A New Day in the Old Town (S02E01)
Airdate: 17 September 2009
Written by: Akiva Goldsman & J. J. Abrams Directed by: Akiva Goldsman
Running Time: 44 minutes
The second season premiere of Fringe, titled "A New Day in the Old Town," represents a significant turning point for the series, placing the creators in a precarious position. Having concluded the previous season with a massive cliffhanger that left Agent Olivia Dunham stranded in a parallel universe, the writers faced the daunting task of not only resolving that tension but also launching a much larger narrative arc. Rather than simply undoing the events of the finale, the creators adopted what could be described as a "mystery box" approach. They chose to hint at an apocalyptic conflict that would get progressively worse for the protagonists before things could possibly improve. This strategy meant that while the immediate threat to Olivia's life was addressed, the overarching narrative was expanded to suggest a danger far greater than anything seen before.
The episode opens with a spectacular and chaotic car crash on the streets of New York City. Among the wreckage is a man, later identified as George Reed (Mike Mitchell), who emerges from the vehicle seemingly unscathed. However, the scene shifts to a nearby SUV that appears to have no driver or passenger, yet it is discovered to contain documents linking the vehicle to FBI Agent Olivia Dunham. The investigation is quickly taken over by Peter and Walter Bishop, who arrive to assess the scene. They are joined by junior FBI agent Amy Jessup (Meghan Markle). It is during this investigation that Olivia is suddenly catapulted out of the SUV, crashing onto the street and suffering severe injuries.
As the medical team works desperately, the doctors are all but convinced that Olivia is going to die. This development sends the Fringe Division into a tailspin, as things go from bad to worse. Peter suddenly loses his security clearance as a consultant to the FBI, and there is significant political pressure to shut down the entire Fringe Division. Agent Broyles is forced to fight sceptical senators during a committee hearing, trying to justify the existence and funding of his team in the face of this tragedy. The stakes couldn't be higher, as the future of the team hangs in the balance while their leader lies unconscious in a hospital bed.
Against all odds, Olivia almost miraculously wakes up from her coma, though she faces a long road to recovery. Her frustration is palpable when she attempts to load her gun while still in bed but struggles with the physical limitations of her injuries. More troubling is her psychological state; she suffers from amnesia, notably not remembering her own time spent in the alternate universe or her encounter with William Bell. This amnesia serves as a key plot device, stripping the audience of knowledge alongside the character, forcing them to piece together the mystery alongside her.
In the meantime, it is revealed that the man seen in the wreckage, George Reed, is actually a shapeshifting "soldier" sent from the parallel universe with the specific task of killing Olivia. The shapeshifter takes on various forms, killing a few people in the process. He eventually adopts the shape of a nurse (Simone Kessell), and enters Olivia's hospital room to interrogate her. A tense confrontation ensues, and the shapeshifter attempts to deliver the final blow, but the attempt is thwarted at the last moment by Agent Jessup. Nurse is soon pursued and appears to be killed by Charlie Francis. Peter manages to retrieve the shapeshifting device from the nurse and delivers it to Broyles, using it as evidence to justify the continued existence of the Fringe Division in front of the senators. The episode ends with a chilling scene showing Charlie's body being secretly incinerated by the shapeshifter who has taken his identity.
A New Day in the Old Town was co-written by Akiva Goldsman and J.J. Abrams and was an obvious attempt for the series to turn the new leaf and provide more focus on the general storyline. The Alternate Universe is now established as the primary source of mystery, but also a source of constant danger, allowing plenty of material for character exposition and worldbuilding in episodes to come. As a director, Goldsman does a very good job, maintaining a quick pace while, for the most part, not allowing the complicated plot to become too confusing for the audience. The scene in which Olivia, seemingly freshly transported from the Alternate Universe, flies out of the SUV is particularly well-done and features great stunt work that conveys the surreal nature of the event.
It is worth noting that A New Day in the Old Town is the first episode to be shot in Vancouver instead of New York City. The episode is also packed with fan service for "x-philes"—the devoted fanbase of The X-Files. Viewers not only see familiar Vancouver locations used in the first seasons of that series but can actually briefly see an episode of The X-Files being played on a television in the background. Furthermore, one of the senators hints existence of “x division”, bringing intriguing theory that X-Files and Fringe share the same fictional universe, a meta-narrative touch that delighted long-time fans of the genre.
Another interesting detail worth highlighting is a brief scene in which Nina Sharp, while giving a pep talk to Broyles to convince him to fight the politicians and secure the future of Fringe Division, actually kisses him on the lips. This moment all but confirms that their long-standing relationship was something more than just a professional friendship, adding a layer of depth to their characters' history.
The episode is also notable for the presence of Meghan Markle, whose character, Amy Jessup, represents one of the more prominent roles in her relatively brief acting career at the time. Her performance brought a fresh energy to the ensemble, and her character serves as a bridge between the FBI and the Bishop family.
However, the biggest drawback of the episode is the overmelodramatic beginning when Olivia is supposed to be dying, causing Peter to start drinking heavily. The audience knows that it is a cheap trick and that a major character isn't supposed to be eliminated at the start of a new season; therefore, the tension feels manufactured rather than earned. Consequently, the solution to this problem is slightly unsatisfactory and creates problems with suspension of disbelief, as the melodrama feels a bit forced.
Nevertheless, A New Day in the Old Town is a very good episode that promises great things for fans of Fringe in the future. It successfully sets the stage for a complex, high-stakes season while balancing action, mystery, and character development. Despite its melodramatic opening, it provides a solid foundation for the series to explore deeper into the unknown.
RATING: 7/10 (+++)
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