Calling this right now, Walter is William Bell

Wow, this was a great episode! I have to admit, I wasn't expecting much from last week's lead-out, but I was very impressed. This was the first glimpse of a story arc larger than just 'the pattern', no? And since this sorta encompasses/explains the pattern and sounds pretty epic at the same time, I'd say it's pretty darn exciting.

Nice twist at the end with the y on the typewriter. I'm not convinced that Walter wrote the ZFT, but it definitely implies a link. Either he wrote it and forgot, or someone close to him (and/or with access to his typewriter) did.

And yeah, as soon as Peter walked back into that room I thought that he was the one who was actually controlling the lights... he tried to pass it off afterward with his little speech about Olivia being "in the zone" and all, but I think it was him.

Nina Sharp is both William Bell and Peters mother. Peter and Olivia are siblings, and the evil Lord Voldemort is actually The Observer. No? Love all your theories though! Greetings from Norway!

It's nicee to see someone else buys into the Peter is the real recruit theory. The lights didn't do anything until he walked into the room. Also in a previous episode Walter admits that he performed tests on Peter when he was a child, which totally pisses him off (rightfully so.) Maybe Peter and Olivia both have abilities, who knows? I can't wait till April though.

Nina Sharp is William Bell.

A Hollar back to your Johnathan Carrol shout-out! Folks, if you haven't read his books Land of Laughs, Bones of the Moon and Sleeping in Flames, go DO SO.

I've been liking Fringe more and more, but I have to say, that little literary reference just totally cemented it for me. This was a really tightly plotted episode, with just the right amount of action and puzzles. I love the cow. I love Astrid.

I totally think Walter experimented on Peter when he was a child. Walter would not hesitate to subject his own child to anything he felt was 'safe' enough for someone else's kid. I bet this was what he and Peter's mother fought about. I think maybe he is also a 'recruit' for this army and doesn't realize it yet. I wonder if Olivia's niece will turn out to be another.

I really hope this show can retain its audience over the break. I will definitely be coming back. Also, did anyone else notice Olivia's hair was a warmer shade of blonde?? I was reading that Fox test audiences weren't responding well to her- she was found 'cold' and too distant for people to relate to. I wonder if the appearance of the sister and niece were to provide her with a more relaxed 'family' plot to relate to and I definitely think they were trying to make her look a little softer with the hair. Did anyone else think this??

Jonathan Carroll shoutout in the bookstore! AWESOME!

Best. New. Show. On. Television. Period.

http://makeasitcom.com

People still don't know that Walter IS William Bell?

The Observer's and Walter's relationship goes back to when Peter was a child, which was probably around the time Walter wrote the ZFT. I think Walter wrote the ZFT based on his conversations with the Observer. The Observer is from the parallel Earth, which is also where John Mosley is from (if you remember back to episode 4, Mosley was the guy that stuck plugs up Peter's nose and read his thoughts, and also carried a really big gun). Mosley was trying to kill Olivia in that episode, so it seems to me like Olivia is a pretty important part of this whole thing.

I'm hearing your comments that Peter shut off the lights and not Olivia, but I'm not sure of that. I think Olivia's the one with the Ability. Peter has something else going on.