Fringe - A short story about love

[ziparumpazoo]

Okay, so we all knew it was going to happen, but with Fringe, it's the *how* that's always the interesting part. And most interesting of all for me, in a show about destiny and fate, is that both Olivia and Peter *chose* to trust the memories and feelings that brought them back together. No begging and pleading from one party or the other, no coercion, no extenuating circumstances. They both went their separate ways, worked this *thing* through on their own, and came back with their decisions made and their eyes wide open. Fated, maybe, but also definitely chosen.

Also, the very clear distinction between Olivia loving Lincoln, which she clearly does, and being in love with him. Lincoln is very clearly this timeline's Charlie, though those eyes when both he and Olivia are listening to the wife talk tell us he wishes he was anything but. This episode kills with its subtlety.

Comments

[wikiaddicted723]

Can I quote you on Tumblr? This might settle some very ugly discussions on how Olivia chose to "be weak" because of her CHOICE. Which, TBH, pisses me off.
Also, I completely agree. Fringe has always been about choice and consequences.

[ziparumpazoo]

Yeah sure. Anything posted publicly is fair game, though I've been around fandom long enough to know that there's not much that will settle an argument once minds are made up ;)

Fringe has always been about choice and consequences.

Definitely. Last season's point of contention was about which Olivia Peter would choose, but the fact of the matter was that unless Olivia also made the choice to forgive and trust him (and chose to believe in herself again), it was a moot point. Walter made the choice to cross over and try to save another man's son...altLivia chose to take her mission as far as she did and then again chose to defy Walternate...there were always other options available to each of them.

[wikiaddicted723]

Yes, on all of what you said. It's just that...these choices defined these people, they make them human to us, instead of some bunch of 2 dimensional characters in strictly black & white, and I'm all for diversity of opinion and sometimes not agreeing with the choices people make, but how can someone say that choosing to be in love, not knowing at that point if that Love will be reciprocated (this sort of applies to Lincoln as well), with all the consequences that choice might have, makes a character like Olivia someone week, or lovesick. *sigh* sorry for the rant. And thanks ;)

[ziparumpazoo]

I would argue that you can't chose to be in love; you can't choose how you feel about anything. However, how you act on it is up to you. And choices, good or bad, are what makes us human. :)

[wikiaddicted723]

:) you're right, bad phrasing on my end, more like she chose to keep the memories that accompany those feelings regardless of whether Peter would be there or not.

And Oops, I meant weak* not week. Writing in a rush is never good.