The following contains MAJOR SPOILERS for "The Equation," the eighth episode of the Fox series, "Fringe."

When a young boy is kidnapped, Agent Olivia Dunham is tasked to investigate his significance to the Pattern's ominous events.

Dunham quickly learns the missing boy, Ben Stockton (Charlie Tahan), is part of a string of kidnappings, which include gifted scientists and engineers. The shadowy players behind the Pattern appear hell-bent on solving a mysterious equation. How does Ben fit in? He is a musical prodigy fixated on completing a piano riff. His father is perplexed by his son's talent and obsession with the riff. After all, Ben demonstrated no musical aptitude before waking from a brief coma after a car accident.

Since music and mathematics both lead to the equation's solution, Ben may be the ultimate key. This realization leads to one of the episode's interesting issues not addressed. How and why was that riff acquired by Ben? Was it implanted during his coma, or was telepathy involved?

Dr. Walter Bishop conducts his own investigation. He suspects Ben and the others were kidnapped using a hypnotic strobe light, using colors and timed flashes to make victim s susceptible to suggestion. While incarcerated at St. Claire's Hospital (an asylum), Walter recalls being confined with Dashiell Briggs (Randall Duk Kim), a scientist who suffered a similar kidnapping involving strobe lights.

Dunham asks Walter to return to the hospital and talk with Dashiell. Understandably, Walter is reluctant to walk those gloomy halls again, but agrees since a boy's life is at risk. This leads to disaster. Dashiell panics when recalling details of his kidnapping, leaving Walter to frantically press for details. The hospital's administrator, Dr. Sumner (Bill Sadler), is appalled by Walter's actions and orders him locked up again. Sumner makes his disdain for Walter's initial release clear from the beginning and appears pleased to revoke his hard fought freedom.

While confined to St. Claire's, Walter uses the opportunity to press Dashiell again. This time he gains clues to where the kidnapper takes victims. Shortly after, Peter arrives with a court order, freeing Walter, who is clearly shaken by his short stay.

By the episode's conclusion, Ben is rescued, but the kidnapper (Gillian Jacobs) slips Dunham. The kidnapper meets up with FBI Agent Mitchell Loeb (Chance Kelly), a mole in the agency who serves the power's behind the Pattern. Loeb locks an apple in a safe hooked to a computer and enters the equation extracted from Ben. He then reaches through the safe, appearing to phase through its metal door, and withdrawals the apple! Satisfied with the spectacular success of the experiment, he turns to the kidnapper and shoots her.

What Worked Walter's ordeal at St. Claire's was hard to watch. He generates immediate sympathy after stepping through those doors. It's a credit to actor John Noble. He takes the dread and disorienting nature of such a step and makes the harsh reality behind the decades served there suddenly so clear.

Meanwhile, Peter's drive to see Walter released reveals not only his serious dedication to his father, but a peak into a shady past. According to Sumner, Peter enrolled at MIT under false credentials, failed launching several businesses, and is on the run from unknown parties. From what we've seen so far, these accusations are likely true, and should lead to some interesting developments as the season progresses.

It's also nice to see a familiar face, Loeb, applied to the Pattern. His return will hopefully signal the beginnings of a reoccurring villain, and Kelly (of HBO's "Generation Kill") is just the actor to fill the void.

What Didn't Work

I keep giving Dunham grief here, but I can't stop myself. She again blunders through a physical showdown. Disarmed and nearly beat down by the kidnapper, she allows her to escape! It would be a real blessing to see Dunham attend a tactical refresher course. If the FBI isn't willing to flip the20bill, I'll pay for it myself. Dunham, give me a call.

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

"Fringe" stars Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson, John Noble, Lance Reddick, Jasika Nicole, and Kirk Acevedo. "The Equation" was written by J.R. Orci and David H. Goodman, and was directed by Gwyneth Horder-Payton. "Fringe" airs on FOX Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET.

Bryant Griffin is the Lead Designer and a Staff Writer of Airlock Alpha, writing out of the Tampa, Fla. He can be reached at bgriffin@airlockalpha.com.

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