Fringe

Earthling

Season 2, Episode 6, Aired 11/5/09

Episode Summary

The Fringe team investigates instances of victims being transformed to ash by high-energy discharges, and discover a connection to Broyles' past.

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Cast & Crew

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Anna Torv

Olivia Dunham
Joshua Jackson

Peter Bishop
Lance Reddick

Phillip Broyles

Fan Episode Reviews (11)

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Good episode

8.5

"Great"

By dreamgoat, Jan 27, 2012 Report Abuse

This show is good because we learned about broyles. which was real good. He tells why he joined the fbi and how he lost his family because he was so hooked on solving this case. He does solve the case and meets with his wife at home, told her and was happy for him. But, since he joined the fbi to protect his family and closed the case that ended his family. I see him at that moment outside hes door paused indicating now what to do. He's very alone and his ex senses that. Great show about boyles, the case was alright but for me what made the show was boyles.moreless

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Ahhh, the poor CIA needs some love...

8.5

"Great"

By sandbur, Dec 19, 2010 Report Abuse

...and an erector set saves the day. Well, that and a bullet to the brain of the "objet du jour" and/or its resident symbiont. Nice to see some of Broyles' background in early experience with the Fringe Division and consequently, some character development for him. Does everyone on TV who is employed in national security come from a broken home or relationship? Is there any such thing as NOT dysfunctional on TV?

Walter in his own little world, and talking to his own little friends, even without the aid of his pills, is as wonderful as ever. And once again, the episode ends with that creepy feeling that even though this kind of stuff is doubtful, there is some other sh** out there that we don't know about. And it is in the hands of the CIA and others like it, and even worse...now think about this...in the hands of our politicians!

And Peter wonders why Walter took those pills...!!moreless

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7 2
Bryles centric episode reveals secrets from Fringe Rusia

8.5

"Great"

By ionee24, Dec 19, 2010 Report Abuse

A shadow man that reduces people to ashes serves as the frame in which Agent Broyles reveals his own past, contrary to the most popular belief it wasn't the love affair with Massive Dynamci's Nina Sharp what caused the end of his marriage but rather his own marriage to Fringe Division illustrated in the first scene where a little boy plays with him until the latest call makes him flee from his dinner table like he probably did back when he still had a family.

The contrast with the Bishop household starts early in the episode as Walter remembers some particularly embarrasing moments of Peter's childhood and continue all the way up to the scene where Walter is caught up in a music aria solving a formula as Peter & Astrid watch him in awe, a formula that links all the way back to Russian technology and their work on Fringe science.

As Walter involves and expands his own family, Broyles alienates the only family he has left, Olivia practically has to force him to confess who was his contact, the brother of a Russian cosmonaut called Alex Vasiliev whose shado is probably still killing people as he lies on a coma he hasn't wake up from since Broyles's first case. By the time they contain the shadow both the brother as well as a few others have already been killed.

In the end Broyles finally goes home to share the news with his ex-wife even if he can no longer share his life with her.moreless

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5 2
Finally, an episode about Broyles

8.5

"Great"

By Lyta_499, Dec 19, 2010 Report Abuse

It was about time the writers gave us a Broyles-centric episode, he is such a mysterious and fascinating character and yet, one and a half seasons afterwards, we practically know nothing about him (apart from the fact that there is a love interest between him and Nina Sharp). So in this episode we find out he hides a sensitive man beneath the harsh exterior, one who has had his family deprived of him due to his excessive dedication to his job. Standing at the gateway between two worlds requires a lot of time and effort, and it cost Broyles his family. Another pleasant surprise is that he cares about his cases, as he obviously did about the Russian cosmonaut and his brother. However, his personal feelings don't get in the way of him doing what is necessary, as we witnessed first hand when he shot the cosmonaut.

