January 18, 2013

To begin ... or should I say ... to end the series with ... Dandelions are Free as our Fringe Team resets the timelines from 2036 to 2015 where we see a rerun of the scene where Etta runs free in a field of dandelions, the Observer invasion never occurring. FYI - Timelines are reset all the time but few people realize it. Does Olivia remember the alternate timeline? Do you remember any of ours?

In the final scene, Peter receives a letter from Walter who has gone missing in their timeline. He opens the letter to discover a simple drawing of a white tulip symbolizing forgiveness and a reference to the complex relationship between them from the time Walter stole Peter from the parallel universe. In five seasons we have seen lies and arguments spanning lifetimes/alt-universes, but in the end, it came down to Walter sacrificing his life and family for the good of his son by moving into a future timeline. Frankly I think Walter should welcome the opportunity. It also brought to mind the end of the film Knowing where Nicolas Cage must let his son go as humanity, in their timeline, is about to end.

Old story lines were concluded on Fringe - from the sentimental to the gory - as Walter and the child Observer, Michael, moved into the future to reset time.

There is something about time and time travel that always strikes a chord for me, as if it is part of my destiny to unfold very soon. As to Michael, his father was September the Observer who is also sacrificed to save his son at the end. As Michael sits down next to his dying father, he removes a tiny music box from his jacket pocket and starts to play it - shades of "Sarah and Alexander" and the music box - which symbolizes many things including the harmonics of creation.

"Sarah and Alexander" began when a boy calling himself Alexander came to me in December 1989 and told me that I was to write a story about two children - Sarah a human girl, and Alexander, a boy from another realm. At that time Alexander should me three things ... an antique pocket watch, an amulet, and a music box. The next day I was guided to Coney Island, the place of my childhood. There, amongst a collection of antiques, I found a small wooden box that looked like the one Alexander had shown me. And so a journey began ... and another ended.

It was fun to revisit the alternate universe with both Olivias - to say good-bye and glimpse at their alternative destinies.

After five seasons, multiple universes and 100 episodes ... this was a bittersweet footnote to a roller-coaster journey ...