Thursday November 19, 2009

August may be the eighth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, (measuring time) but on tonight's episode of Fringe, August was the name of one of the Observers.

Watch "August" on Hulu

The Observers are bald guys (reminiscent of gray aliens and also seemingly devoid of emotions) who most likely come from a parallel universe, the central theme on the show, and that which keeps me interested. The rest of the episodes are more like X-Files, which had one major storyline - alien grays and their agendas culminating on December 21, 2012 - while other episodes were about paranormal events borrowed from ancient myths among other more current anomalous recordings.

"Fringe" hasn't quite mastered the art of making the monsters of the week evoke the characters' plights or echo a poignant moral quandary that exists in the world. Of course, even at its best, "The X-Files" found it hard to execute that sort of thing week to week. Most weeks, "Fringe" is a relatively entertaining genre pastiche with good production values. I just wish we were getting more answers about the alternate dimension, Peter's past, Massive Dynamic and William Bell. When questions like those are dangling, it's hard to get excited about the murderous freak in the underground tunnels.

Thursday's "Fringe," which contained a lot of Observer mythology, was a treat. We don't quite know what the Observer is or isn't. He's an intriguing oddity. All we really know for sure is that he likes hot sauce and lots of it. The Observer is far and wide the coolest, strangest, and most mysterious figure in ever growing Fringe lore. The bald retro suited semi-psychic always seems to show up when something weird is going down.

Currently, in major cities, as a promotion for the show, bald headed actors are dressed up to look like Observers.

"August" Plot

When the Observer kidnaps an ordinary girl, Olivia's plans with her niece is cut short much to the disappointment of both. The Fringe division notices that not only is this Observer a different one from before, they have the power to stop bullets. It seems they have also been around for thousands of years, observing major historical events. A notebook left behind by the Observer leaves everyone baffled, but Walter sees the secret message exclusively meant for him.

Meanwhile, the Observer gags the girl in a motel in order to meet with his friends. Altogether, four Observers gather to discuss the irregularity of the girl, who has survived a plane crash thanks to the kidnapping. They agree to hire a friend to correct this irregularity.

In an effort to save the girl, August meets with Walter to discuss a possible solution. Thus, when the assassin shows up to kill her, August sacrifices his own life in order to save hers. It is revealed that August has developed feelings for the girl. Now, having killed one of the Observers, the girl has become the catalyst of a major historical event. Her life, it would seem, is safe for now.

If You are an Observer, you noticed the Observer in most episodes of Seasons 1 & 2.

Dream Logic Hulu at (26:26)

Momentum Deferred
The Observer was spotted just outside Massive Dynamic,
as Olivia leaves to meet (then fight) bad Charlie.

Night of Desirable Objects
The Observer was spotted at the Hughes' house, standing in the field,
around the time Agent Jessup shows up and finds the bible.

The Observer in the Fringe episode Earthling at the airport while Broyles is talking to
Olivia on the phone, just before she sees the Shadow Man on the surveillance video.

This Observer is a teenage boy who Olivia befriended in Season 1.

To date "Fringe" had only one male adult Observer and one male child Observer.

Thursday night, "Fringe" introduced 3 more Observers, including August, which begs the question: Are there 12 Observers? Apparently they are time travelers who are here to observe, not interfere, but sometimes emotions cloud judgment, as in the case of August. Thursday we learned that the observers have been recorded at moments in history that are - historical, scientific, and technological.

The concept of Observers takes me to The Watchers of our Program. This also includes reconnaissance ships (UFOs) that monitor the universe allowing the program to close based on sequences that conclude now. (2012 is part of an equation).

On "Fringe" there is an increase in the number of Observers on the planet now (26 sightings). For those who observe our reality, there is an increase in the number of ships around the planet, and the number of Watchers at this time. The Gray Aliens are often the Watchers.

If you are to understand that we experience/exist in a consciousness hologram, then you would realize we are observers who place our consciousness into different realities projected on spiraling screens. This allows us to have many virtual experiences simultaneously. Old souls, if one were to define a soul that way, are experiencing in many places at the same time. They are gathering much more experience and information than others. To the human brain in our timeline this would seem to make them older and therefore wiser.

On Thursday's show, time as non-linear, was demonstrated by a scientist at Massive Dynamics. That didn't work for me. The holographic demonstration that was shown to me on the ship in 1954, was much better. Holograms work best, especially a hologram within a hologram.

This Observer saved Walter and Peter's life 15 years ago.

He has become emotionally attached to Walter and offers much for future storylines.