“Ability”

“Ability” makes it two really landmark episodes in the direction of the series as a whole. Once it began with a recap of David Robert Jones’ escape, the episode spends the rest of the time really delving into Dunham and her importance in the realm of Fringe.

Jones’ presence is felt when another Fringe Event occurs, this time in the form of a Boston newstand operatior. A latex gloved patron hands the man a $2 bill and moments later, the man makes like Neo in the beginning of the first Matrix and is helpless while flesh begins to grow over all his orifices, suffocating him in the process.

Dunham realizes it is Jones’ handiwork but not everyone is convinced. She brainstorms that perhaps they were wrong about ZFT and maybe that it’s not the group’s name but instead the bible of the group. She implores Peter to use one of his “weird connections”.

One of the highlights of the episode is this weird connection. Edward Markham is a crusty used book store owner who just steals the show in his small scene. They are able to procure a copy of the unpublished manifesto.

Suddenly Jones shows up to turn himself in, but will only speak to Dunham.

Harris of course won’t accept this and sends Dunham instead to raid a warehouse that was discovered to be activated right after Jones’ escaped. During the raid an FBI agent also finds a $2 bill and is contaminated. Dunham tries to trach the agent so he can breathe but the flesh grows over the trach.

Dunham of course uses this as proof that Jones is involved and convinces Harris to allow her to speak to him, with the objects he requested from Jones.

Jones uses the objects to cut off all monitoring and gives them privacy. Jones warns Dunham of another massive attack with the bioweapon that can only be staved off if Dunham can pass a test. It seems Dunham was dosed with a drug called Cortexiphan, which supposedly lets a child’s mind continue without being limited, hopefully giving them abilities.

After researching and talking to Nina Sharp, Dunham believes that that is not possible because the only trials happened in Ohio while Dunham lived in Jacksonville.

The test is simple, yet seemingly impossible. There is a light box and Dunham is supposed to be able to turn off the lights using only her mind. After a few trial and errors, they figure that maybe they can trick the ailing Jones into believing she did it by rewiring the box.

Jones collapses, as part of his illness from being teleported and is brought to the Bishop House of Horrors as Peter lovingly declares it. Dunham “proves” she did the test and Jones tells her where the bomb is.

Unfortunately Jones is tricky and it turns out the only way to stop the device is to turn off the lights with her mind. Dunham panics but decides that she has to do it and amazingly enough…she does.

Now did she? Or did Jones just do a little rigging of his own? It’s quite possible, but this viewer chooses to believe that in this realm, anything is possible.

The show ends as Jones escapes from the hospital but not before marking on the window, the words “You Passed”. After this is over, Dunham gets a call from Nina Sharp who informs her that there was in fact another trial site for cortexiphan that they discovered. To no one’s surprise…Jacksonville, FL.

It’s a great episode from the get-go filled with suspense, answers and more questions, more than enough to keep the intrigue going.

A

OBSERVER MOMENT: The news vendor stumbles right into the vendor as he screams for help

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