In Absentia
Season 5, Episode 02

In Absentia

Aired October 5th, 2012 · Written by J. H. Wyman, David Fury · Directed by Jeannot Szwarc

SYNOPSIS

In this episode, the fugitive Fringe science team infiltrates Walter's former lab looking for important information needed to defeat the invaders. They capture a loyalist security man to exploit his access, then learn that the information they seek will require an extensive search for hidden videotapes.

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

THE GLYPHS

This episode's glyphs spell:

F-A-I-T-H

Etta learned to have faith in the captured Loyalist and to have faith in humanity in general.

Glyph symbol F Glyph symbol A Glyph symbol I Glyph symbol T Glyph symbol H
Glyph symbol F
Glyph symbol A
Glyph symbol I
Glyph symbol T
Glyph symbol H


THE OBSERVER

Observers are featured in this episode.

Observer 24:00

EPISODE CLUES

Previous Episode Clue

The dragon poster in the marketplace in 'Transilience Thought Unifier Model-11' hints at the painted dragon in the steam tunnels in 'In Absentia' that guided the Fringe team back into the Harvard lab.

Previous episode clue 10:03

Next Episode Clue

Unknown

Next episode clue Unknown

ITEMS OF INTEREST

  • Item of interest: The ambered lab 08:00
    The entire lab has been ambered.
  • Walter called Astrid 'Astral'.
  • The Loyalist's access code, 010567, is the birthday of Fringe's main showrunner and writer J. H. Wyman.

VIDEOS

Featurettes
Commentary
Advertisements

2036

  • Harvard was taken over by Observers.

WALTER'S FOOD

Walter forgot he switched to grape Red Vines and said pigs' eyes are considered a delicacy in Vietnam.
Walter's Food: Grape Red Vines 09:03 Grape Red Vines

NAMES FOR ASTRID

Walter called Astrid 'Astral'.

EPISODE CONNECTIONS

S1E02 — 1 connection (callback) S1E18 — 1 connection (callback) S4E19 — 1 connection (callback) ◀ EARLIER · CALLBACKS SETUPS · LATER ▶
Callbacks (3 earlier episodes)

S1E02 - The Same Old Story

  • Etta's angel device in "In Absentia" can age someone in a matter of minutes, similar to the rapid aging in "The Same Old Story".

S1E18 - Midnight

  • Connection: Clapper lights S1E18 35:44
    Connection: Clapper lights S5E02 30:12
    Walter used the clapper to turn on the lights in "In Absentia". He installed it in "Midnight".

S4E19 - Letters of Transit

  • Connection: Simon in amber S4E19 40:09
    Connection: Simon's head S5E02 28:16
    Simon Foster was trapped in amber in "Letters of Transit" and the Observers were experimenting on Simon's head in the Ministry of Science in "In Absentia".