‘Fringe’ Season 5: Which Main Character Will Die?

Death is a hallmark of television, particularly toward the end of a series.  With 'Fringe' especially, every character has skewed so close to death (sometimes even came back from it) that it's a wonder they've survived this long.  Now, with thirteen episodes remaining and a trip to the future in sight, which 'Fringe' star believes they "have to" die before the season is out?

Speaking candidly to TV Guide on the cult sci-fi hit's final season, 'Fringe' star John Noble recently ruminated on the idea that his character Walter Bishop might have to to die before the series finale in order to redeem some of his actions.  Mind you, his words are to be taken with a grain of salt, but Noble was also the one to flatly reveal that 'Fringe' season 5 would take place largely in the 2036 future glimpsed in "Letters of Transit."

But how can Walter redeem himself, for all the William Bells and universal tears he's unleashed on the world, if not through death?  Noble had a few ideas to offer on the subject:

I think they’ve got to find a way to do it.  I think they’re going to find a way to disappear him.  The storytelling mode, does it work to kill off a hero? I’m not sure that it does sometimes. You can see a person go through an enormous journey, but somewhere at the end of that journey, there’s a change — whatever the change is. It’s [usually] a change for the better, even though it may mean that person is not there.

Still, Noble doesn't believe that the writers (which we remind you, no longer includes former show-runner Jeff Pinker) would kill of the character without a strong sense of purpose.  Says Noble:

I think that would be horrible. I think the fans would storm the citadel.  But I think it would also be really honorable and dignified if they find some way for Walter to willingly end this nonsense. But I don’t actually know how they’ll do that yet.  But I believe they have to.

We certainly wouldn't want to see Walter Bishop go anytime over the course of 'Fringe's final 13 episodes, but if done right, his death would pack quite a wallop.  We'll keep checking on the fifth season of 'Fringe,' and report on the latest from Comic-Con 2012, but in the meantime, tell us what you're most excited to see in the comments!