John Noble has become synonymous with Walter Bishop, the brilliant yet eccentric scientist from the cult-classic TV series, ‘Fringe.’ For many viewers, sitting down with Noble feels akin to sharing a meal with Walter himself. The character, despite his fantastical escapades involving inter-dimensional breaches and pulling giant worms from the human body, resonates deeply due to his very human struggles and past mistakes. This connection, fostered by the show’s compelling writing and direction, is undeniably amplified by John Noble’s nuanced and captivating performance.
Having previously engaged with Mr. Noble in phone interviews, the initial impression was already формируется. Even through audio, Walter’s essence seemed to bleed into the actor. Both possess a calm, intelligent demeanor, punctuated by bursts of passionate enthusiasm for their subjects, often bordering on infectious excitement.
However, meeting John Noble in person presents a starkly different experience. Gone is the hunched, guilt-ridden scientist haunted by his past. In his place stands a robust and confident man. Despite a demanding shooting schedule and extensive travel, Noble greeted me warmly, ready to delve into the intricacies of ‘Fringe’ season three as it approached its culmination.
“It’s like an endless stage play,” Noble mused, reflecting on the season’s ambitious narrative shifts. “The first few seasons were about the audience getting attached to these characters. Then the funny thing is, this season was about creating a whole new set of characters. What an extraordinary risk to take! We’ve got these characters that people like. They’re developed. OK, push them aside.”
Alt text: John Noble as Walter Bishop in Fringe, intensely examining a petri dish in his lab, showcasing his focused and scientific demeanor.
Noble elaborated on the central challenge of the season: “Our big challenge was if we could get the audience to care about the people on the other side.” This was no small feat. Season one’s finale offered a tantalizing glimpse into the parallel universe, a fleeting visit to William Bell’s office in the alternate World Trade Center. Season two introduced shape-shifting soldiers from this other dimension. These elements built towards the explosive finale where Walternate, Walter’s doppelganger, emerged to reclaim Peter, his stolen son.
“It would have been easy to make Walter the classic villain,” Noble explained over coffee, detailing the complexities of his dual role. “But he could be much more if we could humanize him. No hurry, but every now and again sneak in a moment where it’s ‘Oh, I do understand why he does that.’ ”
In Walternate’s universe, he is unequivocally the hero. His motivation is rooted in the profound loss of his son, taken by invaders from another world – invaders responsible for breaches in reality and devastating blights. “I don’t have an issue playing Walternate in almost anything he does because as the key decision maker in the land of the other universe, he has to make some tough decisions. But he’s probably the sort of bloke you want in charge.” John Noble masterfully portrays this alternate Walter as a leader driven by necessity and a fierce protectiveness of his world.
Walternate’s methods, though morally gray, are presented as necessary for his universe’s survival. He is willing to employ Amber to seal breaches, even if it means trapping innocents. He resorts to brainwashing Olivia, manipulating her into believing she belongs in his world to unlock the secrets of inter-dimensional travel. His resolve to defend his universe is unwavering, almost absolute. However, even Walternate has his limits. Unlike our Walter, Walternate operates under a strict moral code against harming children. “He discovered that in himself after his son was stolen. In his fury. In his rigidness. He really made this a national rule. That crimes against children were a top priority. He’s made it the law of the land.” This stark contrast highlights the divergent paths of Walter and Walternate, both stemming from the same core trauma but evolving into distinct figures.
Our Walter’s ethically questionable Cortexiphan experiments on Olivia and other children in Jacksonville reveal a more lenient moral compass regarding youngsters in his past. “In ‘Subject 13’ he was being pushed and pulled by different forces,” Noble clarified, delving into Walter’s motivations. Walter’s attempts to create soldiers to defend against inter-dimensional threats led him to overlook the well-being of children like young Olivia. However, Walter ultimately redeemed himself, mirroring Walternate’s protective stance in a crucial moment. “I was very pleased in the final outcome of that, that Walter came to save the Olivia from her stepfather, which was something we discussed as well. It wasn’t in there originally, but if you paint this man as oblivious to the children, then you’ve lost two years of development.” This arc showcases the depth and evolution of John Noble’s Walter Bishop throughout the series.
Alt text: John Noble embodying Walternate in Fringe, striking a commanding pose, highlighting his authority and the starkly different persona from Walter Bishop.
“I find these characters particularly interesting in that these two, Walter and Walternate, are essentially the same person. Changed by events. Whether you’re Jungian or Freudian, you can see how they’ve developed,” Noble reflected, emphasizing the psychological depth of his roles. “The war between the worlds exists because of fathers’ instincts. One who stole a son and one who’s had one stolen.” This poignant observation encapsulates the core conflict driving the narrative, a conflict born from paternal love and loss, masterfully brought to life by John Noble’s dual performance.
While John Noble excelled in portraying dual versions of Walter, the concept of alternate selves extended to the entire ‘Fringe’ cast, with one notable exception. “Joshua Jackson tried to protest,” Noble joked, lightening the tone. “Everyone else has a double, except poor old Lance. Loved his alternate character, but they killed him. He was so upset.” This camaraderie amongst the cast is evident even in jest.
Anna Torv, however, took on the Herculean task of portraying not two, but three distinct characters in season three: Olivia, Fauxlivia, and Olivia possessed by Leonard Nimoy’s William Bell. “She has been wonderful, hasn’t she? I’m so proud of her,” Noble beamed, expressing genuine admiration for his co-star. “She’s just gotten richer, better and taken the risks you have to take as an actor. If you don’t take risks as an actor, you’re going nowhere.’ John Noble’s respect for Torv’s acting prowess is palpable.
“When Anna first found out she was going to play William, we talked about it a lot. I knew the Bill character and I knew the relationship that Walter would have had with him. It was just having fun with my old mate, and she responded amazingly.” Noble reminisced, recalling the collaborative spirit on set. “I was truly thrilled with Anna’s courage to just go with it.”
Noble considered William Bell’s return essential to the narrative arc. “We’d set the character up so strongly in Season 1. There had to be some moment between’ Walter and Bell.” This pivotal moment manifested during an animated sequence inside Olivia’s mind. “When that script came up, I thought, ‘That’s going to take someone six months. But we don’t have six months. We have three weeks. How will this happen?’ But that’s the sort of things that happen all the time with ‘Fringe.’ Impossible things.” This anecdote underscores the show’s ambitious nature and the cast and crew’s ability to consistently deliver high-quality, innovative television under pressure.
In that poignant scene, Walter confesses his reliance on Bell as a balancing force, only for Bell to declare Walter’s readiness to stand alone. “The writers told me earlier this year that would be a crucial point. Walter would have to accept that he has everything he needs. A lot of people go through their lives thinking, ‘If only I…. If only had this. If only I had that. If I just get a little more plastic surgery. If I change something, I’ll be something.’ ” This moment of self-realization marks a significant turning point for Walter’s character, propelling him towards the season finale with newfound independence.
“It’s what propels Walter forward to the finale of the season,” Noble affirmed, highlighting the thematic resonance of this personal growth within the larger narrative.
Confessing my own anticipation for ‘Fringe’ finales, I mentioned their signature cliffhanger endings, recalling season one’s glimpse into William Bell’s alternate office and season two’s reveal of Olivia trapped in the parallel universe. These finales were designed to leave the audience in suspense throughout the summer hiatus.
At this, John Noble grinned knowingly. “This one will make you simmer too.” This promise of another compelling ‘Fringe’ finale further solidified the show’s reputation for delivering captivating and thought-provoking television, largely thanks to the stellar performances, particularly that of John Noble.
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— Andrew Hanson
