Jacksonville (Fringe)
Encyclopedia
"Jacksonville" is the 15th episode of the second season
of the American science fiction
drama
television series
Fringe
, and the 35th episode overall. In the episode, Olivia
is forced to recount her time spent as a child in tests conducted by Walter to regain the ability to see objects that have been influenced by the parallel universe
and prevent the deaths of innocents. Though successful, Olivia comes to learn the truth about Peter
, that he is from the parallel universe.
The episode was a mid-season finale. It was written by Ashley Edward Miller
and Zack Stentz
, and directed by filmmaker Charles Beeson
. It premiered to mostly positive reviews on February 4, 2010 in the United States, earning an estimated 7.76 million viewers.
(John Noble
) realizes that the second building has been pulled from the parallel universe
by Thomas Jerome Newton, using the technology that Walter and William Bell had discovered years ago. Walter warns that because of conservation of mass
, a building of similar mass will be taken from the prime universe to the parallel one sometime in the next few days.
While Massive Dynamic offers its computing resources to identify possible buildings of similar mass, Walter tries to implore Olivia
(Anna Torv
) to recall her Cortexiphan-induced ability from her childhood to see objects from the parallel universe. He takes her to the disused child-care facility in Jacksonville, Florida
, where the Cortexiphan trials were performed. Walter first puts Olivia under heavy sedation, and she experiences meeting her younger, frightened self, but is still unable to trigger her ability. Olivia comes to recognize the gruesome trials she experienced, including footage from one test where she exhibited pyrokinesis. As Walter's deadline nears, Walter realizes that Olivia is no longer frightened and thus she cannot engage her abilities, which were triggered by fear.
They return to New York City as small micro-quakes occur, indicating the onset of the event. Though a few buildings have been identified as possible targets, there are far too many to evacuate without starting a mass panic. Olivia, unable to help, goes off privately, but Peter
(Joshua Jackson
) follows and comforts her. Olivia soon recognizes she is frightened again, and races to a rooftop, seeing a building "shimmer" in the distance. The building, a hotel, is quickly identified from the list of candidates, and it is evacuated in time moments before it is pulled into the parallel universe.
Agent Broyles (Lance Reddick
) provides a cover story of an unexpected controlled demolition to explain the disappearance of the hotel. Olivia later meets with Peter to go on a date, but when she arrives, she sees the same shimmer on Peter. As Peter gets ready to go, Walter quietly requests that Olivia not tell Peter that he is from the other universe.
and Zack Stentz
co-wrote "Jacksonville", one of their frequent collaborations together. Filmmaker Charles Beeson
served as the episode's director. Prior to the initial broadcast of "Jacksonville", co-creator J.J. Abrams and showrunners/executive producers Jeff Pinkner
and J.H. Wyman released a joint statement about its plot, "Along with the usual mystery, suspense, science and general wackiness, the episode contains one big answer, the consequences of which will affect our team for the remainder of the season and beyond." Stentz later explained in the DVD audio commentary
that in "Jacksonville by and large, the fringe event is Olivia. Olivia realizing that even in chasing all of these fringe events, she is the biggest fringe event of them all." Also in the commentary, Pinkner added that for the episode's final scene, "We knew it would be in the back third of the season that we would really acknowledge for Olivia that Peter came from the Other Side. The worst circumstance that could happen in is at a moment when they are getting as close together as possible".
Commenting on Peter's secret origins affecting their relationship, actress Anna Torv
stated in an interview with Digital Spy
that "Jacksonville" is "the episode that pushes us forward with a huge amount of momentum towards the end of the season. It all gets mixed up and then you find out what the drive is behind all of this. It's the big spanner in the works! The secret definitely has a huge impact on the lives of everyone involved."
