Fayette's Cortexiphan & Silva's Vaccine: the Amber Biomedical episode

[crocodilian]

Lost in the excitement of the baby is the biomedicine . . . that's how it is, people like the love triangles, the molecular biology gets less respect (though Armin Silva does a very nice job namechecking the greats of the biosciences)

Remember how cortexiphan is orange/amber?

And we start the episode with Brandon Fayette synthesizing (presumably) cortexiphan from the samples obtained from Olivia.

Now, take a look at the cages for Armin Silva's rats . . . same color. Even the light in his lab is that color-- note the fascinating lighting on Bolivia, half of her face bathed in blue, half in Amber.

And, ask the question: "What's Silva's vaccine for?"

The episode title, "Immortality", does suggest one answer, maybe that's it?

But he never actually said that, did he?

Interesting that viewers are so engaged with the baby storyline that they're not paying attention to the main theme of the episode: two advances in biomedicine, both tagged amber in the filming.

We've already established that RedVerse is substantially ahead of ours in biomedicine . . . so its not a cure for something ordinary, and given the color cues, I'm guessing its got something to do with cortexiphan.

Note: Amber shows up a lot in biomedical settings in Fringe. Look back to the hospital scene in "Concentrate and ask again"-- bright Amber bin on the crash cart in hospital hallway. (Could be random)

[gillybee]

I took immortality to mean Dr Silva wanting to die as a biochemist legend. Which is why he told Lincoln to make sure that they spelt his name right so that he would be remembered long after he was gone.

[crocodilian]

I took immortality to mean Dr Silva wanting to die as a biochemist legend. Which is why he told Lincoln to make sure that they spelt his name right so that he would be remembered long after he was gone.

"Immortality" is also (presumably) a reference to a new life-- Walternate's tenderness to Bolivia when he learns she's carrying his grandchild.

But that does leave the question? What was Armin Silva working on? What was it that was so dramatic that was willing to sacrifice his life in a most grisly fashion?

[andrewk512]

I took immortality to mean Dr Silva wanting to die as a biochemist legend. Which is why he told Lincoln to make sure that they spelt his name right so that he would be remembered long after he was gone.
I agree. I actually thought it was a really cool idea. It could've been great with a bit more depth except it ended up neglected for Altliv's baby storyline.

The whole 'immortality' idea brings light to the human condition and how we lose our self in our goals and the perceived importance of life, eventually making detrimental sacrifices to see our goals through and become 'immortal.'

[crocodilian]

I agree. I actually thought it was a really cool idea. It could've been great with a bit more depth except it ended up neglected for Altliv's baby storyline.

You think its "neglected" that they didn't say what the vaccine is for?

Coincidental that the episode starts with another biomedical treatment?

They actually devote much more screen time to the biomedical storyline to the baby.

Its the Fanverse that's pre-occupied with the baby . . .

[mj07]

I thought the vaccine he was developing was to cure avian flu, which I gather is a major problem in their universe?

[BananaBob]

It is implied in the episode that he was working on a cure for avian flue when sheep went extinct. He was bringing back the bugs to cure avian flu.

edit: because the beetles have an enzyme which the vaccine is based on.

[crocodilian]

I thought the vaccine he was developing was to cure avian flu, which I gather is a major problem in their universe?

When does he say that? I didn't catch it, but I'll have to watch again, I've missed stuff before. Not sure where bugs come in in a flu vaccine, but hey, its not real science, so could be that.

[crocodilian]

It is implied in the episode that he was working on a cure for avian flue when sheep went extinct. He was bringing back the bugs to cure avian flu.

edit: because the beetles have an enzyme which the vaccine is based on.

Good catch on that. I got the beetles/enzyme business, but not what he was targeting.

[JodyA]

Silva talked to Faulivia about how their decaying world had taken him off his path...how he had a calling for for his line of work. He apparently dedicated everything he was to it and he wanted to leave behind a legacy to be remembered by such as Salk was for curing polio by inventing the polio vaccine. Scary how he was taping Fauxlivia. It seems that relfective images or projected images have a way of meaning something in other eps.

[crocodilian]

Scary how he was taping Fauxlivia.

Yes, why was he taping her?

He was the host-- not her. So why the camera on her?

[jophan]

Remember how cortexiphan is orange/amber?

Um, I thought it was dark red, in both "Jacksonville" and "Entrada". I'd link to a screencap, but I'm unsure about the new rules.

[andrewk512]

You think its "neglected" that they didn't say what the vaccine is for?

Coincidental that the episode starts with another biomedical treatment?

They actually devote much more screen time to the biomedical storyline to the baby.

Its the Fanverse that's pre-occupied with the baby . . .
I meant more so that the impact of the biomedical storyline was lost to the craze over the baby. As well as the last bit of the episode was lost, where all the reflection usually happens. It was just like, "oh, he's dead" and then focus to the baby storyline.