Unless they pull some gigantic reveal re the Alt-U at the end of the season… it's easy to view Season 5 as being hermetically sealed off from the rest of the series, which lessens its impact, but also lessens any "damage" it might cause to the show's reputation…

This definitely did not deserve to be rated lower than "The Recordist."  (No coincidence though, that they were written by Graham Roland, who I really hope has no more episodes in the bullpen…)

This definitely did not deserve to be rated lower than "The Recordist."  (No coincidence though, that they were written by Graham Roland, who I really hope has no more episodes in the bullpen…)

This episode was disappointing, but it just proves my theory that aging shows are usually a great deal of meh, with moments of brilliance in between.   I prefer to look for the moments of brilliance, knowing they will be increasingly fewer and farther between (but possibly VERY brilliant, as I found episode 505 to be).

This episode was disappointing, but it just proves my theory that aging shows are usually a great deal of meh, with moments of brilliance in between.   I prefer to look for the moments of brilliance, knowing they will be increasingly fewer and farther between (but possibly VERY brilliant, as I found episode 505 to be).

In this episode, Walter could not remember the bald child and Peter and Olivia had to fill him in.  Walter has never recovered his "blue universe" memories the way Olivia has.

In this episode, Walter could not remember the bald child and Peter and Olivia had to fill him in.  Walter has never recovered his "blue universe" memories the way Olivia has.

I think Astrid DID get to shine with her dual episode last season, though.

I think Astrid DID get to shine with her dual episode last season, though.

The director responded to this question on Twitter.  The balls were from a discarded shot.  A continuity thing which was not edited out.

The director responded to this question on Twitter.  The balls were from a discarded shot.  A continuity thing which was not edited out.

"Earthling" was a season 2 episode (206, I think) that was about some Russian dude being possessed by something weird.  And there was a subplot about Broyles and his ex-wife (which is not why it sucked, BTW).  The episode started off with a guy crumbling into dust in his easy chair.

"Earthling" was a season 2 episode (206, I think) that was about some Russian dude being possessed by something weird.  And there was a subplot about Broyles and his ex-wife (which is not why it sucked, BTW).  The episode started off with a guy crumbling into dust in his easy chair.

It was SUPPOSED to be disorienting!!!

It was SUPPOSED to be disorienting!!!

The driver of the story for the last four seasons was Walter stealing Peter and everything that came from it.  Olivia didn't drive anything. 

The driver of the story for the last four seasons was Walter stealing Peter and everything that came from it.  Olivia didn't drive anything. 

Not unusual tech.  There is a light bulb in a San Francisco firehouse that has been burning continuously since 1900 or something.

Not unusual tech.  There is a light bulb in a San Francisco firehouse that has been burning continuously since 1900 or something.

It was in "The Man From the Other Side" and happened BEFORE he found out he was stolen.