Like most of you who are writing I am hoping sooooo much that this show is worth my time and thoughts because there is alot to like about it. From the relationship between Walter (emmy bait!!!) and Peter to the mystery of the "pattern" which frankly I don't want totally resolved for me overnight (but not in ten years either). I know many people are fearing another LOST and the madness its slow reveals have brought. Since being burned by the X-files I never gave LOST a second of my notice and frankly I feel good about that. I even resisted the desire to watch LOST on SPACE which is running it daily from the start of the series. I have no problem with jumping ship the second this series stops being as fast and fresh as it is now. Have we become so jaded and needy? Of course we have so raise your game creators! You are building a nice foundation just don't place a crap shack on top of it. Another hightlight for me is that Olivia is the perfect blank slate for us to project our own questions onto and she seems to ask the questions I want answered. I also don't know why but all the faces of the characters seem to be props in themselves, telling more than their words reveal. Does that make any sense?

Dr. Bishop was absolutely hilarious in this episode. What are your thoughts on "The Observer?"

Here's my science review for the episode:

http://dapperalchemist.wordpress.com/2008/10/03/fringe-the-arrival/

This show is so similar to The X-Files that its hard for them to do anything that hasn't already been done.

This site does an episode by episode comparison of Fringe to The X-Files. http://www.theinfringementfiles.com/

I've been on board since the pilot, but I thought this episode was kick-ass & I enjoyed it more than any other episode so far. I hope it keeps on delivering.

I definately thought "The Observer" was an alien, though that's about as far as I've got as a theory. I know, I'm brilliant! It would certainly explain his need for all the hot condiments he needed for his sandwich (just being a time traveler wouldn't explain that). But I doubt I will be disappointed with whatever explanation they come up with, I really am enjoying the show. I just wish we didn't have to wait 2 weeks for the next one! Bummer!

I don't really post a lot in the comments, but I really enjoy this show. I am not sure if someone else has said this or not, but on last weeks ep., Olivia was going through the train, and I swear the bald guy was there. He was standing off to the right hand side of the frame, but I think it was him.

I'm loving this show! And I love John Noble as Walter. His character is the best I've seen in a long time. Of course, I like the show... that means it will be cancelled. *sigh*

walter has an amazing voice. his agent should book him as a narrator for commericials and documentaries. he could even take over for the "IN A WORLD........" guy, who just died.

I think the "observer" is actually a time-traveller, if anyone hasn't already suggested such. He came from the future, and is in the past kinda looking on to things that are happening - the only part he might have changed was to save Peter and his father from the accident.

As for reading ppl's minds, I actually thought the traveller might be Peter (bald and eyebrow-shaven Peter) so he knew what they were going to say?! Otherwise, he has just idled in the past so much he knew what they were going to say? Talking in circles now...gotta go.

I get the feeling that the cylinder is some sort of time capsule. It comes up every 20 years or so and whatever agency bald-guy works for (I don't think he's an alien, I think he's the opposition to the bad guys who hired Mr electrodes-in-the-brain assassin) is meant to protect it. Remember the "as you know I can't touch the device myself" line with Walter in the diner?

I'm hoping the new revelation of Peter's at the end of the episode leads to some character changes. As pretty much everyone else has pointed out, his whining is *really* annoying. It's not even good comic relief anymore...

Oh well, not that it matters much. FOX is probably going to move Fringe and Terminator: TSCC to Fridays next month and then cancel them in December. Why does FOX even bother airing SciFi shows in the first place? I think it's a conspiracy: they do it just to cancel them in an elaborate plan to piss me off...

My big problem with this show and other abrhams shows are the unrealistic actions the people take.

You have walter in a room and your are questioning him, he makes Pacey mad and he leaves....then they stop asking him questions! It's so aggrivating. No one has the time to sit down and ask this man some questions that would explain some of the crap that is going on. He just told you that he has a friend whom is bald and has no eyebrows.... Blonde chick knows they are looking for said bald man, yet leaves to look for Pacey, never to return to question Walter.

WHY?

And what about the super space gun the bad guy was using? This gun is so awesome it can take out military gaurds with M16's in the blink of an eye. It can move vehicles, it is the coolest thing about this episode. Yet once the baddie gets the giant supository, he starts to run away instead of shooting said gun at the girl with a handgun chasing him. This is the first part that doesn't make sense.

Then she kills him, and WTF happens to the gun? She kicks it away....then what? Why not pick up this super weapon and let Pacey use it for the remainder of the show?

Lastly, I have to agree with the first poster about the blatent rip off of Dr. Who and the reading of the minds and then saying things before you can. I commented on this to my girlfriend and tried to explain that it was a pretty bad ripoff of the good Dr. and I only succeeded in convincing her that I am a huge nerd with a chip on my shoulder.

I really like what this show could be, but I fear it is going to be another Abhrams stable.
"Answer 1 question, ask 5 more ; repeat for 4 seasons ; Kill off some ansilary characters ; resort to some sort of time travel to get out of all the discrepencies they might have created"