Fringe

[katiemac]

X-Files meets Bones meets Alias. The series premiere is a few days away.

It's the most expensive pilot of the season--$10 million, and clocks in at 95 minutes.

Despite that hefty price tag, J.J. Abrams doesn't think the pilot truly captures his vision of the show. He calls the later episodes more focused. He also promises an easier story to follow than LOST--less sprawling mythology and more of a story-per-episode format. Although I'm sure there's still continuity, that remark does disappoint me some. I love hefty plots; Alias was at its best when it was layered. I'm sure it's a sacrifice FOX/Abrams had to make knowing the troubles ABC has had keeping viewers with Lost.

Still, I'm excited. And, you know, Joshua Jackson is back on TV so that can't be bad.

Who else is watching? Tuesday at 8:00!

[alleycat]

Well, I am now.

[childeroland]

Abrams always merits at least a peek, IMO. Fringe is looking better and better, to go by the TV spots. That lead actress reminds me of Jen Garner in the Alias pilot, her handler (is that Abaddon -sp?- from Lost?) of Dixon.

[katiemac]

Abrams always merits at least a peek, IMO. Fringe is looking better and better, to go by the TV spots. That lead actress reminds me of Jen Garner in the Alias pilot, her handler (is that Abaddon -sp?- from Lost?) of Dixon.

Yes, the Actor Most Likely to Give Me the Creeps Just by Standing in the Corner (aka Lance Reddick) is a cast member.

[kuwisdelu]

Looks like a shameless X-Files rip-off to me. I'll watch it anyway, because it's a shameless X-Files rip-off. Hell, that's why I watch Bones.

[ChaosTitan]

I'm watching it. :D

[Shadow_Ferret]

Looks like a shameless X-Files rip-off to me. I'll watch it anyway, because it's a shameless X-Files rip-off. Hell, that's why I watch Bones.
I saw the ads for it and my first thought was, "It sounds like X-Files." Which then made me think, "Cool!" (But then X-Files made me think, "That sounds like Kolchak!"

So I'll be tuning in.

[ClaudiaGray]

I will definitely give this one a shot. It looks interesting. It does look rather X-Filey, but on the other hand, I remember seeing an early promo for XF and thinking, "That's just 'Project Blue Book' all over again." The premise gets a new take each decade, I guess, and I'm eager to see this latest version.

And ABC hasn't had problems keeping viewers with "Lost." The show's ratings are no longer as high as they used to be - but it is still a very solid hit. Most series would pray to "fall" to that level of viewership.

[katiemac]

And ABC hasn't had problems keeping viewers with "Lost." The show's ratings are no longer as high as they used to be - but it is still a very solid hit. Most series would pray to "fall" to that level of viewership.

Absolutely, it still gets good numbers. But they had problems with the format, which is one reason they've settled into a Jan-May schedule than a full year commitment. They saw numbers drop each time it came back from a long break. It's a problem a lot of serialized dramas have to deal with--they keep the committed viewers, but have a hard time getting newcomers to play along.

I still haven't seen the X-Files (it's on my "I should watch this on DVD list") so Fringe is all new to me. Thank goodness for TiVo, I won't actually be able to watch it in its time slot.

[Grrarrgh]

I'm definitely watching. I'm excited for both J.J. Abrams and Joshua Jackson. Plus I'm a TV junkie whore. I usually try to catch at least the first ep or two of most things.

[JoNightshade]

I hate to be a wet blanket amidst all the excitement, but I saw the pilot a few weeks ago and couldn't stand it. I really WANTED to like it, so it was a pretty huge disappointment. (For the record, I love Lost, X-Files, etc. etc.) Basically my criticisms:

[MILD SPOILERS]
- No character chemistry whatsoever. The #1 thing going for X-Files, in my opinion, is the chemistry between Mulder and Scully. I felt like the main girl in Fringe was essentially there because she was cute. But she's cute in a very generic, uninteresting way. She had no personality and no spark. No motivation. Ten minutes into the show I was thinking, "I bet they're going to get her naked at some point, because the one thing this chick has going is her body." Was I right? Yep.
- No clarity. This show has no idea if it wants to be supernatural or science fiction. I think it might want to be soft sci fi in the sense that Heroes is, but when even the hard-core scientist that we simpletons watching the show are not supposed to understand is spouting off garbage I learned was false in my eighth grade science class - you have a problem. Gaping logical holes, a bunch of nonsense that isn't even remotely believable. Suspension of disbelief: zero.
- There were like three chase scenes, possibly more, I was counting but I've forgotten now. THREE. In one episode.
- Totally random stuff. At first you think this show is supposed to be set in modern-day America, like X-Files. Then you get halfway through the episode and some lady WHIPS OFF THE SKIN OF HER ARM and reveals a robot arm. WTF? Where the HECK did that come from and what century am I in?
- Mysterious scary black man. I'm sorry, I'm getting really, REALLY tired of this cliche. Really.

