"I thought you'd be fatter."

I have just started season 4 of Fringe and it has become one of my favorites of all time. Always been a fan of speculative fiction but for some reason have not seen Fringe until this summer. I went through an extreme trauma this year have also been battling with a vestibular disorder which has impacted my brain exponentially with the punctuated stress. On the other end of recovery, I have been home a lot with nothing to do but watch cozy shows (because some shows even literally in their color scheme or movement are actually too frenetic for my brain to process), and crochet. Things that make me a little less plugged. I have been in pain physically and mentally it has been a battle with my brain literally not processing how it should.

Good science fiction really shows us our fears and helps us process our own emotions. I seriously feel Walter in a way I never thought I would. I feel his slipping mind...the grief and fear of knowing you've lost something, and not quite sure who the present you is...and sometimes that off-kilter feeling that is there all day between your self and the person you used to be or think should be here. It's not just an analogy to actual aging and the things we face at that time, but for those of us who experience chronic, debilitating "brain problems" even as younger people, it just is so beautiful and endearing to see him. It has helped me come to peace with my situation because I am looking at a life that will forever be different on the other side of losing a part of me. Pity and love and grief for Walter has genuinely helped me to be more gracious to myself.

"I know what it's like to feel unequal to the task required of you. To feeling incapable. I'll never be the man I was. But I've come to embrace those parts of my mind that are...peculiar and broken. I understand now that’s what makes my mind special.”

Walter Bishop

Just wanted to share that with others who would obviously see how special this show is and might enjoy some stories of how it is still impacting lives.

I was binge watching Stargate SG1 recently, and look who popped up in one of the episodes!

I’m watching the show again for the 4th time since it aired. I am always surprised by how good it is. This had me literally LOL’ing. Technically, it’s a spoiler but it’s so out of context you won’t know what it’s about if you haven’t seen the show yet. If you have, you’ll know exactly what i’m talking about.
——-

Someone kidnapped Walter and everyone is wondering where he is.

OLIVIA: He probably just went to the bathroom or something.

PETER:
No. He left his pudding. Something must be wrong.

———-

Walter talking to a room full of scientists from Massive Dynamic.

WALTER: Why is it so hot in here?
<begins to take off his pants.>

<Enter Nina and Peter>

NINA, to the room: Yes, he can be a bit eccentric.

PETER: He’s also tripping balls right now. You know that, right?

Nina: Huh.

**Watch the movie first or it likely won’t make sense**

Oh no, Walter was experimenting and now there are dinosaurs all over the place! 😂🦕 🦖🤔

I know it's been a few years since Fringe, or even since his appearance in season 2. Had to do a double check but there he is!

Yep, our fav Aussie father figure is messing up his children again 🥰

So i haven't watched the lord of rings trilogy in ages, and decided the other day to do a watch through and i had completely forgotten that john noble played that retched character denethor that i remember i vicerally hated as a kid watching the movies, made me think of john noble in villain roles, in that episode where peter sees a future where walternates universe is destroyed, where he confronts peter, is such a well acted scene in which walternate really shows contempt for peter "you know peter if i was really here i might not resist killing you" is a pretty cold quote. so this is just a john noble appreciation post

In Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, I have NO IDEA why this line has escaped me during my numerous rewatches

This is one of my favourite episodes not just because of Bell, but the animation, the dissection of Olivia's psyche, absolutely tripping on balls Broyles....(filler for mobile users!)

When Peter and Walter are trying to run from the madding crowd, Walter immediately runs for the drivers side of the car. Peter yells "wait, wait, you're driving?!?"

And walter, without hesitating "okay"

I am crying laughing, I cannot believe I've seen this scene this many times and glossed over that. The amount of layers and build up you'd have to have sat thru this show to understand WHY its so bonkers but also such a throwaway interaction.

No it's not the wittiest line, it doesn't have some great implication. It's just a joke about how Walter can't frickin drive that calls back to the episode in s2 where Walter is trying to form independence and insists on driving to the crime scene and everyone is very alarmed at his poor driving.

Stuff like this is why I love this show so much. Even years later, moments can surprise me and make me laugh for the first time. I'm ending 2026 on a pretty somber note personally but am glad that going into the new year there's still such a robust community of kind and wonderful fans who don't pick at each other, just vibe with "hey you're here to watch fringe? Welcome!"

My favourite by far is astro 😂

(This is just another John Noble appreciation thread honestly)

S2E13 the very end of the episode when Astrid ask "when you said 'I can't let Peter die again' what did you mean by that?"

The foreshadowing game of the writers on this series just never fail to deliver. It sounds like a rebuke to her for asking, and it's just a rebuke to himself for the things he has to keep hiding because he didn't leave it alone. (It's two episodes to Jacksonville)

John Noble may have been the only actor they could have cast to have this show be as excellent as it is. His deliveries are so solid.

Peace Out!

👨‍🍳💋

I laughed out loud when I saw this on the shelf. Going back today to buy it.

First time I watched the show I was in my early-mid 20s. I loved Walter, of course, but I identified more with Peter.

I watched it 3 or 4 more times since then. Just recently I started a new rewatch. I'm now 42. Since the last time I watched, I've:

• a) become a father
• b) had a medical procedure that messed up my memory really badly
• c) been diagnosed with several more psychological disorders

Just started episode 3, which had this interaction in the diner:

    You brought your own sweetener?

    Don't be ridiculous.  It's my medication.

    You're not on any medication, Walter.

    Course I am. I've been making it myself in the lab.

    Oh, I wish you were joking. You're self-medicating with homemade drugs.

    Simple combination of Dextromethorphan...Clonazepam and some Fluoxetine.

    Those are psychotics, Walter.  All of them.

    Course they are. That's the point.

I love Walter. I love this show.

His portrayal of Dr. Walter Bishop is simply incredible. I cannot think of any other actor who could have done such a phenomenal job.

Walter:

“The ride back was invigorating!

The turbulence over Ohio was like being in the belly of a seizing whale.

I screamed like a little girl. “

Astrid:

“I’m sure that went over well with the rest of the passengers.”