Fringe: "Concentrate and Ask Again"

[icepixie]

Oh, Fringe. Sweetheart. You are perilously fucking close to jumping the shark right now, JUST SO YOU KNOW.

First, there's Nina telling Olivia to talk to Peter about her feeeeeelings. I know Nina has other sides to her besides "badass," but this seemed...not exactly in character. (I miss her being vaguely evil, what can I say.)

But whatever, I could just take that as Nina showing an increased amount of concern. I mean, it's not like she hasn't been concerned over Olivia's emotional welfare before. And although Peter and Olivia talking about their feeeelings did get a bit awkward, a.) shit, it's impressive that anyone on American TV actually does so instead of just ignoring it and letting things fester, and b.) not much other way to wade through the issues surrounding that.

HOWEVER. Which universe the machine destroys depends on which Olivia Peter chooses? Fail. Fail SO, SO HARD. SO MUCH FAIL. They just reduced the fate of the universe into a question of which girl the guy is going to pick, because of course it's the guy's decision which is of paramount importance and the girls are just the objects. NOT ON, SHOW.

I think it galls so much because otherwise, the show is FUCKING AWESOMELY FEMINIST, and Olivia really has agency all throughout. Now, poof, it's gone. I mean, it's gone until they find another way around this in which both Olivias get to be active agents, WHICH THEY'D BETTER. (Heh. It just occurred to me that this show is perhaps the only one I've ever watched where "threesome!" is both a legitimate solution and one that canon might just go with.)

Arrrrggghhhh. I am so disappointed. Next week better fix this pronto. Apparently we're going back to the other universe? That should be entertaining, anyway.

Um, a couple other things: Sam wrote the First People book! I figured as much. This should be interesting. I have a feeling his mention of the machine's ability to both create and destroy is going to be relevant. (Though if it means Fauxlivia is pregnant, I'm not sure I can be responsible for my actions.)

What, no reference to Peter's "touched" nature? I suppose without shapeshifters, he didn't have any reason to act all evil focused.

Hey, it's Martouf! Aw, I kind of love seeing who pops up on all the sci-fi shows that film in Vancouver.

Comments

[kungfuwaynewho.livejournal.com]

First, there's Nina telling Olivia to talk to Peter about her feeeeeelings. I know Nina has other sides to her besides "badass," but this seemed...not exactly in character.

Olivia and Nina had a conversation last season, can't remember the specific episode, about Olivia's feelings for Peter, a conversation that Nina initiated. So it's not totally out of character?

Yeah...I am half and half on the Peter's love decides the fate of the universes thing. I mean, I think thematically it ties back to a lot of stuff, like Peter's heart being super-important back in Brown Betty, but it just seems a little...pat. I'm not quite ready to call it feminist fail just because the show has such a good track record on that score and I'd like to give it the benefit of the doubt, but...yeah.

I mean, as much as the show before this point has been driven by Olivia and her agency and baggage and decisions &c, Peter's been a kind of passive character throughout, really. I'm not automatically against him taking a turn driving the car. And, like, Peter pretty much was the object that drove the plot for the entirety of the back half of S2. It's kinda like that discussion we were having about B5, about what constituted gender fail and what didn't - the idea that male characters could do this or that and it was just writing, but if female characters did the same this or that it was gender fail. I mean, I totally reserve the right to change my mind depending on what happens next (and also because TV in general just doesn't have the greatest track record on this kind of thing), but I'm not ready to condemn the show just yet.

[icepixie]

Olivia and Nina had a conversation last season, can't remember the specific episode, about Olivia's feelings for Peter, a conversation that Nina initiated. So it's not totally out of character?

Ohhhh, right, I vaguely remember that. Yeah, of my three o_O moments, that was the least o_O anyway.

I think the difference (for me) in how Peter was objectified in S2 and how Olivia is objectified here is that "father replacing a child with one from another universe" isn't as common of a trope as "important guy choosing between two girls," and isn't tied up in a history of uncomfortable gender roles. I do think the Fringe folks will be able to write their way out of this in a manner that satisfies all of the characters, but I'm unhappy that they've given me cause to doubt it even for one week.

(It does tie in nicely with Peter's heart from "Brown Betty," but still...I feel like there are other ways that could've related.)

[kungfuwaynewho.livejournal.com]

I think the difference (for me) in how Peter was objectified in S2 and how Olivia is objectified here is that "father replacing a child with one from another universe" isn't as common of a trope as "important guy choosing between two girls," and isn't tied up in a history of uncomfortable gender roles.

This is absolutely right. I took a computer sabbatical this weekend, and rewatched the episode, and I'm finding myself in the position of not disagreeing with anyone's critiques...and yet still being okay with it. I didn't know why I was okay with it Friday night, which is why I was posting kind of knee-jerk defenses here and there.

I think, for me, the idea that the fate of the two universes boils down to Peter's choice just has this sort of mythic quality that I like. And I feel bad for liking it knowing full well it's problematic? IDK.

[icepixie]

I think, for me, the idea that the fate of the two universes boils down to Peter's choice just has this sort of mythic quality that I like. And I feel bad for liking it knowing full well it's problematic? IDK.

*shrug* Hey, if you like it, you like it. Don't feel bad. I don't want to police individuals for what they like; I just want to rant at shows when they don't live up to my expectations. ;)