[Enzo]

You guys have me interested.
I liked the first few seasons of Alias - until it fell apart for me with all that Rambaldi mumbo jumbo - and I love Lost.
But I'll probably have to wait until Fringe is a huge success Stateside before they show it here in Asia - at least a year from now.

[Overkill]

As a big fan of Lost, i am really looking forward to FRINGE, tonight on Fox. It has gotten a great deal of hype which means the show almost never measures upto that but i will watch anyway. It strikes me as a kind of anti- opposite, X-fILES. Science holds all the explanations here while paranormal explanations are out the window.

I hope it goes well because i have been waiting a while for this one.

[III]

When I heard the promos for this, I thought they were saying "Friends" so I thought it was a new version of Friends. Then when I realized it was called "Fringe" I thought it would be a spin-off of Friends with all the characters who just hung around but weren't really ready to commit to being friends. J.J. Abrams really confuses me.

[Jcomp]

I plan to watch tonight, and I really don't have too many TV premiers intrigue me, but I've been waiting for this show. It looks interesting.

[Shadow_Ferret]

As a big fan of Lost, i am really looking forward to FRINGE, tonight on Fox. It has gotten a great deal of hype which means the show almost never measures upto that but i will watch anyway. It strikes me as a kind of anti- opposite, X-fILES. Science holds all the explanations here while paranormal explanations are out the window.

I hope it goes well because i have been waiting a while for this one.I'm not a big fan of Lost and I'm still looking forward to it. :)

isn't there already a Fringe thread somewhere?

I plan to watch tonight, and I really don't have too many TV premiers intrigue me, but I've been waiting for this show. It looks interesting.
It's TONIGHT? I have to set up my DVR!

[ChaosTitan]

isn't there already a Fringe thread somewhere?


Now there's only one. :)


Tonight at 8pm, EDT.

[kuwisdelu]

I hate to be a wet blanket amidst all the excitement, but I saw the pilot a few weeks ago and couldn't stand it. I really WANTED to like it, so it was a pretty huge disappointment. (For the record, I love Lost, X-Files, etc. etc.) Basically my criticisms:

[MILD SPOILERS]
- No character chemistry whatsoever. The #1 thing going for X-Files, in my opinion, is the chemistry between Mulder and Scully. I felt like the main girl in Fringe was essentially there because she was cute. But she's cute in a very generic, uninteresting way. She had no personality and no spark. No motivation. Ten minutes into the show I was thinking, "I bet they're going to get her naked at some point, because the one thing this chick has going is her body." Was I right? Yep.
- No clarity. This show has no idea if it wants to be supernatural or science fiction. I think it might want to be soft sci fi in the sense that Heroes is, but when even the hard-core scientist that we simpletons watching the show are not supposed to understand is spouting off garbage I learned was false in my eighth grade science class - you have a problem. Gaping logical holes, a bunch of nonsense that isn't even remotely believable. Suspension of disbelief: zero.
- There were like three chase scenes, possibly more, I was counting but I've forgotten now. THREE. In one episode.
- Totally random stuff. At first you think this show is supposed to be set in modern-day America, like X-Files. Then you get halfway through the episode and some lady WHIPS OFF THE SKIN OF HER ARM and reveals a robot arm. WTF? Where the HECK did that come from and what century am I in?
- Mysterious scary black man. I'm sorry, I'm getting really, REALLY tired of this cliche. Really.


I'm watching it now. I completely agree. I've stopped paying attention, because it's not all that interesting and the characters are so generic. Such a shame :( I was really hoping this could be a half-decent X-Files replacement for me. Oh well, I still have Bones.

And wtf was up with the floating location text??

