Welcome to our easter eggs and observations article for Fringe 4.09 — “Enemy Of My Enemy.”
Abandoned Hope
- The ring on Broylante’s finger indicates that he is married, as he was in the other timeline.
Keeping Up With The Joneses
Jones hands himself over to Fringe Division - 1.14 "Ability"
- There we lots of Jones parallels in this one, including the way in which he handed himself over, mirroring his actions in “Ability.”
DEATH BY JONES
- The show’s existential themes get a jump-start as Jones corrects Lincolnate’s misconception that the shapeshifter is dead. Jones believes she was dead when she was just a human — confirming their original human origin.
- This rekindles many interesting avenues on identity and the soul, particularly with the human shapeshifters able to retain each of their identities. With parallel universes and timelines expanding the show’s core concepts, its easy enough to see why the shapeshifter mythology continues to be a poignant reflection of these themes.
PORTED
- The blue-lit shapeshifter tube somewhat reminds me of Jones teleportation beam in “Safe”.
ZE NO Evil
- The lines on Jones’ desk form a pattern resembling the symbol seen on Olivia’s ‘dream kayak’ (Pilot) and the lapel worn by Intrepus leader David Esterbrook (“The Cure”).
- If intentional, it taps in the show’s old school mythology, Olivia’s background, and, potentially, the Pattern. Themes particularly relevant in light of Jones’ return.
- Jones’ hands are also ‘chained’ to the symbol — subtle meaning?
Jones parallels
- Jones is a tea-drinker in both timelines. His request for a cuppa is denied by Peter who proceeds to milk it.
- Jones notes that he’s created 47 human shapeshifters. In “Ability,” he set the light-bomb on the 47th floor of a building.
- In both timelines Jones claims there’s not much time and warns against “unnecessary deaths”.
- In both timelines Jones kills innocents to get Fringe Division to concede to his requests.
- Jones’ toxin kills 16 people in the ER. In the other timeline he gave Fringe Division 16 hours before his light-bomb detonated.
- He gives Fringe Division another 14 minutes before the next attack. In the other timeline, Olivia had just 14 minutes to talk with Jones in the Wissenschaft prison.
JONES PARALLELS II
- Jones gives away $100 bills containing trackers to escape in the crowd. In the other timeline (“Ability”), he laced $2 bills with orifice-sealing toxin, killing a Fringe Division agent and newsstand guy Thomas Avery.
- One of his shapeshifters asks for “Mr. Jones,” a nod to the episode title “In Which We Meet Mr. Jones.”
- Jones was also incarcerated in a Frankfurt prison (The Wissenschaft) for possession of state secrets in both timelines.
True Blood
- Olivia asks Astrid to run a blood sample through the national and international databases to check for “anything out of the ordinary.” The most likely owner of the blood is the wounded September.
Blue Retriever
- The blue flashes toggles our perspective between universes.
OBSERVING THE OBSERVER
- An Observer can be seen amongst the scramble caused by Jones giving away money. Echoing the sighting of September in “Ability” after Jones’ infected money proceeds to kill the newsstand guy.
Pages: 1 2
PERSON OF INTEREST Renewed For Season 2
TERRA NOVA: Season 2 Decision Delayed Until 2012
ONCE UPON A TIME: The Comprehensive Character Guide
BREAKING BAD: Bryan Cranston Confirms Season 5 Will Premiere In July
FRINGE OBSERVATIONS: 4.22 Brave New World: Part 2
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ONCE UPON A TIME OBSERVATIONS: 1.22 A Land Without Magic
ONCE UPON A TIME OBSERVATIONS: 1.21 An Apple Red As Blood
FRINGE OBSERVATIONS: 4.21 Brave New World: Part 1
ONCE UPON A TIME OBSERVATIONS: 1.20 The Stranger
{ 39 comments… read them below or add one }
It’s exciting to me that the observer we see in this episode is not September. I believe this is the first time September has not personally appeared to observe the events of an episode. This makes me question what his fate was the previous night. Was he killed? Has he gone rogue and been replaced?
