Nothing As It Seems

Nothing As It Seems



Season 4, Episode 16
Aired: March 30th, 2012
Written By: Jeff Pinkner, Akiva Goldsman
Directed By: Frederick E. O. Toye

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

In this episode, Olivia's neuropsych evaluation threatens to keep her on the sidelines while Lee and Peter investigate the mysterious aftermath of VertusAir 718. This is Peter's second exposure to the case, and his foreknowledge sends the Fringe Task Force chasing after a cult determined to manipulate the evolutionary process and mankind's future.

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

THE GLYPHS

This episode's glyphs spell:

F-U-T-U-R-E

Glyph symbol FGlyph symbol UGlyph symbol TGlyph symbol UGlyph symbol RGlyph symbol E
Glyph symbol F
Glyph symbol U
Glyph symbol T
Glyph symbol U
Glyph symbol R
Glyph symbol E


THE OBSERVER

The Observer walks down the sidewalk behind Peter and Lee after they arrive at Daniel Hicks' house to search for him.

Observer
Timestamp: 17:34

EPISODE CLUES

Previous 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'.

Previous episode clue
Timestamp: 16:59
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Next Episode Clue

Markham's book store in 'Nothing as it Seems' is located on Canaan Avenue, foreshadowing the vigilante Shapeshifter named Canaan in 'Everything in Its Right Place'.

Next episode clue
Timestamp: 22:24

ITEMS OF INTEREST

  • Walter called Astrid 'Aphid'.
  • Jones wants to start a new phase of guided human evolution.
  • The presence of previously-seen creatures suggests that they were part of DRJ's larger plan in season 1 as well, and his death led to the creatures being used elsewhere.
  • Walter said that he was taught some Yiddish by Bell's father. Leonard Nimoy's parents taught him Yiddish.
  • The cuneiform on the boat door says "bí". (Image 1)
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Item of interest: Cuneiform
Image 1
Cuneiform
Timestamp: 43:02

VIDEOS

Featurettes
Interviews
  • Fans Ask - The cast talks about Fringe spin-offs.

FRINGE DIVISION CASE FILE

Fringe Division case file
Fringe Division case file: Nothing As It Seems

THE TIMELINE WITHOUT PETER

  • Rachel is still married and has two kids, Ella and Eddie.

WALTER'S FOOD

Walter made peanut butter and bacon sandwiches and made a wheatgrass, penicillin, laxative, and mint smoothie for Lincoln.
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Walter's Food: Peanut butter and bacon sandwiches
Peanut butter and bacon sandwiches
Timestamp: 24:11
Walter's Food: Smoothie
Smoothie
Timestamp: 32:37

NAMES FOR ASTRID

Walter called Astrid 'Aphid'.

CONNECTION CHART

A visualization of all the ways this episode connects to other episodes. Scroll down to see the actual connections.
Connection chart: Nothing As It Seems

EPISODE CONNECTIONS

S1E13 - The Transformation

  • "Nothing as it Seems" retells the story of "The Transformation" with different details due to the different timeline.
  • The ship at the end of "Nothing as it Seems" shows creatures like the Porcupine Man from "The Transformation". (Image 1)
Connection: Porcupine creatures
Image 1
S4E16 - Nothing As It Seems
Porcupine creatures
Timestamp: 42:30
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S1E16 - Unleashed

  • The ship at the end of "Nothing as it Seems" shows creatures from "Unleashed" in cages. (Image 1, 2)
Connection: Creature
Image 1
S1E16 - Unleashed
Creature
Timestamp: 15:22
Connection: Creature
Image 2
S4E16 - Nothing As It Seems
Creature
Timestamp: 42:44
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S2E01 - A New Day in the Old Town

  • Agent Jessup was relating season 1 Fringe cases to Bible verses in "A New Day in the Old Town". In "Nothing as it Seems", creatures can be seen on something resembling Noah's Ark. (Image 1, 2)
Connection: Fringe cases to Bible verses
Image 1
S2E01 - A New Day in the Old Town
Fringe cases to Bible verses
Timestamp: 41:55
Connection: A new Noah's Ark
Image 2
S4E16 - Nothing As It Seems
A new Noah's Ark
Timestamp: 41:55
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S2E09 - Snakehead

  • The ship at the end of "Nothing as it Seems" showed the creatures from "Snakehead". (Image 1)
Connection: Snakehead creature
Image 1
S4E16 - Nothing As It Seems
Snakehead creature
Timestamp: 42:53
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S3E01 - Olivia

  • Olivia's therapist in "Nothing as it Seems" is the same one she had when she was trapped on the other side in "Olivia". (Image 1, 2)
Connection: Olivia's therapist
Image 1
S3E01 - Olivia
Olivia's therapist
Timestamp: 03:53
Connection: Olivia's therapist
Image 2
S4E16 - Nothing As It Seems
Olivia's therapist
Timestamp: 07:28
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S4E11 - Making Angels

  • Olivia (to Fauxlivia about Peter in "Making Angels"):
    "Yeah, I imagine he's just your type."
    Fauxlivia:
    "Actually, no. Turns out I like the nice guys."

    Fauxlivia shows particular interest in Lincoln.

    Peter (to Lincoln in "Nothing as it Seems"):
    "You're a good guy."
    Lincoln:
    "Yeah. I'm a good guy."
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S5E04 - The Bullet that Saved the World

  • The Porcupine Man from "Nothing as it Seems" was seen in Walter's storage vault in "The Bullet that Saved the World". (Image 1)
Connection: Porcupine Man
Image 1
S5E04 - The Bullet That Saved the World
Porcupine Man
Timestamp: 14:10
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S5E08 - The Human Kind

  • In "The Human Kind" Walter tested the Observer tech implant on the brain of the Porcupine Man from "Nothing as it Seems". (Image 1)
Connection: Porcupine Man's brain
Image 1
S5E08 - The Human Kind
Porcupine Man's brain
Timestamp: 17:28
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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