A Short Story About Love

A Short Story About Love



Season 4, Episode 15
Aired: March 23rd, 2012
Written By: J. H. Wyman, Graham Roland
Directed By: J. H. Wyman

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

This episode centers on a scientist extracting the pheromones of his victims, all male spouses, and using the resulting substances as a perfume to get close to their wives. While the Fringe team investigates, Peter learns more about the Observer September.

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

THE GLYPHS

This episode's glyphs spell:

Q-U-I-L-L

These glyphs foreshadow the return of the porcupine man from S1E13 - The Transformation in the next episode.

Glyph symbol QGlyph symbol UGlyph symbol IGlyph symbol LGlyph symbol L
Glyph symbol Q
Glyph symbol U
Glyph symbol I
Glyph symbol L
Glyph symbol L


THE OBSERVER

The Observer is featured in the episode and interacts with Peter.

Observer
Timestamp: 40:16

EPISODE CLUES

Previous Episode Clue

A door marked "Burn Unit" in 'The End of All Things' hints at the villain's burned face and burned marks on his victims' necks in 'A Short Story About Love'.

Previous episode clue
Timestamp: 34:53
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Next Episode Clue

The porcupine on the calendar in September's apartment in 'A Short Story About Love' foreshadows the return of the Porcupine Man in 'Nothing as it Seems'.

Next episode clue
Timestamp: 16:59

ITEMS OF INTEREST

  • Walter called Astrid 'Astro'.
  • Peter finds September's notebook.
  • The cylinder, a beacon, guides Observers to this universe, similar to how some methods of universe hopping involve harmonic rods that link the target to their destination via harmonic frequencies.
  • Carr's work review sent to Astrid from his previous employer shows that in the three years prior to his dismissal, he only missed three days of work. He was out for only one day each year and each year it was the same day: Valentine's Day. (Image 1)
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Item of interest: Carr's sick days
Image 1
Carr's sick days
Timestamp: 24:40

VIDEOS

Featurettes
Interviews
  • Fans Ask - The cast talks about what they'd like to take from set.

FRINGE DIVISION CASE FILE

Fringe Division case file
Fringe Division case file: A Short Story About Love

WALTER'S FOOD

Walter lamented that he ran out of M&Ms and ate chips.
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Walter's Food: Chips
Chips
Timestamp: 15:07

NAMES FOR ASTRID

Walter called Astrid 'Astro'.

NOTABLE QUOTES

Walter:
"I went beaver hunting in Eastern Canada in the 70s. Of course in those days 'beaver' meant something else entirely."

CONNECTION CHART

A visualization of all the ways this episode connects to other episodes. Scroll down to see the actual connections.
Connection chart: A Short Story About Love

EPISODE CONNECTIONS

S1E04 - The Arrival

  • September's device in "A Short Story About Love" led Peter to the beacon from "The Arrival". (Image 1)
Connection: Beacon
Image 1
S4E15 - A Short Story About Love
Beacon
Timestamp: 28:09
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S2E01 - A New Day in the Old Town

  • Walter (to Peter in "A Short Story About Love"):
    "It's a particularly obtuse way to admit that you're a better man than I am."

    The Greek phrase "Na einai kalytero anthropo apo ton patera tou" that Olivia uttered in "A New Day in the Old Town", which was something Elizabeth used to say to Peter, translates to "Be a better man than your father."

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S4E19 - Letters of Transit

  • September (in "A Short Story About Love"):
    "What I led you to is a Beacon. I needed you to activate it so I could find my way back."

    The Beacon helps Observers find our world. The Beacon's appearance in "The Arrival" may have been a test or preparation for the future Observer invasion as seen in "Letters of Transit".

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S5E07 - Five-Twenty-Ten

  • Olivia (to Nina in "A Short Story About Love"):
    "When the day comes... if I don't remember this, I want you to try and build something with me again. Don't give up on me. I love you, Nina."

    Olivia gave Nina a hug and a kiss in "Five-Twenty-Ten", suggesting that they reformed a personal relationship.

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Episode Information
Episode Synopsis
The Glyphs
The Observer
Episode Clues
Items of Interest
Videos
JJ Abrams Easter Eggs
Fringe Division Case File
Glyph Sightings
The Redverse
The Timeline Without Peter
Walter's Food
Names for Astrid
Walter's Lab Notes
Notable Quotes
Connection Chart
Episode Connections