It is happening again. It is happening again...
FOX's science-fiction series Fringe once again referenced the classic series Twin Peaks, less than a month after directly referencing Peaks character Dr. Lawrence Jacoby. Last night's episode, "Immortality," featured none other than actress Joan Chen, who played Josie Packard on Twin Peaks, as a character named Reiko who is apparently the mistress of the alternate universe version of Walter Bishop, a.k.a. "The Walternate."
In a bedroom scene, Reiko consoles Walternate, who is having doubts about being able to do anything to save his alternate Earth. "But in fact, there are lines I simply cannot cross," he tells her. "Does that make me weak?" Reiko replies, "No, it's what makes you the most brilliant man I've ever known." Walternate also expresses concern about getting his son Peter back to his Earth because of his emotional attachment to Olivia Dunham, but Reiko reassures him that he will eventually find a way. He then remarks that he trusts Reiko "more than anyone" and as the scene ends, the camera pulls back to reveal a spinning ceiling fan, an item focused on in camera shots from several Twin Peaks episodes.
Another Twin Peaks reference was made earlier in the episode, when a soon-to-be victim of the episode's villain, Dr. Anton Silva, orders a cup of coffee and a slice of cherry pie at a diner, something Peaks character Dale Cooper was very fond of doing. The name Silva could also be a reference to the late actor Frank Silva, who played the murderous spirit Killer BOB on Twin Peaks.
It seems the Fringe writing and production staff must have some serious Peaks Freaks on board, so here's hoping this isn't the last we'll see of these fun connections between the two series. Maybe it's time for FBI Regional Bureau Chief Gordon Cole to pay a visit...?