The Mind-Boggling Fringe Finale: Decoding the Timeline Shifts & Unraveling the Enigma of the White Tulip

Many audience members still seek a thorough explanation for the complex nature of the Fringe ending, even after over a decade since its release. Created by J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci, Fringe first premiered in 2008, initially following an episodic structure with a focus on weekly cases and character development. However, as the series progressed, it transitioned into a more serialized format, exploring long-term mysteries and intricate story arcs. By its final season, Fringe had virtually abandoned its episodic structure, presenting a season-long battle against the Observers.

Fortunately, the creators of Fringe were aware that the show was coming to an end during its fifth season, allowing them to give the series a proper conclusion. Despite not receiving the recognition it deserves for its satisfying ending, Fringe's conclusion remains open to interpretation, leaving fans to debate the ultimate fate of the show's characters.

Fringe Season 5 Was A Completely Different Show

The groundwork for the final season of Fringe was laid in the game-changing episode "Letters In Transit." This episode depicted a future Earth ruled by the Observers, who were revealed to be the next stage of human evolution achieved through genetic manipulation and advanced technology. In their quest for higher intelligence, the Observers sacrificed their ability to experience emotions, making them difficult to interact with socially. Ironically, by striving to become superior beings, they had lost their humanity. The conclusion of Fringe provided little additional information about the Observers that hadn't already been revealed throughout the series.

By the 27th century, the Observers found Earth uninhabitable and decided to invade the year 2015, a time prior to their own existence and the planet's decline. Utilizing their advanced technology and superior intellect, the Observers effortlessly seized control of Earth and established a dictatorship that enslaved the people of that era. In response, Walter, one of the main characters, protected the Fringe team by encasing them in amber, hoping for their eventual release and the opportunity to continue their battle against these time-traveling invaders. Walter's wish came true in 2036 when Etta, the adult daughter of Peter and Olivia, located and freed the original Fringe group from their amber encasement.

How The Fringe Team Defeated The Observers

Walt and September, a friendly Observer supporting humanity, devised a strategy to reverse the events of the past two decades. Unfortunately, Walt is apprehended and subjected to a brutal interrogation that erases the plan from his memory. Fortunately, Walter had the foresight to create videotapes as a guide for the Fringe team to execute this elusive plan. Throughout season 5 of Fringe, Olivia and her colleagues gradually gather the necessary elements to overcome the Observers.

During the development of their plan, September unveiled the existence of his biological "son" - a boy who was not conceived through conventional means but rather through genetic experiments conducted by the Observers. Despite being designated as an anomaly, unlike other Observer children, September's son managed to escape destruction. Overwhelmed by burgeoning human emotions, September decided to safeguard his child by concealing him in the past. It was during the first encounter with the boy in season 1's "Inner Child" that the Fringe team initially crossed paths with him. At the time, neither the Fringe team nor even the show's writers comprehended the true importance of this enigmatic youngster. However, it was only in the final moments of Fringe's conclusion that the genuine significance of September's son was finally elucidated and unveiled.

Michael, the child observer, reappears in Fringe season 5 as a vital component of Walter and September's strategy. Michael was considered an anomaly due to his superior intelligence compared to other Observers, yet retaining his human emotions. This discovery posed a threat to the existence of the Observer race, as it suggested a coexistence of emotions and enhanced intellect. Walter's plan involved sending Michael into the future, precisely where the intelligence-enhancement experiments originated, serving as evidence that emotional sacrifice is unnecessary for intellectual improvement.

The execution of this plan faced multiple challenges in Fringe's concluding episodes. Firstly, Michael's inability to articulate required the presence of a scientific companion to explain his significance to future scientists. Additionally, returning Michael and his guardian to their original timeline would create a paradox, risking the resurgence of the Observers.

During the most climactic moments in the final episodes of Fringe, the team engages in a fierce battle to enable Michael and September's passage through a wormhole into the future. However, September is grievously injured, leading Walter to bravely step in and take his place. Through their daring leap, they successfully avert the creation of the Observers and consequently erase Walter from existence onwards from 2015. This is because his presence in the present day, which concludes with a happy ending, cannot coexist with the pivotal actions of his alternate future self. As Fringe season 5 comes to a close on this bittersweet note, it also presents an ideal foundation for a contemporary reboot of the series.

