Midnight (28 Apr. 2009)

When a second victim is discovered with injuries to the back of the neck, Fringe division is called in to investigate. Walter does an autopsy and discovers that the injury was inflicted by ... See full summary »

Director:

Bobby Roth

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
John Noble	...	Dr. Walter Bishop
Ari Graynor	...	Rachel
Jefferson Mays	...	Nicholas Boone
Trieste Kelly Dunn	...	Valerie Boone (as Trieste Dunn)
Richard Short	...	Bob Dunn
Ward Horton	...	Mustang Man
Lauren Fox	...	Diane
Justin Hagan	...	Neil
Kate Guyton	...	Helen

Storyline

When a second victim is discovered with injuries to the back of the neck, Fringe division is called in to investigate. Walter does an autopsy and discovers that the injury was inflicted by a human bite; the wound is infected by a rare genetically modified syphilis virus and all the spinal fluid has been drained. Tracing users of the virus leads the team to a scientist with connections to ZFT. His story leads the team to find more victims and a desperate race against time to track down a killer with a dangerous addiction to human spinal fluid.

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Plot Keywords:

spinal fluid | syphilis | child custody | chop shop | man in wheelchair

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 April 2009 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bad Robot, Warner Bros. Television, Fringe Element Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

57 min 57 min 48 min (uncut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Dr. Boone works under the assumed name of Lubov Pharmaceuticals. In real life, Lubov is the assumed name of a Russian painter whose work centers on science-fiction and fantasy.

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Goofs

When Dunham is first questioning Nicholas Boone about the two deaths, she shows him two pictures of the two bodies. First of the second victim, and another picture, which isn't identified. Later in the episode, Olivia and Peter have found where the second victim's car was abandoned by the killer. There they find another victim, and both the scene and the victim match the body in the second photograph from earlier in the episode, despite the fact that they just discovered the body.

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Quotes

Peter Bishop: And just for the record... one mad scientist is my limit.

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Soundtracks

"Bela Lugosi's Dead"
(uncredited)
Performed by Bauhaus

User Reviews

Bela Lugosi's Dead

This is the Fringe "Twilight" Episode: Here there be (Man Made) Monsters.

As Strains of Death-Rock band Bauhaus play, a man is trying to pick up women in a Goth Nightclub. Apparently he "Gets Lucky" - Unfortunately, with "Valerie Boone" (Trieste Kelly Dunn) - Who also is "On The Prowl"

• For Spinal Fluid! After she drains the hapless victim, she steals his

car and cash, and goes back, probably to find more fresh brain-juice.

This activity leaves suspicious bodies laying all about and the method of killing is straight down Walter's Alley. As Walter plays Medical Examiner with the bodies (that have had their spines ripped out) he finds a rare, apparently extinct version of a STD. Through this microscopic clue Fringe Division is able to single out Nicholas Boone (Jeffery Mays from "Sling Blade" and "The Notorious Bettie Page") as the culprit who ordered the samples.

If you like your Monkey Spines protruding out, then this is your episode. The only way Valerie Boone can stay alive is by draining people's spinal fluid down to 3-Quarts Low. And once again it was ZFT who infected Valerie Boone with a deadly amplified concoction of the disease - In order to keep "member" Nicholas Boone in line. Boone promises to tell Fringe "All About ZFT" if they help him save his wife -But can this guy be trusted? At every turn, he takes the opportunity to not be forthcoming with The Truth.

In order to treat Valerie Boon they have to Catch her first, and this proves difficult - Walter Fringes out a way to do it that does not involve Fringe Division getting a freak spinal tap.

Boone apparently makes a sacrifice in favour of his wife, but his confession targets Massive Dynamic as being in Cahoots with ZFT and mentions William Bell in particular. It is now up to Fringe Division whether to believe him or not. It is now four seasons later, will we find out if Boone was telling the truth all along?