We do know who 'they' are...the Observers. Remember, the Observers come and take over the Earth in either 2013 or 2014. We got this from the episode where it was 2036. It's no mystery where this show is headed, just like it was no mystery that Olivia had to 'die' to stop the destruction of both universes.

I got a very big Wizard of Oz feeling from this episode. With Olivia as Dorothy, Peter as the Tin Man, Walter as the scarecrow, Bell as the cowardly lion, and September as Oz. They've all been lead down this road to get to this point. It'll be fun to see how they end it.

Hmm I liked this episode much more than you did.  I would have given it an A.  Would have been better if they left Oliva dead but would have made next season basicly impossible.  I have been spoiled by anime and game of thrones that like to do crazy stuff like that I suppose.

"To prevent the collapse of the two universes, Walter shoots Olivia in the head at point blank range"

I think I'm still in shock from this moment heh.

what a great show!  Great episode and perfect way to tie together a few stories from this season and set up what should be an all killer no filler 13ep finale!!

I happened to save the two part finale and watched them back to back as suggested in the review.  I think I liked it better that way, which is why I waited to watch last weeks episode when I saw it was listed as a "part 1."

I'm guessing Peter's changing the timelines put Bell on the path he was on.   He seemed pretty genuine in helping the team a few seasons ago.   Also, whatever happened to his alternate version?  If they told us, I forgot. 

I think the "future" episode makes more sense now as it seemed just a throw in out of nowhere earlier.  I'm guessing it was there as a set up in case they got anotherseason. 

When they shot Astrid, I thought she was probably a goner for sure.  I figured it was a cost-cutting move for next season.  Pretty glad they didn't kill her.  Though she was up and moving around pretty quickly for having a gun shot.  Maybe Walter hooked her up with some Corthexiphan too.   On a side note, I always thought a younger Jasika Nicole would make a pretty good actress for Tuon from the Wheel of Time.

I am kind of glad the ending wasn't as big a cliff hanger as the one where Faux-livia took Olivia's place.  That wait to see what happened next sucked.  I hope we do get to see the other universe again, but thinking its possible that they may not go back there and focus on the Watchers next season. 

isgrimner brings up a great point. Whatever happened to the alternate Bell? 

I believe they need to go to the other universe, at least to show us what it's fate is and the fate of Lincoln. Olivia will be able to get them there if need be. I suppose never knowing would be more realistic but hopefully not. 

I thought it was a pretty good episode. Definitely a come back from the last 2 episodes which I thought were a little sub par in the writing. Answered a number of questions (eg why Olivia was suddenly manifesting new powers) and tied up the one universe story line. And the WTF moment when Walter shoots Olivia was great.

isgrimmer & jdiggitty: Bell has been keeping himself alive against his cancer with Corthexiphan. The other universe doesnt have that so maybe alternate Bell succumbed to it?

@kurt good reveiw and I think your right about it being tacked on. Maybe while it was being filmed/written they still didnt know the shows fate? If it didn't get another season then they wouldn't add that on and maybe had something else to explain why the Observer controlled future wouldnt happen? But because it has been extended they needed something to lead into next season. Last years finale was pretty much a one way path so maybe this year it was a very close call on getting those extra 13 episodes?

Alternate Bell probably still died in a car crash like he did in the original universe.