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Well, Michael Cerveris hasn’t appeared in every single episode. I would assume they thought it was a quick enough appearance that they didn’t need him. I know there are pictures of the Observer in other episodes that you can definitely tell are not Cerveris himself.
I almost laughed out loud when Jones said there were 47 shapeshifters. Bad Robot sure does love that number.
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DRA, just to echo what Pwnsauce said; it would get expensive to have Cerveris for 1-2 seconds of screentime each episode (although they have photoshopped his image into a scene on more than a few occasions).
But you’re right to question our beloved September’s fate. If he didn’t get his wound treated, one would have to assume he died, removing him from all time-streams and universes. I think it’s safe to say that we’ll learn how he survived or see how he died, but it’s interesting to speculate both his health and agenda status.
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Good work Roco, thank you.
I’m curious, why the doubt about Gene, didn’t we saw her in the first episode?
(4×01)
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I seem to have blanked on Gene (don’t tell her) – nice catch, Kira.
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wow that’s a good connection between 1×06 and the soil!
Anyway, i’m not sure where to ask this, so I guess I’ll put it here: is the main fringebloggers site down or something? I can’t get to it from my computer
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The soil reference always stuck with me for some reason.
Yeah, FB is currently down. I’ll post an update on Seriable once it’s back up. Apologies for the inconvenience.
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Why is everyone assuming it’s September’s blood sample?
While I admit it may be possible, the first person that came to mind for me was Olivia herself. She’s been getting headaches, Peter mentioned briefly that Olivia is able to crossover on her own without a bridge and an Observer tells her she’s going to die. If I was her, I’d be checking my blood too!
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Sam, it could well be Olivia’s. I think September makes more sense at this stage because he was wounded and would fit her ‘out of the ordinary’ description. Plus, it would make sense for Olivia to want to find out his details — this would be her best shot (which, of course, hinges on whether or not any blood was left behind).
That said, you could be right, maybe Olivia is digging into her own past. I would expect her convo with Astrid to be different, but that doesn’t rule it out.
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I guess it could be Olivia’s, but I would bet on September.
Olivia asked Astrid to look into national and international bases (I take that as she is hoping to locate someone). And when Astrid asked her what does the sample has to do with it (the shapeshifters investigation), Olivia confirms that probably nothing (I take that as she’s trying to link the Observer to the shapeshifters).
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“Jones notes that he’s created 47 human shapeshifters. In “Ability,” he set the light-bomb on the 47th floor of a building”
Had to check out the significance of #47 after that comment.
#47 is “the quintessential random number,” for one.
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Yup, Rambaldi lives!
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Does september look like he’s in bad shape to anyone else? He’s usually has really good posture but it seems the gunshot wound is having an effect on him.
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The clift chin. 2nd picture is September.
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*Cleft chin* … dimple chin !
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Jus a quick observation to add. The Jones tracking device split was very similar to the way Sophia got away in “the event” only difference was she used the coffee with simon’s help and Jones used the money laced with the frequency that Shape-Brolynifter (pretty convinced he is a shifter at this point) gave him.
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“So, we have shifted allegiances, human shapeshifters, Massive Dynamic (and an army of clones?), a variable, an external threat, two foes working together, an Observer’s harrowing message of doom, a Boom-Boom-Machine..and Olivia.”
In other words…the show’s coming full circle, within a circle…interesting.
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Loved your observations. I’ve watched all of Fringe episodes multiple times (except for the first 5 of S4) and it’s nice to see the tie-backs.
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It was MOHONK quarry, not MOHAWK as stated above. I only say this because the clue from last episode was the MOHONK TEA HOUSE seen as Lincoln sees the Twin Towers after crossing over.
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I am not sure I’ve noticed the clues given from the last episode to the next for this season here in this blog … maybe I’ve forgotten? Usually it is guessed at, then revealed.