"Jacksonville" was the first episode of Fox's inititiave with Science Olympiad
to release lesson plans for grade school students. Each lesson would relate to the week's particular science; in "Jacksonville"'s case, the intention was for "Students [to] learn about earthquakes of different magnitudes, as well as their impact on buildings and how it can be mitigated." Jeff Pinkner commented, "Everything we do is grounded in some version of authentic fringe science and what scientists believe is possible," and was pleased to be a part of "anything that can help invest kids in learning."
did not air until April 1.
graded the episode an A-, explaining "I liked 'Jacksonville' for the way it plunged directly into the heart of the show's mythology for the first time in a while, and even if it didn't tell us much we didn't already know, having the story become more personal for our heroes served to create that unsettled feeling at which Fringe excels". Ken Tucker from Entertainment Weekly
loved "Jacksonville", believing it to be a "tremendously moving, startling episode" and "one of [Fringes] finest hours". AOL TV
writer Jane Boursaw particularly praised the scene of Olivia trying to comfort her younger self, and then confronting Walter over it. She also felt Olivia's loss of memory to be "interesting," and became "practically gleeful" at her and Peter's near kiss.
Giving the episode an 8.0/10 rating, IGN
's Ramsey Isler thought the episode wasn't "as hard-hitting as most of the previous 'mythology' episodes, but it still leaves a good impression". Isler enjoyed the "tense and intriguing" opening and ending of the episode, but kept waiting for more to happen in the middle. SFScope
contributor Sarah Stegall called the opening "one of the best in the entire series" and "certainly the best television I've seen this year." In addition, Stegall praised Olivia's dream sequence and subsequent accusation of Walter, the inclusion of Massive Dynamic as allies, Broyles' role as "support" rather than "the usual role of Plot Obstacle," and the science behind the episode ("The very fact that we can have two different yet legitimate quantum physics explanations on a television drama is, in itself, cause for applause."). She concluded her review by noting Anna Torv has made "the most progress" in her performance, evolving from "downright wooden in the first year" to "carrying the role with grace and strength." Website blogger io9
listed "Jacksonville" as one of the "crucial" episodes new viewers must watch to get into the show.
Fringe (Season 2)
The second season of the American science fiction television series Fringe commenced airing on the Fox network on September 17, 2009, and concluded on May 20, 2010. The season was produced by Bad Robot Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, and its showrunners...
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 35th episode overall. In the episode, Olivia
Olivia Dunham
FBI Special Agent Olivia Dunham is a fictional character and protagonist on the Fox television series Fringe . Olivia first appeared in the pilot episode on September 9, 2008. She is portrayed by actress Anna Torv....
is forced to recount her time spent as a child in tests conducted by Walter to regain the ability to see objects that have been influenced 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 prevent the deaths of innocents. Though successful, Olivia comes to learn the truth about Peter
Peter Bishop
Peter Bishop is a fictional character on the Fox television series Fringe. He is portrayed by Joshua Jackson.-Fictional character biography:...
, that he is from the parallel universe.
The episode was a mid-season finale. It was written by Ashley Edward Miller
Ashley Edward Miller
Ashley Edward Miller is an American Screenwriter and Producer best known for his work on the TV shows Andromeda, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, and Fringe. As well as for his work on the films Thor and X-Men: First Class...
and Zack Stentz
Zack Stentz
Zack Stentz is an American Screenwriter and Producer. He often collaborates with Screenwriter/Producer Ashley Edward Miller.-Filmography:Writer* Andromeda * The Twilight Zone...
, and directed by filmmaker Charles Beeson
Charles Beeson (director)
Charles Beeson is a British television director.Some of his credits include the films: Second Sight, Four Minutes, Stranded, Cider With Rosie, Thursday 12th, and episodes of EastEnders, Spooks, Inspector Morse, and Casualty...
. It premiered to mostly positive reviews on February 4, 2010 in the United States, earning an estimated 7.76 million viewers.
Plot
A localized earthquake in New York City damages only one building, killing nearly all inside. The Fringe team discovers that it appears that a second building had appeared at the same location as this one, fusing the structure and people inside together. WalterWalter Bishop (Fringe)
Walter Bishop, Ph.D. is a fictional character on the Fox television series Fringe. He is portrayed by John Noble. Noble also plays Walter's counterpart in the show's parallel universe, who is referred to in the show as Walternate.-Arc:...
(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...
) realizes that the second building has been pulled from 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...
by Thomas Jerome Newton, using the technology that Walter and William Bell had discovered years ago. Walter warns that because of conservation of mass
Conservation of mass
The law of conservation of mass, also known as the principle of mass/matter conservation, states that the mass of an isolated system will remain constant over time...
