“The Cure”

The Cure is really a mixed bag. It continues the already tired formula –scientist of the week, experimenting, causing death and destruction for our Fringe Team to be called in on so that Walter can recall some twisted experiment he had done for the government way back when. Then he’ll find a cure while Dunham and Peter see a little action.

This week, a terminally ill female has turned to experimental medicine to save her. It does at first but eventually turns her radioactive to the point where she will burn off not only herself but people around her turning a local diner into a scene from a late night horror flick.

What keeps Fringe afloat is two things. The aformentioned chemistry betweent the Bishops and Dunham, but also the slow developement they are allowed. There are usually one or two things that are intriguing enough to make me want to continue.

This week, it’s Peter’s interaction with Nina Sharp. He goes behind Dunham’s back and asks for Sharp’s help which she gives in exchange for some help overseas with negotiations. It is also discovered that Nina knew Peter as a young boy and that she and Walter were close at one point.

Another bonus of this episode is Anna Torv’s Agent Dunham. She was unspectacular from the get go, but she seems to be settling into her role nicely so that at the very least she is no longer the liability she was in the first few episodes. She is still the weak link of the big three, just not as weak.

One such scene is her verbal duel with David Esterbrook, the finanical backer of the experiments.

The episode however does little to further the mythos, but despite that I did find myself enjoying it despite it’s own formulaic failings.

B-

OBSERVER MOMENT: The Observer is in the hotel lobby behind Dunham as she confronts Esterbrook, the first time.

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