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- TV Series: Fringe
- Episode: Stowaway
- Starring: Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson, John Noble, Jasika Nicole, Lance Reddick, Blair Brown
- Written by: Akiva Goldsman, Jeff Pinkner, J.H. Wyman (story); Danielle Dispaltro (teleplay)
- Directed by: Charles Beeson
- Network: Fox
- Series:
Fringe: Stowaway
William Bell Possesses Olivia By Kurt Anthony Krug
March 20, 2011
Fringe: Stowaway
© Fox/Robert Trate
Before “Stowaway” gets reviewed, Entertainment Weekly wrote about Fringe for a second week in a row – “Will endangered shows leave us hanging?” As of now, it is unclear if FOX will renew this show for a fourth season. It is also unclear how the creators will close out this season, per the story.
On with the review…
This is one of the more disturbing episodes of Fringe. Paula Malcomson (The Green Mile, A.I.: Artificial Intelligence) plays Dana Gray, whose family was murdered in a brutal home invasion. Dana cannot die and she’s hoping to ride the coattails of people who commit suicide, believing her soul will journey to the afterlife with them as a stowaway (thus the title). No such luck. You really feel a great deal of sympathy for Dana who is not a villain per se. She is just a despondent individual driven to extremes.
The other stowaway is William Bell – played originally by the now-retired Leonard Nimoy. Bell died in the second season finale, but his spirit via the use of a soul magnet has taken up residence in the body of Olivia (Anna Torv), much to the consternation of Peter (Joshua Jackson), and much to the delight of Walter (John Noble).
Torv gets high marks in this episode for playing Bell. It is very believable how Bell/Olivia interacts with Walter. She speaks in a husky tone and has the cadence of Nimoy’s voice down pat, as well as some facial expressions. Without a doubt, she proves that she is a fine actress and not just another pretty face. In the end, it seems that Bell’s hold on Olivia isn’t as stable as he thought. This ending gives viewers another reason to tune in next week and have them right to FOX in support of this show.
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My friend referred to the merging of William Bell and Olivia as Bellivia. I think that's a good name to use when Bell is using her body.
This episode is absolutely fantastic and it will be a damn shame if FOX cancels this show because it has become the most engrossing science fiction show on TV. It has surpassed every other genre show on TV as far as I'm concerned, even SUPERNATURAL and I've been the biggest fan of SUPERNATURAL since Season 1. But SUPERNATURAL has declined in quality and FRINGE is firing on all cylinders. I got pissed when this episode ended, I hate waiting. When Bell lost control and reverted to Olivia for those few seconds, I was fixed to the TV. JJ Abrams along with Orci and Kurtzman are masters of cliffhangers and they make their shows as addictive as crack.
I chuckled to myself everytime Anna Torv used a facial expression or a mannerism of Leonard Nimoy. Someone has to give this woman props because she has really upped her game this season. Not every actress is asked to play three different characters in one season. She needs to be recognized during award season, a nomination at the very least. John Noble needs recognition, he has been one of the best characters on TV for the past 3 years. But it won't be recognized since it's genre television.