[childeroland]

Decent, but X-Files and Millennium did this stuff already, and better.

[Shadow_Ferret]

Drat! Drat! Drat my stupid short term memory.

I missed it!

[Jcomp]

What the hell, I'll go ahead and say I'm on board. It's not the greatest thing I've seen on TV, but I find the ideas intriguing. The floating location captions are a terrible idea though. Get rid of those.

Otherwise, this gets my stamp of approval. I'll be back again to watch next Tuesday.

[ChaosTitan]

I got a kick out of it. It was great to see Joshua Jackson in a grown-up role, and I thought he had good father/son chemistry with John Noble. Would have liked to see more of Kirk Acevedo (he doesn't play a good guy often enough).

It had some good quotes, and I loved the shot of the Bishop's and Random FBI Assistant Chick sitting on a sofa with the cow standing behind them. :D

[Shadow_Ferret]

Oh, good. It plays again Sunday. I set up my DVR this time.

[rugcat]

I hate to be a wet blanket amidst all the excitement, but I saw the pilot a few weeks ago and couldn't stand it. I really WANTED to like it, so it was a pretty huge disappointment. (For the record, I love Lost, X-Files, etc. etc.)That's the best news I've heard all day. I DO NOT NEED ANOTHER SHOW I HAVE TO WATCH!

I don't have enough time as is.

[katiemac]

Not the Greatest Show Ever, but I'll give it a few episodes to find its groove. My biggest problems were the major leaps in logic--getting a functional lab back after 17 years, getting an FBI agent's body TO that lab, and oh yeah! Pump me full of LSD crazy scientist man.

Being a J.J. show, the robotic arm didn't really bug me. Massive Dynamic (poor name, sadly) = Hanso Foundation. So what we have here is a more in-your-face version of what goes on, pardon the pun, on fringe of the LOST island. Plus Sydney Bristow.

That theory alone will have me on board for awhile.

[StoryG27]

I watched it and wasn't impressed. I have a lot of shows I love to watch, but this is one I'll probably only watch again if nothing I actually really enjoy is on.

[katiemac]

I watched it and wasn't impressed. I have a lot of shows I love to watch, but this is one I'll probably only watch again if nothing I actually really enjoy is on.

I'd have probably said the same thing if it wasn't a J.J. Abrams show. I've read the pilot episode isn't really his vision for the show as a whole, but I think the end of the episode--the case files of mysterious occurences--is a better indication of what's to come.

Plus, I've watched every single show Abrams has created from pilot to finale (and will with Lost), so I can't break that trend without giving this one another shot.

However, I do want to know how that $10 mil was spent.

[Jcomp]

Massive Dynamic (poor name, sadly)

Awesome name, though, if you're a dude working in a certain...industry...

[Leah J. Utas]

"Excellent. Let's make some LSD."

I got a kick out of it. And I loved the cow.
I'm in for a while anyway. Have to see how the next few eps play out.

[Chameleon]

I don't know about you guys..I'm definitely going to be watching it (though the soundtrack to the show is highly reminiscent of Lost..which I've stopped watching).

Didn't the head homeland security guy remind you of the Haitian from Heroes???

The minute whats-her-name professed her love to her partner..I knew he was going to die.

[P.H.Delarran]

there were some things that were irritating to me, like the lab being left as-is for what, 16 years? and the actress has yet to convince me, and she could use aa little more help in supporting roles, but there's nice chemistry with her and the mad-scientist's son, and with the mad scientist himself.
a few kinda predictable spots,although I was surprised that John was a bad guy, didn't see that coming, although I did smell something fishy about the relationship and the way the head FBI guy seemed to know about it.

but it was the cow that did it for me. that hint of humor along with some of the lines by the son directed at the looney scientist. add that to somewhat intriguing story possibilities and I'll check it out again, if I'm free..

[Overkill]

I watched, and enjoyed. Sure, as others stated there were some logic leaps but, all in all, i enjoyed the show and the ideas it is presenting. I really like Noble as Walter Bishop and the shot with the cow behind them was great. Bad corp name, probably, but it still intrigued me enough to come back.

I guess it all depends the standard which you hold to the program. I just watch to enjoy, when im not reading, and escape and this show did the trick for me.

Floating captions, annoying.

See ya all next week, maybe.

