1.02 The Same Old Story - Fringe Rewatch Season 1

[D-Roc]

1.02 THE SAME OLD STORY
reWATCH DISCUSSION THREAD

Written by Jeff Pinkner, JJ. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci

Directed by Paul Edwards

Our unlikely trio’s strange partnership begins as they investigate the mysterious death of a woman who conceives, carries to full-term and births a baby in the span of hours, and her baby who ages 80 years in a matter of minutes.


As the bizarre and seemingly unexplainable occurrences are explored, quirky Dr. Bishop runs extensive testing in the lab; his reluctant son Peter endures his new role as his father’s keeper; and Olivia turns to Massive Dynamic Chief Operating Officer Nina Sharp for assistance.

Feel free to use this thread to post your thoughts, comments and retrospective views and observations (etc) from rewatching or re-analyzing The Same Old Story.

We realise that not all everyone will have access to past episodes. Unfortunately neither Fox nor Hulu have this episode in the video library. However should you wish, you can watch the [ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FW58D6"]Pilot episode episode via Amazon[/ame] for $1.99. If you are unable to rewatch the episode, you are still welcome to participate and share any thoughts etc you have from this episode.

The rewatch thread for ep. 1.03 will be posted on Thursday.

[Elliot]

For a man who snorted at the idea his father might have been Dr. Frankenstein, Peter's scene reviving that woman looked rather Frankenstein-ish. Apple not falling far from tree after all, I think. And can we nickname this episode "Magic Old Man Baby"?

[eilcon]

I noticed a theme of father and son in this episode. You have Walter and Peter, Dr. Penrose and Christopher, and these are echoed by the father and son with the toy boat when Olivia is sitting outside by the pond on the Harvard Campus.

There are numerous blue flashes in this episode as well. When Christopher is catching his prey, when Olivia is inspecting his motel room ( the motel looks a lot like the one in the beginning of Pilot), and again as Olivia chases Christopher. Could an observer be watching all of this?

There is also the wall behind Olivia changing through all the primary and intermediate colors as she has her dream state while waiting at Massive Dynamics.

[Elliot]

I noticed a theme of father and son in this episode. You have Walter and Peter, Dr. Penrose and Christopher, and these are echoed by the father and son with the toy boat when Olivia is sitting outside by the pond on the Harvard Campus.

There are numerous blue flashes in this episode as well. When Christopher is catching his prey, when Olivia is inspecting his motel room ( the motel looks a lot like the one in the beginning of Pilot), and again as Olivia chases Christopher. Could an observer be watching all of this?

There is also the wall behind Olivia changing through all the primary and intermediate colors as she has her dream state while waiting at Massive Dynamics.

Check out the red yellow blue thread and also spotting ryb, you can help us hunt!

[Citizen]

In the blog post, you said Peter's medical history was an unresolved mystery, but I assumed the medical history referred to Peter having actually died and that Walter just waited to meet people like Broyles before considering that the Fringe Division could have known about this already. He then asked Olivia to see if his assumptions were correct. But that's just my interpretation.

[Blue Sunflower]

In the blog post, you said Peter's medical history was an unresolved mystery, but I assumed the medical history referred to Peter having actually died and that Walter just waited to meet people like Broyles before considering that the Fringe Division could have known about this already. He then asked Olivia to see if his assumptions were correct. But that's just my interpretation.

If Peter's actual death was listed in Walter's files, I would think he'd have been a bit more frantic about other people knowing that. I think Peter's "alternate realityness" is a pretty closely guarded secret. The medical history is most likely something else - although it *might* be about Peter's childhood illness, just not his death.

[Elliot]

If Peter's actual death was listed in Walter's files, I would think he'd have been a bit more frantic about other people knowing that. I think Peter's "alternate realityness" is a pretty closely guarded secret. The medical history is most likely something else - although it *might* be about Peter's childhood illness, just not his death.

I agree. There's got to be more to it.

[lezario]

About Peter having hepea, a rare form of bird flu, only one person successfully cured by Alfred Gross. A miracle that could make some people be interested in Peter.

[Cathy904]

Father/son theme, clone theme, creepy eyeball image-gleaning machine,

Olivia waking sleepy Peter up, GaROSS beginning, and if memory serves correctly,

"Awww" moment with Peter (sort of) singing Walter to sleep.

"Row, row, row, your boat......"

[Cathy904]

If Peter's actual death was listed in Walter's files, I would think he'd have been a bit more frantic about other people knowing that. I think Peter's "alternate realityness" is a pretty closely guarded secret. The medical history is most likely something else - although it *might* be about Peter's childhood illness, just not his death.

You're right, Blue Sunflower, but this is a question I have to the writers about this.

Peter coming from another dimension isn't really a 'medical condition'.

I might be starting the rewatch discussion a day early....... *wanders back to the Shipper Thread.....*