Discover
"The Day We Died" is the third season finale of the Fox science fiction drama television series Fringe. It is the season's 22nd episode and the series' 65th episode overall. The finale follows the aftermath of Peter Bishop entering and activating the doomsday device, events which took place in the previous episode. He finds himself 15 years in the future; though the device has destroyed the parallel universe, his universe is nevertheless gradually disintegrating. Peter comes to realize the background of the doomsday device and wakes up in 2011. After getting the two universes to agree to work together, he inexplicably disappears.
The episode's teleplay was co-written by Jeff Pinkner and J.H. Wyman, while Pinkner and Wyman co-wrote the story with consulting producer Akiva Goldsman. Executive producer Joe Chappelle served as director. The writers wrote the script without knowing if the series was going to be renewed for a fourth season; Fox's renewal announcement came in late March, but no changes were made to the storyline. They designed the episode as a set-up for the following season, equating it to a book chapter that "propels" the reader forward. Unlike previous season finales, "The Day We Died" was one hour long and was linked to the previous two episodes in one continuous story arc. "The Day We Died" featured one-time guest actors Brad Dourif and Emily Meade.
"The Day We Died" aired on May 6, 2011 in the United States to an estimated 3.0 million viewers, though this number almost doubled once time-shifted views were taken into account. While its 1.4 ratings share among adults 18 to 49 was an eight percent decrease from the previous episode, it helped Fox tie for first place that night. Reviews of the episode have been generally positive, with many critics writing that Peter's disappearance was a good direction for the series. Multiple reviewers ranked it as one of the best episodes of the television season, including The Futon Critic and TV.com. The cast were also receptive to the episode, and actor John Noble submitted his performance for consideration at the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards.
Original Release
05/06/2011
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Anna Torv | Alternate Olivia Dunham / Olivia Dunham |
Joshua Jackson | Peter Bishop |
Lance Reddick | Phillip Broyles |
Blair Brown | Nina Sharp |
Jasika Nicole | Astrid Farnsworth |
John Noble | Walternate / Dr. Walter Bishop / Walter Bishop |
Michael Cerveris | September / The Observer |
Brad Dourif | Moreau |
Ryan McDonald | Brandon Fayette / Alternate Brandon Fayette |
Emily Meade | Ella Dunham |
Directors
Writers
Akiva Goldsman, Jeff Pinkner, Graham Roland, J.H. Wyman
Creators
J.J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Anna Torv | Alternate Olivia Dunham / Olivia Dunham |
Joshua Jackson | Peter Bishop |
Lance Reddick | Phillip Broyles |
Blair Brown | Nina Sharp |
Jasika Nicole | Astrid Farnsworth |
John Noble | Walternate / Dr. Walter Bishop / Walter Bishop |
Michael Cerveris | September / The Observer |
Brad Dourif | Moreau |
Ryan McDonald | Brandon Fayette / Alternate Brandon Fayette |
Emily Meade | Ella Dunham |
Jackie Blackmore | ND Agent #2 |
Jeremy Guilbaut | ND Agent |
Kevin Kruchkywich | Tactical Officer |
Lea Kovach | Nurse #2 |
Eugene Lipinski | December |
Gwenda Lorenzetti | Fringe Doctor #1 |
John Paul McGlynn | Trenchcoat |
Shannon Powell | Nurse #1 |
Lisa Sanson | Fringe Nurse #3 |
Jesse Scarf | Fringe Agent #1 |
Producers
Name | Role |
---|
Joe Chappelle | Executive Producer |
Jeff Pinkner | Executive Producer |
J.J. Abrams | Executive Producer |
Bryan Burk | Executive Producer |
Monica Owusu-Breen | Executive Producer |
Alison Schapker | Executive Producer |
Reid Shane | Executive Producer |
Josh Singer | Executive Producer |
David Wilcox | Executive Producer |
J.H. Wyman | Executive Producer |
Akiva Goldsman | Producer |
Tamara Isaac | Producer |
Alex Kurtzman | Producer |
Kathy Lingg | Producer |
Roberto Orci | Producer |
Val Stefoff | Producer |
Tanya M. Swerling | Producer |
Athena Wickham | Producer |