[Sheryl Nantus]

mildly interesting if only for the fact that the scientist keeps reminding me of Robert Preston.

I keep expecting him to burst into song any moment.

:D

[Jcomp]

The minute whats-her-name professed her love to her partner..I knew he was going to die.

So did I. But I like the way it was executed (pun shamelessly intended).

[jst5150]

I watched it until 42 minutes in. Then gave up. Some critique points:

-- The kid's got a 190 IQ and he dresses like the cover of GQ and he talks like a street-wise New Yorker? Really? I preferred him playing poker in "Ocean's Eleven."
-- The mad scientist doc. I liked him a Denathor. Not as kooky "I can do anything with some bailing wire and LSD. Wanna Teleport?" guy.
-- The lead actress was flat. Lifeless. And the "love" connecton between her and the transparent lovey fling didn't work.
-- As PH said, a lab left for 17 years? It's FREAKING HARVARD. Like they wouldn't tidy up and repurpose.
- Not sure who her boss was (the DHS guy), but it was apparrent he was trying his best Laurence Fishburne meets Avary Brooks as "Hawk" from "Spenser For Hire." I just saw Avary Brooks at DragonCon. And Avary still rules the roost.
-- Just a lot of cliched TV stuff all around. The angry boss. The "I've got a file on you so work for us" angle.

I didn't pick this thing apart until that 42nd minute. And then it just went off the rails.

Won't watch it again.

And, yes, the military still works in "fringe" sciences. We're working on teleportation AND invisibility right now (at least, according to stuff we (the Air Force) has released. :)

[Shadow_Ferret]

I DO NOT NEED ANOTHER SHOW I HAVE TO WATCH!

I don't have enough time as is.

II have a lot of shows I love to watch, but this is one I'll probably only watch again if nothing I actually really enjoy is on.
I'm just curious. What do you guys watch? Except for some Discovery Channel shows and Ghost Hunters on Sci-Fi, I can't think of one show out there that interests me.
-- The kid's got a 190 IQ I understand he's nowhere near as smart as I am, but you have to have a dunce on every show for comic relief.

[katiemac]

The minute whats-her-name professed her love to her partner..I knew he was going to die.

I soon as I saw him, I said, "Five bucks he's evil. Or dies." Someone owes me 10 dollars.

I thought the lead (Anna Torv) has a bit of a Jennifer Garner look to her.

[Shadow_Ferret]

Finally saw the encore presentation -- after I fastforwarded through all the horrible "Day the Earth Stood Still" crap -- and I'll say it wasn't bad. I don't mind the characters that much, the story seemed good enough, and the acting was OK. I don't know if I'll watch it regularly, Tuesday is already booked for shows we watch and DVR. Dad loses out. Again.



II thought the lead (Anna Torv) has a bit of a Jennifer Garner look to her.Who's Jennifer Garner?

I thought this girl was just OK. Not very pretty, just so-so. However, if they plan on bikini scenes for her every week I might be more inclined to tune-in.

[Jcomp]

I liked the preview they showed of the next ep with some poor girl suddenly becoming "pregnant" with... something. Very unsettling. Obviously, as kuwisdelu mentioned, it's the latest attempt at the X-Files formula (which was essentially the Kolchak formula, just taken seriously and liberally sprinkled with pseudo-science), but I think this one could work.

[Shadow_Ferret]

I take humbrage to your statement that Kolchak was not taken seriously. I think it was very serious as far as the supernatural horror element. I mean, it did have some humor, Kolchak's manner of dress and treatment by the police, but on the whole, I think it was a serious show. Maybe the poor budget with some rather cheesy special effects and costumes is what makes you think it wasn't serious? Because some, like the werewolf, were rather horrible.

But yeah, the pregnant girl with the alien baby, reminded me of Alien and It's Alive.

[C A Winters]

It was so-so. I'll watch again. The pregnant girl was a hook. And of course we have to find that daddy that dumps her in front of the hospital.

One thing that bugged me was the time line. Did they mention a date that I didn't catch? We have these people accomplishing complicated feats in no time flat. Near the end we hear the Doc say the transparent has 24 hours to live, and they do all kinds of feats that take days or many hours in say, CSI Miami's or Bone's lab. They need to let us know if the premise is futuristic. The bionic arm and floating fonts make me think in the future.

