The fifth season takes place in 2036, 24 years after the conclusion of the fourth season; in 2015. Numerous Observers from the 27th century, having made the Earth uninhabitable in their own time, traveled through time to take over the Earth from humanity, instituting a Purge to kill off a large fraction. The remaining humans are tamed in an Orwellian manner by the Observers and their human Loyalist collaborating soldiers, though an underground resistance still eludes capture by the Observers. A common scene used through this season is one where Peter, Olivia, and their young daughter Etta enjoying a picnic on the day of the Observers' arrival and conquering of the Earth in 2015; Etta goes missing in this scene during all the confusion and destruction. Walter had been warned of this by September before the Observers' appearance and, with his help, devised a plan to defeat the Observers in the future, scattering key elements across various locations and leaving messages for the future on video tapes in his lab, which he then encased in amber to protect their discovery.

S05E01 Transilience Thought Unifier Model-11
Sep 28, 2012Picking up from the ominous events of last season's Letters of Transit , the year is 2036 and the Observers rule is absolute. The Fringe team - preserved in amber for 20 years - is now a rebel resistance team fighting for freedom. Peter, reunited with his now adult daughter, Etta, sets out to find out what happened to his wife and Etta's mom - Olivia - as they begin their mission to save the world from the Observers.
1h

S05E02 In Absentia
Oct 5, 2012Determined to retrieve the plan to defeat the Observers from his memory, Walter Bishop tries again with the Thought Unifier to little avail. Olivia suggests the team revisit the old Harvard lab, now under Observer control, to try and find any potential information Walter may have documented as the team fights on in their mission to save the world.
1h

S05E03 The Recordist
Oct 12, 2012As the rogue Fringe team continues to fight off the oppressive Observers' invasion, unforeseen events lead them to a forest in rural Pennsylvania, where they encounter a strange subculture of people devoted to recording human history.
1h

S05E04 The Bullet that Saved the World
Oct 26, 2012As an act of kindness by Peter draws unwanted attention to Etta, Walter discovers the whereabouts of the second component to the Observers' downfall, forcing the team into a hostile and heavily guarded location. Elsewhere, the Observers must deal with a potential infiltrator, and Phillip Broyles resurfaces.
1h

S05E05 An Origin Story
Nov 2, 2012As the Fringe team reacts to a devastating loss, a key member resorts to extreme and brutal measures to exact revenge upon the Observers, and to find a way to defeat them by any means necessary.
1h

S05E06 Through the Looking Glass and What Walter Found There
Nov 9, 2012Olivia reaches out to Peter to mourn their loss together, but grows increasingly concerned with his distant behavior. Meanwhile, Walter continues to follow leads from his video tapes and discovers a key piece needed in the battle against the Observers.
1h

S05E07 Five-Twenty-Ten
Nov 16, 2012In their continued mission to save the world, the rogue Fringe team reaches out to Nina Sharp to help complete the next step of Walter's plan. Meanwhile, Peter begins to understand the precognitive abilities the Observers get from their technological implants, and recruits Anil to test out his newfound skills.
1h

S05E08 The Human Kind
Dec 7, 2012Olivia travels to the town of Fitchburg, looking to recover a key piece of equipment for Walter, where she encounters an intuitive and oracle-like woman named Simone. Meanwhile, Peter finds himself in a perilous situation as he observes Windmark in his personal quest to avenge Etta's death.
1h

S05E09 Black Blotter
Dec 14, 2012In attempt to recall a plan to defeat the Observers, Walter takes an LSD trip down memory lane. Meanwhile, Peter and Olivia trace a mysterious signal to the woods, where they come upon a grisly scene.
1h

S05E10 Anomaly XB-6783746
Dec 21, 2012As Windmark continues his investigation into the location of the rogue Fringe team; the team find themselves rapidly running out of time to save the world. As Peter, Olivia, Astrid, and Walter scramble to tap into a key piece of the puzzle to defeat the Observers, they enlist the aid of Nina Sharp who conjures up a risky plan.
1h

S05E11 The Boy Must Live
Jan 11, 2013With Michael having revealed the origins of the mysterious figure, Donald, Walter enters the deprivation tank in an attempt to uncover critical information hidden in his subconscious. Meanwhile, Captain Windmark travels to his future of 2609 where he meets with the Observer Commander to discuss September's past transgressions in helping the Fringe team.
1h

S05E12 Liberty
Jan 18, 2013In a final bid to save their world from the Observers, the Fringe team engages a desperate plan as Olivia embarks on a dangerous and otherworldly journey into the unknown.
1h

S05E13 An Enemy of Fate
Jan 18, 2013While Captain Windmark interrogates Broyles about the intentions of the Fringe team, Donald seeks help from an old friend as he attempts to finish plan to save the world. Elsewhere, Peter, Olivia, Walter, and Astrid prepare face off against the Observers in one extraordinary battle for the fate of mankind.
1h