Storytelling as Creation -Walter, Ella, Astrid: First People

[RETLAW]

Props for pointing all of this out for those of us who had been previously unaware of the deeper significance of the Brown Betty episode RETLAW. I'll be picking the BB thread apart at my earliest convenience.
One more thing, considering the significance of Brown Betty and that it was one of the last episodes (if not the last) that Abrams was directly involved in, do you feel that his lack of direct involvement since then has hurt the series?

Thanks and you bring up an interesting issue. My take on Abrams' involvement is mixed. Although Wyman and Pinkner have done a great job overall, I do feel this brings up another issue, and that being the lack of a singular vision.

I do feel Abrams had many concepts that he wanted to explore and a definitive direction early on. I don't think the show was ever mapped out in anyone's mind as specifically as some other shows with one show-runner. I also think that the vision had changed and been altered as we've gone along because there were more "chefs in the kitchen". I do wonder what the show would be like if Abrams was the sole dictator and he treated the show as "his baby" but apparently that is not the case.

Fringe seems to be more of a progression of ideas and evolves through the collaboration of the show-runners and writers, which is cool, but can create changes in an earlier strategy. Any such changes would obviously dilute the foreshadowing potency of "Brown Betty". I've speculated that the reason that we haven't seen a hint of the Fauxlivia babygate in Brown Betty is that they added/altered that storyline during S3.

I think had Abrams been involved with the show constantly and as the only show-runner, an episode like "Brown Betty" would be even more complete, such as "Restless" from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, an episode that foreshadowed the coming seasons on that show (which was easier to do because Joss Whedon --who Abrams is often compared to--was always the boss on his show and knew exactly where he wanted to go). A comparison of "Restless" and "Brown Betty" can be found on pg. 9 of the BB thread, a good page indeed.

[littlemcbeast]

such as "Restless" from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, an episode that foreshadowed the coming seasons on that show

I can't believe I never made the connection between the foreshadowing in Brown Betty and Restless - I loved Restless. It is to date one of the most interesting television episodes I've ever seen. Somewhere in my old files is a 20-page analysis of it... just the cheese symbolism is a thesis in itself.

[RETLAW]

I can't believe I never made the connection between the foreshadowing in Brown Betty and Restless - I loved Restless. It is to date one of the most interesting television episodes I've ever seen. Somewhere in my old files is a 20-page analysis of it... just the cheese symbolism is a thesis in itself.

See this: pg. 9 of the BB thread Buffy's "Restless" & Fringe's "Brown Betty"

Also David Fury (Buffy/Angel) just joined Fringe as a writer/producer!

[Albert]

Brown Betty: Walter's Ending


FICTIONAL OLIVIA: The device -- the one that came through the wall -- I knew that I had seen it someplace before. You brought Nina Sharp's Watchers to your side. Didn't you?

FICTIONAL WALTER: Peter. Peter! I -- I never meant to hurt anyone. I never -- I can change, you'll see. I can make up for all the harm I've done. Peter, please. (sings) Who can take the sunrise? Sprinkle it with dew... the Candy Man can. Peter, please.

I've been wondering where the Observers came from. I've now decided that a future version of Nina Sharp and Walter (Massive Dynamic) created them for guiding the two universes so they are not destroyed, without interfering directly in the course of events. That certainly seems to be at the heart of everything they have done. We already know that Massive Dynamic has been engaged in human experimentation, such as the many clones of the boy who could control other people with his mind. Creating the Observers would simply be an extension of this, and Brown Betty strongly supports this sort of theory. After all, in Brown Betty, the observers are the minions of Nina Sharp. And Nina Sharp controls Massive Dynamic, so I am convinced that Massive Dynamic, under the direction of Nina and Walter, will create the observers in a future.

[littlemcbeast]

Also David Fury (Buffy/Angel) just joined Fringe as a writer/producer!

That's so exciting! Wasn't he also a writer for the first (and undoubtedly best) season of Lost? Season 4 should be very promising.

Will check out the BB/Restless post; thanks for the link! (And all the wonderful analyses you've been putting forth. )

[margarita]

So the three people that Peter specifically links as the First People; Walter, Astrid, and Ella happen to be the three witnesses of the "Brown Betty" tale. A tale or any fiction is like a creation of an alternate reality (we've seen how much of Brown Betty has "come to reality" in the show).

Walter being the storyteller is creating that imaginative reality, and Peter said "you, most specifically" to Walter being a First Person. Ella and Astrid were the two witnesses to Walter's tale (pictured above).

Ella even partakes in this process of creation (storytelling) by changing Walter's original ending to his tale, into a "proper" ending. This revised ending results in the important symbolism of Peter splitting his heart to save both himself and Walter; a proposed solution to save both worlds (pictured below). Additionally, in a call-back to BB, the grown Ella in the finale says there is "no happy ending".

Wow! This is an amazing theory! As in BB, I'll watch again the episode "Lysergic Acid Diethylamide", looking for possible clues for the 4 season

[RETLAW]

So I'm back and anticipating the fourth seasons as it quick approaches...

Figured now would be a good time to overview a lot of the contributions "Brown Betty" has infused into Fringe canon. Remember, we left off in "The Day We Died" with some very peculiar "Brown Betty" callbacks and references! Peter referring to the witnesses of the Brown Betty story as the First People, Ella calling back to her time spent with Walter in that ep, etc. Below is a list of threads comprehensively covering Brown Betty clues, callbacks, and themes.

The Day We Died...Callbacks to Brown Betty


Storytelling as Creation -Walter, Ella, Astrid: First People
http://fringe-forum.com/forums/showt...d-First-People


LSD, another "Brown Betty"?

http://fringe-forum.com/forums/showt...dowing-episode


Buffy's "Restless" and Fringe's "Brown Betty" - iconic foreshadowing episodes


http://fringe-forum.com/forums/showt...Season-3/page9


The Beacon's Future Role Examined


http://fringe-forum.com/forums/showt...eason-3/page12


List of Foreshadow Landmarks by LostSasquatch
A very comprehensive list of Brown Betty landmarks, clues, and foreshadowing elements


http://fringe-forum.com/forums/showt...Season-3/page9