Akiva Goldsman, who won an Oscar for his "A Beautiful Mind" screenplay, joins the Bad Robot crew to write and direct this captivating return to the show's perpetually elusive mythology.

Entitled "Bad Dreams," it's evident from the eerie opening scene that this episode means business.

Agent Olivia Dunham dreams of shoving a woman into the path of a subway train, only to learn the next morning on the news that the nightmare actually occurred, though presumably this time by suicide.

Dunham launches an investigation into the woman's death, hoping to discover if it was a suicide or, as the dream indicated, murder. Was she the murderer, however improbable that may be? Walter Bishop speculates teleportation or astral-projection may have been involved. Dunham is understandably shaken and demands definitive answers.

Later, she experiences another prescient dream, this time of a woman murdering her husband in a restaurant. Like the last dream, this concurrently occurs in reality, and Dunham is quick to investigate. She learns a man present during the murder was the same man seen on a security camera that recorded the subway death.

This suspect is identified as Nick Lane (David Call). Dunham and the Bishops are convinced he is the catalyst behind the deaths, and she is somehow linked to him, witnessing the murders through his eyes. Walter soon identifies him as a "reverse empath," whose feelings are transferred to others with deadly results.

By the episode's conclusion, Nick is captured and we learn he and Dunham were participants in Cortexiphan treatments during their childhoods. The drug apparently enhances certain "special" abilities in predisposed children. Nick recalls they underwent the procedures together, supporting each other through the ordeal, but Dunham can't recall any details.

Nick claims it was part of a series of top secret experiments and that "he was being prepared to serve as a soldier in the coming war against denizens of the parallel universe." Wow, this show is absolutely mental!

What Worked

The fact that this show is mental!

The camera menacingly gliding through the subway station tracking the mother and her child set the stage nicely. It's a simple filming technique, leading to a startling reveal and a sinking feeling that this episode is about to hit us with some zingers. Sure enough, it did.

And the closing scene is the ultimate payoff, illuminating Dunham's Cortexiphan experience during her youth, and the role Walter and William Bell played in molding who she is today.

In fact, this closing scene treats us to another cool moment, as "Star Trek's" Leonard Nimoy makes a cameo voiceover as Bell (he'll appear in person May 12).

Also interesting is the fact Dunham suffered a "Carrie" moment during her childhood Cortexiphan trip. Apparently she can be just as dangerous as Nick. This is a development that may pay dividends for her, especially with the looming threats suggested by ZFT and the Pattern.

I also appreciate the continuity of the green and red hypno-lights Walter used to guide Dunham's dreams. This flashing device first appeared in the episode "The Equation." It's a sensible move that Walter would make use of technology displayed in past episodes, and not just conveniently develop amnesia after the credits roll.

Akiva Goldsman did an outstanding job writing and directing Bad Dreams. I loved the final rooftop standoff, and the fact one poor lady was made to jump, demonstrating the formidable power at Nick's disposal. Hopefully Goldsman will return on a regular basis. For now, he concludes his Season 1 involvement May 5, penning the story for "The Road Not Taken."

What Didn't Work

Though the mystery moved at a slow burn at points, "Bad Dreams" was a solid and entertaining effort. I'm compelled to voice a past criticism though: "Fringe" should embrace these mythology episodes at bit more often.

Another concern I have is Peter's cynicism regarding some of the fantastical events that are regularly showcased on "Fringe." Though cynicism provides a nice balance to Walter's outlandish embracement of all things weird, it would be a mistake to leave Peter mired in a close-minded state. After all he has witnessed, and will witness, it's a sensible growth area for his character.

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

Fringe stars Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson, John Noble, Lance Reddick,Jasika Nicole and Kirk Acevedo. Bad Dreams was written and directed by Akiva Goldsman. Fringe airs on Fox Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET.