Ep 5. Amber 31422

The third season of the sci-fi television show Fringe continues with the fifth episode titled Amber 31422. The episode is written by Akiva Goldsman and Monica Owusu-Breen, and directed by Joe Chappelle.

The episode opens with a group of people in hazmat suits breaking into a storage facility, only to find that the room they were looking for is completely empty. One of them, a woman named Diana, begins to panic, and runs down the hallway, trying to find a way out. However, a strange mist begins to fill the room, trapping Diana inside.

Meanwhile, Olivia, Peter, and Walter are investigating a series of disappearances that seem to be linked to the use of a new type of bomb, called a "quantum entangled device." The device creates a field of energy that traps anyone within its radius in a type of stasis, referred to as "amber." The team suspects that whoever is using the device is experimenting with it, and that they may be using it to open a portal to another universe.

As they investigate, they stumble upon a man named Alfred, who claims to have information about the device. Alfred is a scientist who worked on the project, but has since become disillusioned with it. He tells the team that the device is no longer in the hands of the government, but has been hijacked by a group of mercenaries known as "The Watchers."

Olivia and Peter are then ambushed by The Watchers, and trapped in a field of amber. Walter is forced to work with Alfred to find a way to release them, using Alfred's knowledge of the device and Walter's expertise in dealing with the strange phenomena caused by the alternate universe. Meanwhile, Olivia and Peter are stuck in a type of limbo, where they can see and hear what is happening around them, but are unable to move or interact with the world.

As the episode progresses, it becomes clear that The Watchers are indeed using the device to open a portal to the other universe. They plan to use it to transport a shipment of drugs that will make them extremely wealthy. However, their plans are thwarted when Walter and Alfred are able to release Olivia and Peter from the stasis.

The team races to the portal, where they confront The Watchers. A battle ensues, and the team is successful in closing the portal and stopping The Watchers from carrying out their plan. However, as they leave the facility, they discover that Diana, the woman who was trapped in the mist at the beginning of the episode, is still trapped inside.

The team realizes that they must use the device to free Diana, and Walter devises a plan to do so. The plan involves creating a short-lived portal to the alternate universe, in order to create a vacuum that will suck the mist away and free Diana.

The plan is successful, and Diana is freed. The episode ends with the team reflecting on the dangers of experimenting with new technologies, and the need to be responsible in their use.

Overall, Amber 31422 is a thrilling episode that explores themes of experimental technology and the consequences of its misuse. The use of the "amber" stasis is a unique and intriguing sci-fi concept that adds an extra layer of tension to the episode, while the team's race against time to stop The Watchers is suspenseful and engaging. The episode also features some excellent character development, particularly in Walter and Alfred's interactions, and explores the idea of redemption and the desire to make amends for past mistakes.