Season 2, Episode 08

August

Aired November 19th, 2009 · Written by J. H. Wyman, Jeff Pinkner · Directed by Dennis Smith

SYNOPSIS

This episode marked the first prominent appearance of more than one Observer and follows the events that occur when one of them saves a girl from boarding a soon-to-be crashing plane.

Synopsis provided by the Fandom Wiki, Fringepedia, and Wikipedia.

THE GLYPHS

This episode's glyphs spell:

B-L-I-G-H-T

'Blight' is foreshadowing the use of the term by Thomas Newton in S2E10 - Grey Matters to describe the deteriorated conditions in the Redverse.

THE OBSERVER

Observers are featured in the episode.

24:17

EPISODE CLUES

Previous Episode Clue

The simulated aircraft in 'Of Human Action' has markings on it that say "AUG B/12" and "RESCUE", foreshadowing August saving Christine Hollis from a plane crash in 'August'.

23:28

Next Episode Clue

ITEMS OF INTEREST

Timestamp: 3:09

This episode reveals that there is more than one Observer. The intro sequence since the pilot episode has had a single frame that says "OBSERVERS ARE HERE".
Timestamp: 12:37

Observers have appeared throughout history, not just in recent events.
Brandon showed the Observers appearing in the following paintings and photographs:
- The Execution of Marie Antoinette by William Hamilton
- The Bloody Massacre in King-Street by Paul Revere
- Moments before the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, 1914
Observer names known so far: December, August, July.

VIDEOS

Featurettes

Behind the Scenes

FRINGE DIVISION CASE FILE

U.S. Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation

121 105th Street • Washington, DC 20735
Phone: (202) 555-2100 • Fax: (202) 555-2101
E-mail: washington.fbi@fbi.com

FRINGE DIVISION CASE FILE #208-111909

FRINGE EVENT: Observers

CLASSIFIED CASE CONNECTION(S): N/A

AGENTS ASSIGNED: Dunham

SUPERVISING AGENT: Broyles

FILE ARCHIVED BY: Marilyn Hallowell, Gary Brown

WITNESSES/CONTACTS: Danielle [redacted]

LOCATION: Boston, MA

VICTIM(S): Christine Hollis, Donald Long (suspect; deceased)

CASE REPORT SUMMARY:

Christine Hollis (27), an MFA student at Boston University, was kidnapped at gunpoint from campus by a man in a suit. A security guard shot at the suspect, but the man somehow caught the bullet. Police found a book on a bench with odd writing in it and an orange stain that tested as King Cobra chiles.
Hollis's parents were both killed in a bridge collapse when she was young. Her kidnapping prevented her from boarding Tropos Air Flight 821, which subsequently crashed into the Atlantic Ocean two hours outside Rome, Italy. The plane contained 211 passengers and six crew members, all of whom were assumed to be dead. Agent Dunham found Hollis unharmed in a hotel in Lowell, MA, and released her.

WALTER'S FOOD

Walter tried to recreate his favorite strawberry milkshake, tasted jams, recalled his horrible flatulence from eating a Naga Jolokia chili pepper, had Astrid try a mixture of French vanilla ice cream with cough syrup, and asked Peter to go on a drive to pick up a tutti frutti milkshake.

05:20 Strawberry milkshakes

09:44 Jam tasting

Walter's Food: French vanilla ice cream with cough syrup

26:28 French vanilla ice cream with cough syrup

NOTABLE QUOTES

Peter:

"There's more than one Observer."

EPISODE CONNECTIONS

Callbacks (3 earlier episodes)

S1E04 - The Arrival

The pulse gun used in the forest by John Mosley in "The Arrival" was also used by August in "August".

S1E05 - Power Hungry

S2E08 Timestamp: 02:52

Joseph Meegar is able to control electronics around him in "Power Hungry" like the Observers can, such as August starting a car with his finger in "August".

S1E08 - The Equation

S2E08 Timestamp: 15:31

The 'green-green-green-red' pattern from "The Equation" is seen on Donald's Observer communication device in "August".

Setups & payoffs (4 later episodes)

Spoilers for future episodes below

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S2E15 - Peter

August (in "August"):
"We have interfered before."
The Observer:
"Only to correct a mistake of our own making."
The mistake and interference happened in "Peter" when The Observer distracted Walternate from finding the cure for Peter and when The Observer saved Walter and Peter from the icy lake.
Walter (in "August"):
"What makes you think I can help?"
August:
"Because you have solved such a matter before. You saw beyond the limitations of your problems."
Walter:
"Not really. I just missed my son."
August is referring to when Walter crossed universes in "Peter" to save the other Peter.

S3E19 - Lysergic Acid Diethylamide

S3E19 Timestamp: 22:57

The rollercoaster seen from atop the World Trade Center in Olivia's mind in "Lysergic Acid Diethylamide" is a reference to the one she rode with Ella in "August".

S3E22 - The Day We Died

S3E22 Timestamp: 43:12

Ten Observers are present on Liberty island in "The Day We Died" from an assumed total of 12, given their names. One of the missing two is August, who was killed in "August".