We have ray guns now! And it only took us four episodes! How long till space ships?

So What Happens This Week?

A mysterious thingamabob that Peter accurately describes as a 'suppository' arrives. A construction site will have to start paying serious overtime as a result. Walter reveals how to make root beer. Olivia gets a phone call from someone who should be dead. And Peter gets something stuck up his nose.

So What Nefarious Doings is Massive Dynamics Up To This Week?

Actually, nothing. This must be their vacation. Or it's a week long bonding session, where all they all go and practice waxing their evil mustaches and chuckling maniacally.

How is Walter Responsible for What Goes On This Time?

Apparently, the 'suppository'--which is actually a metal cylinder with blue glowing lights that explodes out of the ground now and again (this is Fringe, so just accept it) is connected with Project Thor, something Walter worked on years ago. This project wanted to make a special subterranean torpedo that could blast through the Earth to any point on the...uhh..Earth.  It gets confusing.

What?

I know it's hard to believe, but that's the idea. The torpedo would blast through the Earth's crust, through magma, through the Lost World and all the dinosaurs everyone knows is at the centre of the Earth, then blast through to any target you wanted.

Any New Characters This Week Reminiscent of Marvel Comic Characters?

Funny you should ask. This episode introduces us to a black suit wearing bald man who just manages to appear at weird events all the time. He's called The Observer, because he just...observes. Oddly enough, there's a bald guy in the Marvel Comics Universe who just stands around and watches things. He's called The Watcher.

Is Gene the Cow Back?

Briefly seen in her stall. The question of who cleans up after her, or walks her, is yet again not addressed. I'm beginning to lose patience with this oversight.

Best OMG Grossout! Moment?

Two, actually. First we see The Observer eat the spiciest sandwich ever made without spontaneously combusting. But that pales against Nasal Torture.

So What Do We Learn About Olivia?

She likes to eat cereal and drink whiskey at night. Which I only finally odd because that's what I usually eat for breakfast. We also learn she wears a black undershirt to bed, sleeps with the lights on, is really good at the game Concentration,and drops things when dead boyfriends appears in her kitchen.

And Peter?

Wants to quit the Fringers because Walter is driving him batty. Doesn't like finding bathtubs full of water when he wants to sleep in them. Can call friends who can give him jobs lickety split.

And Walter?

Really likes root beer floats. Will sedate people without a second thought, and keeps syringes at the ready. Doesn't like wearing institutional clothing. And finally gets very angry with Peter, which was a revelation. He was also saved by the Observer years ago when he drove his car--with Peter in it--into an icy river. He figures he owes the bald guy for saving him.

Best Line?

'Welcome to the world of Walter Bishop."

So What Is Really In Root Beer?

There is no standard recipe, but sometimes you can find things like nutmeg, wintergreen, pimento berry oil, cinnamon, cherry bark, St. John's Wort, and of course, carbonated water. If you haven't had a root beer float (which is ice cream with root beer poured over it) recently, you really should. Life is short.

So What Wacky Fringe Science Do We Have This Week?

Beside the aforementioned cylinder that blasts through the Earth, we learn that ideas can be gathered by osmosis. So--by extension--sleeping with your textbooks beneath your pillow is a decent form of studying. Walter would probably agree, and can probably suggest a few good titles.

There is also the hint that all bald people are psychic, but that isn't really followed up.

So, in the End, How Was 'The Arrival?'

Surprisingly solid. The introduction of The Observer and his role in the Pattern is intriguing. Sure, the questions are still flying fast and furious, but the strong cast makes the show a pleasure to watch.
    Still, it'd be nice to have a show that doesn't tie in with Walter and/or Olivia each week, and it's still a lot to swallow that all weird things everywhere are connected, but that's the premise of Fringe.  Just because it's flawed doesn't mean it can't be fun.