Living On "Fringe" Benefits

Well, we've been living without Fringe for a good two weeks now, and I'm honestly sick of it already. Fortunately, this is probably going to be our last week without the show, as it's set to return next Thursday. Then again, that's assuming that the World Series doesn't take up an entire run of seven games, therefore pushing the series' return back a week. Nonetheless, when the series is back, we're in for another top notch episode for sure. The returning episode features a boy who somehow frees his twin brother from an amber quarantine zone, therefore breaching security. If that isn't enough to draw you in, the twins are set to be played by Shawn Ashmore (X-men) and Aaron Ashmore (Smallville).

Meanwhile, Walternate and Brandonym (the clever nickname i09 has come up with for Brandon's alternate) continue pushing towards discovering how Olivia's ability works. I have a feeling that they'll be disappointed when they find out that it has to be fostered at an early age through the chaotically random cortexiphan trials. These first four episodes have been an almost non-stop thrill ride, from the chase scene fueled Olivia, to the tragic case in The Plateau, finally to this year's emotionally charged landmark fourth episode. At this point last year, Newton had just been reborn, and a year later, he meets his conclusion with a wicked Ralph Fiennes smile on his face.

Our time over there has given us an amazing look at the alternate universe. The Fringe team over there is disabled to say the least. Charlie Francis has to take daily medicinal doses to delay the progression of the monster worms living inside him. Lincoln Lee is constantly operating on a time table while he heals from the aggressive burns he received from Nancy Lewis in last year's finale. Astrid doesn't have any physical handicap, but it's clear that something is different about her. She processes information in a non-emotional way, and I don't know if they holding out on that reveal, but I dare not spoil why.

With everything holding back the alt-Fringe team, I can't help but feel like there's a similar fate waiting for Bolivia when the two roads come together in the season's eighth episode. A lot of parallels have been made between her and the shapeshifters, so I shudder when I think about the possibility of her ending up as something like that. As for our Olivia, she's been making a great connect with the alternate Charlie Francis since she's been over there. I love the chemistry that's been going between the two, and I'd be totally in favor of her bringing Charlie back with her when she comes home.

Finally, there's the terrifying idea of what will happen when she does come home. How will everything in that episode unfold, and where will it leave our characters? Finally, will we be returning to the typical below average case of the week episodes after that happens. I've been loving the consistent quality of these episodes, and I want it to be this way all season long. Only time will tell which direction the writers have in store for us. They've already exceeded the expectations of their core fans, giving us more to talk about in the first four episodes of season 3 than we got for most of the first season. They have us. Now Fringe only needs to lure back those who have traveled away, as well as new viewers.