A Better Human Being

A Better Human Being



Season 4, Episode 13
Aired: February 17th, 2012
Written By: Glen Whitman, Robert Chiappetta, Alison Schapker, Monica Owusu-Breen
Directed By: Joe Chappelle

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

The science team investigates a patient at a mental hospital who appears to be connected to a series of murders. Olivia channels all of the experiences and feelings her counterpart felt and had for Peter. Nina's involvement in the grand scheme begins to reveal itself.

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

THE GLYPHS

This episode's glyphs spell:

H-E-N-R-Y

This episode's glyphs foreshadow the next episode where Peter learns about his son in the original timeline for the first time.

Glyph symbol HGlyph symbol EGlyph symbol NGlyph symbol RGlyph symbol Y
Glyph symbol H
Glyph symbol E
Glyph symbol N
Glyph symbol R
Glyph symbol Y


THE OBSERVER

The Observer can be seen walking past the cashier's window at the gas station as Peter goes inside to check on Olivia.

Observer

EPISODE CLUES

Previous Episode Clue

The "Killer Bees" mascot name on the high school exterior in 'Welcome to Westfield' foreshadows the hive-mind abilities of the villains in 'A Better Human Being'.

Previous episode clue
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Next Episode Clue

A newspaper ad in 'A Better Human Being' that says "Your Travel Adventure - Sun Passes" hints at where Peter goes with the Observer, and what Peter learns there, in 'The End of All Things'.

Next episode clue

ITEMS OF INTEREST

  • Olivia has been dosed with Cortexiphan which is possibly responsible for her getting her memories back.
  • Olivia saying "I remember everything" to Peter is likely a reference to Joshua Jackson's iconic line "I remember everything" as Pacey on Dawson's Creek.

VIDEOS

Featurettes

JJ ABRAMS EASTER EGGS

  • The gas station had an ad for Slusho! (Slusho!) (Image 1)
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Item of interest: Slusho! poster
Image 1
Slusho! poster

FRINGE DIVISION CASE FILE

Fringe Division case file
Fringe Division case file: A Better Human Being

WALTER'S FOOD

Walter made tea.
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Walter's Food: Tea
Tea

CONNECTION CHART

A visualization of all the ways this episode connects to other episodes. Scroll down to see the actual connections.
Connection chart: A Better Human Being

EPISODE CONNECTIONS

S1E01 - Pilot

  • In "A Better Human Being" Olivia has flashbacks to the first time she checked Walter out of St. Claire's in "Pilot".
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S2E14 - Jacksonville

  • Olivia (in "A Better Human Being"):
    "I remember Jacksonville and seeing you shimmer the first time we kissed."

    As Olivia continued to regain her memories in "A Better Human Being" she mentioned remembering the events of "Jacksonville".

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S2E21 - Over There (Part 1)

  • Olivia (in "A Better Human Being"):
    "Peter, I remember William Bell. I remember crossing over to bring you back."

    As Olivia continued to regain her memories in "A Better Human Being" she mentioned remembering the events of "Over There (Part 1)".

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S3E14 - 6B

  • Olivia (in "A Better Human Being"):
    "We had that case, that couple in apartment 6B. The woman who lost her husband. After, I came back here. And then we went upstairs. I remember."

    As Olivia continued to regain her memories in "A Better Human Being" she mentioned remembering the events of "6B".

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S3E21 - The Last Sam Weiss

  • Olivia (in "A Better Human Being"):
    "Peter, I remember William Bell. I remember crossing over to bring you back. I remember Jacksonville and seeing you shimmer the first time we kissed. I remember you walking to The Machine and getting inside and being scared that you were going to die."

    As Olivia continued to regain her memories in "A Better Human Being" she mentioned remembering the events of "The Last Sam Weiss".

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S4E08 - Back to Where You've Never Been

  • Nina and Alt Nina had the same handprints in "A Better Human Being" which allowed Alt Nina to access Nina's protected Cortexiphan samples, and both Lincoln and Agent Lincoln had the same handprints in "Back to Where You've Never Been" which let Agent Lincoln past checkpoints in the Redverse.
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