The Equation (18 Nov. 2008)

A young musical genius is kidnapped and Walter recalls a patient at St Clair's who might have been kidnapped by the same people and forced to try and figure out the solution to an equation.

Director:

Gwyneth Horder-Payton

Writers:

J.J. Abrams (creator), Alex Kurtzman (creator),

Stars:

Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson, Lance Reddick

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Anna Torv	...	Olivia Dunham
Joshua Jackson	...	Peter Bishop
Lance Reddick	...	Phillip Broyles
Kirk Acevedo	...	Charlie Francis
Blair Brown	...	Nina Sharp (credit only)
Jasika Nicole	...	Astrid Farnsworth
Mark Valley	...	John Scott (credit only)
John Noble	...	Dr. Walter Bishop
William Sadler	...	Doctor Sumner
Randall Duk Kim	...	Dashiell Kim
Gillian Jacobs	...	Joanne Ostler
Charlie Tahan	...	Ben Stockton
Adam Grupper	...	Andrew Stockton
Chance Kelly	...	Mitchell Loeb
Kate Hodge	...	Abby Stockton

Storyline

A young musical genius is kidnapped and Walter recalls a patient at St Clair's who might have been kidnapped by the same people and forced to try and figure out the solution to an equation.

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Plot Keywords:

woman shot | mind control | dead woman on floor | driving in the rain | missing person | 

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 November 2008 (USA)

Filming Locations:

John Hancock Tower - 200 Clarendon Street, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bad Robot, Warner Bros. Television, Fringe Element Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

47 min 47 min (uncut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The location where the child prodigy is held captive as well as many exterior shots for various episodes were filmed at Brooklyn College in Brooklyn, New York.

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Soundtracks

"End Title Theme (Composed by Michael Giacchino)"
(uncredited)
Written by Michael Giacchino

User Reviews

Most intriguing episode yet.

The Equation has a great opening in a very stormy and rainy night where we are brought into the car of a father and his son, the young composer. The father stops in front of a woman who needs help with her car, the father inspects the car and suddenly a green and red light flickers before him, when he turns around to see the woman, she's gone. When she turns back to her car, it's gone. And when he goes to check up on his son in the back of the car, he's gone. After the Fringe team checks out the scene of the crime and Oliviai has completed her sketch of what the woman was described to be Agent John Scott informs her that the woman she int he sketch is Joanne Ostler, who died ten years ago, but for some reasons she is behind the disappearances of many people within the last few years, all have connection somehow. Things become supernatural now as the boy wakes up in a dark room, rather similar to the room seen in the first Saw film where he he is greeted by Joanne and taken to his dead mother, who makes a fuss about him having top finish his musical note, if not, she may not go with him. So he thinks( could go far with this spoiler, but I won't). Dr. Bishop is familiar with stories of this woman and her methods, through an old friend of his back at the mental institution where he was held at for years. Olivia thinks it would be bets if he paid a visit to the old mental house, but Peter has nothing but criticism for the sheer thought. But can Dr. Bishop get the job done despite his symptoms and can his friend come through and tell him what he knows before it's too late? Only you can find out, and yes, there is a huge twist at the end that you won't see coming, but I'll never tell...

I really liked this episode, it's such a good mystery/thriller. Not only does it have an excellent story arc to it but it take son the supernatural and mixes with with Fringe science. It also shows more of Dr. Bishop's character and shows his determination and his rebellion against his son's attitude towards him and that he has a bit of a split personality at times( as if we didn't already know...).

One thing that's ironic about this episode is that there is a small clip of Superman on TV( I believe footage taken from The Batman), series co-creator J.J. Abrams wrote two drafts of Superman before it got handed to Bryan Singer and it was changed into a Returns story. I know, not so much of a review, but I like to point out irony. I'm such a geek.

Overall, a great episode. Next weeks looks even better and even more thrilling than this one!

9/10.