A New Day in the Old Town
"A New Day in the Old Town" | |
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Fringe episode | |
Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 1 |
Directed by | Akiva Goldsman |
Written by | J. J. Abrams Akiva Goldsman |
Production code | 3X5101 |
Original air date | September 17, 2009 |
Guest appearances | |
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"A New Day in the Old Town" is the season premiere and first
It first aired on Fox in the United States on September 17, 2009 to generally positive reviews. It was watched by an estimated 9.96 million viewers, and received a 2.43 ratings share among viewers 18–49.
Plot
A mysterious man involved in a downtown
After talking to Rachel about her sister, Peter visits Olivia, who is scheduled to be taken off life support the following morning. However, Olivia suddenly wakes up, crying the Greek phrase Na einai kalytero anthropo apo ton patera tou. She does not remember getting injured, and incoherently tells Peter there is something they need to do, and their "lives may depend on it," but cannot remember who told her this, or why. Peter tries to enter the FBI building, but is denied until Jessup agrees to accompany him. She questions him about Fringe Division, and they begin investigating the driver who hit Olivia. When they arrive at his apartment, they discover what appears to be the driver's body, but he has been dead longer than when the accident took place.
The shapeshifted man makes contact with his group via typewriter (an allegedly nonexistent model of
After being visited by her partner, Agent
After being told by a panel of Senators that Fringe Division is not worth the human or fiscal cost, Broyles is given the transformation device by Peter so Broyles can justify Fringe Division remaining active. In a separate scene, Agent Jessup is shown working at a computer, annotating an image of the creature from "The Transformation" with biblical verses, notably from the Book of Revelation. The final scene reveals that Charlie is actually the shapeshifter, who disposes of the real agent's body in a furnace beneath the hospital.
Production
Background
In February 2009, Fox announced that if they renewed Fringe for a second season, they were moving the show's production from New York City to Vancouver, as the American city's tax breaks had expired.[1] Fox officially renewed Fringe for a second season on May 4, 2009,[2] and in July announced the new season would premiere on September 23, behind a new episode of Bones.[3] Later reports indicated the episode would premiere on September 17.[4]
Writing and filming
"Well, the first episode is sort of meant to kind of reset things, and for those who have never seen the show, offer a way in. It has the advantage of being almost better than the pilot. You never have to have seen the show to see the first episode and hopefully get sucked in. So what happens in the very beginning, this crazy sort of situation that she finds herself in is in a sense meant to be the premise for what this year is about. So what you're asking is really what happens over the course of the whole second season".
— Co-creator J. J. Abrams explaining the premiere in an interview[5]
"A New Day in the Old Town" was co-written by consulting producer
The production team used new technology called a "breakaway windshield," as well as air cannons to eject the stuntwoman, Melissa Stubbs, from the vehicle. Instead of using wires, they used pneumatic rams to push her; cables and pulleys made it similar to a "catapult". The stuntwoman rehearsed with a helmet on, but took it off when the scene was ready to be shot. She wore a small backpad, a mouthguard, and some kneepads, and used her elbows to break the windshield upon being ejected. Stubbs commented that shooting the scene "all went as planned, and was very anticlimactic" because of the lack of problems.[7] Anna Torv later called the stunt "one of the most humbling experiences in my life".[10] She elaborated, "I don’t do any of the stuff that’s dangerous... Melissa Stubbs is the fantastic stuntwoman who did that [stunt]. They put a rocket for her in the back of the car, and they had that breakaway glass for the windshield. She has nothing on extra, except maybe elbow pads. Then they shoot her out of this rocket, through the windshield, and she rolls on the ground and lands on her mark. The guy goes in. She's OK. Everybody claps. Then I have to go in, lay in the same position, so they can get a close-up of my eyes opening. That was kind of humbling."[10]
Prop master Rob Smith created the shapeshifter device and later regretted its design. He had joined the series during its second season, and had to quickly manufacture props while working under time and budget constraints. He explained, "[My] first episode we had to make the shape-shifter device, the thing that you put into your mouth and it transforms one person into another person. I was brand new here and I wasn’t happy with the way that turned out, and it came back in about 5 or 6 episodes. Every time it came back I was like, ‘Oh, I wish I could have that time over again to redo this one." He added, "A lot of the time, I [didn't] actually see [the prop] on set, so I watched the episode to see how everything comes together."[11]
In June 2009, Fox put out a casting call for several new characters for the second season. One of these, Lloyd Parr, was described as a guest star in "his 30s to early 50s, an average guy. We need a strong character actor who can play hyper-competent. Like someone in a John Frankenheimer movie".
The producers considered screening the first part of the season premiere at
Reception
Ratings
In May 2010, Fox announced Fringe would be moving from Tuesdays to Thursdays for the second season.[20][21] Fox's entertainment president, Kevin Reilly, explained the move, "The door is more open on this night than it has been in a long time. Fringe is a real alternative to both [Grey's and CSI]."[21] As the season premiere, "A New Day in the Old Town" was the first episode of the season to air in its new timeslot on Thursdays.[22]
In its initial broadcast in the United States, the episode was watched by an estimated 7.817 million viewers and earned a 3.0/8 rating for viewers 18–49.
Reviews
Critical reviews of the episode were generally positive. Hilary Rothing from
"The second season of Fringe opens with an episode that is sure to please the ever-growing fanbase of this remarkable series. There are no signs of the dreaded "sophomore slump" here. This episode hits hard, and fast. From the very beginning you've got action, drama, gross out moments, and a heavy dose of "OMG did that really just happen!?" Is it a perfect episode? No. Is it entertaining? Hell yes!"
