After four episodes of ghostly visitations, disembodied voices and brief cameos in reflective surfaces, Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson) is back from non-existence, which, ordinarily, would be cause for celebration.

Unfortunately for 'Fringe' fans, there's still the small issue of no one remembering who Peter is, which means that the tearful reunions might be a long time coming -- especially since there's no new episode this week.


Last month, AOL TV traveled to Vancouver to catch up with the cast of the Fox drama (Fridays at 9PM ET) and find out what's coming up for our intrepid Fringe divisions -- on this side and the other.

After the jump, Anna Torv, John Noble, Jasika Nicole, Seth Gabel and Lance Reddick weigh in on what Peter's return will mean for the team, how the addition of Lincoln will change the character dynamics and how the working relationship between the two universes will evolve. Warning: Spoilers ahead.

So you've heard the buzz, your interest is tickled and you're ready to take the plunge into a new show. But, you don't have time to catch up on multiple seasons?

Have no fear, AOL TV is here. We'll be spotlighting five episodes from some of the best scripted comedies and dramas on TV that you need to see before jumping into the new season this fall.

Up now? 'Fringe.'

Starring Anna Torv as FBI Agent Olivia Dunham, 'Fringe' is a sci-fi FBI drama set in the world of fringe science. But before you run screaming from the room, just know that it's much more than an 'X Files' rip-off.

Created by J.J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, 'Fringe' is about love, loss and redemption. It's smart, funny, challenging and moving.

So what did the stars and producers of 'Fringe' reveal about the show's fourth season at the show's Comic-Con panel on Saturday? Absolutely nothing. Yet the panel was still enjoyable, even if I have no idea how Peter Bishop will be re-integrated into the world of 'Fringe' when the show returns.

The stars were, of course, willing to talk about 'Fringe''s excellent third season (check out the video interviews below for more on that), and the panel began with a funny video clip -- "auditions" for the role of Peter who, of course, is played by Joshua Jackson.

The actor wasn't scheduled to be part of the panel, but he turned up in an Observer suit and hat as the session was getting underway. So how will his character return when Season 4 begins? "All will be answered, we promise," executive producer J.H. Wyman said.

Just not right now.

Dying to know how 'Fringe' will end? Star Anna Torv, who plays Agent Olivia Dunham, says the writers have it all planned.

In an interview with TV & Satellite Week, Torv admitted that the hit sci-fi show's last episode is already mapped out. "I've been told the ultimate final episode has been written," Torv said. "[The writers] know where they want us to go, but they don't know yet when we will get there."

The executive producers of 'Fringe' have hinted at a seven-year plan for the show, but given it's eternal "on the bubble" status, it makes sense that they'd want to be prepared, just in case.

But Torv said she wants to be kept in the dark, admitting she has no idea what they have in store. "Initially, I wanted to know ... now I'm happy not to. There's something great about working on a film or a play where you know where you're going, but on television it's more open and that's good, too."

['Fringe' – 'Lysergic Acid Diethylamide']

Just when you thought 'Fringe' couldn't get any weirder, the show returned with one of its trippiest episodes ever.

This week's installment – with its wonderfully bizarre cartoon world, brain-melting sci-fi chicanery and drug-induced whimsy – will not soon be forgotten. It's the kind of episode that, years from now, will inspire us to say things like, "Hey, remember that crazy one they did in the third season? That was so awesome!"

But there's another reason this episode will remain stuck in our brains (or what's left of them) for years to come: It marked a major turning point for the show's heroine and resident whipping girl, Olivia Dunham.

Today is Australia Day, which means millions of Aussies around the world are celebrating the discovery of their homeland in 1788. At TV Squad, we're celebrating by watching clips of 'Summer Heights High' and thinking about our favorite Australian TV actors.

Believe it or not, many of our biggest small screen stars aren't actually Americans -- they just play ones on TV. Take, for example, Portia De Rossi, hilarious actress and successful memoir author (not to mention wife of Ellen DeGeneres). Betcha forgot she comes from the land Down Under. Same with Ryan Kwanten, shirtless 'True Blood' star and all-around charming guy. Emmy- and Golden Globe–winning 'United States of Tara' star Toni Collette? Yep, a true-blue Sydneysider.

Reviews of new shows are full of hedges and what-ifs. Unless we're sent multiple episodes of a new show, critics can't always tell when iffy programs have the potential to become pretty good or even wonderful.

No hedging here: 'Fringe,' which begins its third season at 9PM ET Thursday, has evolved into a terrific show. Now that the Fox drama is consistently telling enjoyably complex and emotionally compelling stories, I'd hate it if 'Fringe' got lost in the fall shuffle.