, a building of similar mass will be taken from the prime universe to the parallel one sometime in the next few days.
While Massive Dynamic offers its computing resources to identify possible buildings of similar mass, Walter tries to implore Olivia
Olivia Dunham
FBI Special Agent Olivia Dunham is a fictional character and protagonist on the Fox television series Fringe . Olivia first appeared in the pilot episode on September 9, 2008. She is portrayed by actress Anna Torv....
(Anna Torv
Anna Torv
Anna Torv is an Australian actress known for her role as FBI agent Olivia Dunham on the Fox television series Fringe.-Early life:...
) to recall her Cortexiphan-induced ability from her childhood to see objects from the parallel universe. He takes her to the disused child-care facility in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
, where the Cortexiphan trials were performed. Walter first puts Olivia under heavy sedation, and she experiences meeting her younger, frightened self, but is still unable to trigger her ability. Olivia comes to recognize the gruesome trials she experienced, including footage from one test where she exhibited pyrokinesis. As Walter's deadline nears, Walter realizes that Olivia is no longer frightened and thus she cannot engage her abilities, which were triggered by fear.
They return to New York City as small micro-quakes occur, indicating the onset of the event. Though a few buildings have been identified as possible targets, there are far too many to evacuate without starting a mass panic. Olivia, unable to help, goes off privately, but Peter
Peter Bishop
Peter Bishop is a fictional character on the Fox television series Fringe. He is portrayed by Joshua Jackson.-Fictional character biography:...
(Joshua Jackson
Joshua Jackson
Joshua Carter Jackson is a Canadian American actor. He has appeared in primetime television and in over 32 film roles. He is best known for playing Charlie Conway in The Mighty Ducks film series, Pacey Witter in the television series Dawson's Creek and Peter Bishop in the television series...
) follows and comforts her. Olivia soon recognizes she is frightened again, and races to a rooftop, seeing a building "shimmer" in the distance. The building, a hotel, is quickly identified from the list of candidates, and it is evacuated in time moments before it is pulled into the parallel universe.
Agent Broyles (Lance Reddick
Lance Reddick
Lance Reddick is an American theater, film and TV actor and musician born in Baltimore, Maryland. He starred in The Wire as Cedric Daniels, appeared in Oz as Detective Johnny Basil and appeared in the fourth and fifth seasons of Lost. He now has a prominent role in Fringe...
) provides a cover story of an unexpected controlled demolition to explain the disappearance of the hotel. Olivia later meets with Peter to go on a date, but when she arrives, she sees the same shimmer on Peter. As Peter gets ready to go, Walter quietly requests that Olivia not tell Peter that he is from the other universe.
Production
Producers Ashley Edward MillerAshley Edward Miller
Ashley Edward Miller is an American Screenwriter and Producer best known for his work on the TV shows Andromeda, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, and Fringe. As well as for his work on the films Thor and X-Men: First Class...
and Zack Stentz
Zack Stentz
Zack Stentz is an American Screenwriter and Producer. He often collaborates with Screenwriter/Producer Ashley Edward Miller.-Filmography:Writer* Andromeda * The Twilight Zone...
co-wrote "Jacksonville", one of their frequent collaborations together. Filmmaker Charles Beeson
Charles Beeson (director)
Charles Beeson is a British television director.Some of his credits include the films: Second Sight, Four Minutes, Stranded, Cider With Rosie, Thursday 12th, and episodes of EastEnders, Spooks, Inspector Morse, and Casualty...
served as the episode's director. Prior to the initial broadcast of "Jacksonville", co-creator J.J. Abrams and showrunners/executive producers 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...
and J.H. Wyman released a joint statement about its plot, "Along with the usual mystery, suspense, science and general wackiness, the episode contains one big answer, the consequences of which will affect our team for the remainder of the season and beyond." Stentz later explained in the DVD audio commentary
Audio commentary
On disc-based video formats, an audio commentary is an additional audio track consisting of a lecture or comments by one or more speakers, that plays in real time with video...
that in "Jacksonville by and large, the fringe event is Olivia. Olivia realizing that even in chasing all of these fringe events, she is the biggest fringe event of them all." Also in the commentary, Pinkner added that for the episode's final scene, "We knew it would be in the back third of the season that we would really acknowledge for Olivia that Peter came from the Other Side. The worst circumstance that could happen in is at a moment when they are getting as close together as possible".
