The truth about what is happening in Severance has finally come out. There is an infiltration within MDR that almost no one has noticed. However, Irving (John Turturro) realizes something is wrong. A night gardener and cruel words give him a clue that Helly R. (Britt Lower) is not herself anymore.
Her outie, Helena Eagan, has taken over. The deception is so convincing that Mark S. (Adam Scott) never suspects anything. He is completely unaware that he is being tricked into having a secret relationship with her. The romance at Lumon is not getting any simpler, but long before Severance aired, another sci-fi series created an even more complicated love triangle.
Fringe does not involve a severance procedure. Instead, its conflicts come from a parallel universe. In this show, there are personal betrayals, identity crises, and even Severance guest star John Noble playing a major role. The story creates huge challenges for the romance between the main characters by introducing a surprising doppelgänger twist.
What Is Fringe About?
The “Fringe Division” is a special team investigating strange events. The group consists of FBI agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv), brilliant but unstable scientist Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble), and his estranged son, Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson).
When passengers on a plane suffer from horrifying flesh-melting infections or when someone’s head explodes from radiation, these three work together to find answers. As they solve these bizarre cases, a romantic connection slowly grows between Olivia and Peter. However, their relationship is complicated by Walter’s dark past.
John Noble plays different characters in both Fringe and Severance. In Severance, he makes the character of Fields likable, which is heartbreaking for fans who want Burt (Christopher Walken) and Irving to have a happy ending. But his role as Walter in Fringe remains his greatest performance.
Walter is a man with a troubled history. He has made reckless and dangerous choices, and now he wants to make things right. However, fixing the past is not easy. The consequences of his actions continue to affect the present. Olivia learns that Walter experimented on her when she was a child, giving her psychic abilities.
She cannot remember these experiences as an adult, but she must rediscover her abilities to stop a disaster in the Season 2 episode “Jacksonville.”
Peter supports Olivia when she becomes afraid that she will fail. In a heartfelt moment, he gently touches her face to comfort her, and they almost share a kiss. Their chemistry makes their relationship exciting to watch.
Olivia and Peter both struggle to trust others because they fear getting hurt. However, they could be a perfect match if they allow themselves to open up. Their connection is similar to Mark S. and Helly R. in Severance, as both pairs rely on each other due to their unique shared experiences.
But just when Fringe seems ready to bring Peter and Olivia together, a shocking truth changes everything. Peter discovers that he is not originally from this universe. The Peter who belonged to this world died from an illness when he was a child. Walter, desperate to save a version of his son, kidnapped Peter from a parallel universe.
This act of desperation started a war between the two worlds. When Peter learns the truth about his origins, it causes a dangerous escalation in the conflict, putting his relationship with Olivia at risk.
Peter and Olivia Face Their Parallel Universe Twins in Fringe
Everything changes when the show introduces alternate versions of its characters from the Parallel Universe. In this other world, John Noble plays his character’s double, known as Walternate. Unlike Walter, who regrets his past mistakes, Walternate is ruthless and focused on revenge against the Prime Universe. Anna Torv also plays an alternate version of Olivia, nicknamed Fauxlivia.
Olivia and Fauxlivia have very different personalities. Olivia is emotionally guarded, dedicated to justice, and has blonde hair. Fauxlivia is more relaxed, morally ambiguous, and has red-dyed hair. The war between these universes forces Peter and Olivia to face their feelings. In the Season 2 finale, “Over There,” they finally share a kiss. However, their happiness does not last long.
In Season 3, Walternate captures Olivia and replaces her with Fauxlivia. He orchestrates a plan where Fauxlivia infiltrates the Prime Universe and pretends to be Olivia. While Olivia is brainwashed in the Parallel Universe, Fauxlivia manipulates those around her.
The show alternates between two perspectives: odd-numbered episodes follow Olivia’s struggle to regain her memories, while even-numbered episodes show Fauxlivia’s deception.
Compared to Severance, which delays revealing that Helly’s outie has taken over, Fringe makes viewers complicit in Fauxlivia’s lie. She takes advantage of Peter’s love for Olivia and begins a relationship with him while hiding her true intentions. This storyline mirrors Helena’s situation in Severance.
Helena craves the emotional connection that Helly formed with Mark. Her desire for that bond almost seems sympathetic, but her actions cross a serious line when she sleeps with Mark under false pretenses.
Once the deception is uncovered, the betrayal creates cold and uncomfortable interactions between Mark and Helly. They eventually find a way to move forward, but Fringe takes a longer path toward reconciliation.
Fringe and Severance Both Show Romance and Identity Crises
Fauxlivia escapes after her mission is exposed. Olivia finally returns to her own universe, only to realize how deeply she has been betrayed. In the episode “Marionette,” Anna Torv delivers a heartbreaking performance as Olivia struggles with her emotions.
She feels like a stranger in her own home. When Peter confesses that he was in a relationship with Fauxlivia, Olivia pushes him away, unable to handle the pain.
Both Severance and Fringe use sci-fi concepts to show identity and relationships. They raise important questions: What defines a person’s uniqueness? If an alternate version of you existed, would anyone be able to tell the difference?
In Severance, Helena’s arrival at the restaurant where Mark’s outie is eating is not a coincidence. She is trying to revive the connection they once had in Lumon. Fans have even started speculating that Helena might be pregnant. This idea is not new to sci-fi. Fringe also uses pregnancy as a major plot twist.
Fauxlivia becomes pregnant with Peter’s child, and Walternate tries to use the baby as a weapon in the war between universes. However, this experience changes Fauxlivia. After spending time in the Prime Universe, she realizes that its people are not her enemies. She shifts from being an antagonist to an ally.
Through all of this, Fringe provides something that Severance has not yet given fans—a satisfying resolution for its romance. Olivia and Peter do not get their happy ending immediately, but they eventually find their way back to each other. Meanwhile, Severance still has many unanswered questions about Mark, Helly, and Helena.
The mystery surrounding Gemma/Ms. Casey (Dichen Lachman) adds another layer to this love triangle. At least the characters in Severance do not have to deal with an entire parallel universe on top of everything else.
Fans of Fringe can watch the show on Prime Video.
Also Read: Severance Episode “Chikhai Bardo” Uncovers a Disturbing Truth About MDR’s Work
