This episode was a return to the monster/case-of-the-week format of season 1 that was supposed to draw in casual viewers. Technically, last week’s was too, but since we retrospectively know it’s so much more than a regular episode, this episode is really where I felt it. I generally don’t give this episode the consideration it deserves because it’s surrounded by so many mythology-heavy episodes, but it’s a nice, solid standalone episode. I really do mean that despite the many science notes I have below.
“Don’t get hurt for me.” Charlie is such a good guy, and I’m glad this episode gave him a little more to work with.
One would think Peter would have learned to be suspicious of “food” in the lab by now. That said, I’m glad it evolved into a conversation about Walter’s lack of accountability. Given that we’re between Cortexiphan-centric episodes, “I don’t think of [the consequences], never have” is such an important quote.
Fringe really likes its chimera animals. Plenty of larvae/babies ingest their moms, so it’s a good thing that wasn’t the case here where the cure was based on mom-based immunity. I have so many questions about the specifics though. To start with, Charlie was stung in the chest, but then later they ultrasound his abdomen, which makes sense from an ultrasound perspective (you wouldn’t ultrasound through bone if you can help it) but less so from an anatomy one. They also have Astrid draw Charlie’s blood from his abdomen rather than the typical elbow draw, and Walter says he will poop them out when they’re dead. I suppose that would indicate the larvae specifically seek out the digestive system as their incubation site, but of all the systems in the body, the digestive acids make it the most inhospitable environment, which makes it counterintuitive. Honestly, the red!verse Charlie who still has them in his system makes more sense.
On a personal aside, I really could’ve done without so many of the larvae visuals. I’m not a big fan of bugs.
Other medical/science notes: Please stop moving the ultrasound probe around so much. It doesn’t work like that. Also on a totally random but medical imaging note, there’s an angiography image on the computer screen that was also there in a previous episode. I can’t remember if it had any real importance in a previous episode, so I guess the set designers just like the visual.
Finally, the episode ending with Olivia in bed is a nice touch given how the next one starts. I’m not sure if that was intentional, but it’s still a fun bit of continuity.