Walter, Olivia, Peter and Astrid played a more or less decorative role in this episode, which was something I would've preferred done differently. There have been moments of chemistry between Olivia and Broyles in the past, where it was clear he admired her abilities and dedication, and she admired his leadership, trusted him and viewed him as an ally. This case and Broyles' sharing the details with Olivia could've been used as a vehicle for further development of their relationship.

Another thing that disappointed me was that Walter didn't have the time to properly solve the case, I so look forward to the final scene where he gives the explanations in each episode(gotta love Walter, he's amazing), and in this one it was cut short by the CIA's intervention. I do understand however that it was necessary for the plot, the Fringe division was operating outside its jurisdiction in this case and it was a matter of time before their access was cut off. The final scene with Broyles and the CIA agent was great, very atmospheric and threatening, reminded me of the golden times of the X Files (I sure miss those times). Fringe can certainly pull off the atmosphere, which isn't easy to do. After this episode there's legitimate reason to hope that the CIA and whatever subplots it may bring to the main arc will be more involved in Fringe's future cases.moreless

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Shadow "people" exist. I've seen them & I know based on all the phone calls received over the years by Art Bell that other people have seen them as well. And it's just so awesome that the Fringe team has brought some much needed clarity to this mystery!moreless

10

"Perfect"

By SourceEnergy, Dec 19, 2010 Report Abuse

This was by far the best episode Ever of Fringe. It was a well told and very spooky story. I also appreciated that this story brought some much needed depth to a character who up until now was as mysterious as the phenomenon the team investigated.

The special effects were also awesome and freaky in a way that wasn't disgusting. I was also very impressed by the climatic scene in which the girl was motionless on the motel bed and you were left to wonder for a long, dramatic moment whether she had been "bitten."

Excellent job, folks! If Fringe would lay it down like this on a weekly basis - it would be the #1 show in America! Oh, well, as a very wise and very beautiful woman once said, "You can't have it all - and have it all be perfect!"

Peace Out!moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- When Walter and Peter explain to Astrid about the radiation, Walter is shown writing on the blackboard. John Noble is left-handed, nevertheless we see him writing with his right hand in the closeup. When the angle switches he's writing with his left hand, as always. Edit
- Timur is transformed into ash, but the weight of the cell phone he's holding doesn't cause his hand and everything below it to break loose. Instead, the much lighter breeze from the fan causes him to fall apart a few seconds later. Edit
- Despite the fact that he is last seen standing up and being startled by a shadowy creature, when Randy's corpse is found: he is seated calmly and peacefully. Edit
Notes
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- Music: Freezing (Mozella), Straighten Up and Fly Right (Nat King Cole), Una Furtiva Lagrima (Mario Lanza) Edit
- The cartoon the girl watches is Kimba, the white lion (Janguru Taitei), a Japanese anime series from the 1960's, created by Osamu Tezuka. Edit
- International Airdates: UK: November 8, 2009 on Sky1/Sky1 HD Latin America: December 1, 2009 on WB Sweden: January 7, 2010 on Kanal 5 Australia: January 27, 2010 on GO! Germany: April 19, 2010 on ProSieben Poland: October 14, 2010 on TVN Finland: October 27, 2010 on MTV3 Czech Republic: January 7, 2011 on Nova Cinema Edit
Quotes
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- Astrid: So this thing followed him from the hospital? I'm not going to sleep for weeks. Edit
- Olivia: Walter, do you have any thoughts? Walter: Reminds me of Christmas. Like a fire log that burns so hot it remains intact., holding the shape of its former self. You used to love that when you were a child. You'd poke the log with your little finger when it had cooled, and you'd draw genitalia on the reindeer decorations. Peter: Happy memories, Walter. Edit
- Peter: Are you suggesting that this was some sort of Russian experiment? Walter: Because they're from the other side of the world, Peter, is it so hard to believe they have their own stripe of the inconceivable? Really I'm always amazed at their advancements even 40 years ago. You wouldn't believe what those pinkos were up to. Edit
Allusions
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