The cast and crew of Fringe put on an emotionally charged panel at this year’s San Diego Comic Con. As the countdown to the final season begins, fans packed the room to learn what news they could for the upcoming fifth season. Cast Members Anna Torv (Oliva), Joshua Jackson (Peter), John Noble (Walter),  Lance Reddick (Broyles), and Jasika Nicole (Astrid) shared their favorite memories from previous seasons. Tears flowed from cast and fans alike as they listened to Nicole talk about her relationship with Walter’s character and his real life counterpart, “Fortunately the relationship that John and I have in real life translated on camera, so this beautiful connection evolved in the storytelling. Astrid’s first big episode was realized because of her relationship with the doctor. It was a lovely way to explore this burgeoning relationship.”

John Noble spoke about how the defining factor of the show that keeps everyone together is love, “All the characters have developed genuine love. The love between the father and son, the love between Peter and Olivia.” This he says, is what will make the final chapter absolutely brilliant.

The panel kicked off with a tease for the final season – the video was actually comprised of clips from Season Four’s episode, “Letters of Transit,” which takes place in the year of 2036, and arguably one of the best episodes from last season. It was confirmed that the new season will take place in this future where the Observers have taken over Earth. It is up to the Fringe team, past and present, to restore the world to its rightful place.

The final season airs on September 28, 2012 on Fox.