Fringe (TV Series) Novation (2011) User Reviews

Some Things Are Not Ours to Tamper With

[claudio_carvalho · 8/10 · 26 March 2017]

The shapeshifter Nadine kills a couple searching for some mysterious files. The Fringe Division is assigned to the case and soon they learn she is seeking out the former Massive Dynamic scientist Malcolm Truss, who was researching replication of damage cells, but the project was shutdown by William Bell telling that it was unethical and some things are not ours to tamper with. Nadine meets Malcolm in Vermont and lures him telling that she needs the cure for a treatment of cancer. Meanwhile Peter asks for help to Walter but he is afraid to try since he failed to save both sons in the past.

"Novation" is an episode of "Fringe" divided in two segments. The lead story about a shapeshifter finding the cure to the instability of the cloning process is promising. However Dr. Malcolm truss found the cure for a sophisticated problem too fast. Peter's segment is unpredictable since he needs to fix the timeline that has been rewritten and seems to be affecting Olivia. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Novation"

Could Be Anyone

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 13 November 2023]

I guess the scripters will have to deal with a creation that change to any form at any time. This is a bit too much for me. The whold shapeshifter thing is more than I want, but I will continue to see how things turn out. I would bet there is a chink in their armor and Peter and Walter will find what that is. So Peter calmly explains things to Walter and Walter is getting tiresome in his refusal to buy into anything. Now the rationale is that Peter is the kid that Walter kidnapped, but since he wasn't actually Walter's son, it makes not difference. To hell with him. I have to say that the Walter of the Fourth Season is really tiresome at times--a bigger baby than ever before. But back to the bad guys. They're all over the place now and a new herd is coming in.

Took me a week to digest this one.

[XweAponX · 10/10 · 11 November 2011]

So Peter's back, but Walter does not want to deal with it. Won't believe it. Won't accept it. It's a "gift" he thinks he does not deserve.

We know now, Walter had been blaming Nina Sharp, for breaking the bottle containing the Cure he was bringing to the Other Side. And now we know The Observer never interfered, and did not save Peter when Walter and he fell into Reiden Lake.

On the other hand the "new" Shapeshifer, "Shapeshifter 2.0" - Is fully functional! It was bad enough with the Mercury guys, but these new ones can't be detected! I've been tossing this one about in my head, what are they gonna do, X-Ray and MRI everybody as they enter the Lab? Now, ANYONE could be a shapeshifter. So it's Walter and Peter against the New Shapeshifters- If they ever let Peter out of his box.

I don't have much to say about this ep, my jaw was firmly in the Dropped position all through. This is first rate storytelling. At this time, I don't see any hope of Peter putting it back "The Way it Was". Here is a guy, who saved the Universe twice - Like Kirk and Spock, and just as unsung. But one thing becomes clear: This episode has the first seeds of the impending Return of William Bell.

This show seems to be all about Peter's bad luck. Each time his relationship with Olivia gets put on track, something happens that busts it up. So now, Olivia doesn't have a clue that she is supposed to be with this guy, she is ogling Agent Lee! She makes at least one overt gesture toward the guy. Well now we have two Alpha males for her to choose from, except she don't know Peter exists - Again.

I'll probably edit this review again, after I watch the ep a few more times.

for the IMDb archive

[A_Different_Drummer · 10/10 · 23 April 2016]

This review written in 2016 and intended for fans of the future not the past.

I don't know where Abrams' career will take him.

I am sure he will do projects many times more lucrative than Fringe. I am sure that over time this show will fade somewhat from memory and be meaningful only to die-hard fans. But I also think that Abrams will never do a production that is as perfectly balanced as Fringe between core story and humanistic values.

As I was watching this amazing episode I was thinking how the episode just prior (4.4 -- and you can't watch one without the other) featured mainly two characters talking to each other (Olivia and Walter) yet was as captivating as a Zach Synder superhero movie where entire cities get blown up.

For hardcore reviewers, it was always thought that the 1990s Buffy series was the "holy grail" of dramatic TV because of the meshing of humanism and action.

I believe that Fringe pulled off the same feat. And Abrams gets the credit.

Spectacular TV.

Jaw dropping shapeshifter, convincing guests, exciting ripple effect, perfect format, promising season but lazy security

[igoatabase · 6 November 2011]

How dare they leave us for two weeks after such a cliffhanger ! But Novation didn't disappoint, as expected. So far I had been quite pleased by the visual effects but this time they pushed the barrier even further because the shapeshifting was just mind blowing ! It actually reminded me of Terminator 2 : Judgement Day but in a more disturbing way. As for The Matrix-like walking on the wall it was quite surprising ! Also the actress was convincing in her dual role and it also applies to the guest playing the scientist. Discovering things through the eyes of Peter is also quite promising. From the new breed of shapeshifters to all the rippled characters the journey was exciting. As always the episodic story also served the main one so it proves that Fringe has merged the best of both worlds and its format should be a model for future productions. The reunion between Peter and Walter was also quite moving and I'm glad the writers made the second not to repeat the same mistake as his other personas. So it's intriguing to determine who will trust Peter enough to help him. Olivia ? Probably but when it comes to the show there're an infinite number of possibilities to consider. Still the Fringe Division security system is cheap and Broyles and his team left Peter way too much freedom. It would have been far much more interesting and thoughtful to see him struggle for a few episodes. Last but not least it was nice to have the vintage typewriter back and I can't wait for the shapeshifters to arrive. I'll be back !

Note : This review was first posted on Kritikenstein, my weblog.