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'Fringe's' Joshua Jackson: Peter is 'being a man' about the Olivia fall-out
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Does Hallmark make a "sorry I fell in love with your sort-of-evil alternate universe doppelganger while you went through hell" card? We know a guy who could really use one of those.Only on "Fringe" would a character find himself in such a predicament. When Zap2it recently got the chance to catch up with series star Joshua Jackson (possibly our favorite human on the planet) at a Warner Bros. promo shoot in L.A., we discussed Peter's very complicated love life with Olivia (Anna Torv) and her alternate-universe self. Though she goes by many names - Fauxlivia and Alt-livia among them - we'll refer to her for the purposes of this article as Bolivia.
In last week's episode, Peter activated the device, which gave him some very machine-like qualities -- but he remains mired in the very human, very emotional fall-out of his relationship with Bolivia and the implications of Olivia's return.
Of course, the first question we have to ask Jackson is whether Bolivia may be pregnant, as was suggested in the "Firefly" episode. "You know as well as I do that I can't tell you that," he laughs - but he does offer a little bit of a tease. "It's 'Fringe.' They don't just drop lines like that. I've got to really say, Peter, who had the best of intentions - he f***ed up huge. It's not like he stepped out on his girlfriend. He didn't know! I know he was supposed to know, but he didn't know. And now he's in deep, deep s***. "
If you're like us, you spent the first third of the season wanting to reach into your television and give Peter a good shake, because, as Jackson says, Peter was supposed to know. Jackson feels our pain. "I wasn't particularly happy about that, either," he confesses. "I like to refer to Peter now as the dumbest smart man on the planet, because it wasn't subtle. He should've known."
It's a relief to him, now, that Peter is behaving in a mature fashion despite the generally unfair circumstances that have just come crashing down on him.
"They wrote, and hopefully we performed, in a nicely grown-up way, the fall-out of the Peter slept with Bolivia stuff," he says, noting that it's one of his favorite things about the upcoming episodes. "You could turn that into straight, hysterical melodrama if you want. And I've worked on that show." (Moment of silence for "Dawson's Creek," please.)
"I like the fact that in our world it's more muted," Jackson continues. "It's two grown people who are trying to deal with a circumstance that nobody on the planet has literally ever dealt with. They've got to work together every day, so they're trying to figure out how to be in each others' company and where their emotions and loyalties lie without turning it into melodrama. I was pretty disappointed in how stupid Peter was earlier in the year, so I like that he's being a man about this. If we can rescue him from the little head doing the thinking to actually being a grown up again, that would be good."
The question now remains -- is Peter in love with our Olivia, as she is? Is he still hung up on the slightly more footloose Bolivia? "That's one of the things that plays itself out over the next four or five episodes," Jackson says. He gives us a little glimpse into the many questions swirling in Peter's head about his highly unique love triangle situation.
"Was she totally lying to him, or kind of lying to him? Was he feeling genuine emotion for her? And if he was feeling genuine emotion for her, was it just transference from the original Olivia? But not really, because as he told Olivia, in super-awkward fashion, there were things about the new Olivia that he liked, that he assumed were just good things that were coming out because she was in love. I think it's dramatically really good. He doesn't know. He hasn't made up his mind which one he likes more. He knows which one he's supposed to like more, but he's still conflicted, a bit."
There's also the question of whether Bolivia -- who Jackson refers to as an "evil Mata Hari" -- is actually in love with Peter, or if she's still just determined to get him to do Walternate's biddng.
Throw in the Observers, who have stopped observing and started interfering, and Peter's life is seemingly being manipulated on all sides. Jackson agrees that we're clearly building to a hell of a climax at the end of the season.
"The Observers' motivations remain as murky as ever," he says. "It seems like the endgame is near. Though not that near, because we got good ratings on Friday."
