Ep 15. Subject 13

Subject 13 is an episode from the third season of the science-fiction television series Fringe, which aired on February 18, 2011. The episode delves deep into the backstory of Olivia Dunham, the protagonist of the show, and provides some vital information about her childhood.

The episode starts with Olivia's memories of her childhood, specifically in 1985 when she was just a little girl. She has a troubled relationship with her stepfather, who is abusive and often gets into fights with her mother. She also mentions that she has always felt different from other children and has always had strange abilities that she cannot explain.

It is then revealed that in 1985, Walter Bishop, Olivia's future mentor and father figure, was conducting experiments on children with similar special abilities. He wanted to understand how their abilities worked and how they could be harnessed for the benefit of humanity. Olivia, who was just a little girl at the time, was one of the children that Walter had chosen for his experiments. Using a device called sensory deprivation tank, Walter was able to induce hallucinations in the children, which resulted in them accessing their special abilities in a controlled environment.

Olivia, however, was different from the other children in that she was able to access her abilities without the tank. She was also able to communicate telepathically with another child, whom she believed to be imaginary, but was actually a boy named Peter Bishop, Walter's son. The two children soon formed a special bond and started to share their experiences with each other.

However, as the experiments went on, Olivia's stepfather became suspicious of her behavior, and she was forced to reveal everything to him. He then took her to Walter's lab and demanded that the experiments stop. In retaliation, Walter wiped out Olivia's memory of the experiments, making her forget everything that had happened to her.

In the present day, Olivia, along with Walter and Peter, returns to her childhood home to investigate a series of intense and unusual events. As they explore the old house, Olivia's memories slowly start to come back to her, and she realizes what had happened to her as a child. She confronts Walter about the experiments and demands to know why he erased her memory.

Walter, ashamed of what he had done, reveals that he had erased Olivia's memory to protect her from her stepfather, who had threatened to harm her if Walter continued with the experiments. He also tells her that he had never forgotten about her and had always been trying to find a way to make up for his mistakes.

As the episode progresses, Olivia and Peter recreate the sensory deprivation tank, and Olivia enters it in an attempt to jog her memory and understand her abilities better. The experiment proves to be successful, and Olivia is able to access her powers once again. However, as they leave the lab, they are confronted by a mysterious figure who seems to know Olivia and her abilities. The identity of this figure remains a mystery, setting up future plot twists and turns.

In conclusion, Subject 13 is a crucial episode in the Fringe storyline as it provides insight into Olivia's background and her special abilities. It also explores the complex relationship between Olivia and Walter and establishes the emotional connection that the two share. The episode is a must-watch for any Fringe fan and is a perfect example of the show's ability to blend science-fiction with compelling characterization.