6:02 AM EST
Encyclopedia
"6:02 AM EST" is the 20th episode of the third season
of the American science fiction
drama
television series
Fringe
, and the 63rd episode overall. The narrative follows the activation of the doomsday device
by the parallel universe
, and the subsequently devastating consequences experienced by our world.
David Wilcox
, Josh Singer
, and Graham Roland
co-wrote the episode, while Jeannot Szwarc
directed it. Guest star Kevin Corrigan
returned as the mysterious Sam Weiss. Actor John Noble
and executive producer Jeff Pinkner
have referred to "6:02 AM EST" as the start of an "epic trilogy", as it and the following two episodes would be "linked in one continuous story arc".
An estimated 3.51 million viewers watched it on its initial broadcast in the United States; its 1.2 ratings share for those aged 18–49 resulted in a series low. The episode received generally positive reviews; many critics noted its purpose was meant to set the stage for the season finale
.
, Walternate has been able to use the sample of Fauxlivia's child to create a serum made up of half of Peter Bishop's DNA. He uses this serum to activate his doomsday machine
at 6:02 AM. In the prime universe, this results in a series of unusual events, including the formation of a vortex that wipes out a long swath of land in rural New York state, including a herd of sheep and two of their shepherds. The Fringe division learns that their version of the machine activated at 6:02 AM on its own, and Walter suspects the two machines are tied by quantum entanglement
, with their version of the machine destroying their world to stabilize the parallel one. Unknown to the prime universe, Walternate's experiment has not affected the stability of their world.
In the prime universe, Nina Sharp helps to set up Massive Dynamic's resources to track these occurrences, preparing to deploy limited supplies of the amber substance to contain them if needed. Nina advises Olivia to find Sam Weiss, a man that William Bell had trusted and instructed Nina to also listen to. However, Sam has disappeared and cannot be found. Walter and Peter, along with Massive Dynamic staff, debate how to disable the machine, but Peter realizes that he himself is the only option. Walter comes to recognize that the Observer's efforts from earlier ("The Firefly
") were to prepare him to lose Peter. After preparing himself, Peter goes to touch the machine, but is sent flying by an electrical spark, wounding him and knocking him unconscious. At the hospital chapel, Walter tries to find repentance from God for his actions, while Olivia arrives after hearing the news. She steps outside to observe the sunset when Sam Weiss runs up to her and demands to be taken to the machine to stop what is already happening.
In the parallel universe, Walternate's machine has been detected by the Fringe division and Fauxlivia and her team goes to investigate. When Walternate tells them to stand down, Fauxilivia asks him about her recent mission to the prime universe and the part that she recovered. Walternate admits to her that the machine has been activated, having sacrificed his own son Peter to allow Fauxlivia's son to live. Fauxlivia becomes distressed at Walternate's actions, and later returns to Liberty Island to obtain the devices to allow her to cross to the prime universe, but is caught before she can use them. Walternate locks her away, seeing her as a traitor to his cause.
's Michael Ausiello
exclusively confirmed that previous guest actor Kevin Corrigan
would be returning for the twentieth and twenty-first episodes of the season. Corrigan last appeared in the season's twelfth episode "Concentrate and Ask Again
"; his role in "6:02 AM EST" and the following week's episode "The Last Sam Weiss
" marked his sixth and seventh appearances on Fringe, respectively.
"6:02 AM EST" was written by co-executive producers David Wilcox
and Josh Singer
, and executive story editor Graham Roland
; filmmaker Jeannot Szwarc
directed it.
During a conference call with journalists, actor John Noble
called "6:02 AM EST" and the next two episodes of the third season an "epic trilogy". He elaborated "All year we've been heading toward the fact that there seems to be an inevitable conflict between the two universes. And we've gotten to know the people on both sides now, so we now bring it to a conclusion starting with '6:02.' By the next episode we start to deal with the issue because our earth starts to deteriorate. Events start to happen here which indicate that our world is degrading. And so everyone has to move into another gear and say, 'Okay, this problem is not going to go away. It's now affecting our side. We do have a machine which we believe can assist in the resolution of this problem.' And so the episode basically deals with the lead-up in the first part of that trilogy, leading up to the use of that machine." In the same interview, Noble called the episode's title very critical to the series, stating "That time frame plays through the three episodes. Very important to remember as we get to the finale, that time frame."
Though the season 3 finale
was scheduled to be just an hour long, executive producer Jeff Pinkner
confirmed that the last three episodes would be "linked in one continuous story arc". Some media outlets have referred to the episodes as a "three-part third-season finale".
