TV DeathRay Archive

Was ‘Entrada’ worth the wait? I say yes. It was the universe-melding episode that Fringe-tastic fans have been waiting for, and it left us with the feeling that all is right in the worlds again. Well, sort of. OK, it was somewhat predictable and somewhat not.

For one thing, we knew the two Olivias would find their way home again. That was a given. We just weren’t sure how it would all play out. I thought from the beginning of this arc that Superhero Alt-Broyles would help our Olivia get back to this universe again. Even as he told a panicked, caged Olivia that he couldn’t help her, you had the feeling that he’d crack under the pressure of a hopeful future for both worlds.

And yet … I was really sorry to see him disintegrate during Walter’s accidental sending of Faux-Livia back to her own world. He could have been a nice ally to have on this side. I assume there needed to be an equal mass exchange, and since Alt-Broyles weighed more than Alt-Livia, some of his mass had to go and he ended up char-broiled. What a shocker for our Broyles, though, to see his own half-body in the van. Then again, he didn’t seem all that shook up about saying goodbye to “himself” laid out on the table.

Joshua Jackson had some nice scenes in this episode, including his response when Faux-Livia said this was more than an assignment: “That would be so much easier to believe if you weren’t in handcuffs right now.” He’s no fool, evidenced again when he correctly identified the shapeshifter being held hostage and Alt-Livia acknowledged his deductive skills. I’m guessing the girl’s real mother was back in the restroom with three prong-holes in her upper palate.

We also had a nice scene with Peter and Olivia at the end, where she said, “You were the only thing that got me through … you saved my life.” I think there are pleasant times ahead for this couple, even though he’s been sleeping with the wrong girl. Will she understand? Time will tell.

The finding of the “quantum entangled telegraph” (the magical typewriter) seemed a bit anticlimactic after so much time had passed since we first saw that thing. In fact, even with the tumultuous Olivia-switching going on, the whole episode seemed a little anticlimactic, like, ok, let’s close this chapter and move on.

And yet, that’s a good thing. Now maybe we can get back to some of the stories that have taken a back seat to the two-worlds plotline, like Walter being in charge of Massive Dynamic and Nina Sharp being backburnered into her milky-white office.

That’s assuming the show stays on long enough to provide some good storylines once Fox moves it to the Friday night death slot. I’m pulling for ya, Fringe.

What did you think of this episode? Happy to see the Olivias back where they belong? Sad to see Alt-Broyles go? Think Fringe will survive past season three?

Jane Boursaw is a family entertainment writer specializing in movies, TV and celebrities. Visit her at Film Gecko and Reel Life With Jane; follow her on Twitter; become a friend on Facebook; email jboursaw@charter.net. Learn how to syndicate her family movie and TV reviews in your publication.

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3. ‘Fringe’ Season 3 Premiere Review: Olivia Teams Up With Bubbles From ‘The Wire!’
4. ‘Fringe’ Review: ‘Do Shapeshifters Dream of Electric Sheep?’