I am – Hercules!!

Some notes on tonight's second-season premiere of “Fringe,” titled “A New Day in the Old Town”:

* J.J. Abrams and Akiva Goldsman script.

* 2.1 is Nimoy-free.

* 2.1 begins with vehicular mayhem, in Manhattan (where 1.20 ended, sort of).

* The first time we see the Bishops, they are shopping for Peter’s birthday. We are meant to wonder where Walter was when this Peter was born.

* There’s a new hot FBI girl on the show, Agent Amy Jessup, played by actress/model Meghan Markle, who used to open case 24 on “Deal of No Deal.”

* The teaser ends with more, and more interesting, vehicular mayhem.

* Act one begins with Broyles not bringing Jessup up to speed on what just happened in the teaser. “Sign the report, agent,” Broyles tells her. “That’s an order.”

* Astrid will babysit a doped-up Walter.

* Broyles will go to Washington, where he has a scene that reminded me of both “24” and “Iron Man 2.”

* We will learn that Broyles has a title that has nothing to do with the FBI.

* Blind Faith’s “Can’t Find My Way Home” will play as Peter enjoys a cocktail.

* Jessup will see a photo of the old-man baby from episode two.

* Peter will learn something important from Olivia’s sister.

* Ancient Greek will be spoken, as if this were an episode of “Caprica” or something.

* Walter is not part of this conversation: “There’s something I have to do and I think our lives may depend on it.” “Whose lives?” “Everyone’s.”

* Expect soon a memorable scene to generate a new “Fringe”-related entry on the Wikipedia page for the IBM Selectric typewriter.

* Josh Jackson nails the line “Oh yeah” when he’s asked about his dad’s mental health.

* We learn people from Earth II can do a LOT of stuff we can’t.

* Before episode’s end, cyborg Nina Sharp will kiss somebody.

* More dialogue to look forward to:
“Ah. You’re one of them.”
“You know, it’s been six years. I just kinda figured …”
“You tell them, I ain’t waitin’ around forever.”
“My mother used to say that to me every night before I went to bed.”

* This is a strong episode, but I suspect some fans will be disappointed in it for these reasons:

1) 2.1 is not remotely as good as 1.1.

2) At the end of season one, it looked like William Bell was about to give the audience a boatload of answers. 2.1 comes and goes and that boatload never docks. The episode will make many feel like we’ve gone back two spaces.

* Writers for the next eight episodes:
2.1 JJ Abrams & Akiva Goldsman
2.2 Jeff Pinker & J.H. Wyman
2.3 David Wilcox
2.4 Ashley Miller & Zack Stenz
2.5 Josh Singer
2.6 J.H. Wyman & Jeff Vlaming
2.7 Glen Whitman & Robert Chiappetta
2.8 J.H. Wyman & Jeff Pinkner

* Not episode titles:
Kingdom Against Kingdom
Tests
A Door Stands Open
Eat the Flesh
The Beast

9 p.m. Thursday. Fox.

Finally, 42 Years Later:
Season Two In HD!!