As with other Fringe episodes, Fox released a science lesson plan in collaboration with Science Olympiad
for grade school children, focusing on the science seen in "6:02 AM EST", with the intention of having "students learn about weather forecasting."
Ironically, the sunny post-daybreak conditions depicted as occurring at the time used as the episode's title (6:02 AM Eastern Standard Time) cannot ever occur anywhere in New York state under the Daylight Saving Time
rules used in the contemporary United States. Even on the very first days of the period in the autumn when DST ends and New York returns to Standard Time, the sun has not yet risen over any part of the state. The same is true on the last day of Standard Time in the spring (even in Montauk, Long Island
, which is the southeasternmost point of New York, the sunrise on the final day of EST in 2011 was at 6:06 AM ). A better title for the episode would have thus have been "6:02 AM EDT".
, though several other series airing that night were also down in viewers. The 1.2 ratings share resulted in a series low for Fringe.
's Noel Murray graded the episode with an A-, explaining that though he did not want to give a full review until the season finale aired
, he was "enjoying how Fringe third season is wrapping up", such as "the cross-cutting between Earth-1 and Earth-2, and the sense of imminent doom." Murray continued that he "especially liked... that in the midst of all this end-times rush, it pauses periodically to check in with the various characters in short one-on-one scenes, strengthening our sense of what these relationships mean. (It's something that Fringe has gotten good at in the past year-and-a-half, and something I wouldn't have predicted for the show back in season one
.)" Writing for the Los Angeles Times
, critic Andrew Hanson noted Fringe is preparing for the finale, calling "6:02 AM EST" a "movement episode [that] give[s] an opportunity to get everyone into place for the big climax" in a vein similar to the television series Lost
. Hanson enjoyed the two "sleights of hand", explaining he was surprised by Fauxlivia's universe-crossing device failing and what happened to Peter after touching the machine. IGN
's Ramsey Isler rated the episode 7.5/10, writing "This week's episode wasn't an edge-of-your seat masterpiece, but it scores high marks for character development and putting the pieces in place for a great season finale." Like Hanson, Isler loved the outcome of Peter and the machine, calling it a "nice plot twist"; he also praised Blair Brown
as "one of the many under-appreciated elements of the series." Writing for Mania.com, critic Kurt Anthony Krug acknowledged the episode "had a tough act to follow" after the previous week's episode, but stated "it's still pretty good". Sarah Stegall from Sfscope.com was happy to see Peter "taking a more active role" with the machine plotline, but disliked the episode's religious elements, believing that Walter's scene in the church "felt forced". Stegall concluded her review noting "This episode felt like the first part of a chess game, as the pieces are arranged on the board. The big move is coming up, the endgame that will decide who wins and who loses".
Fringe (season 3)
The third season of the American science fiction television series Fringe premiered on Fox on September 23, 2010, and concluded on May 6, 2011, consisting of 22 episodes. The series is produced by Bad Robot Productions in association with Warner Bros...
of the American science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
television series
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
Fringe
Fringe (TV series)
Fringe is an American science fiction television series created by J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. The series follows a Federal Bureau of Investigation "Fringe Division" team based in Boston, Massachusetts under the supervision of Homeland Security...
, and the 63rd episode overall. The narrative follows the activation of the doomsday device
Doomsday device
A doomsday device is a hypothetical construction — usually a weapon, or collection of weapons — which could destroy all life on a planet, particularly the Earth, or destroy the planet itself, bringing "doomsday", a term used for the end of planet Earth...
by the parallel universe
Parallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
, and the subsequently devastating consequences experienced by our world.
David Wilcox
David Wilcox (screenwriter)
David Wilcox is an award nominated television writer and producer, best known for working on series such as Law & Order, Dragnet, the American remake of Life on Mars, and the FOX science fiction series Fringe.- Fringe :...
, Josh Singer
Josh Singer
Josh Singer is a WGA-award nominated television Writer and Producer, whose most noticeable work includes writing and producing episodes of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, the critically acclaimed series The West Wing, the crime series Bones, and the FOX science-fiction series Fringe.- Fringe...
