“One Night in October” is episode two of season four of Fringe.
A man, who looks to be cold, is being questioned by another man about a photo and how it makes him feel. The second man pumps blue fluid into the back of the first’s skull, and the first, after saying the photo makes him feel happy, seems to freeze.
Walter is in the lab, covering up various things whilst telling this universe’s Lincoln Lee, who joined them in the previous episode, “Neither Here Nor There”, about how shapeshifters are vile creatures like everything from over there. Astrid enters; Lincoln says Walter was telling him about shapeshifters but has moved onto the other universe in general. Astrid reminds Walter that they have agreed to move forward; he goes on about Fauxlivia kidnapping Olivia. Astrid fills in Lincoln on bits as Walter talks about the machine and how it was supposed to destroy their world. Walter is covering mirrored surfaces, because Peter has been appearing in them, and asks ‘Kennedy’ to help him.
Olivia arrives and talks to Astrid about Lincoln. Astrid tells her Lincoln is lonely. Olivia says it’s not going to happen. She’s already thought things through to the inevitable breakup and he’s not her type. Astrid suggests Olivia’s type doesn’t exist. Then Olivia gets a call.
At the federal building. Broyles fills Olivia in on 23 known murders. The victims have holes drilled in the back of their skulls and the brain subjected to localised electrical charges. That didn’t kill them; a chemical was used to lower their brain temperature. Olivia asks how come she hasn’t heard of this case. Because the crimes were committed Over There and they’ve been asked to help.
Olivia and Broyles head to meet Fauxlivia. At the last murder, a single hair was left and the killer was identified as John Lewis McClennan (John Pyper-Ferguson). He’d disappeared when they got to his house. With a 220 IQ, he’s way ahead of them. In five years, this is the only time he’s been sloppy. They want this world’s John Lewis McClennan escorting across to give insight. Fauxlivia knows all the reasons not to, as she’s already been through them with AltBroyles. Fauxlivia can’t resist making jabs at Olivia.
Olivia speaks to Broyles, about the human shapeshifters and whether they’ve heard back as yet. Not yet. Their McClennan is a professor and Olivia doesn’t see how he can help. Because he’s a professor of forensic psychology specialising in serial killers. Olivia meets with Professor McClennan, who is willing to consult. Even though he’s going to be sedated for the trip.
In Norristown on the other side, Fauxlivia puts on a blonde wig. Apparently Frank likes red hair. Olivia arrives and meets AltLincoln; she will wait in the audio surveillance vehicle. McClennan is wheeled in. At a petrol station, AltMcClennan is watching a mother and her daughter.
Astrid enters the lab to find Walter listening to music far too loud in front of a wall of speakers. He hasn’t been sleeping well and has been experimenting with his drugs. Astrid asks if there’s anything else. He says not.
McClennan is with Fauxlivia, going through AltMcClennan’s things. There’s a schematic of a device of unknown purpose. McClennan says that the other him hunts during the day. He blends in. McClennan recognises a chair identical to one from his own house. And looks at a wall of photos. He says the killer is jealous of them, hates them because they have happy lives. He takes them when they’re happy. At the petrol station, the daughter comes out to find her mother has vanished.
McClennan has found a photo he recognises. His father. Olivia heads in and AltLincoln follows as McClennan rushes out, sees two Olivias, then amber. He asks where he is. Keeping McClennan’s whereabouts, and the identity of the killer, secret, hasn’t worked, so he is told more.
Peter’s absence has caused changes. Fauxlivia still being with Frank makes sense. AltBroyles being alive less so; he died for helping Olivia escape in “Entrada”, so did she not escape this time? And, thanks to the Observer not deleting Peter completely, his presence is still around.