The Observer

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The Observer

Observer
Profession	Observes & Reports	Portrayed by: Michael Cerveris
Also Known As	September, Mister Gemini (when fictionalized by Walter)
Connections	Walter and Peter Bishop, Secretive Courier, Observers
Seen In	All episodes
Remarks	Concerned About The Disappearance Of Peter Bishop
Images of The Observer

The Observer has made many cameo and central appearances, and is one of several Observers.

About

In The Arrival, the Observer is seen taking notes in a small black notebook, writing using an unknown set of characters, and, for the first time, speaking. This may be code or another language altogether, but is presumably taking notes on his observations of The Pattern.

The Observer, and possibly the other Observers, seem to have the ability to share thoughts with others telepathically; he can also read and accurately predict the thoughts of others, as he demonstrates during his encounter with Peter Bishop.

High-Tech Binoculars

It is also suggested that they are able to observe time, a suggestion supported by the rogue Observer named August in August after he prevents a girl named Christine Hollis from being on a plane that is destined to crash some hours later.

Apparently appearing at most incidents believed to be connected to The Pattern, the Observer does not seem to be involved in the direct cause of the events, but simply observing them. Although formally introduced in The Arrival, The Observer has appeared in every episode since Pilot.

In Fracture, as he eats in a diner, the Observer receives a briefcase with surveillance images of Walter from a secretive courier. The images contain data much like the images he saw through his binoculars in The Arrival.

It appears that the Observer is utilizing a specialized communicating device to contact an unknown colleague as seen in The Arrival and Brown Betty

In Walter's tall tale during Brown Betty, he is called Gemini and is referred to as a Watcher.

Background

In alternate universe 1985, The Observer enters Walternate's lab and distracts him just as the cure to Peter's genetic ailment is discovered, and lost.
In alternate universe 1985, The Observer confesses to fellow Observers that he interfered in the alternate Walternate's experiment to cure his son.
In the 1985 local universe, The Observer saved Peter and Walter Bishop from drowning after falling through frozen Lake Reiden, just after Walter abducted young Peter from the alternate universe.
He was on-hand at the first documented arrival of the Beacon at Quantico MB in 1987.

Appearance and Behavior

The Observer appears to be bald middle-aged human with very pale skin, and appears to have no eyebrows. He wears simple dark business suits, plain light-colored shirts and a simple dark tie. Outside he typically wears simple dark sunglasses along with a plain, dark fedora on his head.

He admits to Walter that he has very little sense of taste, explaining the extreme amounts of spices he adds to his food; Walter also notes he seems oblivious to cold temperatures. This implies he has dulled senses, or does not experience the 'five senses' in the same way ordinary humans do.

The Observer exhibits a calm, almost uninterested demeanor. In times when people are panicking, such as during the crane collapse in The Arrival, he acts calmly and normally.

Quotes

"It has arrived..." - (into his cell phone just after the Beacon resonated itself to the surface)
"Thank you for hiding the Beacon. I can't touch it myself. I know you have questions. Soon you will have answers." - (to Walter after Walter drugged Astrid and hid the Beacon from Mosley)
"Departure on schedule." - (into his cell phone just after the Beacon resonated itself back into the ground)
"This coin looks similar to the one you're thinking of. But it is from another place. There is more than one of everything. I have said too much, I am not supposed to get involved. I have taken you as far as I can." - (encouraging Walter to search his old beach house to find the device hidden there that can seal the gap between the parallel universes)
"They are all unique. That is not reason to interfere with the course her life was meant to take" - (to August, about his fixation with Christine Hollis)

Appearances

(See images here).