Commenting on Peter's secret origins affecting their relationship, actress Anna Torv
Anna Torv
Anna Torv is an Australian actress known for her role as FBI agent Olivia Dunham on the Fox television series Fringe.-Early life:...
stated in an interview with Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
that "Jacksonville" is "the episode that pushes us forward with a huge amount of momentum towards the end of the season. It all gets mixed up and then you find out what the drive is behind all of this. It's the big spanner in the works! The secret definitely has a huge impact on the lives of everyone involved."
"Jacksonville" was the first episode of Fox's inititiave 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...
to release lesson plans for grade school students. Each lesson would relate to the week's particular science; in "Jacksonville"'s case, the intention was for "Students [to] learn about earthquakes of different magnitudes, as well as their impact on buildings and how it can be mitigated." Jeff Pinkner commented, "Everything we do is grounded in some version of authentic fringe science and what scientists believe is possible," and was pleased to be a part of "anything that can help invest kids in learning."
Ratings
On its initial American broadcast on February 4, 2010, "Jacksonville" was watched by an estimated 7.76 million viewers, gaining a 2.8 ratings share for those aged 18–49. "Jacksonville" was the winter finale for the series, as the next episodePeter (Fringe)
"Peter" is the 16th episode of the second season of the American science fiction drama television series Fringe, and the 36th episode overall. Considered a keystone episode of the series, "Peter" is a flashback episode, told as Walter Bishop reveals to Olivia Dunham that his son Peter is really the...
did not air until April 1.
Reviews
"Jacksonville" premiered to generally positive reviews. James Poniewozik of Time Magazine called it "fine" and "well-acted", especially liking John Noble's performance. Noel Murray of 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...
graded the episode an A-, explaining "I liked 'Jacksonville' for the way it plunged directly into the heart of the show's mythology for the first time in a while, and even if it didn't tell us much we didn't already know, having the story become more personal for our heroes served to create that unsettled feeling at which Fringe excels". Ken Tucker from Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
loved "Jacksonville", believing it to be a "tremendously moving, startling episode" and "one of [Fringes] finest hours". AOL TV
AOL TV
AOL TV was the name of both a thin client which uses a television for display , and the online service that supports it, both of which were launched in June 2000 to compete with WebTV....
writer Jane Boursaw particularly praised the scene of Olivia trying to comfort her younger self, and then confronting Walter over it. She also felt Olivia's loss of memory to be "interesting," and became "practically gleeful" at her and Peter's near kiss.
Giving the episode an 8.0/10 rating, 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 thought the episode wasn't "as hard-hitting as most of the previous 'mythology' episodes, but it still leaves a good impression". Isler enjoyed the "tense and intriguing" opening and ending of the episode, but kept waiting for more to happen in the middle. SFScope
SFScope
SFScope is an online trade journal devoted to entertainment news concerning speculative fiction, science fiction, fantasy, and horror. It was founded by Ian Randal Strock in early 2007....
contributor Sarah Stegall called the opening "one of the best in the entire series" and "certainly the best television I've seen this year." In addition, Stegall praised Olivia's dream sequence and subsequent accusation of Walter, the inclusion of Massive Dynamic as allies, Broyles' role as "support" rather than "the usual role of Plot Obstacle," and the science behind the episode ("The very fact that we can have two different yet legitimate quantum physics explanations on a television drama is, in itself, cause for applause."). She concluded her review by noting Anna Torv has made "the most progress" in her performance, evolving from "downright wooden in the first year" to "carrying the role with grace and strength." Website blogger io9
Io9
io9 is a blog launched in 2008 by Gawker Media. The blog focuses on the subjects of science fiction, futurism, and advancements in the fields of science and technology....
listed "Jacksonville" as one of the "crucial" episodes new viewers must watch to get into the show.
External links
- "Jacksonville" at FoxFox Broadcasting CompanyFox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...