Writing for the Los Angeles Times, critic Andrew Hanson heralded the return of the series, declaring "Fringe comes crashing headlong back onto television. That's not just a metaphor. Before we even fade in we have two cars smashing into each other. What a way to return: an accident in which one driver is nowhere to be found and the other flees into a nearby apartment, smooches his face and then uses a strange device to rearrange his appearance. That's my good old Fringe."[30] The Futon Critic rated "A New Day in the Old Town" the sixteenth best television episode of 2010,[31] while website blogger io9 listed it as one of the "crucial" episodes new viewers must watch to get into the show.[32]
Awards and nominations
Writers J. J. Abrams and Akiva Goldsman submitted "A New Day in the Old Town" for consideration in the Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series category at the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards.[33] They did not receive a nomination.[34]
References
- ^ Soll, Lindsay (2010-02-21). "'Fringe' moves production to Canada". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
- ^ "FOX Picks Up Second Season of "Fringe"". Fox press release, posted at The Futon Critic. 2009-05-04. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
- ^ "Fox announces Fall 2010 premiere schedule". Chicago Tribune. 2009-05-04. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
- ^ Seidman, Robert (2009-06-15). "FOX announces fall premiere dates for the 2009-2010 season". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on 2012-10-13. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
- Blastr. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
- ^ a b Wigler, Josh (2010-09-17). "'Fringe' Season Two: 'A New Day In The Old Town' Recap". MTV. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
- ^ a b Joshua Jackson, Anna Torv, Jeff Pinkner, Akiva Goldsman, John Noble, Greg Zenon, Michael Mitchell, Bob Comer, Melissa Stubbs (2010). "Analyzing the Scene for "A New Day in the Old Town"". Fringe: The Complete Second Season (DVD). Warner Bros. Television.
- ^ Murray, Noel (2009-10-08). "Momentum Deferred". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
- ^ Anna Torv, Akiva Goldsman, J. J. Abrams, Jeff Pinkner, J. H. Wyman, Joshua Jackson, John Noble, Jasika Nicole, Josh Singer, Lance Reddick, Jeffrey Vlaming, David Wilcox (2010). "Beyond the Pattern: The Mythology of Fringe". Fringe: The Complete Second Season (DVD). Warner Bros. Television.
- ^ a b Hanson, Andrew (2011-06-24). "'Fringe' Friday: Chatting with Saturn Award winner Anna Torv". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-07-05.
- ^ Gonzalez, Sandra (2013-01-22). "'Fringe': Property master Rob Smith on making memorable (and forgettable) mad scientist props". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2013-01-22.
- ^ "Exclusive - Fringe - Episode 2.01 - New Day - Casting Call". SpoilerTV. 2009-06-16. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
- ^ Snead, Elizabeth (2009-08-26). "EXCLUSIVE: 'Hellboy' hottie Luke Goss plays a villain on 'Fringe' premiere". blog.zap2it.com. Archived from the original on 2011-04-20. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
- ^ The Futon Critic Staff (2009-06-24). "Development Update: Wednesday, June 24". The Futon Critic. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
- ^ O'Connor, Mickey (2009-06-24). "Fringe: New FBI Agent Once Cracked Cases on Deal or No Deal". TV Guide. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
- ^ Ford Sullivan, Brian (2009-07-28). "Live at the San Diego Comic-Con: "Fringe"". The Futon Critic. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
- ^ Hanson, Andrew (2009-09-14). "'Fringe': Headlines from the Other Side". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
- Blastr. Archived from the originalon 2012-09-11. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
- ^ TV Squad. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
- ^ "'Fringe' Dominates Tuesday's, So Fox Moves It To Thursday's". ScifiScoop.com. 2010-05-19. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
- ^ a b Hibberd, James (2010-11-30). "Official: Fox's fall schedule; 'Fringe' on Thursdays". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
- ^ a b Hinman, Michael (2010-09-18). "'Fringe' Stumbles In Season 2 Premiere". Airlock Alpha. Archived from the original on 2011-08-11. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
- ^ Seidman, Robert (2009-09-18). "Thursday night broadcast original final numbers". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on 2011-04-20. Retrieved 2011-05-01.
- ^ Gorman, Bill (2010-10-05). "First Week of Jay Leno Show Really Was "DVR Proof"". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on 2009-10-08. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
- ^ Ryan, Joal (2010-10-20). "Should Fox Have Messed With Fringe?". E! Online. Archived from the original on 3 April 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
- ^ Rothing, Hilary (2010-09-17). "Fringe - "A New Day In The Old Town" Review". UGO Networks. Archived from the original on 2012-08-19. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
- ^ Murray, Noel (2010-09-17). "A New Day In The Old Town". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
- ^ a b Isler, Ramsey (2010-09-11). "Fringe: "A New Day in the Old Town" Review". IGN. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
- ^ a b Stegall, Sarah (2010-09-21). "Deja X—a review of Fringe's "New Day in an Old Town"". SFScope. Archived from the original on 2010-11-28. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
- ^ Hanson, Andrew (2010-09-21). "'Fringe': Returning to our reality". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
- ^ Ford Sullivan, Brian (2010-01-07). "The 50 Best Episodes of 2009: #20-11". The Futon Critic. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
- ^ Heddle, Jennifer (2010-09-30). "Want to get into "Fringe"? These are the episodes you need to watch". io9. Retrieved 2011-03-31.
- ^ "Drama Series Predictions & Analysis". Los Angeles Times. 2010-06-04. Retrieved 2011-06-05.
- Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Archivedfrom the original on 4 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-25.