An Origin Story



Season 5, Episode 05
Aired: November 2nd, 2012
Written By: J. H. Wyman
Directed By: P. J. Pesce

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Resources: IMDb | Wikipedia | Transcript
Listen: The Fringe Podcast
An Origin Story

The Glyphs



This episode's glyphs spell: F-I-G-H-T

Peter determined that the only way to fight the Observers was to become one himself.

Glyph symbol FGlyph symbol IGlyph symbol GGlyph symbol HGlyph symbol T
Glyph symbol F
Glyph symbol I
Glyph symbol G
Glyph symbol H
Glyph symbol T

The Observer



Observers are featured in this episode.

Observer

Timestamp: 22:10

Episode Clues



Previous Episode Clue

Graffiti on an overpass in 'The Bullet that Saved the World' reads "Manifest Destiny", foreshadowing the Observer's shipping manifest the Fringe team decodes in 'An Origin Story.'

Previous episode clue

Timestamp: 31:05


Next Episode Clue

Graffiti behind Anil's van in 'An Origin Story' says "Ask Alice", foreshadowing the theme and title of 'Through the Looking Glass and what Walter Found There'.

Next episode clue

Timestamp: 09:02

Items of Interest



  • Observers send materials to themselves via shipping lanes from the future using metal cubes. (Image 1)
  • Walter called Astrid 'Abner'.
  • Peter gave himself Observer tech. (Image 2)
Item of interest: Shipping cube
Image 1: Shipping cube
Timestamp: 31:22
Item of interest: Peter inserting Observer tech
Image 2: Peter inserting Observer tech
Timestamp: 41:49

Walter's Food



Walter's propane tank, which he had brought out to make bratwurst, blocked Astrid from retrieving a tape.

Names for Astrid



Walter called Astrid 'Abner'.

Connection Chart


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

Episode Connections



S1E08 - The Equation

  • The End Dock Stabilizer's lights in 'An Origin Story' flashed the 'green-green-green-red' pattern from 'The Equation' when Peter finished assembling it.
Connection: Green-green-green-red
Green-green-green-red
S5E05 - An Origin Story
Timestamp: 31:59
Divider


S2E17 - White Tulip

  • WALTER in 'White Tulip': "Grief can drive people to extraordinary lengths."
      Peter's grief over losing Etta in 'An Origin Story' drove him to put Observer tech in his head to make him their equal.
Connection: Peter
Peter
S5E05 - An Origin Story
Timestamp: 41:49

Spoilers for future episodes below!



S5E13 - An Enemy of Fate

  • In 'An Enemy of Fate' the Fringe team used a shipping lane to send Walter and Michael to the future, determined from the shipping manifest Astrid previously decoded in 'An Origin Story'.
Episode Information
The Glyphs
The Observer
Episode Clues
Items of Interest
JJ Abrams Easter Eggs
Fringe Division Case File
Glyph Sightings
The Redverse
2036
Walter's Food
Names for Astrid
Walter's Lab Notes
Notable Quotes
Connection Chart
Episode Connections