It’s been far too long since Fringe came to an astoundingly amazing second season finale.

While it didn’t have the same punch to the gut the first season finale did — for a New Yorker, nothing will compare with the sight of the Twin Towers still standing there in an alternate Big Apple, with Spock standing there next to Olivia — it still left us yearning for more, as Altlivia took her place in “our” universe and our Olivia begged Walternate to let her out of solitary confinement somewhere far, far from home.

We came into last night’s episode wondering how Olivia would break free (not if, but HOW) and were not disappointed when she faked not being able to breathe and then took out a room full of doctors and punched a soldier in the throat and took his gun.

Naturally, Olivia had managed to tuck the passcode in the recesses of her mind to get into the elevator and out of Walternate’s headquarters on … Liberty Island!?!?!?

And then, again, the sight of the Twin Towers, reminding us just how different this universe is.

Meanwhile, in our world, Altlivia is hanging out with Peter and Walter. I thought for sure when Peter kissed her that he’d realize she wasn’t our Olivia. Who knows – it’s still possible he already realizes it.

Knowing Olivia as we do, I can’t help but wonder when – not if, but when, Altlivia will realize Walter is not the enemy and the “war” was caused by one father’s pain in losing his son. Truth be told, two of the same fathers, losing both their sons in different ways.

Peter is the key to ending the war and Olivia/Altlivia is the person who can turn the key. The question is whether Walternate will ever be able to accept reality for what it is. And, actually, what defines reality anyway?

And we also found out Olivia’s not the first to get trapped in this alternate universe. Bubbles (sorry, after so many seasons of The Wire – #thebestshoweverontelevision – it’s hard not to think of him that way) the cab driver obviously is from “over there.”

He was too quick to trust Olivia, his comments of about how he felt he was from somewhere else and then the fact that he watched Olivia as she drove off with Not-Charlie and followed, shows that he knows something is up. Does he REALLY know or was something merely sparked in his brain that has him wondering about his life again?

So now Olivia has turned into Altlivia by seeing her mom again. The shock of seeing her alive – her death has been referred to so many times and obviously was an emotionally scarring event – flipped the switch Walternate had been prepping in Olivia to turn her into Altlivia.

Why did he want to do that? Well, Olivia Dunham – whether Over There or Over Here – is special. She’s different. How, we still don’t completely know. But if Olivia is special, then so is Altlivia.

This season’s gonna be one helluva ride.