Fringe - Astrid an Aspie?

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Ok, I've lost track of how many different universes and versions of characters exist in Fringe, but was it just me or was the version of Astrid shown in last Friday's episode supposed to be an aspie, even if it wasn't explicitly stated as such? Lack of eye contact, lack of emoting or empathy, throwing out answers to huge calculations very quickly, etc. IMHO the portrayal was almost too wierd for her to be an aspie and yet its pretty obvious (I think, at least) that that's what it was supposed to be.

You're referring to the alternate-universe Astrid and the answer is yes. I think the actress who plays the character has talked about it in several interviews.

For the most part, it's a pretty damn impressive portrayal of an autistic character without even mentioning autism and I thought it was a great day to handle it. Though I admit alt-Astrid did smile a bit too much for her character but maybe that is just me.

While I did appreciate an episode focusing on the alternate Astrid and her Asperger's, I tended to think that the character was written as too much of a stereotype. Then again, as most of us can pass ourselves off as NT's (at least in adulthood), it's only logical to give her those behaviors which would make her stand out as an Aspie.

-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer

Yes, I've seen Jasika Nicole mention in interviews that Alternate Astrid was written as being on the spectrum and may have Asperger Syndrome. Jasika plays Astrid on the show. I think that she has remained consistent in the old Amber universe and this new one as Alternate Astrid. Her character was a tad stereotyped but she seemed very severe vs. mild and I believe it to be a strength and asset to the Fringe Division over there. The smiling she did didn't seem out of character either as she was trying to put others who didn't know her at ease, or at least that's what I gathered.

I seem to recall Jasika Nicole saying that she based the alt-Astrid on here own sister, who is autistic.

Really? I did not know that!

-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer

http://io9.com/5882053/jasika-nicole-te ... ric-fringe That's a link that will take you to a interview with the actress where she does mention that the Astrid in the military uniform is an Aspie.

As I was watching this episode and realized what was going on I rushed over to the computer to post a message. I am glad to see that there are others from this website who enjoy the program.

Now that we have gotten started discussing the program I would like to know your opinion on the characters. John Noble does a great acting job with both Walters. My preference is the lab coat dresser. The red headed Olivia is quite obnoxious. Which makes her the complete opposite of the other one.

Do you find yourself watching "Fringe" because of your interest in the plot, or the characters, or both? I know for myself that if the characters weren't that interesting I don't think the plot would interest me enough to watch it each week.

I admit, I'm mostly interested in the plot, though Walter is an absolute hoot who is fun to watch.

-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer

i found the plot and suspense of the first couple of seasons to be brilliant,

now it feels as if there is some sort of resolution already there while other areas are dragging behind, that said the characters keep me watching.

I think they are trying to recapture that sense of suspense with the reintroduction of the Jones character (Jared Harris), who is threatening both universes.
By the way, I'm not completely sure what Jones' motivations are. Any idea?

-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer

I just watched that episode on line last night and was captivated by the portrayal. She did strike me as being pretty stereotypical, at first. As Kraichgauer said, though, by adulthood, Aspies tend to learn to compensate and manage pass ourselves off (or almost do so) as NT. Astrid was going through a very difficult time, and had just broken the rules by making an unauthorized crossover into the other universe. I'd say that it's quite reasonable to expect her to drop what mask she had constructed at such a time, which might not be much of one in the first place, since she has managed to find a cozy job, operating a computer and rattling off probabilities and statistics all day.

I keep thinking of that little "white lie" Astringe told her about her relationship with her father and wondering if said relationship might be affected by the encounter. Would it affect a "real world" NT, very sociable, person who met her AS counterpart? Will the writers of the show think it would and explore the issue? While Aspire might know that there are often differences between people and their alternate universe selves, can't she help but wonder, "Would my dad still love me as much if I were more like AStrid?"

A bit of both, really. I think I'm more hooked on the plot but lab-coat Walter is a great character and I rather like original-universe Olivia. I do think its too contrived though that Olivia just happens to be one of the children that Walter experimented on back in the day, and then they re-united with her as an FBI agent and he happens to be needed to help with her cases.

Peter is the one character who is sort of bothersome - mostly in that at the beginning of the show it seemed like they were going to go somewhere with his con-man past but that never really went anywhere and 99% of the time you'd not think he has a dishonest bone in his body. .

To be sure, Peter seems to have reformed a little too convincingly. I wish they would have kept something of that roguishness about him.

-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer

Thanks everyone for writing. It's great to be able to discuss one of my interests with others of my species.

It's funny that I have been getting a completely different impression of the character Peter lately. At first I thought he was a very kind and trusting person. Now I see someone who has a hidden adgenda. He doesn't seem as though he can be trusted.

For the positive side of the comment is that it seems as though Joshua Jackson must be doing a really wonderful acting job if I am seeing an out of character personality trait for Peter.