Reciprocity



Season 3, Episode 11
Aired: January 28th, 2011
Written By: Josh Singer
Directed By: Jeannot Szwarc

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

The Glyphs



This episode's glyphs spell: A-L-T-E-R

Walter theorized that Peter's proximity to The Machine, an object of destruction, altered Peter to be similarly dangerous and destructive.

Glyph symbol AGlyph symbol LGlyph symbol TGlyph symbol EGlyph symbol R
Glyph symbol A
Glyph symbol L
Glyph symbol T
Glyph symbol E
Glyph symbol R

The Observer



The Observer can be seen in the crowd near the crime scene at the koi pond.

Observer

Timestamp: 12:37

Episode Clues



Previous Episode Clue

The album cover artwork from The Police's 1981 album Ghost in the Machine can be seen painted on a wall in 'The Firefly'. This foreshadows 'Reciprocity' where The Machine seemingly turns on for no reason.

Previous episode clue

Timestamp: 36:01


Next Episode Clue

A blue recycle bin in 'Reciprocity' in the alleyway where Peter kills a fleeing shapeshifter is labeled with a "Powder Blue" sticker, foreshadowing the blue powder bioweapon used in 'Concentrate and Ask Again'.

Next episode clue

Timestamp: 28:05

Items of Interest



  • The Machine powered on just by Peter being close to it.

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 #311-12811


FRINGE EVENT: Shapeshifters being systematically executed

CLASSIFIED CASE CONNECTION(S): Shapeshifters

AGENTS ASSIGNED: Dunham

SUPERVISING AGENT: Broyles

FILE ARCHIVED BY: Grant Pollard, Lee Varner

WITNESSES/CONTACTS: Lieutenant Pike, Dr. Grant

LOCATION: Revere, MA

VICTIM(S): Dr. James Falcon, Jackie Bermudez, Zach Alpert


CASE REPORT SUMMARY:

The Machine was built on Liberty Island, but no one was able to activate it. A dozen different power sources were tried, along with multiple diagnostics, but it remained unresponsive. NASA, the CIA, the NIH, and the government's top people had no idea how to operate it. Peter Bishop turned out to be the key when his mere presence created an electromagnetic spike that triggered the Machine.
 A colleague found Shapeshifter Michael Baird dead in a fountain with his data storage disk removed. Baird was on a long list of Port Authority employees on Special Agent (B)Olivia Dunham's hard drive, and his death tipped the agency to a mole placed by Secretary Walter(nate) Bishop.

Glyph Sightings



  • A seahorse can be seen on Peter's luggage.
Seahorse
Timestamp: 05:40

Walter's Food



Walter asked for grape chewing gum, asked Peter to make him a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, had a sudden craving for bananas (typically his least favorite fruit), made a banana split, and had some whipped cream.
Connection: Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
Timestamp: 07:07
Connection: Banana split
Banana split
Timestamp: 29:49
Connection: Whipped cream
Whipped cream
Timestamp: 30:17

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!




S3E16 - Os

  • In 'Os' Peter revealed to Olivia that he was working on the Shapeshifter devices that he collected in 'Reciprocity' by killing Shapeshifters.
Connection: Shapeshifter discs
Shapeshifter discs
S3E16 - Os
Timestamp: 41:47