A New Day in the Old Town
Season 2, Episode 01

A New Day in the Old Town

Aired September 17th, 2009 · Written by J. J. Abrams, Akiva Goldsman · Directed by Akiva Goldsman

SYNOPSIS

This episode follows the aftermath of Olivia's journey to the parallel universe while also introducing shapeshifters. After her shocking return to this reality, Peter Bishop, unknowingly in a race against time with an ominous mobile force, pursues information about Olivia's visit.

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

THE GLYPHS

This episode's glyphs spell:

T-O-W-E-R

Olivia was sent back to our universe in this episode after meeting with William Bell in one of the Twin Towers in the Redverse in the previous episode.

Glyph symbol T Glyph symbol O Glyph symbol W Glyph symbol E Glyph symbol R
Glyph symbol T
Glyph symbol O
Glyph symbol W
Glyph symbol E
Glyph symbol R


THE OBSERVER

The Observer crosses the street near the car crash.

Observer 00:29

EPISODE CLUES

Previous Episode Clue

A pirate flag (skull and crossbones) appears on a TV monitor in 'There's More Than One of Everything', a reference to the Shapeshifter ability to remodel his skull and bones in 'A New Day in the Old Town' (which was filmed directly after this episode).

Previous episode clue 30:47

Next Episode Clue

ITEMS OF INTEREST

  • The shapeshifter from the car crash is the one who (almost) hit Olivia in 'There's More Than One of Everything'.
  • The murder victim at the beginning was watching the X-Files, a show Fringe is often compared to.
  • Olivia said "Na einai kalytero anthropo apo ton patera tou" as she woke.
  • The shapeshifter wanted a Selectric 251 typewriter.
  • Walter called Astrid 'Asterix.'
  • The Senator referenced the 'X' designation, putting Fringe in the same universe as the X-Files. He is played by Ken Camroux-Taylor who played the assistant to Section Chief Scott Blevins in the pilot episode of The X-Files.
  • Charlie is dead.

VIDEOS

Featurettes
Behind the Scenes
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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 #201-91709

FRINGE EVENT: Shapeshifters

CLASSIFIED CASE CONNECTION(S): N/A

AGENTS ASSIGNED: Dunham, Francis, Jessup

SUPERVISING AGENT: Broyles

FILE ARCHIVED BY: Thomas Ticknor

WITNESSES/CONTACTS: N/A

LOCATION: Boston, MA; NYC

VICTIM(S): Agent Dunham, George Reed, Lloyd Parr, nurse [redacted], Agent Francis (deceased)

CASE REPORT SUMMARY:

Official outcome: A random traffic accident involving a federal agent. No extenuating circumstances.
Classified details: Agent Dunham launched out of her vehicle, causing a dislocated right hip and possible brain herniation. Her blood pressure spiked at 180 over 20 with nonreactive pupils. Doctors were unable to restore any brain function, and her sister, Rachel, was preparing to follow her living-will directive when Agent Dunham awoke and bolted upright in her bed, saying, "Einai kalytero anthropo apo ton patera toy." She was monitored afterward, and aside from memory issues and physical trauma, Agent Dunham will make a full recovery.
 *Extremely classified* Fringe Division found the bodies of Lloyd Parr and George Reed (of 524 Littlefield Road in Lexington) two blocks from Agent Dunham's accident site. Both men's personas were acquired by Shapeshifters from the other side. Dunham's case is connected.

WALTER'S FOOD

Walter said he was the sous-chef at the Bakersfield Food Lab, bought ingredients to make a custard (his specialty) for Peter's birthday, got a snack from a vending machine, ate a Red Vine while doing an autopsy, remarked that he loves custard but hates flan, and mentioned his near-obsession with moules à la crème Normande.
Walter's Food: Buying custard ingredients 03:20 Buying custard ingredients
Walter's Food: Vending machine snack 06:53 Vending machine snack
Walter's Food: Red Vine 26:00 Red Vine

NAMES FOR ASTRID

Walter called Astrid 'Asterix'.

NOTABLE QUOTES

Senator:
"Unsubstantiated claims of invasion. Reports of technology run amok. The old 'X' designation and your Fringe investigations have been indulgences in the federal budget for over half a century."
Peter:
"Na einai kalytero anthropo apo ton patera tou. You said that to me just after you woke up. Do you remember it?"
Olivia:
"No. Latin?"
Peter:
"Mm-mm. Greek. My mother used to say that to me every night before I went to bed."
Olivia:
"There really isn't a point where things just can't get weirder, is there? What does it mean?"
Peter:
"It means 'be a better man than your father'. Walter was already gone. It was like a code between my mother and me. It meant keep your people close. Take care of the people you care about."

EPISODE CONNECTIONS

S1E20 — 1 connection (callback) S2E04 — 1 connection (setup) S2E15 — 1 connection (setup) S3E08 — 1 connection (setup) S3E21 — 2 connections (setup) S4E15 — 1 connection (setup) S4E16 — 1 connection (setup) ◀ EARLIER · CALLBACKS SETUPS · LATER ▶
Callbacks (1 earlier episode)

S1E20 - There's More Than One of Everything

  • Olivia got pulled to the other side in "There's More Than One of Everything" just before getting into a car accident. That's why she was returned to the car, with the momentum of the impact, in "A New Day in the Old Town." The elevator transported her between buildings once she was already in the Redverse.
Setups & payoffs (6 later episodes)

Spoilers for future episodes below

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S2E04 - Momentum Deferred

S2E15 - Peter

S3E08 - Entrada

S3E21 - The Last Sam Weiss

S4E15 - A Short Story About Love

S4E16 - Nothing As It Seems