This episode focuses on boundaries and relationships. In the beginning, Peter observes that everyone draws their our moral boundaries. Then we see Fauxlivia experience a moment of angst in the bathroom. Clearly she is torn by the thought of being unfaithful to her boyfriend in the Alt-universe. Her emotional loyalty supersedes her loyalty to the mission.
Newton attacks Fauxlivia later on, saying she's not fully committed. Does he know that Peter and Olivia are attracted to each other? In other words, is he pressuring Fauxlivia to have sex with Peter, or just to commit herself more fully? Or is there a third possibility: the idea that men can be swayed by sexual bonds, and so if Fauxlivia simply has sex with Peter, she will be more successful. Newton is clearly pushing Fauxlivia to take some sort of action, probably sexual - no doubt justifying the immorality of her actions as required by the war. (Although to be clear, I doubt Newton has morals or ethics, as a shapeshifter).
On the flip side, we meet 2 shapeshifters, Ray and Senator Van Horn, who chose to engage in sexual relationships and developed true emotional ties. Ray is so attached to his family that he refuses to leave them, trying instead to find a way to fulfill his mission and keep his family intact. This is in high contrast to Fauxlivia, who is destroying her own relationship in order to fulfill her mission. The irony is, of course, that Ray is a machine and Fauxlivia is a human.
In an especially tender moment, we hear Ray give an explanation for why he is trying to alter his mission - when he tucks his (step)son into bed. He explains that sometimes monsters are "sweet and pure." Obviously he's referring to his (step) son - a human he was taught to believe is pure evil but has learned is nothing of the sort. There were hints of Fauxlivia noticing this in episode 2 - as those from the other side continue to interact with us, they learn that the propaganda of Walternate is false.
The episode wraps up with Newton killing Ray because of his loyalty and then getting caught and thrown in jail. In the final scene we see Fauxlivia draw a new moral boundary, after more of Newton's goading, and invite Peter over for sex. It's a good way to bring the episode full circle - the one who chooses mercy and emotional loyalty dies and the one who chooses the mission is temporarily safe. However, I'm not convinced that Peter and Fauxlivia definitely had sex. They were on their way, but this is Fringe. What better way to twist the plot than to pick up at that scene and have Peter finally wake up and confront Fauxlivia?
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
Fringe Totally Looks Like
My husband, a Hell's Kitchen fan, observed last night that the Fringe character Newton looks alarmingly like Gordon Ramsay. After he said that, we both kept waiting for Newton to scream "It's RAW" at someone. Naturally, it didn't happen, although given that this is Fringe, it very well could have...
My husband (who really ought to be a TV critic or some such) also recommended a brilliant crossover between Fringe and Lie To Me. See, right now, the Olivia from the other side is impersonating our Olivia. And while, sadly, she is fooling everyone else, Dr. Lightman wouldn't buy it for a minute. When Fauxlivia heard that the ShapeShifter was alive, her face was frozen in fear. Dr. Lightman would've staggered over to her, bent down to look up at her, and said, "See that - right there. That's fear, that is. What 'ave you got to be afraid of, luv?"
A more in depth review of last night's excellent episode, Do Shape Shifters Dream of Electric Sheep, is on the way.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Being kind
I watched Ellen at some point this week and when she ended the show she said, "be kind to each other." And I know that's probably related to the Trevor project, etc., but you know, I think it's really great advice in general. It would be a great church benediction - be kind to one another. Kindness is highly underrated.
In my daily prayer book, the morning prayer ends with the statement: "we go in peace to love and serve the Lord, and to live our lives so that those to whom love is a stranger will find in us generous friends."
We need to be kind. I'm not just talking to Christians, but I do think that as a group, Christians (including myself) need to take this call very seriously and prioritize it. After all, kindness is fruit of the Holy Spirit - evidence that God is working to transform you.
In marriage, too, kindness goes a long way. We so easily forget to be polite and friendly to our spouses, but simple kindness, a thank-you, a smile, the word please (NOT spoken sarcastically) - these little things smooth life's daily speedbumps.
A lot of Christians like to point fingers and talk about sin. That's not kind. It's just not. It's also not proof that you're a Christian. Evidence of your faith comes from seeing the fruits of the Spirit, and as far as I know, Paul never mentions calling out someone else's faults as a fruit of the Spirit. Can we as Christians find a way to speak out against injustice and immorality with kindness? I think we can - we just aren't trying to.
So today, let's be kind. It'll be a challenge for me, I know. But it's worth it.
In my daily prayer book, the morning prayer ends with the statement: "we go in peace to love and serve the Lord, and to live our lives so that those to whom love is a stranger will find in us generous friends."
We need to be kind. I'm not just talking to Christians, but I do think that as a group, Christians (including myself) need to take this call very seriously and prioritize it. After all, kindness is fruit of the Holy Spirit - evidence that God is working to transform you.
In marriage, too, kindness goes a long way. We so easily forget to be polite and friendly to our spouses, but simple kindness, a thank-you, a smile, the word please (NOT spoken sarcastically) - these little things smooth life's daily speedbumps.
A lot of Christians like to point fingers and talk about sin. That's not kind. It's just not. It's also not proof that you're a Christian. Evidence of your faith comes from seeing the fruits of the Spirit, and as far as I know, Paul never mentions calling out someone else's faults as a fruit of the Spirit. Can we as Christians find a way to speak out against injustice and immorality with kindness? I think we can - we just aren't trying to.
So today, let's be kind. It'll be a challenge for me, I know. But it's worth it.
Monday, October 11, 2010
National Coming Out Day
Today is National Coming Out Day.
Let me be clear: I am not taking a stand on alternate sexuality with this blog post. Those who know me know what I believe and what I support. That is not the point of this blog post.
