I'm afraid bread-and-butter episodes like "Forced Perspective" will have to be given "capsule treatment" at the moment, as I don't have much to say. It felt like an episode we've seen frequently on Fringe, because it's essentially a variation on the show's freak-of-the-week formula; this time concerning a teenage girl who can sense the future and make illustrated predictions of people's deaths. This ability piqued the interest of Olivia (Anna Torv) because an Observer told her she's fated to die in every permutation of the future, and it became clear that this Peter-less version of the "prime universe" are less informed about the bald Observers and what they represent.
It wasn't a bad episode, but it was dispensable and only nudged the mytharc along in minor ways. Still, there were some impressive "frozen time" special-effects, and one of the best teasers in ages (evoking the Final Destination movies). It's just hard to get truly excited about these standalone tales, when the show has better and more urgent things to explore. But if you thought we needed a breather right now, this was your rest stop.
written by Ethan Gross / directed by David Solomon / 27 January 2012 / Fox
