Remember there is still the whole story of the first people, and we are told previously that Walter built the machine… I think  Peter will use the machine to undo what the observers have done and save the world. The machine along with Peter and possibly others (Walter, Astrid, Etta.. maybe even the observers) will be transported back in time before dinosaurs. Now we have the world saved, the machine back in time where it will be disassembled and buried. And a group of technologically advanced people living before dinosaurs AKA: “The first People”..  I think that wraps up a lot.. We still need to learn about David Robert Jones real motives.  The machine being sent back to before the timeline split and created both universes explains why the machine exists in both of them. Walternate did not create the machine. Thats why he was unable to help Peter use it to “Get Home”. He doesnt understand it like Walter Does.

  • Rachelinperu

    Okay a few things:
    Yes, I believe it was 2609, not 2069.
    I think it was our world, but you’re right, that would mean that Olivia is getting pregnant sometime soon, which isn’t entirely out of the ordinary, being that Olivia and Peter just found each other and are so in love right now.
    Bell wouldn’t have died or disappeared like in the regular timeline, because all of the events changed, so I’m thinking that he was still there in the new timeline, and then somehow joined up with the Fringe team and that’s the reason that something happened to Olivia.
    And, per September, in every scenario Olivia has to die, so I’m thinking that that happened, sadly.
    I think that you’re going way off the deep end with this being an alternate Earth, but I could be wrong.
    Also, did anyone else notice that Peter and Bolivia’s son from the alternate Earth back in the original timeline was named Henry. Peter’s daughter in the future in named Henrietta. I couldn’t remember if September had told Peter the name of his once born son or not, but I thought that maybe that’s where Peter and Olivia came up with the name. Or, maybe Olivia really likes the name Henry/ietta no matter which version of herself she is.
    Ok, I think that’s it! Sorry if these comments were already posted.

  • Rachelinperu

    In that specific episode that was Agent Dunham, but it was Rachel’s daughter, Ella. It wasn’t Etta. In that timeline Peter and Olivia didn’t have children. They talked about having kids in that episode, but they didn’t have any kids.

  • Alucardwh

    It was Agent Dunham, but it was Ella, Olivia´s nephew the one who appear en the episode “The day we died”

  • Revolg_98

      No matter what anyone says
    my understanding is the color marks the universe. The amber opening
    means third universe, the removal of Peter made it different and
    therefore new. When Peter and Olivia reunited and Lincoln went away the
    timeline was restored to close to original so we are back in the
    original universe.  Bell must have made his way from the third universe by replacing Olivia at some point.  2015 must be when everything was supposed to be set right so the Observers could only take over then or be lost when the universes all fixed.  Peter  gets rid of the observers so they want him dead, Walter discovers Peter is the key through September so to save his life uses amber.  Bell must have replaced Olivia in 2015 the exact moment the universes became whole and seperate again.  Ella is born sometime before Dec.31 2012.

  • Revolg_98

     Etta I mean.  She must of had trouble with rs at 4 since her name was Roberta

  • Revolg_98

     It’s important to September, only he wants to save us.  The other Observers wanted Peter dead in the lake as a boy from the beginning.

  • Revolg_98

     The old timeline being replaced was just an accident.  Peter saw the future in 2016 and so sacrificed himself to remove the Observers.  He didn’t mean to erase himself.  When it happened time was reset so he was never there to sacrifice to end the Observers.  The reunion of all season 3 mindsets, even Walter was his old self, put us back on course in the blue universe.  But  universe 2,red, was still healing and universe 3, amber, still existed so the Observers in the third came back to the first.  Because the Observers are still among us the currently foretold future events of 2015, 2016, 2036, and 2609 still take place

  • Revolg_98

     But Walter did still have a distrust of AltLivia so a swap must of still happened

  • Revolg_98

     It is a new machine not the same one bridging the 2 together.   The Red universe was fixing and when it was all fixed the machine and the bridge would close.  Jones is from this amber universe which will not survive if 1 and 2 heal.  I believe before Peter disappeared he was going to say work together against the Observers.  That’s why the new machine and the Observers taking charge before they are lost in the sealed off 3rd universe.

