Olivia will be our failsafe

[Novation]

When Walter was explaining the paradox to Peter after the funeral, he mentioned that "Olivia will be our fail safe" so that they would know whether or not they had succeeded in breaking the paradox...did he mean that she'd simply be alive when Peter went back in time, or is there more to it? That line has been bugging me for the longest.

[Firefly]

I don't remember that line.

EDIT: Oh wait, just watched it back. I never noticed that line before. How strange...

[psychopathicROC]

maybe the timeline has changed since the last time you watched it, but you were protected from the changes....

[jdavis417]

'Failsafe'... now there's a great book/movie!

[Novation]

I would like to think the writers wouldn't just throw a line like that in there...in what was perhaps the most integral conversation in the history of the show. But they never followed up on it. Maybe it's something yet to come. Speaking of which..how do you do the thing where you block out spoilers in a post?

[jdavis417]

Very important anagrams of 'failsafe' include;
Alas Fief
Falsie Fa
If As A Elf
(I know, I know... it's my "Eureka" moment... of the day er... hour???...)

It's always good to have a crowbar in your toolchest.

[WhatsUpDoc1958]

The presumption here is that the mode of Time Travel involved is one where changes to the Past As We Know It can be made. This can be compared Back To The Future (BTTF) form of Time Travel. It is contrasted with a Whatever Happened, Happened (WHH) form of Time Travel where The Past As We Know It cannot be changed.

It appears Fringe has embraced a form of Time Travel where the Past can be changed.

Because Walter is intentionally changing past events via use of the wormhole to send the Machine and the First People back in time, expecting changes in the Past As We Know It, the changes are therefore unpredictable. Walter designates Cortexiphan powered Olivia as the fail safe to ensure the machine is operational and that Peter is able to operate the machine.