Fringe (TV Series) Making Angels (2012) User Reviews

Greatest...episode...ever...

[kitano0 · 9/10 · 4 February 2012]

This is now my favorite episode...wonderfully written, beautifully directed. Everything worked in this episode, the comedy was spot-on, the story and dialog just great. I've always thought Astrid was one of the most charming (and cute) characters on TV, the way she has always been so good with Walter, but what she does in this episode is so compassionate as to be inspiring. Bravo Jasika Nicole. The dynamic between Walter and Altlivia was well played, too. All the characters from both (or two) of the time lines seem to be learning to get along, and there is a lot of opportunity for comedy, and this episode made the most of it. Altlivia's "Hey girls!" entrance was hilarious, as was the "I"ve always wondered why more people didn't do that" from Olivia. What's really great about this episode though, were the themes...duality, the convergence of all time, the importance of family... This episode was one of the most cinematic entries into a series that is always beautifully done. This show still has lots of stories to tell, and I hope this episode is a preview of the quality we can look forward to.

That this show is on the verge of cancellation is amazing to me.

Jasika shines

[nlmike · 9/10 · 6 June 2022]

Astro based her alternate on a family member. And from someone who knows people with autism, she has done a wonderful and respectful job. A stellar performance.

Usually John steals the show, but this time it was Astrix.

Putting out of Misery

[claudio_carvalho · 8/10 · 29 March 2017]

In the parallel universe, the alternate Astrid crosses the portal and visits Astrid since she has difficulties in social interaction and communication, and Olivia comes after her. Meanwhile a man kills people with a strange device but the Fringe Division has no clue to follow. When one victim survives, he explains that the man said that wanted to put him out of misery since he would become paraplegic. Soon alternate Astrid helps the fringe Division to identify the man.

"Making Angels" is a different episode of "Fringe". The lead story has a conventional plot but the participation of the alternate Astrid trying to resolve her issues is worthwhile watching. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Making Angels"

DIY angels

[VladimirSkywalker · 10/10 · 4 February 2012]

Another wonderful episode of Fringe! Another mind tingling riddle, another story that involves mathematics equation in its core, just like my favorite s01e08. Finally we are beginning to uncover who the mysterious Observers actually are.

The plot of a guy who uses mathematics equation to become an angel is something that even the bravest SciFi creators never imagined. Or to be more precise, the guy whose scientific genius evolved into the logical superhuman being. Hardcore religion finally merges with hardcore science in a way no one ever thought possible - and no matter how unorthodox the outcome is, I love it.

Well, as German poet Rilke said "Each angel is awesome", meaning awesome in the real sense of the word, causing awe each time a human being meets him. What we have here is a being that crossed over from human into one with different, more profound logic and more profound compassion, therefore horrible.

Astrid finally got her very own episode. I knew this was going to happen, and I expected she would excel in it much more than this, for she is another brilliant mind. However, this one is about her emotions, and basically everyone's emotions.

I can't help the feeling that Fringe creators have just warmed their engines and they have fuel enough for at least five more incredible seasons of best ever science fiction and comedy drama content. Sadly, this season seems to be their swan song, judging by the US people meters. The rest of the world isn't important anyway, only US audience has the power to decide this show's fate, and how just it is?

September's Gadget

[XweAponX · 10/10 · 4 February 2012]

The last time we saw September, he had a gaping hole in his chest. Now, the other Observers, are speaking of him in the past tense. Or, at least of things he did or did not do in 1985.

IN this episode, we meet a man (This week's Fringe Ep is once again sadly missing IMDb info at the time of this review) who somehow has figured out how The Observers can see time, and he is using this ability to Make Angels, either out of three victims, or himself, the title of this ep can mean either thing. Did September have something to do with this? Ironically, the place where the man learns the ability is at Reiden Lake - The seismologic center where began The Pattern.

At the same time, Alternate Astrid has come over to "this" side, what does she want? This is Jasika's moment, and her episode. Astrid has been a fixture on Fringe for the last 3 and a half years, this is a welcome investigation of her characters.