[Jcomp]

I take humbrage to your statement that Kolchak was not taken seriously. I think it was very serious as far as the supernatural horror element. I mean, it did have some humor, Kolchak's manner of dress and treatment by the police, but on the whole, I think it was a serious show. Maybe the poor budget with some rather cheesy special effects and costumes is what makes you think it wasn't serious? Because some, like the werewolf, were rather horrible.

But yeah, the pregnant girl with the alien baby, reminded me of Alien and It's Alive.

Well, I did enjoy Kolchak. Me & my pops used to watch it in syndication, and he used to talk about it and the Norliss Tapes as apparent inspiration to the X-Files.

I just meant that The X-Files practically removed all hint of humor or quirkiness from the concept. It took the subject matter almost dreadfully seriously. Kolchak had a fair amount of levity in the stories, though the episodes always got deadly serious and intense during the climax. The X-Files had so little humor that they had to insert entire humor-based episodes to sort of make up for it.

That's all I meant. Now give me back that umbrage you've taken... I was using that...

[Shadow_Ferret]

The bionic arm and floating fonts make me think in the future.
I guess I just thought it was now. I assumed the bionic arm was something that tech company works on in secret, it's not publicly known or available yet, but to employees, its a benny.

The floating fonts just made me think someone likes Photoshop.

But yes, that timeline of 24 hours and then they seemed to do things that would take longer... reminded me of why I don't watch "24." Doing the improbable within an impossible deadline.

[C A Winters]

... reminded me of why I don't watch "24." Doing the improbable within an impossible deadline.

That too. Plus, back to the fonts--they gave the city that Goshen City look from the Batman cartoons.

[katiemac]

Who's Jennifer Garner?

I thought this girl was just OK. Not very pretty, just so-so. However, if they plan on bikini scenes for her every week I might be more inclined to tune-in.

She's the actress who helmed Alias, another of Abrams's shows. They don't look identical by any means, but there was something about Torv's acting, and probably the fact they play government agents, that reminded me of Garner.

[Shadow_Ferret]

That too. Plus, back to the fonts--they gave the city that Goshen City look from the Batman cartoons.
I actually kinda like them. There was a scene where the fonts stayed stationary and the camera perspective changed and you were looking at them from underneath. I thought that was interesting.

[kuwisdelu]

The X-Files had so little humor that they had to insert entire humor-based episodes to sort of make up for it.

The non-humorous episodes had some humor in them, too. And the comedic episodes are pretty ingenious, in my opinion. It doesn't hurt that my sense of humor is exactly the same as David Duchovny's. Apparently, though, no one else thinks we're quite as funny as we do...

"How do I get this off my hand without betraying my cool exterior?"



"Whatever tape you found in that VCR, it's not mine."
"Good, because I put it in the drawer with those other tapes that aren't yours."

[Shadow_Ferret]

Oh, did anyone notice the hairless ferret in one of the cages?

[jst5150]

Oh, did anyone notice the hairless ferret in one of the cages?
Was it hairless or transparent, like how the dude turned after the explosion?

And ... were you admiring and thinking of a personal grooming choice when you saw it? ;)

[Shadow_Ferret]

We're those animals all supposed to be diseased and transparent? Wouldn't they have been contagious, like the guy on the plane? Most of those animals just looked hairless to me.

[jst5150]

I'd go with hairless. But maybe the budget wasn't there for transparent.

Oh, and did anyone notice how much the lead looked like Cate Blanchette?

We're those animals all supposed to be diseased and transparent? Wouldn't they have been contagious, like the guy on the plane? Most of those animals just looked hairless to me.

[Shadow_Ferret]

I had to Google Cate Blanchette. I have no idea who she is, but yeah, she looks like the lead in this.

[katiemac]

Ok, I'm officially disappointed. I don't think the writing is nearly as good as other Abrams shows. There's an inherent problem with the scientist character--he knows everything, so there's no mystery. Anything that could remain a mystery is solved quickly thanks to the FBI agent and Jackon's character.

[Chasing the Horizon]

I actually kind of like Fringe (quite a compliment from me, I don't like much). The ideas behind it are interesting, and the mad scientist is just so funny. I could care less how 'realistic' different elements and technologies are. I mean, the show's pretty much sci-fi anyway, isn't it?

