FRINGE Season 4 Preview – Where is Peter Bishop?

Fringe the mind bending sci-fi series is set to return to our screens for a fourth season on September 23rd in the U.S. and in preparation I thought it would be a good idea to recap just what went on in the end of the last season and try and get our heads round what it could mean for this new one. In the previous episode Peter (Joshua Jackson) stepped into the doomsday machine in a bid to stop Walter-nate from destroying our universe only to be thrust in to the future. This is where the finale, titled 'The Day We Died', begins, with a confused Peter dropped into the middle of what appears to be a war zone in New York City. It turns out it's actually a vortex caused by the 'End of Day-ers' a terrorist group trying to speed up the end of the world and Peter is a high ranking agent in Fringe division. It is 2026 and a lot has changed in the last 15 years. It transpires that Peter did manage to destroy the alternate universe, but like every science lesson has taught us, there is no action with out a reaction, and in destroying the alternate universe he set our own on a similar path to destruction, as it seems the two inextricably linked. So now our universe is being torn apart at the seams and Fringe division are struggling to stop it. Olivia (Anna Torv) is now head of Fringe division and married to Peter. While her niece Ella (played by guest star Emily Meade) now all grown up is a Fringe agent herself. Meanwhile the 'End of Day-ers' continue to carry out more terrorist attacks and of course Fringe division needs the help of Walter (John Noble). However it turns out Walter is in jail after being put on trail for crimes against the universe. To secure Walter€™s temporary release Peter visits Broyles (Lance Reddick) now a senator and while he is reluctant at first, he finally agrees to let Walter help. Walter€™s inventible brilliance leads Peter to Walter-nate, who it seems escaped to our side, on what he calls a €˜mission of mercy€™, before his universe was destroyed. Walter-nate has been helping the terrorists, but before he destroys our universe he wants to teach Peter a lesson in suffering by murdering Olivia, who he shoots in the head at point blank range. Walter finally realises that he must have sent the pieces of the machine back in time in the first place using a handy worm hole in central park, making the fringe team actually the first people. He then decides he must send Peter€™s consciousness back in time to stop past Peter from using the machine. How he achieves this we€™ll never know as we then jump back in time to the moment when Peter steeped in to the machine. This time Peter uses the machine to bring the two universes together, so each character gets to face off with their double, telling them they have to work together instead of trying to destroy each other. Peter succeeds in stopping doomsday from coming to pass but inadvertently ends his own existence, with him disappearing from the picture. The observers, who are of course observing all these happenings, confirm that no one will remember Peter, he has ceased to exist after fulfilling his destiny. And that€™s where season three ended with many of you, like me I'm sure, staring at the TV slightly confused going €˜what?€™ but at the same time very excited for next season. So where does that leave us for season 4? Some thoughts and questions to consider (be advised you€™ll need to be a fan of the show to keep up) Time travel is confusing. If Peter never existed, then Walter would never have crossed over to the other side, therefore never starting all the events that lead to this point in time, thus creating a paradox. Also wouldn't Peter ceasing to exist have a ripple effect, everything he had ever done would be undone, like all the fringe cases he had helped solve. Perhaps we will see these ripples in the new season. Why did Peter forget he had time travelled into the future? Why did Walter send the machine back through time in the first place? Surely with out it things would have turned out a lot better. Won't everyone Peter brought together in that room, Walter, Walter-net, Olivia, Fauxlivia, etc, be confused to as how or why they got there if Peter no longer exists? What happens to Fauxlivia and Peter's baby? Does he cease to exists also? How long can Peter not exist? Joshua Jackson is a series regular; I don't think the show can afford to keep him away to long. If the two universes are in balance, then surly no fringe events will take place, therefore there is nothing for the team to investigate? Will we ever learn what Broyles lost in Detroit? Will the 'End of Day-ers' start to make an appearance in season 4? I think so; otherwise why would the producers cast Brad Dourif in the role of terrorist leader Moreau in the finale? Plus if the two universes are now working together, they need a new enemy to fight against. Will we continue to have episodes based in the alternate universe and will the alternate characters continue to have a major role in this new season? And of course the biggest question of all and season 4's tagline, €˜Where is Peter Bishop?€™ New character promo shots have been released courtesy of EW.com, with each character walking through an unfamiliar landscape with a strange doom like structure behind them. What could it all mean? Start guessing. Is this what the future now looks like? Is it where Peter's been trapped while he doesn't exist? Is this another dimension? Very excited to Seth Gable who plays alternate Lincoln Lee head of Fringe division in the alternate universe included in the main cast photos. Does this mean he is moving up to series regular status? However this photograph appears to be the Lincoln from this side, FBI Special Agent Lincoln Lee, as suggested by his outfit and glasses, who we first meet in €˜Stowaway€™ (episode 17). Does this mean we will be seeing more of Lincoln on this side too? I certainly hope so. Also check out the teaser promos for season 4 below: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTXSM_YinzM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONrnpIduuHE Fringe returns Friday 23rd September 9/8c on FOX (US) and follows closely in the UK on Wednesday 28th September 10pm on Sky 1