'Fringe' Explosions

This show is a lot X-Files, a little Heroes and a dash of The 4400 thrown in just for good measure. I couldn't help but think of the departed USA sci-fi series this week when the episode opened in a diner with a young woman who started getting upset and then seemed to combust, taking many lives with her. The entire scene was very 4400-esque (second season style). Maybe this is why I enjoy Fringe so much. It encompasses elements from some of my favorite former shows (yes, I know Heroes is still on, but I enjoyed its first season, liked its second and am less than enthused about its third, so I'm taking only its former self into account here) and blends them together into a new, all-inclusive series that has me totally hooked. And, I'm not much of a science-minded person, but even I have to admit that the science behind some of these cases is pretty fascinating. The show actually makes the impossible seem plausible, and that's an impressive feat! In fact, I don't even question the explanation when we get it -- maybe that's just a testament to the character of Walter and his enthusiasm for his work and his understanding of the process.

This week, we learned what happens when you pop too many time-release radiation pills (as part of a controversial treatment for a rare disease) and then wind up in the wrong hands (i.e. an arrogant, power-hungry pharmaceuticals CEO). These "wrong hands" discover a way to activate all of the radiation at once, and effectively, turn you into a nuclear bomb available to the highest bidder. Now, that's scary! I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't holding my breath at the end when Olivia tried to talk the latest victim into jabbing that syringe full of anecdote into her jugular in order to keep her from exploding from the radiation.

Speaking of Olivia, she was having a tough day. It was her birthday and her birthday always brings a card from her stepdad (whom she shot when she was a kid to prevent him from further hurting her mother). She thought she was in the clear when nothing showed up at work, but she was disheartened to find a card slipped under her door at home. Looks like step-daddy-dearest knows where she lives. Not a comforting thought.

Fringe airs Tuesday nights on Fox. If you missed last night's episode, watch it for free at Fox.com. Photo courtesy Fox.