Fringe: Burning Questions (Part I)

Now that we know that Fringe is a show about alternate universes, it's time to get some answers about how exactly all this is going to work. So we went straight to executive producers Jeff Pinkner and Joel Wyman to ask them about the show's new direction for Season 2, the future of "Charlie" and how shape-shifting figures into the big picture. Plus, this reporter had horrifying flashbacks to that nightmare called Physics 101 when Pinkner and Wyman attempted to explain how Olivia travels to and from "over there."

TVGuide.com: In the season premiere, Peter says, "We're done reacting. From now on, we call the shots." What does this mean for the structure of the show going forward?
Joel Wyman: That line is really important. We view last season as a prologue. This season focuses on the actualization of our characters and delves into their lives. Basically, Peter is going to move to the forefront, he's going to get out there and try to find some answers. Olivia is going to go through her journey of recovery. Walter is going to be investigating his emancipation.

See photos of the cast of Fringe

TVGuide.com: Will it still feel like a crime procedural or something else?
Jeff Pinkner: The show is still going to feel very much like it did last year. But when we met Peter, he was here reluctantly and he knew he could jump at any time. Over the course of the season, he became committed to his father and Olivia, developed feelings for both of them in different ways. He starts to realize that some of these cases affect him personally, that he's involved in this world in a way that he can't quite understand.

TVGuide.com: What are the lessons from Season 1?
Pinkner: In Season 1, our characters were still coming together. They were learning about each other and this world they live in. Olivia was learning about her childhood. All three of the characters were finding their sea legs.
Wyman: We discovered that the cases are intriguing and fun, and it's great to freak people out, but people definitely want to get to know our characters more. They want to understand what they're going through on a personal level.

TVGuide.com: How much longer will "Charlie" be around?
Pinkner: "Charlie" will be around for at least [one more episode].
Wyman: That's not to say he won't come back. Don't forget — there's a parallel-universe Charlie too. We've seen him already.
Pinkner: Actually, I just left a set where [Kirk Acevedo] was filming. [Editor's Note: They were producing Episodes 8 and 9 at the time of our interview.]