Also, are Observer cameos not in every episode this season? As a reflection that they are not in this TimeLine? Which ties into Sept. not interfering/saving Peter from the frozen lake. Maybe that is a main change of this timeline … the Observers have laid low big time!
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The observers still show up every episode. Sometimes when September shows up to speak to someone that seems to be the cameo.
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Nice catch edgesight — updated Mohonk above.
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Hey! I was the one who caught that Mohonk! Screencap even look like came from me.
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“Screencap even look like came from me.”
Xerophytes, sorry but we take our own screencaps. To clarify, we (fringebloggers.com and seriable.com) have been doing this since the show started and we certainly credit where due (we know how much dedication this show can take). Which is to say I don’t read other sites for Observations, etc. If you see something you think we missed then by all means share in the comments/email and we’ll update with a credit note. That’s what it’s about. Hope that helps.
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Next episode clue may be the MALLUM INSURANCE sign on top of a building just before Jones gives the money away.
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Cha-ching!! I got it. Mallum was the last name of the girl in the next episode!
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You deserve a pat on the back.
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Also I thought you’d mention the most obvious connection here. The tracker for Jones is “put in his tea” much like Bell’s soul-magnets were placed in Olivia’s tea!
I mean, the way it was said was practically a wink at the audience
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Think twice before you accept a cup of tea on Fringe!
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I don’t have a screen cap, but there seems to be a pale, deathly looking Altlivia crosssing behind the real Altlivia during the Jones Money Giveaway. It may have been coincidental, but considering the next episode it may not be.
Did anyone else see this or am I losing it?
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I just checked that part and it just looks like an extra. Her hair is parted, unlike Altlivia’s. She does look really pale though.
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“Jones gives away 100 dollar bills containing trackers to escape in the crowd. In the other timeline (“Ability”) he laced $200 bills with orifice-sealing toxin, killing a Fringe Division agent and newsstand guy Thomas Avery.”
Just a quick correction, and I haven’t seen anyone else mention it, but it’s $2 bills that had been contaminated with the toxin, not $200 bills. Also, and this is just a minor thing, but the way it’s written almost looks like it could be interpreted that Jones gave away a total of one hundred single dollar bills with trackers. I know what you mean, and I imagine most know what you mean, but it could be confusing the way it’s written…
And let me just add, the parallels between the episodes were so strong, I was completely expecting everyone who picked up one of the bills from Jones in this episode to start having their eyes and nose and mouth all covered by the skin growth. Since it’s a delayed reaction, he likely could have infected a large amount of people before they caught on to what was happening. The panic and attempt to rescue the people might have been enough to allow him to escape… I was quite relieved that they didn’t all die.
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I also thought the money would be infected with something deadly and I was waiting for Peter to tell them not to touch the money! I was relieved they didn’t die too, but saddened a little as it could’ve been another callback to S1.
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Can anyone tell from the screencap whose portrait that is on the $100 bills? Looks almost like Newt Gingrich…
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It says that Gene is alive in this timeline… but I don’t remember her dying in the other one?
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Did it appear that Alt-Alt-Astrid was able to look Peter in the eyes moreso than the other agents in her division? And she actually expressed an emotion when she found out he was from another universe!
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She works narrowing down probabilities with known variables and he is an unknown variable that she would never had imagined…..Cool.
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Since Jones used the amphilicite battery to create a portal to the red-verse in the OT, and is clearly using is for the same purpose in this timeline, I’d say he’s amassing it for a larger scale project.
**Potential though unlikely spoilers ahead**
Perhaps for different kind of portal? One requiring far greater power to create? A portal to yet another universe not twinned with ours, another timeline, another point in time or to merge the universes? Or to create a new universe, whose physical laws he could dictate as its god?
The last one, while unlikely, would be cool. And it would be a powerful motive indeed to do anything to achieve. It would speak to one of the core themes of Fringe – the reckless use of super-science for personal gain with no regard for the consequences to others.
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