'Fringe,' Episode "Immortality": Faux Olivia is Pregnant

February 11, 2011, 10:00 PM (ET) '" A new episode of "Fringe" entitled "Immortality" opened with a blimp, informing the viewer that we are in the alternate universe created by the writers of this show. Writers tonight were David Wilcon and Ethan Cross (episode directed by Brad Anderson).

Faux Olivia returns to the alternate universe and her blonde boyfriend Frank (played by Philip Winchester, who was discovered at age 14 during casting for "The Patriot" in Montana) welcomes her back with the comment, "You almost didn't seem like yourself." Faux Olivia has returned after having a fling with Peter Bishop in our world. There is a reference to work in north Texas, the script line being, "Welcome back to civilization." That line amused me. [North Texas is not considered "civilized" by those dwelling in the alternate universe. Let's speculate why north Texas was selected.]

BUGS

The episode tonight centers on bugs, specifically of the order choliopter. At one point, the beetle, which previously lived exclusively inside sheep, was referenced as "Mansonian bugliosis", because it is called the skelter beetle. What's up with the giant cockroach-like bugs? "Now they're attacking their host and eating their way out?" The episode is entitled "Immortality" because the evil scientist who is a bug expert, Dr. Armand Silvan (guest star Alon Aboutbole) wants, more than anything, to be remembered like Dr. Jonas Salk, no matter what the cost. In 1997, the CDC gave a grant to create a vaccine for AIDS based on an enzyme that the skelter beetle produces. One of the goriest moments in any "Fringe" episode occurred when a giant queen beetle climbed forth from Dr. Silvan's neck. (It was enough to gag a maggot -- or a cockroach.)

WALTERNATE

In tonight's episode we learn that Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble) has made some progress in his experiments with chemicals from older Olivia's brain. Apparently, if the test subjects in Walter's experiments are very young, the test subjects will possess the tele-kinetic powers we see demonstrated longer before dying. Dr. Bishop says: "No children. That is not an option." Later, Dr. Bishop (John Noble) tells guest star Joan Chen (as Reiko), "There are lines I simply cannot cross. Peter was here of his own choosing because he needed to be, but I lost him. I underestimated him." Reiko reassures Walter of the alternate universe that he will still succeed in being reunited with his son. She seems much too young for Walter and I suspect she's up to no good.

FAUX OLIVIA

In tonight's episode, Lincoln Lee almost dies while trapped in a freezer while investigating a case, but his heart apparently is far from frozen and it belongs to Olivia. (This was news to me.) We learn this when Lincoln rather apprehensively reveals to Olivia that her boyfriend Frank (Philip Winchester) is about to propose. Frank confided his intentions to Lincoln, but swore Lincoln to silence. (When asked if he can keep a secret, Lincoln responded, "I'm a cone of silence when it comes to secrets.' Ha!)

The shocker in this episode is that---after Olivia has accepted Frank's marriage proposal---they both discover that she is 5 weeks pregnant. Frank realizes the child has to be Peter's and says, ruefully, while exiting her hospital room, "And you were gong to marry me."

This script line appears to indicate that Faux Olivia is not going to be asked to the altar now. How will this pregnancy affect the plot, both in this universe and in the other?