, and Graham Roland
Graham Roland
Graham Roland is an American television writer.- Career :Roland is best known as a writer on the FOX series Prison Break and for the final season of the ABC mystery series Lost...
co-wrote the episode, while Jeannot Szwarc
Jeannot Szwarc
Jeannot Szwarc is a French Film/TV Director.Szwarc was born in Paris. He began working as a director in American television during the 1960s, in particular on Ironside...
directed it. Guest star Kevin Corrigan
Kevin Corrigan
Kevin Fitzgerald Corrigan is an American actor who has appeared mostly in independent films and television since the 1990s.-Life and career:Corrigan was born in The Bronx, New York to an Irish-American father and a Puerto Rican mother...
returned as the mysterious Sam Weiss. Actor John Noble
John Noble
John Noble is an Australian film and television actor, and theater director of more than 80 plays. He was born in Port Pirie, South Australia, Australia and is currently starring as scientist Walter Bishop in the J. J. Abrams television series Fringe.He made occasional appearances on the...
and executive producer Jeff Pinkner
Jeff Pinkner
Jeff Pinkner is an American television writer and producer. He graduated from Pikesville High School in Baltimore Maryland in 1983. He is known for his work on Alias where he served as executive producer. In 2006 and 2007, he worked as an executive producer and writer for the mystery series Lost...
have referred to "6:02 AM EST" as the start of an "epic trilogy", as it and the following two episodes would be "linked in one continuous story arc".
An estimated 3.51 million viewers watched it on its initial broadcast in the United States; its 1.2 ratings share for those aged 18–49 resulted in a series low. The episode received generally positive reviews; many critics noted its purpose was meant to set the stage for the season finale
The Day We Died
"The Day We Died" is the third season finale of the Fox science fiction drama television series Fringe. It is the season's 22nd episode and the series' 65th episode overall. The finale follows the aftermath of Peter entering and activating the doomsday device...
.
Plot
In the parallel universeParallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
, Walternate has been able to use the sample of Fauxlivia's child to create a serum made up of half of Peter Bishop's DNA. He uses this serum to activate his doomsday machine
Doomsday device
A doomsday device is a hypothetical construction — usually a weapon, or collection of weapons — which could destroy all life on a planet, particularly the Earth, or destroy the planet itself, bringing "doomsday", a term used for the end of planet Earth...
at 6:02 AM. In the prime universe, this results in a series of unusual events, including the formation of a vortex that wipes out a long swath of land in rural New York state, including a herd of sheep and two of their shepherds. The Fringe division learns that their version of the machine activated at 6:02 AM on its own, and Walter suspects the two machines are tied by quantum entanglement
Quantum entanglement
Quantum entanglement occurs when electrons, molecules even as large as "buckyballs", photons, etc., interact physically and then become separated; the type of interaction is such that each resulting member of a pair is properly described by the same quantum mechanical description , which is...
, with their version of the machine destroying their world to stabilize the parallel one. Unknown to the prime universe, Walternate's experiment has not affected the stability of their world.
In the prime universe, Nina Sharp helps to set up Massive Dynamic's resources to track these occurrences, preparing to deploy limited supplies of the amber substance to contain them if needed. Nina advises Olivia to find Sam Weiss, a man that William Bell had trusted and instructed Nina to also listen to. However, Sam has disappeared and cannot be found. Walter and Peter, along with Massive Dynamic staff, debate how to disable the machine, but Peter realizes that he himself is the only option. Walter comes to recognize that the Observer's efforts from earlier ("The Firefly
The Firefly (Fringe)
"The Firefly" is the 10th episode of the third season of the American science fiction drama television series Fringe, and the 53rd episode overall. The episode centers on a chain of events created by Walter crossing over into the parallel universe in 1985 that has had subtle but significant effects...
") were to prepare him to lose Peter. After preparing himself, Peter goes to touch the machine, but is sent flying by an electrical spark, wounding him and knocking him unconscious. At the hospital chapel, Walter tries to find repentance from God for his actions, while Olivia arrives after hearing the news. She steps outside to observe the sunset when Sam Weiss runs up to her and demands to be taken to the machine to stop what is already happening.
In the parallel universe, Walternate's machine has been detected by the Fringe division and Fauxlivia and her team goes to investigate. When Walternate tells them to stand down, Fauxilivia asks him about her recent mission to the prime universe and the part that she recovered. Walternate admits to her that the machine has been activated, having sacrificed his own son Peter to allow Fauxlivia's son to live. Fauxlivia becomes distressed at Walternate's actions, and later returns to Liberty Island to obtain the devices to allow her to cross to the prime universe, but is caught before she can use them. Walternate locks her away, seeing her as a traitor to his cause.