Walter's Fate And The Significance Of The White Tulip

Upon receiving a letter from his father, Peter, accompanied by a drawing of a white tulip, experiences a moment of recognition. However, this revelation in Fringe leaves fans with unanswered questions, particularly regarding the mechanics of the show's timeline-altering conclusion. While the series did provide an explanation for Walter's plan through a glimpse of Peter and his family in the new 2015, the closing scene introduces an entirely new mystery. The existence of the white tulip drawing, sent by Walter prior to his selfless sacrifice, raises the question of its feasibility given the eradication of the Observer timeline.

The timeline reset in Fringe is explicitly stated to only occur from the 2015 invasion onwards, leaving everything prior unaffected. Walter and September's preparation for the Observer invasion suggests that the white tulip could have been sent during this earlier period and would not be impacted by the 2015 reset. Fringe does not provide a clear explanation for why events before this date remain unchanged, other than the fact that altering them would greatly disrupt the show's timeline, requiring the audience to make a logical leap.

The meaning of the white tulip itself caused some confusion. At a basic level, the message's purpose is to prompt Peter to visit Walter's lab in 2015, where he will discover that his father is missing (due to being erased from the timeline) and find a pre-recorded video explaining the situation. However, the symbol first appeared in Fringe season 2, episode 18, called "White Tulip." In this storyline, Walter encounters a man who is trying to travel back in time to save his wife from a car accident. Walter tells him that after bringing the alternate Peter to his own world, he sought a symbol of forgiveness from the universe - a white tulip.

After hearing the story, the scientist expresses gratitude to Walter by sending him this symbol. The reappearance of this symbol in Fringe's finale can be interpreted as a message to Peter. Walter is possibly telling his son not to feel guilty about uncovering his father's fate. It may also serve as a reminder that despite causing trouble, saving Peter from the alternate universe was the best decision Walter ever made. A point of contention among Fringe fans is determining who remembers what, and producer David Fury has provided clarity on this matter.

Regarding the romantic relationship between Olivia and Peter, as well as everyone else, Fringe season 5 is disregarded. Everything leading up to the end of season 4 remains unchanged. One day, they will wake up to find that Walter is no longer present in their world. From Walter's perspective, both he and Michael remember everything, including the dystopian future timeline. Walter's journey follows the intended path until season 4, then he spends 20 years encased in amber before traveling to the 22nd century with Michael. In order to resolve the paradox of Walter's existence in this future period, the universe removes him from 2015, the point of divergence.

What Joshua Jackson, John Noble And J.J. Abrams Thought Of Fringe When It Finished

From the beginning of the show to its end, Fringe introduced a new and innovative way of blending sci-fi, fantasy, drama, and mystery to audiences in 2013. While it drew inspiration from shows like X-Files and The Twilight Zone, Fringe itself has influenced later series such as Wandavision and the Oscar-winning film Everything Everywhere All At Once. Even after a decade since its conclusion, Fringe is still available for streaming on certain platforms, and its ending, characters, and mythology remain popular topics of discussion among both current and potential viewers. This aligns with the vision of Joshua Jackson, John Noble, and J.J. Abrams for the lasting impact of the show. Following the conclusion of Fringe's fifth season, Joshua Jackson expressed optimism about its legacy, describing it as a test case for the evolving landscape of television. He speculated about the possibility of fan fiction, additional filmed content, or even a podcast related to the show. Notably, The Fringe Observers podcast ran for 100 episodes before concluding five years after the Fringe finale, and The Fringe Podcast Rewatch continues to release new episodes regularly. Furthermore, there is a multitude of Fanfiction dedicated to Fringe, with many stories delving deeper into the show's character relationships.

John Noble, who played a role in Fringe, emphasized the importance of the relationships in the show. He believed that despite external circumstances, the deep connections between the characters were what made the show successful. These relationships remained significant from the beginning of the series until its final episodes. In contrast, J. J. Abrams, the co-creator of Fringe, expressed satisfaction with how the show concluded. He appreciated the network's decision to continue airing the show despite its average ratings, which he considered a rare display of commitment. While the resolution of the fifth season left one unanswered question, the majority of viewers remember Fringe fondly.