Peter is learning, he just can't talk to Walter the same way he talks to "His Own" Walter - It just doesn't work, in the Orange 'Verse- This Walter still seems to want as little to do with Peter as possible... But with the untimely visit of Alter-Astrid and then later, Fauxlivia, Walter is given some things to think about.

This Episode is Puzzle Pieces... But as Colonel Broyles had said in the Season 2 premiere, "The more we learn, the more questions we have". Well, the puzzle pieces that have been thrown down on the table in this Ep, are a confusing lot- Disparate Events that are somehow connected.

There is a New Observer, who does not seem as Friendly to Walter and Peter's cause as September was. This new guy (Steve Weller) seems to be the Observer Boss who you don't wanna Cross. We also meet Astrid's Father: A special appearance by Blu Mankuma.

I make this entreaty to all Fringe fans: Please Tune to Fox on Friday, even if you will not be there!

Too much drama, careful cross editing, missed sci-fi opportunity, in love with Walter, smart main character development, geeky ripple effect, fascinating mathematics

[igoatabase · 8/10 · 13 March 2012]

There're moments when I wonder if Fringe knows it's a sci-fi show. This time it was so heavy on drama that it reminded me of Defying Gravity. Don't get me wrong I like Astrid but I'm not sure focusing on her was the writers priority. And if their plan was to make her grow on us to crush her heart in some upcoming episode then they couldn't have been more predictable. But my real disappointment is that the first seconds were promising because I instantly imagined some possible explanations of the other Astrid behavior. She crossed over… because she's also a shapeshifter ? Nice ! To meet Prime Astrid and drink coffee ? Boring ! Her scenes were also thrown between the others. Their only redemption was Jasika Nicole's performance and the immersive editing. I had never seen two characters played by the same person shake hands on screen ! The digital illusion was perfect. Now let's hope our Olivias will cat fight in liquid amber for Peter ! Seriously one interesting plot involving the Astrids would have been to cover human-computer interaction. Indeed if I understood correctly the other is special and that's why she's able to use the super computer of the other side. However without it she should have experienced some difficulty to investigate and solve problems in the Prime universe. Instead she behaved like if her mind was still connected to the machine.

Hopefully the main story was original and involved Observers. One of them is definitely in trouble but let's hope the poor soul won't be sentenced to an eternal life between dimensions or something ! Sorry for this reference to Saint Seiya, the otaku within can't help taking over from time to time. My only complain would be the clumsy airport sequence because Olivia and Peter should know better than yelling to apprehend a suspect. The rest almost represents the best of what Fringe has to offer. First everything Walter was delightful, from his father and daughter relationship with Astr'd to his triple X warnings when Bolivia the Candy Woman from the Other Side™ was around. Mint ? I knew it ! Evil spy, sent to kill us all and steal our precious ring. Sorry, wrong review. More seriously the installment was also a success in the Peter department. First using the other Astrid to develop his complex relationship with Walter, not his real father, was smart. Indeed relying on a third party to solve a conflict is sometimes the only solution. It allows people to see things in a whole new light. An other drop that satisfied my thirst was the lake connections. When I thought September knew his classics he has apparently never seen Back to the Future Part II ! If it was the case he would have anticipated on the ripple effects caused by his lost gizmo. Last but not least even if I missed the shapeshifter arc, again, I couldn't help nodding when the antagonist was compared to a savior. Even better was the mention of mathematics as an almighty tool to explain life. Indeed I read once that God could only be a master of geometry considering how creative and diverse our universe is. From spiral galaxies to snails, formulas and shapes are all around us. 1 + 1 = 3 ? I don't know, I'm just a mere mortal.

Note : This review was first posted on Kritikenstein, my weblog.

Astrid Rules

[Hitchcoc · 10/10 · 15 November 2023]

A charming, bright, talented regular who is never the focal point, Astrid, gets to shine here when she plays dual roles. One is really Walter's caretaker and observer, asking the right questions. The alt-Astrid is about as autistic as is possible, but we see a bit of her heart when she describes the death of her father. I thought she was marvelous in portraying the kind of confused grief this event would engender. The two Olivias also work together and a bit of a bond is starting to take place. The group must find a guy who feels it is his role in life to put people out of their respective miseries. He is a religious zealot which makes him incredibly dangerous. He can't wait to die.