In Pilot, he walks past the Massive Dynamic building.
In The Same Old Story, he stands at the hospital desk where the rapid-aging "man-baby" lies dead.
In The Ghost Network, Olivia passes by him at the South Station rail terminal.
In The Arrival, he has a lead role throughout the episode.
In Power Hungry, he exits the doomed elevator seconds before it crashes.
In The Cure, he passes behind David Esterbrook and Olivia at the humanitarian fund-raiser.
In In Which We Meet Mr. Jones, he is seen at Frankfurt International walking away from the arrival gate.
In The Equation, he is seen while Olivia and Charlie are searching for Ben Stockton.
In The Dreamscape, he is seen behind Mark Young in the hallway after exiting the elevator.
In Safe, he is seen on the bank's security monitor.
In Bound, he is walking just behind Olivia as she parks outside of Walter's Lab.
In The No-Brainer, he stands on a corner while Olivia is driving to save Ella.
In The Transformation, he is seen standing on the soccer field just before the plane crash.
In Ability, he is seen ducking out of the way of the news vendor's grasp as the vendor stumbles down the street.
In Inner Child, he is seen walking along a snowy sidewalk, as The Child is driven away in the opposite direction.
In Unleashed, he walks behind an on-air TV news reporter as she tells of the recent animal attacks. Charlie's wife is watching.
In Bad Dreams, he crosses the street as Olivia and Peter arrive at the scene where Nick Lane is threatening to commit suicide by jumping from a building roof.
In Midnight, he passes behind Bob Dunn in The Cavern, just after the ladies man arrives and is poised to begin introducing himself.
In The Road Not Taken, he arrives to collect Walter from the Lab, speaking for the first time since The Arrival.
In There's More Than One of Everything, he escorts Walter to the old Bishop beach house and prompts him to find the device that is needed to plug the opening between parallel universes. He also accompanies Walter to an old graveyard.
In A New Day In The Old Town, he crosses the blocked street in front of the empty vehicles from Olivia's crash.
In Night Of Desirable Objects, he stands in the field near the Hughes' house, around the time Agent Jessup shows up to investigate.
In Fracture, receives and reviews photographs of Walter that were delivered by a secretive courier.
In Momentum Deferred, he is seen observing Olivia and Charlie's conversation outside of Massive Dynamic Headquarters.
In Dream Logic, he is seen walking down the stairs in Dr. Nayak's Clinic as Olivia is interviewing the nurse.
In Earthling, he walks behind Broyles at the airport, while the agent is on the phone to Olivia.
In Of Human Action, he is seen observing the police car enter the multi-level parking structure.
In August, he is seen in company of other Observers and watching Olivia in an amusement park.
In Snakehead, he walks on Ping-On Street as the triad thug is called to follow Astrid to the lab.
In Grey Matters, he stands across the street as the tactical team attempts to locate Walter's tracking device.
In Unearthed, he walks behind Agent Dunham as she talks to Maureen Donovan outside of St. Brigid's church.
In Johari Window, he is seen standing in the background as the sheriff walks out of his office and the locals from the town are gathered outside concerned.
In What Lies Below, he walks behind CDC Field Director McFadden in the tent compound when Level-6 Eradication is being coordinated.
In The Bishop Revival, he walks past the window of the diner just before the attack there.
In Jacksonville, he walks in front of a large fire truck just as Broyles and the science team are arriving in front of the building from the alternate universe.
In Peter, he accidentally distracts Walternate from discovering a cure for the other Peter's illness (in the alternate universe) and subsequently must save Walter and the other Peter from drowning in Reiden Lake (in this universe).
In Olivia. In The Lab. With The Revolver., he crosses the street in front of Miranda Greene's car, just before she dies of cancerous tumors.
In White Tulip, he stands in a doorway near the accident that kills the time-travelling astrophysicist and his fiancee.
In The Man From The Other Side, he is standing in line at the bank when Thomas Newton walks up to the teller.
In Brown Betty, he is standing down the street from Walter's house as Walter returns, concerned that "the boy" (Peter?) has not returned.
In Northwest Passage, he is standing behind the police tape with the crowd as Peter meets Sheriff Mathis.
In Over There, Part 1, he passes behind Olivia in a bar and drops a file for her to read on the seat next to her.
In Over There, Part 2, he passes behind Olivia, Walter and William Bell as they sit and talk at a fast food restaurant in the alternate universe.

Trivia

Many of the network and studio staff associated with publicizing and distrubuting FRINGE refer to the Observers' brief, recurring cameo appearances on the show as, "Where's Baldo?" - a play on the title of the popular illustrated books, "Where's Waldo?"
The press release for Peter, at FOXFlash.com, refers to the character as September.
See a Video - montage of The Observer's appearances.
He is in attendance at a presentation by Walter Bishop (Fringe Comic #1, 7th page - bottom left).
He was spotted during a NFL football game between the Giants and the Eagles, standing on the sidelines observing the game.
He was spotted during the episode of American Idol that aired before the episode Inner Child.
He was spotted at the NASCAR Sprint Cup auto race in Texas, on April 5, 2009.
He was spotted in the stands at Yankee Stadium during the bottom of the fourth inning of the Indians/Yankees game on April 18, 2009.
He was spotted sitting in the stands at the 2009 MLB All Star Game.
The Observer appeared in all 44 episodes.

Similarities To Fictional Characters

The Observer shares some commonalities with the Marvel Comics character Uatu the Watcher. Uatu is a member of the alien race known as the Watchers whose people have taken an oath to observe other species but are sworn to never to interfere with their affairs. The Watchers are depicted as being Caucasian and bald. Uatu the Watcher assigned to earth frequently observes alternate realities. The series "What If" revolved around Uatu telling the audience about how events in an alternate reality differed from those of the mainstream Marvel Universe timeline.
The Observer bears a large similarity to The G-Man of the Half Life series of first-person shooter video games. Similarities include:

Both have an identity and motives which are not entirely explained
Both display peculiar behavior and abilities beyond that of an ordinary human
Both are of a somewhat great importance in their fiction universes
Both do not seem to age
Both frequently carry briefcases

Unanswered Questions

Theories about these unanswered questions should be placed and read at The Observer/Theories

Unanswered questions
Do not answer the questions here. Keep the questions open-ended and neutral: do not suggest an answer. More details...

What is the Observer, if not human?
- If he is human, why can't he taste foods like humans can?
What are the Observer's responsibilities besides monitoring The Beacon?
- Whom is he informing of the Beacon's arrival?
- Why can't he touch the Beacon?
Did he exceed his authority by rescuing Walter and Peter?
- Did he step beyond his boundaries when he came to get Walter in The Road Not Taken?
He words things neutrally... is he actually on Walter's side?
Does he guard the border between realities?
Does his binoculars have any special function?
- Why do The Circles appear on his binoculars and communicator?
What are the symbols he writes in his notebook?
What is his connection with The Pattern events?
Why is he receiving photos of Walter in a briefcase?
Does he have any connection to the child from Inner Child?