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Fringe

The Equation

Season 1, Episode 8, Aired Nov 18, 2008

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8.9

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Walter's former bunkmate at the mental institute is linked to the abduction of a young musical prodigy by a serial kidnapper. Peter is concerned when Walter insists on going back to the mental institute to solve the case.

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Cast & Crew

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GUEST STAR
William Sadler

Dr. Sumner
GUEST STAR
Randall Duk Kim

Dashiell Kim
GUEST STAR
Gillian Jacobs

Joanne Ostler

Anna Torv

Olivia Dunham
Joshua Jackson

Peter Bishop
Lance Reddick

Phillip Broyles
Kirk Acevedo

Charlie Francis
Jasika Nicole

Astrid Farnsworth
John Noble

Dr. Walter Bishop

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Fan Episode Reviews (17)

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Good Ol' Walter.

8.5

"Great"

By saleblanc, Aug 14, 2010

I think one of the things that I love about this episode is that it was a great balance between case and personal. We have an Ben who is suddenly able to play and compose music. But the musical composition is an obsession of both little Ben and a patient at St. Claire's. Walter is willing to see what his friend knows by returning to St. Claire's. It turns our the obsession isn't a pattern, it's an ability. But it's currently in the wrong hands. The wonderful part of this episode is the interaction between Peter and Walter. Peter wanting to protect and care for the man whom is his father. Walter wanting to be the father to Peter that he never had.moreless
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A show focused on Walter!

10

"Perfect"

By Nikkles, Aug 14, 2010

This was a good episode that focused more an Walter. Walter has been doing better lately and this episode really highlights how much healthier Walter is out of the hospital. It also makes you wonder what they do to the patients in that hospital. Walter definitely seems crazier inside the hospital than with Peter. It was also good to see Peter stand up for his father and even respect him a bit for doing something that scared him so badly. Olivia did not have that much to do do in this episode, but the episode still works. We also learn that the doctor at the hospital might make things hard for Peter in the future. Overall, another great episode!moreless
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I absolutely adore this show and this is most likely my favorite so far!

10

"Perfect"

By DerickBentham, Aug 14, 2010

Fringe is a great show because it is so out there and different from other shows on television right now. The Equation is an excellent episode for many reasons. First off, it helped show that waltar genuinely does care about the welfare of others because he sacrifices himself in order to get inside and speak to the man who he believes to have the answer to where the woman took the boy. Another reason it is good is because it helps show that Peter loves and cares for his father. All in all the episode had some excellent character development and told one amazing story.moreless
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A mysterious woman kidnaps a child music prodigy.

8.3

"Great"

By thefanof, Aug 14, 2010

Where Fringe is successful is in capturing the essence of the first season of Lost. Throughout the episode you find yourself on the edge of the seat while asking just what the hell is going on? In that area the show is a success. Where Fringe struggles is with the concept of planning out episodes. For some reason they insist on lengthy run-times nearing 50 minutes, when the major storyline of each could easily be handled in the normal 42.

Until programs like Battlestar Galactica and Doctor Who return Fringe is still the best source of science fiction excitement on television. It is still an incredibly well-written program and this episode was no different, but the storylines are starting to get repetitive. We already had the mad scientist who tried to milk information out of subjects done on this show.

There's a whole world of craziness out there. Explore some of it and Fringe will become even better but if they stick to the same 3-4 concepts the show will lose all of its momentum very shortly.moreless
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Another good story and more questions posed. Just wanting a bit more from Peter.

8.5

"Great"

By saturday93, Aug 14, 2010

This episode encapsulates a lot of what is keeping Fringe great: spooky encounters, good one-liners, and characters that are easy to love. Watching Walter have to go back to the place that may have driven him insane was very interesting and very worrying, and getting a glimpse of his mind's inner workings was great. And again the writers are giving us mysteries with only the barest hint at what it all means... and I'm not frustrated. I'm intrigued.

I haven't yet missed an episode of Fringe and I'm still excited about where it might be going. I have to grumble about Peter Bishop a bit, though - he was introduced as this brilliant guy who broke a lot of rules and ran around the world making money and being more intelligent than everyone. Now he's comic relief who occasionally gets to add something to an equation. I just feel like the man has to do something heroic (that doesn't involve getting electrocuted and/or tortured) before he loses credibility. As much as I adore funny lab-Peter, I want to see the 190 IQ MIT fraud again.moreless
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (3)
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- Trivia: The glyph for this episode is "TAKEN."
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- Trivia: In the shot of Olivia on her cell phone just before she sees the "castle," a butterfly can be seen on a trash can behind her to screen-left. This is a clue toward the next episode, "The Dreamscape."
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- Trivia: The Observer is standing by a tree to the left in the far background as Olivia talks to Peter on her cellphone and is told about the "red castle."
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QUOTES (6)
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- Walter: Actually I was referring to the equation. Dashiell was obsessed with it. Olivia: Obsessed. In what way? Walter: He couldn't complete it. I tried to help him solve it once and he came at me with a plastic spork.
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- Olivia: What is it, Walter? Can we talk to him? Walter: I guess that would depend on whether he has succeeded in killing himself or not.
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- Walter: They hoped to broadcast the flashing lights during commercials so that the viewers would have no choice but to buy their products. Unfortunately, it merely caused nausea which was unfortunate because apparently, people don't like to shop when they feel like they're going to throw up.
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- Walter: And you look different too, somehow. That smile. Have they altered your medication? Wouldn't surprise me. These medieval quacks are more proficient at phrenology than psychopharmacology. Dashiell: I miss your jokes, Walter.
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- Peter: After some of the things I've seen in the last three months, Walter strikes me as being one of the sanest people I know.
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- Joanne: Seems crazy that some numbers can make a machine like this work. Mitchell: Look around your house, your office, your kitchen--numbers make everything work.
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NOTES (2)
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- Blair Brown and Mark Valley are credited but don't appear.
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- Original International Air Dates: Sweden: November 20, 2008 on Kanal 5 United Kingdom: November 23, 2008 on Sky One Australia: December 8, 2008 on Nine Norway: February 22, 2009, on TVN Finland: February 23, 2009 on MTV3 Germany: May 11, 2009 on ProSieben Belgium: June 25, 2009 on RTBF2 France: July 8, 2009 on TF1 New Zealand: August 19, 2009 on TV2 Poland: October 29, 2009 on TVN Slovakia: November 22, 2009 on Markiza Czech Republic: March 5, 2010 on Nova Cinema
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ALLUSIONS (1)
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- Astrid: What's up, Chachi? Referencing Chachi Arcola, The Fonz's nephew on Happy Days. Scott Baio played the character, who proved popular enough to be moved into a spinoff, Joanni Loves Chachi with Erin Moran. The series only lasted two seasons before being cancelled and Chachi returned to Milwaukee to hang out with his uncle.
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