Fringe/Characters/ZFT

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ZFT (Zerstörung durch Fortschritte der Technologie)

ZFT - "Destruction Through Technological Progress"
ZFT is both the name of a self-published manuscript written by William Bell, and a biological terrorist organization lead by David Robert Jones, who fanatically follows the manuscript through its logical extreme. ZFT is responsible for the majority of Pattern cases throughout the first season, and is later revealed that all these were experiments to prepare for the upcoming war against the alternate universe.

Tropes associated with ZFT:
 * For Science!
 * Western Terrorists
 * Well Intentioned Extremists

David Robert Jones


Portrayed by Jared Harris "First Appearance: Season 1, Episode 7: "In Which We Meet Mr. Jones""

A high-risk criminal and biological-terrorist, Jones is directly responsible for many of the incidents involving the Pattern at the beginning. In truth however, it was revealed that he was using the ZFT manuscript for preparation of soldiers to combat the alternate universe. - Tropes associated with Jones:
 * Big Bad: Of Season 1.
 * Body Horror: Is a big fan of these.
 * The Chessmaster
 * Diabolical Mastermind
 * Evil Brit
 * Manipulative Bastard
 * Might as Well Not Be in Prison At All
 * Shout-Out: His name is actually the birth name of David Bowie.
 * Portal Cut: How he meets his end.
 * Well-Intentioned Extremist: Considering that his de facto enemy, Walternate, is a thousand times more evil than he could ever be, you could even call Jones a Guile Hero.
 * YMMV. When we first meet him, he seems to be William Bell's beliefs from the ZFT taken to their logical extreme. But then we find  and he seems to slip from this position.
 * Jared Harris, who portrays Jones, doesn't seem to think so: "I think he's a villain who might be temporarily cooperating with the forces of righteousness, but he's only doing that to pursue his own agenda. He's an opportunist. Look at what he did to that poor guy in the suit! I think he's a sociopath. He doesn't really care. But I can't really tell you for sure, because I don't know where the story's going." The interview this quote was taken from was conducted shortly before "Ability" aired.

Mitchell Loeb


Portrayed by Chance Kelly "First Appearance: Season 1, Episode 7: "In Which We Meet Mr. Jones""

An FBI agent and old friend and war buddy of Broyle's, Loeb joins the Fringe Division shortly after Olivia and the Bishops. Unknown to them, however, many of the cases that they're working on have been set in motion by Loeb himself and Jones. - Tropes associated with Loeb:
 * Badass: Infecting himself with a heart-munching parasite just to get a location confirmation? Bet your ass he's badass.
 * Body Horror: Infects himself with a heart-attaching parasite that quickly takes over one organ after another.
 * Genius Bruiser: He may not have been the Diabolical Mastermind like Jones, but he sure as hell knew how to work the very same technology that Walter and William Bell developed.
 * Giant Mook
 * Well-Intentioned Extremist

Sanford Harris


Portrayed by Michael Gaston "First Appearance: Season 1, Episode 11: "Bound""

Former Marine buddy of Broyles, Harris has a very sour history with Olivia: During their time in the military, she had him investigated and court marshaled on sexual charges. Ever since then, he's had a very low and biased opinion of her, and always made her job harder.

In the background, however, he was affiliated with ZFT, and was working on leftover Coretexiphan experiments. - Tropes associated with Harris:
 * Bitch in Sheep's Clothing
 * Jerkass
 * Jerk with a Heart of Jerk
 * Karmic Death: He was experimenting on a girl who could conjure fire with her mind. Connect the dots.
 * Kill It with Fire: Has been manipulating subjects with pyrokinetic abilities.
 * Obstructive Bureaucrat: Deliberately so, as exemplified by his image caption.
 * Smug Snake