Worlds Apart
Season 4, Episode 20

Worlds Apart

Aired April 27th, 2012 · Written by Graham Roland, Matthew Pitts, Nicole Phillips · Directed by Charles Beeson

SYNOPSIS

In this episode, David Robert Jones employs former Cortexiphan subjects to create simultaneous earthquakes across the globe, leading Dr. Walter Bishop to hypothesize that the end of both the prime and alternate universes is imminent. The two worlds must decide whether to close the bridge that was repairing the alternate universe or they may all face destruction.

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

THE GLYPHS

THE OBSERVER

The Observer can be seen in Sydney near Sally Clarke before she triggers the earthquake.

Observer 03:37

EPISODE CLUES

Previous Episode Clue

A flyer outside the nightclub in 'Letters of Transit' says "Experience the Epicenter Club", foreshadowing the earthquakes caused by Cortexiphan subjects in 'Worlds Apart'.

Previous episode clue 00:56

Next Episode Clue

ITEMS OF INTEREST

  • Cortexiphan subjects being used by Jones: Sally Clark, 2 unknown, Nick Lane.
  • Lincoln chose to stay in the Redverse with Fauxlivia.
  • Item of interest: The bridge is closed 41:58
    The bridge is closed.

VIDEOS

Featurettes

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 #420-42712

FRINGE EVENT: Synchronized universe earthquakes

CLASSIFIED CASE CONNECTION(S): David Robert Jones/Cortexiphan subject activation

AGENTS ASSIGNED: Dunham (OH), Lee (OH), Dunham (OT)

SUPERVISING AGENT: Secretary Bishop, Agent Broyles

FILE ARCHIVED BY: Daniel Senkerik, Robert Schatz

WITNESSES/CONTACTS: Nick Lane

LOCATION: Manhattan, NY

VICTIM(S): Agent Tim [redacted]

CASE REPORT SUMMARY:

Emergency Services received multiple reports of twenty-seven earthquakes all over both universes. Most occurred nowhere near major fault lines and registered between 5.7 and 7.1 on the Richter scale, and they all started at exactly the same time—11:00 a.m. GMT.
 The two Fringe science teams determined David Robert Jones had used Nick Lane and the other Cortexiphan subjects to physically link with versions of themselves in the alternate universe. Drawing on their alternates' frequencies to change the vibration of the area where they each stood, they were able to merge the two universes together.
 Dr. Bishop determined the only way to stop the process was to close the Bridge and turn off the Machine. The Bridge had enabled the other universe to heal, and without it, the healing could stop, but there would be no further harm to either world. The two science teams determined that Jones would create a safe zone as the universes crumbled. With congressional support, the Machine was shut down.

THE REDVERSE

  • They haven't had rainbows in over 20 years.

EPISODE CONNECTIONS

S1E17 — 1 connection (callback) S2E21 — 1 connection (callback) S4E01 — 1 connection (callback) S4E21 — 1 connection (setup) ◀ EARLIER · CALLBACKS SETUPS · LATER ▶
Callbacks (3 earlier episodes)

S1E17 - Bad Dreams

  • Redverse Nick saw the earthquakes through Blueverse Nick's mind in "Worlds Apart", similar to how Olivia saw Nick's actions in her own mind in "Bad Dreams".

S2E21 - Over There (Part 1)

  • Nick Lane (in "Worlds Apart"):
    "Lincoln. Hi. I'm Nick Lane. I don't know if you remember me, but we grew up in the same neighborhood in Philly. I was a couple of years behind you in school. You went out with my sister Kendra."

    Lincoln recognized Nick Lane when they saw each other in "Over There (Part 1)".

S4E01 - Neither Here Nor There

  • Olivia (to Fauxlivia in "Neither Here Nor There"):
    "Happy reading. I'm sure you'll find a lot of the cases familiar since you and your people were responsible."
    Fauxlivia:
    "Huh. Funny. I was just gonna say the same thing to you."

    They later have a similar exchange once their relationship develops.

    Fauxlivia (to Olivia in "Worlds Apart"):
    "You know, there's a lot of things about you that I wish I had. There's a lot of things about you that I admire."
    Olivia:
    "I was about to say the same thing about you. Keep looking up."
Setups & payoffs (1 later episode)

Spoilers for future episodes below

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S4E21 - Brave New World (Part 1)