Who exactly is Olivia?

[LordManhammer]

We keep talking about the differences between AltLivia and Olivia, and I've actually become really intrigued by their similarities after connected something Newton has said to both Olivias.

We know that our experiences and choices in life ultimately change us; we would be slightly different versions of ourselves if we could see ourselves take a different path in life by our experiences and choices.

So, the question is, how do you know who you are at your base nature?

To Olivia in Season 2's "Grey Matters," Newton said, "Now I know how weak you are," concerning her making an emotional choice to save her friends.

In this episode, Newton talks to AltLivia about her emotions betraying her ability to be successful on her mission.
(Interestingly, a lot of Fringe episodes have dealt with emotions).

I guess we know that Olivia, no matter what universe she is from, is an emotional creature. Her emotions are what make her good at "saving the world," and they are what drives her.

What other things are in our Olivias' natures?

[JustThinking]

They both are strong- physically and mentally. Both beautiful-whatever the hair color.

[vlada_vvv]

In fact her emotions make her weak. Just as Newton said and he was right. And it's kinda tricky moment because they (Newt and Liv) actually have very similar destinies - they both were made for something. So far we could see that being unemotional is more effective.

What about the nature of Olivia? In both universes she's a soldier but in different ways. That's what makes me think that working for some defense forces/being a soldier is in her nature.

[J.JAbramsfan]

Wow thats a good point. I think obviously though that the events in their life and how they dealt with it has helped them evolve differently. Such as Olivia lossing her mother while really young but at the same time having to deal with her mothers boyfriend. Then with everything thats going on with Fringe and losing the man she loves and then her best friend. Plus the cortexaphan experiements I think its built her into a strong, independant yet emotion being who doesn't want to lose anyone else.

While the AltOlivia is strong and independant from seeing what she sees everyday. The only lose we know of from her side is her father when she was really young and her sister. However she is a lot more situated with herself that Olivia. She is happy with her life, her connection with her mother, and her serious relationship. I think part of the AltOlivia's emotional problem in the new episodes is the fact that shes home sick. She misses her mother, her boyfriend, and Charlie. She is starting to feel the lose that Olivia did, with the minor detail of knowing their alive but can't see them.

[AltAnna]

I guess we will see more and more that Olivia and Altlivia are more similar than they look. And I think that's the same case with Walternate and Walter (now that he's assuming control of MD and has much more power than before).

That's why I'm hoping Altlivia shows some better insights in the next Over Here episode, maybe being the one who solves the next case. Till now she's being shown as a villain, but the writers are already hitting that she will grown fond of our universe, which will probably change her perception of the mission she was asigned.

I'm guessing Olivia's emotions not only trigger her abilities, but also some of the events that we saw during season 1 and season 2. So, it's good and bad.

[LordManhammer]

In both universes she's a soldier but in different ways. That's what makes me think that working for some defense forces/being a soldier is in her nature.

Interesting . . . It reminds me of some scene in Season 1 (I think) when Peter asks Olivia how she ended up an FBI agent and then basically asks her the same thing in "Brown Betty." Both times she basically says she always knew what she was meant to do. I love the deeper layers of this show! Off topic a bit, but I wonder what Peter is "meant to do" also.

[cambrielle]

Well, (and you all feel free to help me out here), there is an episode in which Walter says that he believe Peter has exactly the knack to assist Walter in the lab. Also in the episode with the candle caper, (again I don't know which one Bishop Revival maybe) Walter asks Peter what he thinks Olivia will look in her wedding dress whenever Peter gets around to marrying the girl because Olivia sees through Peter in a way that Peter needs to be x-rayed. Unfortunately he is currently with the other Olivia, but perhaps that relationship can work. I think maybe Peter and Alt-livia may indeed be the power romantic couple for this show. I was a PO shipper in the beginning, but I am wanting to make lemonade from the lemons the writers seem to be giving us. The old comedy show Friends took on a new romantic couple identity several times. The writers had intended to make Monica and Joey the power couple and Monica ended up with Chandler after a stint with an older chap named Richard. Maybe this show will end up with a life of its own. And considering this is sci fi, the scripts may actually become animate like the bug book in Harry Potter LOL!

[Andyy]

Unfortunately he is currently with the other Olivia, but perhaps that relationship can work. I think maybe Peter and Alt-livia may indeed be the power romantic couple for this show.

I had the same idea before watching "The Box". I could see the point in all this talk about being from the same universe. Maybe Altlivia was ment for Peter in the first place. So since I'm considering myself to be on Peters side, I really wanted to like Altlivia for his sake.

BUT after I saw how Altlivia acted on our side I lost my warm feelings for her. I really hope they don't go down the line to form a romantic couple of Peter and Altlivia, and I honestly don't think they do. I mean, they build Olivia as our leading character for 2 years and now expect the viewer to change that feelings for a another Olivia? It will be hard enough for the writers to give Altlivia back some humanity that was lost in the last 2 episodes.


I believe what makes both Olivias strong are their emotions. They both care very much for the people they work with, as we've seen in Over There and the last episodes in the other universe.
Now that Altlivia is trying to leave her feelings behind, that's what will make her less herself, and I think this will let her do her mission not better but worse (I don't agree here with Newton). The relationships she cares for are the reason for her good work, she will hurt her mission in cutting these bonds.

And I absolutely agree with both Olivias being soldiers in nature. That's a good point!

[cambrielle]

Well, we are looking at Alt-Livia through our universe's moral codes. Killing that man may have been the less of two evils. She is doing her job, as bad as it seems right now. Once they find out who she is, they may interrogate her for information and we may see a flash back where they address what she was thinking.

[adprest]

Well, we are looking at Alt-Livia through our universe's moral codes. Killing that man may have been the less of two evils. She is doing her job, as bad as it seems right now. Once they find out who she is, they may interrogate her for information and we may see a flash back where they address what she was thinking.

That would be such an awesome episode and would bring back memories of LOST!! Once Bolivia is discovered by Peter the next episode should be entirely devoted to Bolivia and her interaction with Walternate and Newton over the past few weeks. That way we could see her mindset and it would be a very revealing episode in terms of the overall storyline and where this season is headed. But, unfortunately, I don't think the writers made an episode like this so we will have to discuss it here in this forum.