So I'll start off by begging you to watch 'Fringe,' pretty please, and then I'll share some non-spoilery thoughts about the first two episodes of the third season below.

Being the season finale of 'Fringe' (Thu., 9PM ET on FOX), it's no surprise that events surrounding the alternate universe got more complicated. And poor Agent Olivia Dunham was in the center of it all.

[Spoiler alert.]


First off, Olivia fought herself. Then she and Peter finally got together and shared a kiss. "You have to come back, because you belong with me," she told him.

But then the "right" Olivia was trapped back in the alternate universe, while the other one infiltrated the team. How long will it be till they figure that out?

Family relationships are tough enough to begin with. But when you add alternate realities to the equation, well, that's when things start to get really complicated. That's the situation on 'Fringe' (Thu., 9PM ET on Fox).

[Spoiler alert.]

(S02E20) "And together they made goodness and lived happily ever after. The end." - Ella's happier ending to the story

Let's just get this out of the way right now. Lily Pilblad (Ella) and John Noble (Walter) need a LOT more scenes together. In fact, if the unthinkable happens and 'Fringe' is yanked off the air, these two should have their own show together. She's so darn cute, and they act like they've been doing scenes together for years. My favorite was when she was holding the bucket for Jean the Cow, who was happily chomping away while Walter and Ella talked storylines. Way too sweet.

(S02E19) "I want you to get some rest, Dad." - Peter to Walter

This episode of 'Fringe' had everything -- a slimy embryo, a thrilling gunfight, nefarious shapeshifters, some alternate universe action, and yes, that heartbreaking drama we've been waiting for all season.

(S02E18) "Until I took my son from the other side, I had never believed in God. But it occurred to me that my actions had betrayed Him, and that everything that happened to me since then was God punishing me. So now I'm looking for a sign of forgiveness, a specific one, a white tulip ... If God can forgive me for my acts, maybe it's in the realm of possibility that my son will be able to forgive me." - Walter Bishop to Alistair Peck

First of all, how cool was it to see John Noble and Peter Weller hobnobbing on screen together? Just two old scientists exchanging time travel theories and comparing notes on saving/stealing loved ones.

It was the perfect vehicle to build on Walter's struggle about whether to tell Peter or not. In a sense, he'd already been through what Alistair was contemplating. Yes, Walter had crossed to another universe while Alistair was trying to jump back in time, but the result was the same -- be with the person you'd lost. Anyone who's lost a loved one can relate. There's nothing you wouldn't do to be with that person again, even if it means jeopardizing others in the process.

How do you catch someone who can alter time itself? That's the question on the latest episode of 'Fringe' (Thu., 9PM ET on Fox). Alistair Peck (played by guest star Peter Weller) is a scientist with a troubled past. He has the ability to travel through time, and he wants to use this power to save his wife from a deadly accident. Unfortunately, by changing past events, he puts the lives of even more innocent people at risk.

Watch the video after the jump.

(E05) Another week and another wholly different experience in the Pacific front of World War II. Whereas Guadalcanal was an island oasis, and eerily quiet when the 1st Marines landed, the island of Peleliu was a far different story. From an ocean of cannon-fire and ships to a sea of the dead, dying and injured on the beach, it was warfare from the word "Go!"

Eugene Sledge finally made it into the war, joining Leckie and company in the 1st Marines Division. He hooked up with them on the island of Pavuvu, where we left them last week. Leckie returned as well from his stay at the hospital, and they got to enjoy some wartime camaraderie before shipping out.

Sledge even got some time with his friend from back home, Sid Phillips. The care in which the producers of 'The Pacific' have given to each of these very different wartime experiences has helped to create one of the most diverse and thorough looks at war that I've ever seen.

Now that we're firmly into the second half -- and heading towards the end -- of season two of 'Fringe,' let's talk about what's happened so far, and what we think might happen. Some of these speculations will mirror those I made last September, because not all of those questions have been answered yet. In fact, we may have more questions now than we did back then.

Still, with the episode titled 'Peter,' we finally started to get into the nitty-gritty about Walter stealing Peter from the alternate universe. Of course, we all knew this, but when will Peter find out, and who will tell him? That and lots of other questions spring to mind.

Will Peter learn the truth about his origins? Yes, I believe so, but the question is who will be the one to tell him? In last week's episode, 'Olivia. In the Lab. With a Revolver,' Olivia was determined to tell Peter the truth, but then decided against it after realizing that their family unit (Peter, Walter and Olivia) was more important than Peter knowing the truth. Then Walter decided that HE should be the one to tell Peter, painful as it might be. Walter knows there's a good chance that he could lose his son ... again. One other question is this: Walter visited Peter's grave in season one. If that grave is in this universe, why on earth would they use his real name on the gravestone? What if Peter stumbled across it?