"Fringe" Alternate Universe Swapping Storyline Pays Off

"Fringe" is five weeks into its third season and the show's game changing plan of alternating the setting of each episode between the two universes is paying off big time. We only got a glimpse of the possibilities that the alternate universe storyline offered in the first two seasons, but so far this go-round has been like one terrific running payoff.

By fleshing out the second universe "Fringe" is really adding depth in a way that gives even little moments a strong emotional wallop for a sci-fi series. Allowing us to peer into another world makes the stories within the story that much more powerful.

'Amber 31442' is an Over There episode that works on a variety of levels. It has a great self-contained story featuring guest stars Aaron and Shawn Ashmore as twins, one a bank robber and the other an accountant. In a bit of neat misdirect we learn the wrong one was trapped in the "amber" years ago, and the alternate Fringe team is onto the mystery when the bad brother goes back for the good one.

Aside from the amber story, which is nice (Walternate can't allow folks to know that amber victims can be revived-if he does he's looking at a huge PR problem) it's getting to be fun watching the "other" Fringe team run. Alter-Charlie and Lincoln Lee make a good team and their devotion to Olivia is stirring.

Certainly, it's a far more interesting turn to come to like the alter-versions on the Other Side rather than seeing them simply portrayed as enemies. Even Walternate shows some shades of gray, although he is, in fact, the one clear villain in view.

And although it's clearly a gimmick to get Joshua Jackson into the alternate episodes, the scenes between him and Olivia that take place in her mind are working out quite well. Anna Torv is knocking the ball out of the park this season as Olivia, giving us enough shades in either version that we can see the similarities but still clearly appreciate which is which.

There's also a great sense of symmetry in seeing Walternate figure out that Olivia needs to go "in the tank" and watching the other side work out her abilities. Seeing the other side work out what we worked out Over Here in season one is wonderful.

More thoughts on 'Amber 31442':

Good: The Ashmore twins' (of Smallville fame) performance. It helped provide a nice parallel to Olivia's storyline and hit on the theme that the line between who is good and bad can often be blurred due to technology and circumstance.

Great: Jasika Nicole as an eerie Agent Farnsworth who clearly has a lot of untold backstory behind her. It's a great performance...now we need to know more.

"Fringe" Episode Score 'Amber 31442' (1-10): 9

For more "Fringe" reviews and links see my blog On the Fringe