Production
In March 2011, TVlineTVLine
TVLine is a website devoted to information, news and spoilers of television programs.-History:In late 2010, Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello announced that he would be leaving EW after nearly two years in their employ to establish a TV-centered website with MMC, the media company founded by...
's Michael Ausiello
Michael Ausiello
Michael Ausiello is an American television industry journalist and actor. He was a Senior Writer at TV Guide and its companion website, TVGuide.com. On May 28, 2008, Ausiello left TV Guide for Entertainment Weekly and posted his first blog for Entertainment Weekly on July 2, 2008...
exclusively confirmed that previous guest actor Kevin Corrigan
Kevin Corrigan
Kevin Fitzgerald Corrigan is an American actor who has appeared mostly in independent films and television since the 1990s.-Life and career:Corrigan was born in The Bronx, New York to an Irish-American father and a Puerto Rican mother...
would be returning for the twentieth and twenty-first episodes of the season. Corrigan last appeared in the season's twelfth episode "Concentrate and Ask Again
Concentrate and Ask Again
"Concentrate and Ask Again" is the 12th episode of the third season of the American science fiction drama television series Fringe, and the 55th episode overall.-Plot:...
"; his role in "6:02 AM EST" and the following week's episode "The Last Sam Weiss
The Last Sam Weiss
The Last Sam Weiss is the penultimate episode of the third season of the Fox science fiction television series Fringe. It aired on April 29, 2011 in the United States.-Plot:...
" marked his sixth and seventh appearances on Fringe, respectively.
"6:02 AM EST" was written by co-executive producers David Wilcox
David Wilcox (screenwriter)
David Wilcox is an award nominated television writer and producer, best known for working on series such as Law & Order, Dragnet, the American remake of Life on Mars, and the FOX science fiction series Fringe.- Fringe :...
and Josh Singer
Josh Singer
Josh Singer is a WGA-award nominated television Writer and Producer, whose most noticeable work includes writing and producing episodes of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, the critically acclaimed series The West Wing, the crime series Bones, and the FOX science-fiction series Fringe.- Fringe...
, and executive story editor Graham Roland
Graham Roland
Graham Roland is an American television writer.- Career :Roland is best known as a writer on the FOX series Prison Break and for the final season of the ABC mystery series Lost...
; filmmaker Jeannot Szwarc
Jeannot Szwarc
Jeannot Szwarc is a French Film/TV Director.Szwarc was born in Paris. He began working as a director in American television during the 1960s, in particular on Ironside...
directed it.
During a conference call with journalists, actor John Noble
John Noble
John Noble is an Australian film and television actor, and theater director of more than 80 plays. He was born in Port Pirie, South Australia, Australia and is currently starring as scientist Walter Bishop in the J. J. Abrams television series Fringe.He made occasional appearances on the...
called "6:02 AM EST" and the next two episodes of the third season an "epic trilogy". He elaborated "All year we've been heading toward the fact that there seems to be an inevitable conflict between the two universes. And we've gotten to know the people on both sides now, so we now bring it to a conclusion starting with '6:02.' By the next episode we start to deal with the issue because our earth starts to deteriorate. Events start to happen here which indicate that our world is degrading. And so everyone has to move into another gear and say, 'Okay, this problem is not going to go away. It's now affecting our side. We do have a machine which we believe can assist in the resolution of this problem.' And so the episode basically deals with the lead-up in the first part of that trilogy, leading up to the use of that machine." In the same interview, Noble called the episode's title very critical to the series, stating "That time frame plays through the three episodes. Very important to remember as we get to the finale, that time frame."
Though the season 3 finale
The Day We Died
"The Day We Died" is the third season finale of the Fox science fiction drama television series Fringe. It is the season's 22nd episode and the series' 65th episode overall. The finale follows the aftermath of Peter entering and activating the doomsday device...
was scheduled to be just an hour long, executive producer Jeff Pinkner
Jeff Pinkner
Jeff Pinkner is an American television writer and producer. He graduated from Pikesville High School in Baltimore Maryland in 1983. He is known for his work on Alias where he served as executive producer. In 2006 and 2007, he worked as an executive producer and writer for the mystery series Lost...
confirmed that the last three episodes would be "linked in one continuous story arc". Some media outlets have referred to the episodes as a "three-part third-season finale".
As with other Fringe episodes, Fox released a science lesson plan in collaboration with Science Olympiad
Science Olympiad
Science Olympiad is an American elementary, middle, or high school team competition which tests knowledge of various science topics and engineering ability. Over 6,200 teams from 49 U.S. states compete each year. Most teams compete in three levels of competition: regionals, states, and nationals...
for grade school children, focusing on the science seen in "6:02 AM EST", with the intention of having "students learn about weather forecasting."
