Snakehead



Season 2, Episode 09
Aired: December 3rd, 2009
Written By: David Wilcox
Directed By: Paul Holahan

Recaps: Fandom Wiki | Fringepedia | AV Club
Resources: IMDb | Wikipedia | Transcript
Listen: The Fringe Podcast
Snakehead

The Glyphs



This episode's glyphs spell: H-I-D-D-E-N

Glyph symbol HGlyph symbol IGlyph symbol DGlyph symbol DGlyph symbol EGlyph symbol N
Glyph symbol H
Glyph symbol I
Glyph symbol D
Glyph symbol D
Glyph symbol E
Glyph symbol N

The Observer



The Observer can be seen crossing the foreground in Chinatown as the Triad member is phoned with instructions to follow Astrid.

Observer

Timestamp: 23:56

Episode Clues



Previous Episode Clue

At the motel in 'August' where Christine Hollis is being kept, August brings Christine Hollis a meal in a paper bag with a Chinese dragon drawn on it while Christine is being kept hidden in a motel, foreshadowing the villains working in Chinatown in 'Snakehead'.

Previous episode clue

Timestamp: 17:56


Next Episode Clue

Signage in Chinatown in 'Snakehead' says "Ginseng Improves Memory!", foreshadowing the plot of 'Grey Matters' where pieces of Walter's brain are recovered to help restore his memories.

Next episode clue

Timestamp: 00:10

Items of Interest



  • 'Snakehead' (shé tóu) is a term for organized criminal gangs in Southeast China that smuggle people (human trafficking) to wealthier Western countries.

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 #209-12309


FRINGE EVENT: Parasitic worms

CLASSIFIED CASE CONNECTION(S): N/A

AGENTS ASSIGNED: Dunham

SUPERVISING AGENT: Broyles

FILE ARCHIVED BY: Mariana Cordeiro, Septi Breazu

WITNESSES/CONTACTS: Dr. Ming Che (suspect; deceased), Tao Chen (Chinese consulate), Matt Jarvis, Elizabeth Jarvis

LOCATION: Dorchester Bay, MA; Beacon Hill, MA

VICTIM(S): Wu Lan, Mei Lin, Agent Astrid Farnsworth


CASE REPORT SUMMARY:

A Chinese merchant ship registered in Hong Kong ran aground and caught fire in Dorchester Bay. Twenty-seven bodies were pulled out of the water and found to be infected with a giant version of a tiny parasite found in livestock. Uninfected survivor Mei Lin told investigators they were coming to America for work and a better life. Everyone but she had been given medicine for seasickness, which is how they became infected. A second boat with her husband and daughter was thirty-six hours behind.
 Dr. Bishop determined the bodies enabled the bioengineered parasites to grow. Dr. Ming Che then harvested the parasites for their lymph glands, which secrete a remarkable immune-boosting enzyme. Triad gang members were selling it on the black market for a premium to customers like Elizabeth Jarvis, who bought it to treat her son Matt Jarvis's rare immune deficiency disorder. Agents shot Dr. Che, and the rest of the Chinese survivors were granted political asylum by the State Department.

Walter's Food



Walter ordered a drink in Chinatown and had a meal with Fao.
Connection: A drink in Chinatown
A drink in Chinatown
Timestamp: 24:01
Connection: A meal with Fao
A meal with Fao
Timestamp: 30:12

Connection Chart


A visualization of all the ways this episode connects to other episodes. Scroll down to see the actual connections.

Episode Connections





Spoilers for future episodes below!




S2E10 - Grey Matters

  • Walter implanted a tracker in his neck in 'Snakehead' which is used in 'Grey Matters'.
Connection: Tracking fob
Tracking fob
S2E09 - Snakehead
Timestamp: 42:04
Connection: Removed tracking chip
Removed tracking chip
S2E10 - Grey Matters
Timestamp: 27:24
Divider


S4E16 - Nothing As It Seems

  • The ship at the end of 'Nothing as it Seems' showed the creatures from 'Snakehead'.
Connection: Snakehead creature
Snakehead creature
S4E16 - Nothing As It Seems
Timestamp: 42:53
Divider


S4E22 - Brave New World (Part 2)

  • The ship at the end of 'Brave New World (Part 2)' showed the creatures from 'Snakehead'.
Connection: Snakehead creature
Snakehead creature
S4E22 - Brave New World (Part 2)
Timestamp: 30:31
Divider


S5E04 - The Bullet that Saved the World

  • The creature from 'Snakehead' and images of it were seen in Walter's storage vault in 'The Bullet that Saved the World'.
Connection: Snakehead creature
Snakehead creature
S5E04 - The Bullet That Saved the World
Timestamp: 13:26
Connection: Snakehead creature
Snakehead creature
S5E04 - The Bullet That Saved the World
Timestamp: 14:48
Divider


S5E13 - An Enemy of Fate

  • The creatures from 'Snakehead' were used as a weapon against the Observers and Loyalists in 'An Enemy of Fate'.
Connection: Snakehead creature
Snakehead creature
S5E13 - An Enemy of Fate
Timestamp: 32:58