The point is, when we will find a way to move past having to "come out"? The very phrase designates LGBT people as different, people who are hidden and must reveal themselves. Several years ago, there was a lot of pressure on Rosie O'Donnell to come out. I felt that was unfair. Rosie O'Donnell is an entertainer. Her sexuality is her business. Just as no one pressures Oprah to declare her heterosexuality, no one should force Rosie or Ellen or anyone else to declare his/her sexuality. That's equality. When we make sexuality an issue, we are creating inequality.
I do not think a culture of secrets is healthy. People of alternate sexualities should have the right to be open about their preferences. So I can see how a Coming Out day is a step in the right direction. But it still supposes that LGBT is a separate group - people who are different fundamentally than heterosexuals. Language is very powerful. When will LGBT people cease to be seen as a minority group that have secret lives in some closet? How can we move towards that goal? What is the next step after National Coming Out Day?
One last thought. If you aren't planning to have sex with an individual, then why does her/his sexuality matter to you?
Let me be clear: I am not taking a stand on alternate sexuality with this blog post. Those who know me know what I believe and what I support. That is not the point of this blog post.
The point is, when we will find a way to move past having to "come out"? The very phrase designates LGBT people as different, people who are hidden and must reveal themselves. Several years ago, there was a lot of pressure on Rosie O'Donnell to come out. I felt that was unfair. Rosie O'Donnell is an entertainer. Her sexuality is her business. Just as no one pressures Oprah to declare her heterosexuality, no one should force Rosie or Ellen or anyone else to declare his/her sexuality. That's equality. When we make sexuality an issue, we are creating inequality.
I do not think a culture of secrets is healthy. People of alternate sexualities should have the right to be open about their preferences. So I can see how a Coming Out day is a step in the right direction. But it still supposes that LGBT is a separate group - people who are different fundamentally than heterosexuals. Language is very powerful. When will LGBT people cease to be seen as a minority group that have secret lives in some closet? How can we move towards that goal? What is the next step after National Coming Out Day?
One last thought. If you aren't planning to have sex with an individual, then why does her/his sexuality matter to you?
Friday, October 8, 2010
Bullying
http://www.examiner.com/tv-in-national/it-gets-better-video
http://www.thetrevorproject.org/
http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/sexandgender/3479/why_anti-gay_bullying_is_a_theological_issue/
There's been a lot of talk lately about how bullying is negatively impacting LGBT youth - 4 suicides in the last month. I've read the blog posts and seen the videos, and I have a point of my own to make. What is the relational way to deal with this issue?
Hugh Hollowell, someone I respect deeply, ministers to homeless people through building relationships. When he is asked how to handle an encounter with a homeless person, his response is to do the most relational thing you can think of. Don't just buy a meal, eat the meal with that person, etc. And I think that might be what's missing in all the uproar about bullying. What is the relational way to deal with this?
Bullying is not just a LGBT issue. The two boys who shot up Columbine High School were victims of bullying. Bullying affects all our kids, and we can't just lean on the government or the pulpit or nonprofits to resolve the issue. We need to take relational action - personal action. Bullies are not kids who are living happy, well-adjusted lives. They are in pain as well. I'm not a mom, but I always thought that if I were, and my kid were being bullied, I would work to build a relationship with the bully's parents. I would try to take action to help the bully, as well as protecting my kid.
So yes, let's pray for change. Let's teach our kids how to stand up to bullies. Let's encourage acceptance and tolerance of people who are different in any and all ways (wearing glasses, being smart, being LGBT, wearing out of style clothes, liking classical music, etc.). But let's not just focus on institutional change as our salvation. We need to be part of the solution, in a deeply personal way. We need to build relationships - figure out why kids become bullies and try to mentor those kids.
I may be completely off base - mothers, feel free to correct me. But I think the issue of bullying must be addressed personally and relationally. No amount of laws, preaching, or non-profits (no matter how helpful they may be) will stop the problem if we as individuals do not take personal action in prayer and relationship.
http://www.thetrevorproject.org/
http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/sexandgender/3479/why_anti-gay_bullying_is_a_theological_issue/
There's been a lot of talk lately about how bullying is negatively impacting LGBT youth - 4 suicides in the last month. I've read the blog posts and seen the videos, and I have a point of my own to make. What is the relational way to deal with this issue?
Hugh Hollowell, someone I respect deeply, ministers to homeless people through building relationships. When he is asked how to handle an encounter with a homeless person, his response is to do the most relational thing you can think of. Don't just buy a meal, eat the meal with that person, etc. And I think that might be what's missing in all the uproar about bullying. What is the relational way to deal with this?
Bullying is not just a LGBT issue. The two boys who shot up Columbine High School were victims of bullying. Bullying affects all our kids, and we can't just lean on the government or the pulpit or nonprofits to resolve the issue. We need to take relational action - personal action. Bullies are not kids who are living happy, well-adjusted lives. They are in pain as well. I'm not a mom, but I always thought that if I were, and my kid were being bullied, I would work to build a relationship with the bully's parents. I would try to take action to help the bully, as well as protecting my kid.
So yes, let's pray for change. Let's teach our kids how to stand up to bullies. Let's encourage acceptance and tolerance of people who are different in any and all ways (wearing glasses, being smart, being LGBT, wearing out of style clothes, liking classical music, etc.). But let's not just focus on institutional change as our salvation. We need to be part of the solution, in a deeply personal way. We need to build relationships - figure out why kids become bullies and try to mentor those kids.
I may be completely off base - mothers, feel free to correct me. But I think the issue of bullying must be addressed personally and relationally. No amount of laws, preaching, or non-profits (no matter how helpful they may be) will stop the problem if we as individuals do not take personal action in prayer and relationship.
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