Ironically, the sunny post-daybreak conditions depicted as occurring at the time used as the episode's title (6:02 AM Eastern Standard Time) cannot ever occur anywhere in New York state under the Daylight Saving Time
Daylight saving time
Daylight saving time —also summer time in several countries including in British English and European official terminology —is the practice of temporarily advancing clocks during the summertime so that afternoons have more daylight and mornings have less...
rules used in the contemporary United States. Even on the very first days of the period in the autumn when DST ends and New York returns to Standard Time, the sun has not yet risen over any part of the state. The same is true on the last day of Standard Time in the spring (even in Montauk, Long Island
Montauk, New York
Montauk [ˈmɒntɒk] is a census-designated place that roughly corresponds to the hamlet with the same name located in the town of East Hampton in Suffolk County, New York, United States on the South Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 3,851 as of 2000...
, which is the southeasternmost point of New York, the sunrise on the final day of EST in 2011 was at 6:06 AM ). A better title for the episode would have thus have been "6:02 AM EDT".
Ratings
On its initial broadcast in the United States, the episode was watched by an estimated 3.51 million viewers, with a 1.2/4 ratings share for those aged 18–49. It was seen by 14 percent fewer viewers than the previous weekLysergic Acid Diethylamide (Fringe)
"Lysergic Acid Diethylamide" is the 19th episode of the third season of the American science fiction drama television series Fringe, and the 62nd episode overall...
, though several other series airing that night were also down in viewers. The 1.2 ratings share resulted in a series low for Fringe.
Reviews
The A.V. ClubThe A.V. Club
The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
's Noel Murray graded the episode with an A-, explaining that though he did not want to give a full review until the season finale aired
The Day We Died
"The Day We Died" is the third season finale of the Fox science fiction drama television series Fringe. It is the season's 22nd episode and the series' 65th episode overall. The finale follows the aftermath of Peter entering and activating the doomsday device...
, he was "enjoying how Fringe third season is wrapping up", such as "the cross-cutting between Earth-1 and Earth-2, and the sense of imminent doom." Murray continued that he "especially liked... that in the midst of all this end-times rush, it pauses periodically to check in with the various characters in short one-on-one scenes, strengthening our sense of what these relationships mean. (It's something that Fringe has gotten good at in the past year-and-a-half, and something I wouldn't have predicted for the show back in season one
Fringe (Season 1)
The first season of the American science fiction television series Fringe commenced airing on September 9, 2008, and concluded on May 12, 2009. The season contained 21 episodes, although only 20 of them aired as part of the first season...
.)" Writing for the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, critic Andrew Hanson noted Fringe is preparing for the finale, calling "6:02 AM EST" a "movement episode [that] give[s] an opportunity to get everyone into place for the big climax" in a vein similar to the television series Lost
Lost (TV series)
Lost is an American television series that originally aired on ABC from September 22, 2004 to May 23, 2010, consisting of six seasons. Lost is a drama series that follows the survivors of the crash of a commercial passenger jet flying between Sydney and Los Angeles, on a mysterious tropical island...
. Hanson enjoyed the two "sleights of hand", explaining he was surprised by Fauxlivia's universe-crossing device failing and what happened to Peter after touching the machine. IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
's Ramsey Isler rated the episode 7.5/10, writing "This week's episode wasn't an edge-of-your seat masterpiece, but it scores high marks for character development and putting the pieces in place for a great season finale." Like Hanson, Isler loved the outcome of Peter and the machine, calling it a "nice plot twist"; he also praised Blair Brown
Blair Brown
Bonnie Blair Brown is an American theater, film, and television actress. She has had a number of high profile roles, including a Tony Award-winning turn in the play Copenhagen on Broadway, as well as a run as the title character in the television comedy-drama The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd,...
as "one of the many under-appreciated elements of the series." Writing for Mania.com, critic Kurt Anthony Krug acknowledged the episode "had a tough act to follow" after the previous week's episode, but stated "it's still pretty good". Sarah Stegall from Sfscope.com was happy to see Peter "taking a more active role" with the machine plotline, but disliked the episode's religious elements, believing that Walter's scene in the church "felt forced". Stegall concluded her review noting "This episode felt like the first part of a chess game, as the pieces are arranged on the board. The big move is coming up, the endgame that will decide who wins and who loses".
External links
- "6:02 AM EST" at Fox.com