Yes - add his to the sigh-of-relief chorus you heard when "Fringe's" ratings came back excellent for its first two Friday episodes. A Friday time slot is never a good thing in television, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a TV actor who loves his job as much as Jackson does, so he was right there with fingers crossed hoping for the best. Luckily, the true "Fringe" fans pulled through. (And, in case you missed the memo, you can too - "Fringe" Fridays on Fox at 9 pm. EST)
"Our best case scenario was, as the ratings have gone down this year, that we'd boiled it down to the core Fringe fans. And I think that's what we've picked up on Friday," says Jackson. He laughs that he got a hard time from publicist when, in interviews, he suggested that "Fringe" didn't need to pick up a slew of new viewers to stay on the air. They just needed their already existing mob of die-hard fans to follow them to Fridays. "And they did. I mean, the rallying cry when out - if you really like this show and want to see more of it, you're going to have to watch on Friday night.' And they did. They came with us. Which is incredibly flattering and just generally awesome because it also makes our lives much easier, not having that sword of Damocles, hanging over your head."
Now, fans can expect the show to bring them even more of what they love most: juicy mythology episodes that really play to the endgame of the show.
"Now I feel like we're pitching to the home crowd," Jackson says, talking about "Fringe" fans like they're old friends. "It feels like we're making the show for people who are into the show now. We've moved away from trying to branch it out and make it easier for people to sort of dip into. Now it's just red meat for the fans, the purest form of 'Fringe' it can be. As all the actors will tell you, we enjoy so much more shooting the mythology episodes than the freak of the week episodes, because it gives you much more interesting stuff to do."
Of course, interesting could be dangerous. Though Jackson won't give away too much of what's coming up on the show, he does acknowledge the ominous feeling that's been building over the last few episodes. "Obviously there is some horrible thing coming down the pipes," he says, referring to the fact that it's now been established that if push comes to shove, Walter will be able to sacrifice his son this time.
Jackson pauses, considers his fate. "All of a sudden I'm thinking maybe there will be a Season 4 but I'll be dead," he says. "I only have one character left! Everybdoy else can die once, but me, I've only got one left."
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If Peter dies, I will be a VERY UNHAPPY Fringe fan. Great interview, Carina!
This is just my opinion but it really irks me when the words "Peter fell in love with the Alternate Olivia" and "Alternate Olivia fell in love with Peter". First of all, to me, Peter did THINK he liked the thinks that were deemed "new" by the "relationship" but it was all a lie. How can you be confused about liking what someone that was acting the entire time. Alternate Olivia was, indeed, playing a part. She wasn't being her true self but the Olivia she thought she needed to be. Therefore Peter couldn't love what wasn't real. He can't renounce what he thought he liked? Because I think he can. And he did. He was obviously against Alternate Olivia in Entrada, pointing a gun at her and calling her Dunham. He couldn't even call her by her first name because to him, Olivia is Olivia and the other Olivia is...the other one. The one he does not love.
Secondly, just because Alternate Olivia started to have some "real" feelings for him is all I see. She was only starting to. That does not equal love outright. Eight weeks is not nearly long enough to fall in love, in my opinion.
Besides, no matter what she thinks she was starting to feel, she would never betray her side and she clearly states that to Peter before she orders him to inject himself with the paralyzing drug so she could get away. Her entire mission was to deceive, get that device and go. She did it and left. She'd never betray her side. I mean it would make no sense if she chose to stay after 8 weeks in this universe versus her loyalty of her entire existence in the other one. Especially to be with someone you have been lying to. How would that even work. "I'm not the Olivia you've know for years, by the way. I've been here 8 weeks lying to you and manipulating you while the Olivia you really love is being tortured and brainwashed, but I've decided to throw away everything all for you! After just 8 weeks. Do you want to be with me after I've lied to you because I smile more and am 'less intense'?" No. Obviously no. She did this entire mission for her world's survival. She would not throw away her universe and everyone in it only because she STARTED to have real feelings. The word 'feelings' does not always mean good things. I feel irrated, sad and maybe a little angry. Those are feelings. But equating 'some real feelings' with 'in love' is just jumping the gun. And didn't she go back home to be with her Frank fella? And her job? And her world she did that whole mission for? Yes, she did. And now she gets to feel some guilt for betraying herself, her other self and also her fella Frank for essentially cheating on him. Good job on following orders from Walternate, Alternate Olivia. Good job in likely not truly thinking about the consequences until maybe after you returned home. Good job on killing innocent people and exacerbating an inter-dimensional war. Good job on deciding there was no choice but to choose one universe and say there was no way for both to survive.
