Subject 9
Season 4, Episode 04

Subject 9

Aired October 14th, 2011 · Written by Jeff Pinkner, J. H. Wyman, Akiva Goldsman · Directed by Joe Chappelle

SYNOPSIS

Olivia uncovers a dangerous force that may be connected to past experiments with Cortexiphan. The investigation forces Walter to leave the lab for the first time in years and travel to Massive Dynamic to examine old case files. Walter struggles with his emotional state as he confronts the demons of his past.

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

THE GLYPHS

THE OBSERVER

The Observer can be seen watching on as Peter is pulled out of Reiden Lake.

Observer 38:50

EPISODE CLUES

Previous Episode Clue

A book titled Astral Projection and Other Psychic Phenomena in 'Alone in the World' can be seen in Walter's Lab, foreshadowing the astral projection ability Cameron James demonstrated as a child in 'Subject 9'.

Previous episode clue 39:30

Next Episode Clue

ITEMS OF INTEREST

  • Walter called Astrid 'Claire'.
  • Item of interest: Green and yellow posters 23:44
    The green and yellow posters in the diner represent how this new timeline with the yellow/amber title sequence is starting to merge with the original timeline with the blue title sequence now that Peter has returned (blue + yellow = green).
  • Item of interest: Peter in Reiden Lake 38:39
    Peter reappeared in Reiden Lake, the place where he drowned in this rewritten timeline.

VIDEOS

Featurettes
Interviews
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THE TIMELINE WITHOUT PETER

  • Walter hated Nina because he blamed her for breaking the vial with the cure for Peter's disease which ultimately led to the kidnapping and Peter's death.
  • Olivia ran away from the Cortexiphan trials.
  • Bell is still dead.
  • Elizabeth committed suicide after both Peters died.
  • Timeline without Peter: Olivia hadn't heard about/from any of the other Cortexiphan subjects until Cameron James. 36:48
    Olivia hadn't heard about/from any of the other Cortexiphan subjects until Cameron James.
  • Olivia had never heard of Reiden Lake.

WALTER'S FOOD

Walter ate peanuts, ate a frosted strawberry Pop Tart, packed sandwiches for a trip, and had root beer floats with Olivia (and taught her the best way to drink them).
Walter's Food: Peanuts 03:46 Peanuts
Walter's Food: Frosted strawberry Pop Tart 06:15 Frosted strawberry Pop Tart
Walter's Food: Root beer floats 21:06 Root beer floats

NAMES FOR ASTRID

Walter called Astrid 'Claire'.

NOTABLE QUOTES

Walter (about Nina):
"Her voice goes right into my inner ear and rattles around like razor blades. Of course I heard it. Tell her to go-"
Olivia:
"Walter, you haven't left the lab in three years."
Walter:
"Elizabeth, my wife, used to say I was a man of contradictions. She liked that about me. I liked everything about her. She committed suicide. Did you know that? After our Peter died. I'm glad she never knew me like this... afraid of things I can't even see."
Walter:
"You acted against all reasonable agreements and expectations. You behaved irrationally with regard to only your intuition and instincts."
Olivia:
"I guess I did."
Walter:
"When I do that, people say I'm crazy. I suppose I've learned that crazy is a lot more complicated than people think."
Peter:
"Olivia. Thank God you're here."
Olivia:
"Who are you?"

EPISODE CONNECTIONS

S1E01 — 1 connection (callback) S3E10 — 1 connection (callback) ◀ EARLIER · CALLBACKS SETUPS · LATER ▶
Callbacks (2 earlier episodes)

S1E01 - Pilot

  • Nina Sharp (to Olivia in "Pilot"):
    "I would say this to my own daughter..."

    This is a foreshadowing of the timeline in which Nina raised Olivia and Rachel as her own children.

    Nina Sharp (to Olivia in "Subject 9"):
    "So you told me about the Fringe Event, but I think you left something out. It's happening to you, isn't it? Now, come on. I haven't seen this much fear in your face since Bobby Hastings asked you to the prom. So what can I do to help you, dear?"

S3E10 - The Firefly

  • Connection: Violet Sedan Chair poster S4E04 14:08
    In "The Firefly" Walter learned that his favorite band, Violet Sedan Chair, broke up after just one album because of an unlikely chain reaction of events started by Peter in 1985. In "Subject 9", which takes place in the timeline where Peter was never raised in the Blueverse, Walter has a poster for a Violet Sedan Chair project that never happened in the original timeline.