Fringe/Recap/S02/E08

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Season 2, Episode 8:

August

An Observer interferes with events by kidnapping a young woman named Christine Hollis, and displays extraordinary abilities such as catching a bullet in his bare hand and starting a car simply by pressing his finger against the ignition. When the Fringe team investigates, they realise that this is a different Observer to the one they normally see during Pattern-related cases. There are other Observers too, who meet to discuss the situation with "August", including "September", the only one seen before this episode, and "December", who appears to be their leader. They conclude that August's interference has changed history, and contract a hitman to take care of the problem. As the team investigate, they learn that August has been observing Christine all her life, and that she was due to fly to Rome later that day.

The team compare notes on the Observers with Brandon, the chief scientist at Massive Dynamic. Brandon believes that the Observers are either time travellers or beings who exist at all points in time simultaneously, in order to observe important events in history. Though appearances were rare throughout human history, there have been dozens of sightings within the past few years, making Brandon, Peter and Olivia wonder what's about to happen that would draw out so many. As they're leaving Massive Dynamic, they learn that a Boston to Rome flight has crashed and everyone aboard was killed: the same flight that Christine was supposed to be on. Olivia realises that in kidnapping Christine, August saved her life.

Meanwhile, August has been keeping Christine tied up in a motel room, but treating her kindly and displaying what seems to be genuine affection. When he shows her a news bulletin on the plane crash, Christine realises that August is actually trying to save her life. The Fringe team use the only things they know about Observer physiology -- they love of extremely spicy food -- to track down August's "home", and they have a run-in with the Observer's hitman, who escapes. August arranges a meeting with Walter: he knows the Observers are trying to kill Christine because she's "not important", and wants to find a way to save her. Walter tells August to make Christine important.

August sends an anonymous tip to the FBI, alerting them to Christine's location. Olivia and Peter arrive at the same time as the hitman, who fatally shoots August before attempting to flee. The Fringe team chase him and are forced to kill him. September drives August away from the motel, informing him that because she's responsible for the death of an Observer, Christine is now important and will be safe. August reveals that over the course of observing Christine's life, he came to love her and couldn't allow her to die. After shedding a single tear, August dies. At the end of the episode, Olivia takes some time off to visit an amusement park with her niece Ella while September and December observe, commenting on how things are about to get much more difficult for her.