Thirdly, back to Peter and Olivia. Isn't it clear that Peter was already in love with Olivia long before this entire switch took place. Did he not have extremely red eyes and was clearly crying when he thought she was dead in the season 2 premiere? Did he not try to kiss her in the Jacksonville episode? Did he not feel so betrayed by the lie she kept from him that he decided to return to the other univerese with Walternate? Most importantly, did he not choose to come back to this universe for the chance to be with Olivia because she told him he belonged with her? He made the decision to do that for her. He did hold onto her, in my opnion. He held onto her so tightly that she slipped through hsi fingers and he didn't even notice. When he came back his entire live revolved around (Alternate) Olivia. Because that was the one good thing he wanted and thought he had. And the only reason things seemed good with the Alternate Olivia was, in a way I feel adequately describes this situation: Our Olivia set the pins up for her and Peter and then all Alternate Olivia had to do was swoop in and knock them down. Would Peter have not done the same things with Our Olivia as he did with the Alternate upon returning? Barring some differences, I hardly think Our Olivia would be a breakfast in bed type person, like U2, or allow Peter to hug her after a shapeshifter "almost killed her"---keep in mind she killed her best friend who wasn't her best friend but was actually a shapeshifter and no one hugged her then. And I firmly believe Peter is in love with our Olivia and has been long before the switch. The scenes between them in the past 2 episodes clearly are showing us that he is telling Olivia it was only ever her and not the Alternate her. He is trying so hard to make her understand he loves her. And the way he looks at her! My heart swoons at how in love he looks with her. You can't say that about the other one. All he looked like in Entrada was a broken angry man. Would he really throw everything he has with our Olivia, years of loyalty all for a 8 week stint base on thing but lies? Honestly.
I can't believe I actually got so into that statement but I am very passionate about this relationship. And this is my favorite show. I love everything about it, not just the Peter and Olivia relationship, but all the characters and their interactions with each other, minus dubious infiltration mission interaction, of course. And the mythology, Observers, Gene! Even enjoyed the MOTW episodes a bit but obviously mythos trumps that. I'm insanely happy the ratings are doing so well and I' excited for the rest of the season. And the seasons to come because I know there will be. Us diehard fans are watching! And I really don't think Josh has to worry about Peter dying. He's a main character, they won't kill him off! Worst case scenario he dies in the series finale like Jack did in Lost. But my hope is everyone gets a happily ever after. Because after everything everyone has been through they deserve it.
Sylvia, you have said it all. I love Peter as a character and have defended him through this debacle. But if he threw everything with Olivia away for Faux, I'd have to say goodbye. He could climb into the machine for all I care.
But, I think Josh is just throwing the idea out there. Peter would have to consider the situation and be sorta emotionally confused. Josh does like to rake up the fans it seems. He has been tricksy like that in the past.
God, I hope this show gets renewed for another season...
And this is why this show is awesome.
This show must live on! Here's hoping...
Aimee, Jasika brought up Fauxlivia in an interview as well. So, I wouldn't be surprised if the writers want to keep the triangle alive. That's what they set up in the first part of the season, so I could see them keeping it going for the rest of the season. This is television, and they will keep them apart and they won't make it simple for Peter and Olivia.
Expect lots of obstacles and don't expect them to get together anytime soon, is probably the best way to go.
Thankyou for the interview. Josh always gives good interviews.
I hate to be the grammar police -- but I think you mean "sword of Damocles."
I am so obsessed by this awesome show and so in love with Joshua Jackson.....that really he should run and hide!!!!
I am so glad that the Fringe team know that their fans LOVE their show. It really is THE BEST show on tv ever!!!
Great interview!
There are rumors out there that say Bolivia is pregnant. Think about those implications!!!