  • Revolg_98

     There was always 3 or more universes.  Saving Peter affected 2 and 3.  Peter not using the machine would of made 1 and 2 collapse.  The Observers use time travel and therefore are present in all 3.  The future Peter saw was 3 but he sacrificed himself to save 1 and 2.  The Observers erased him to save 3 cause it goes the way they want.  Even though we were watching 3 it was the new 1 not the original 3  So the Observers intervine in 2015 to save their 3 so our 1 has the same future as the original 3.  To save 1 and 2 number 3 cannot be allowed to come to pass. 1 is blue 2 is red 3 is amber

  • Revolg_98

     I believe this DRJ is from the original amber universe and wants blue and red to collapse.  If red collapsed blue would have followed, one can’t survive without the other.  Jones never died since time was reset.  He has always been from the amber universe or if their were 2 DRJ the original worked for amber.

  • Revolg_98

     It’s simple the opening was blue

  • Tosmo

    Little thought I had after watching this episode :
    - William Bell didn’t die in this new timeline. Since his death in the original timeline was linked to Peter crossing over to the other side and Olivia going there with Walter’s and other cortexiphan kids to get him back (ultimately leading to Bellie’s death as he sacrificed himself to fuel the portal device and sending “Bolivia” to our side.

    - The universe the observers have invaded is “ours” or one similar … A simple cue is the existence of the Massive Dynamic building, which doesn’t exist on the other side.

    - There’s *finally* a beginning of explanation to the purpose of ZFT, and Robert David Jones’ actions. It seems William Bell ( and maybe Walter Bishop, although his diminished self doesn’t show any clue about this ) foresaw the coming of the observers and their advanced technology (and maybe, genetic modifications that gave them psychic powers like mind reading or pain inducing)

    - The observers: knowing they polluted earth beyond repair, it’s likely they forcibly evolved themselves to survive this new environment, and thus their physical senses are dulled. That explains the pepper heavy, jalapeno laced hamburger in the 1st season, and why they enjoy pure water so much (a rare commodity!). Also, the fact the caoffe is now consumed in capsules and no longer in liquid form, we can deduce water is now rationed, and the observers keep a monopoly over it.

    - For the first time, an observer is shown displaying strong emotions. The one that forcibly took a woman in the begining og the episode is driven by lust, and no other observer displays any feeling as strong as this one afterwards … it kinda feels odd to me… even when insulted, they don’t react (like when Walter yelled “Monster!” in the train station.

  • Tosmo

     That agent Dunham was Olivia’s niece

  • http://twitter.com/sleepychecker Brian Ormonde

    Its 2609.  2069 wouldn’t be realistic as I doubt we would have become
    like the observers in such a short time.  I’m pretty sure its our
    universe due to the existance of the Massive Dynamic building, which I
    believe doesn’t exist in the alternate universe, or does so under a
    different name.  Walter’s piece of brain wouldn’t be stored there.  Also because they were reminiscing of a time when coffee was in liquid form (not in the other universe).  William Bell probably exists because in the Peter-less
    timeline he probably wasn’t killed.  Who knows what he did to Olivia, or
    which Olivia for that matter.  As far as Walter, I believe its ours
    because of his dynamic with Asterid and because he called her “Astro” when she was released from the amber. 

    As for the Observers, that is a bit of a puzzle.  They didn’t come back and take over in the original timeline.  Remember, he got older and Walter was in jail.  All this before the Walter built the machine and sent it back through a time wormhole. 

    As for September, not sure what happened.  I thought his peers killed him in one of the last episodes but maybe they just punished him.  Also, where the heck are all the female observers? lol.  Its obvious they are male because of the interest in women in this last episode.

  • http://twitter.com/sleepychecker Brian Ormonde

    yes, it was the niece

  • http://twitter.com/sleepychecker Brian Ormonde

     I wonder if the “first people” are actually the Observers?  It could be Walter’s device sends them back through the wormhole to the very distant past.  that would be interestng

  • Bishopx

    it cant be earth 2 as a 20 something agent dunham in 2036 remembers drinking coffe and earth 2 in our time had no coffee

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