The Collapse
Two universes collide as the barrier shatters, threatening total destruction of both realities.
The merging of two parallel universes, also referred to as the destruction of both universes, represents the catastrophic convergence of realities predicted by the Observers and later witnessed firsthand by Peter Bishop. It marks the ultimate failure of the barrier between worlds, triggered by the creation of a bridge between the universes via the Machine in the alternate universe, with the primary cause being the damage to the barrier from Walter's original crossing in 1985 and subsequent events. This event threatens to erase both universes into a single, unstable singularity, though it is not the central existential threat driving the final season's narrative.
- Primary Cause
- Damage to the barrier from Walter's 1985 crossing, compounded by the creation of a bridge via Walternate's Machine
- Key Proponents
- Walter Bishop, Peter Bishop, Olivia Dunham
- Antagonistic Force
- Natural instability of the universes and Walternate's actions
- Outcome
- Prevented by Peter entering the Machine and creating a new timeline, erasing the original merging event
- Timeline Status
- Erased from the primary timeline by Peter's actions
Lore & Background
Observers from the future had foreseen this event as inevitable, warning that it would destroy both universes rather than create a unified timeline. The protagonists realized that the merging of realities would result in the annihilation of both worlds, not a new beginning. This forced Peter Bishop and his team to make an impossible choice: sacrifice one world to save the other, or find a way to reset the timeline entirely. The specific prediction of the merging is attributed to the Observers and Walter's own calculations, not to William Bell. The Observers merely predicted and warned about the event; they did not actively oppose or drive the merging.
In Their Own Story
The sky above Fringe Division turned a bruised purple, swirling with static that tasted like ozone and copper. Olivia watched as the streetlights flickered, their shadows stretching into impossible geometries before snapping back into place. Beside her, Peter gripped her hand, his knuckles white, as the hum of the machine grew to a deafening roar. The air felt heavy, pressing against their chests with the weight of two dying worlds colliding. In that moment, the boundary between 'here' and 'there' dissolved, leaving only the terrifying silence before the end.
Reader's Guide
The threat begins when the alternate Walter Bishop uses the machine to bring Observers into the primary timeline, causing the barrier to weaken significantly. As the two realities begin to merge, strange phenomena occur, including gravity failures and the appearance of people from both worlds in the same location. Peter Bishop discovers that the only way to stop the total erasure is to travel back in time and prevent the machine's initial activation or ensure its destruction before it can be misused. This requires a complex plan involving the sacrifice of key individuals and the manipulation of temporal mechanics. The climax involves a desperate race against time as the barrier crumbles completely. The team must execute their plan while being hunted by Observers who wish to preserve the collapse for their own gain, ultimately leading to a resolution that saves both universes at a great personal cost.
Did You Know?
- The merging was predicted by the Observers and Walter Bishop's own calculations, not by William Bell.
- Observers warned that the merging would destroy both universes, not create a perfect unified timeline.
- Peter Bishop's unique biology as an alternate native made him crucial to operating the Machine, which was designed to stabilize or destroy the barrier—so operating it directly involved stabilizing the barrier during the
- The event was not averted in the primary timeline; it was prevented by Peter entering the Machine and creating a new timeline, erasing the original merging event.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Collapse?
The Collapse describes the catastrophic merging of two parallel universes into an unstable singularity that threatens to erase both realities entirely. This event was predicted by William Bell and triggered when the barrier between worlds finally shattered due to excessive machine usage.
Who caused The Collapse?
While Walter Bishop's alternate timeline version built the Inter-Universal Machine, it was the overuse of this device that directly caused the barrier to fail. The Observers from the alternate universe also played a role by exploiting the weakening boundary to invade and accelerate the destruction.
What are the consequences if The Collapse happens?
If the convergence is not stopped, both universes will be destroyed as they collide and collapse into a single point of non-existence. This existential threat serves as the primary driver for the final season's plot, forcing characters to make desperate choices.
How does the story of The Collapse end?
The main protagonists successfully prevent the total erasure by restoring the barrier between the two worlds before it is too late. Although the event was averted in the primary timeline, the scars left on reality and its inhabitants remain significant.
Why is The Collapse important to Fringe lore?
It represents the ultimate failure of Walter Bishop's original experiments and the culmination of the conflict between the two timelines. This phenomenon defines the series' climax by forcing a final resolution to the long-standing war between the parallel universes.
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