Season 3, Episode 04

Do Shapeshifters Dream of Electric Sheep?

Aired October 14th, 2010 · Written by David Wilcox, Matthew Pitts · Directed by Ken Fink

SYNOPSIS

Newton, concerned about the consequences of a distressing development involving a high-ranking official, is forced to call to action a sleeping shapeshifter. As Walter and the rest of the team gather evidence, they move the investigation to Massive Dynamic, where Fauxlivia goes on high alert and Walter finds himself in a perilous situation.

Synopsis provided by the Fandom Wiki, Fringepedia, and Wikipedia.

THE GLYPHS

This episode's glyphs spell:

S-H-I-F-T

This episode featured three Shapeshifters - Senator Van Horn, Thomas Newton, and Ray Duffy - and showed that they could be unwilling to shift into new forms when they got attached to a nice way of life.

THE OBSERVER

The Observer can be seen in the lobby of Massive Dynamic as Fauxlivia, Peter, and Broyles enter the building.

19:04

EPISODE CLUES

Previous Episode Clue

A sign for "Van Horn's Tavern" in 'The Plateau' foreshadows Senator Van Horn's secret and involvement in 'Do Shapeshifters Dream of Electric Sheep?'.

18:04

Next Episode Clue

ITEMS OF INTEREST

Senator Van Horn provided Newton with information on Olivia and the Fringe team by way of his friendship with Broyles and his earlier involvement with the team.
Walter registered Astrid at Massive Dynamic as 'Astro Farnsworth'.
These shapeshifters have data discs at the base of their spines.

VIDEOS

Featurettes

Interviews

Commentary

FRINGE DIVISION CASE FILE

U.S. Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation

121 105th Street • Washington, DC 20735
Phone: (202) 555-2100 • Fax: (202) 555-2101
E-mail: washington.fbi@fbi.com

FRINGE DIVISION CASE FILE #304-101410

FRINGE EVENT: Infiltration by US Senator James Van Horn

CLASSIFIED CASE CONNECTION(S): Shapeshifters

AGENTS ASSIGNED: Dunham

SUPERVISING AGENT: Broyles

FILE ARCHIVED BY: Joseph Brink

WITNESSES/CONTACTS: Patricia Van Horn (spouse)

LOCATION: Brookline, MA

VICTIM(S): Senator James Van Horn (deceased), doctor [redacted], 2 nurses, 2 security guards, Ray Duffy

CASE REPORT SUMMARY:

Senator James Van Horn was involved in a car accident and was admitted to the hospital for emergency surgery. Fifteen minutes later, Thomas Newton entered the operating theater and murdered the medical team and Senator Van Horn, who was revealed to be a Shapeshifter.
Senator Van Horn had top-level clearance, so an immediate investigation was ordered to determine the depth and breadth of his infiltration. Blood tests were run on every person who worked on the Hill and everyone with a Level 4 classification of above. Agent Broyles determined Senator Van Horn had been collecting intel for two years and made requests for classified intelligence twenty-nine times in his last month.
Dr. Bishop discovered Senator Van Horn was still responsive. With the aid of his wife, Dr. Bishop mapped the Shapeshifter's neural pathways to find a data disk at the base of his spine. Shapeshifter Ray Duffy infiltrated Dr. Bishop's lab, retrieved the disk, and escaped. Newton was found and arrested by Agent Dunham.

*Post-investigation, it was discovered that Agent (B)Olivia Dunham was integral in blocking the success of our agents. She sacrificed Newton to keep the data disk safe and then provided him with a suicide wafer in his cell.

WALTER'S FOOD

Walter described the consistency of brains as somewhere between pudding and foie gras, asked where he could purchase some candy buttons, got Red Vines from Peter, asked Peter for chamomile tea, asked Astrid for candy buttons, got food at Massive Dynamic, said he occasionally eats animal cookies to honor William Bell, and told Astrid not to eat his pudding.

10:06 Red Vines

Walter's Food: Massive Dynamic cafeteria food

29:07 Massive Dynamic cafeteria food

NAMES FOR ASTRID

Walter called Astrid 'Astro'.

EPISODE CONNECTIONS

Callbacks 2

S2E06
S3E01

Setups & payoffs 1

Spoiler: S4E22

Callbacks (2 earlier episodes)

S2E06 - Earthling

Broyles met with Senator Van Horn in "Earthling", who was eventually revealed to be a Shapeshifter in "Do Shapeshifters Dream of Electric Sheep?".

S3E01 - Olivia

Senator Van Horn was questioning Peter about his experiences with Walternate in "Olivia". Van Horn was revealed to be a Shapeshifter in "Do Shapeshifters Dream of Electric Sheep?", so his questioning of Peter was likely for intel.

Setups & payoffs (1 later episode)

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S4E22 - Brave New World (Part 2)

S4E22 Timestamp: 37:18

Senator Van Horn, who died in "Do Shapeshifters Dream of Electric Sheep?", was still alive in the altered timeline and talked to Broyles in "Brave New World (Part 2)".