Of Human Action
The episode followed a case involving the apparent kidnapping of the son of a scientist working for biotechnology corporation Massive Dynamic, leading the Fringe team to deal with the repercussions of mind control.
In Queens, New York, police chase a sedan driven through a parking garage by two men keeping a teenage boy named Tyler Carson (Cameron Monaghan) in the backseat.
Peter is now forced into helping Tyler, who has mind control powers due to his father James (Andrew Airlie) working on thought-controlled weapons systems for Massive Dynamic.
Nina Sharp (Blair Brown) writes a message to the absent William Bell updating him on the status of the "Carson-Penrose" experiments (Claus Penrose is a scientist seen caring for a genetically engineered killer in the much earlier episode "The Same Old Story").
"Of Human Action" was written by frequent writing partners Glen Whitman and Robert Chiappetta, and was directed by executive producer Joe Chappelle.
A scene later in the episode involves a car fleeing through a garage door, only to hit a concrete wall, flip over, and burst into flames.
[8] On its initial November 12, 2009 broadcast in the United States, "Of Human Action" was watched by an estimated 5.89 million viewers, and earned a 2.2 ratings share among adults 18–49, tying the season average.
[2] "Of Human Action" received a very positive reaction from MTV's Josh Wigler, writing "As a stand-alone episode with some interesting character insight, this week's Fringe was a success.
It might also be a mythological success, too, should the big reveal at the end—the fact that Massive Dynamic has inundated multiple children with telepathic abilities—pan out in future episodes.
[8] Airlock Alpha writer Tiffany Vogt called it a "gripping story with much emotional resonance," especially with the father-son parallels between Peter and Tyler.
Club's Noel Murray had a more mixed reaction, giving the episode a rating of C+ and criticizing lead guest actor Cameron Monaghan, "In this role, he was a drag, playing 'rebellious teen' in a stock, wooden way, with no extra layers.
"[1] Murray also said, "Yet for all my griping, I was quite taken with the theme of this episode, and the motifs that writers Robert Chiappetta and Glen Whitman and director Joe Chappelle used to support it.
From the tinfoil Peter Pan hats that Walter and Astrid wear to Tyler popping the medication that grants him his powers out of a Pez dispenser, there's a lot in 'Of Human Action' about childish things.
