FRINGE Exclusive: J.H. Wyman on the ‘Brave New World, Part 1’ Twist
May 4, 2012 by Marisa Roffman
[Spoiler Alert: If you haven’t seen tonight’s episode of FRINGE, please stop reading and go watch it. Trust me. You won’t want to read this post until after you’ve viewed “Brave New World, Part 1” because it will spoil a very important aspect of the hour.]
He’s baaaaaaack.
While there have been hints for weeks that William Bell might not be dead in this timeline — and viewers got a glimpse of him stuck in amber in the 2036 episode, “Letters of Transit” — we hadn’t seen him alive and in the flesh.
Well, that is, until tonight.
“We are beyond thrilled that Leonard Nimoy (William Bell) came back to join us once again on FRINGE,” executive producer J.H. Wyman said in an exclusive statement. “He is an icon and we are so fortunate that he agreed to examine his character further. His inimitable performance as William Bell is a fan favorite and a hallmark of our show. It took every restraint to keep this incredible secret.”
Of course, the presence of Bell hadn’t been ignored since Nimoy last graced our screens in the season 2 finale — not only did Bell inhabit Olivia’s body in season 3, but viewers also heard him voice the animated Bell when Peter and Walter went into Olivia’s mind in last season’s “Lysergic Acid Diethylamide.”
Personally? I’m giddy to see what kind of mischief Bell will be up to this time around. Now would be as good a time as any for Walter to face his demons, right? And I’m so glad that Nimoy bent his retirement rule since Wyman and his fellow executive producer Jeff Pinkner specifically pointed to his taking it easy as why they didn’t explore the Bell character more.
So…were you surprised? (Or did the darn credits ruin it?)
Related:
FRINGE Season 4 Finale: ‘Brave New World, Part 1′ Photo and Video Preview
FRINGE Bosses: ‘We Definitely Know Where the Series is Going to End’
FRINGE: John Noble Teases the Season 4 Finale
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I’m more surprised by the last five minutes! WHAT IS HAPPENING?! haha Seriously though, what did (that person) say about what happened? Is he/she coming back?
I read the note on Twitter to not look at the credits and for some reason I thought that meant the end credits, so I didn’t even notice the opening! It was a total surprise and I got such chills at the Bell twist that the hairs on my arm stood up.
Fringe is always great, but I feel like the mythology this season is really on another level of awesome.
Ps. Thanks Fringe for making me cry for like three straight weeks in a row. I just want to know Astrid is ok! Love her!
WOW, OH MY GAWD!!! What a mind blowing episode! Walter said last season that Belly never liked good byes, so when he said he came to visit him in the hospital to say good bye should have been a red flag that something wasn’t right. I just loved this whole episode. This is just one show that consistently gets better every season, episode, and minute!!! I know I might sound greedy or selfish but one more season let alone just 13 episodes is just not enough to conclude the Best Show on TV!!! I am going to need more Cowbell …I mean Fringe!!!
I was not surprised by the return, but it did make me rethink about what has been said about and what we saw from Willliam Bell.
In the previous timeline and in this timeline, both alternate universe William Bells were said to have died early in life. We are told that William Bell in this timeline died from a car accident while Walter was in the sanitorium – that Nina Sharp saw his body on Christmas, but that Walter was visited by him on New Years eve. How can this be?
Questions to ponder:
Was the body Nina saw the body of the alternate universe William Bell?
Was David Robert Jones working for William Bell in both timelines, to prepare for “The war to come”?
Were all events connected with DRJ merely tests to trigger more of Olivia’s abilities?
Why would William Bell want to trigger Olivia’s abilities?
Do Olivia’s abilities have any connection with the scroll in”The last Sam Weiss?
I believe answers await in Part 2.
For once I didn’t pay attention to the opening credits, and I am SO happy to have missed them! I agree that this show gets better and better. Mind totally blown and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
i wasn’t even watching the credits thank goodness! thank you Leonard Nimoy for returning in body. This episode was my fav ever I think. My fav in two seasons for sure.