The main way I can see Fringe losing my interest is if there's too much of the blonde FBI agent (who I can't help comparing with Scully, a comparison in which anyone else will always come up painfully short), and not enough of the mad scientist (or the mad scientist stops acting like where he really belongs is a mental institution). These days it always seems to be the characters rather than the plots that lose me with shows.

[Shadow_Ferret]

I forgot it was on again and I failed to DVR it. I guess that means subconsciously, I'm just not interested.

[ChaosTitan]

I enjoyed last night's episode. More than the premiere, I think, because we're getting into the meat of the series, rather than the set-up (although i was giggling to myself at the obvious "in case you missed the pilot, here's the team so far" bit in the conference room).

I'm still enjoying the rapport between Walter and Peter. And now we've got a little mystery going on with Peter. Medical condition? Hmmmmm?

[Enzo]

I hope the mad scientist isn't too mad, because that would be a cliche, wouldn't it.

[katiemac]

I enjoyed last night's episode. More than the premiere, I think, because we're getting into the meat of the series, rather than the set-up (although i was giggling to myself at the obvious "in case you missed the pilot, here's the team so far" bit in the conference room).

I'm still enjoying the rapport between Walter and Peter. And now we've got a little mystery going on with Peter. Medical condition? Hmmmmm?

I agree this last one was a better episode than the premiere. But since I'm already picking up on it, I'm worried there's going to be too much explainable weird science in the sense that everything will be "oh, luckily I experimented with that 30 years ago and it all works even though it was just theory." I realize that's, you know, the point of the scientist but ... it still feels lacking.

I like Peter's character, and the "little" mysteries they're setting up much more than the monster baby of the week.

[ChaosTitan]

"oh, luckily I experimented with that 30 years ago and it all works even though it was just theory." I realize that's, you know, the point of the scientist but ... it still feels lacking.


Heh. Actually, that seems to be not only the point of Walter's character, but also the point of the entire series. These experiments existed. Walter was committed. His partner stole the research, established mega-corp Massive Dynamic, and now the experiments are running amok.

It's explained science, rather than the mystical/alien/MotW that "The X-Files" made their bread-n-butter on.

[Shadow_Ferret]

It's explained science, rather than the mystical/alien/MotW that "The X-Files" made their bread-n-butter on.
But it's explained within the framework of this story. There's a term for that and I can't remember what it is, but I don't care for it. I can handle it happening in the first episode, but for it to be on-going, if everything is explained through his experiments of 35 years ago that is going to get old very fast.

Whereas the X-Files, though it did have some backstory -- Muldar's sister being taken or whatever it was -- much of the mystical/alien stuff was taken from real urban myths and legends.

If this one was like the X-Files, or Supernatural, they'd have the story revolve around REAL fringe science, real urban myths, and then they try to solve it from that perspective.

And really, that supermegasecret corporation that stole his ideas as the constant enemy will get old real quick too, like cartoons that always have the same villian week after week. The Thundercats always facing Mumm-Ra. The TMNT always facing Shredder. The Smurfs always facing Gargamel.

[ChaosTitan]

If this one was like the X-Files, or Supernatural, they'd have the story revolve around REAL fringe science, real urban myths, and then they try to solve it from that perspective.

But it's not like those shows. What the X-Files and Supernatural do *has been done*. Fringe is trying to do it differently. Whether that's a boon or a curse, only time will tell.

It's amusing, because folks constantly complain that shows on TV are all the same. No one does anything original anymore. And here we get a show that's different from what's already been done, and we say "but it's not like the other shows."

:ROFL:

And really, that supermegasecret corporation that stole his ideas as the constant enemy will get old real quick too, like cartoons that always have the same villian week after week. The Thundercats always facing Mumm-Ra. The TMNT always facing Shredder. The Smurfs always facing Gargamel.

It may get old. Again, I think we need more episodes to know for sure.

But didn't critics have the same complaint about "Lost" and "Prison Break"? How do you take what seems like a limited concept and stretch it out over more than one season, without getting old?

[Shadow_Ferret]

But it's not like those shows. What the X-Files and Supernatural do *has been done*. Fringe is trying to do it differently. Whether that's a boon or a curse, only time will tell.
Though I don't want them to be the same, I don't want them taking what seems like a tired convention ("I know everything, I've done everything, that's just like THIS experiment") and trying to spread it out through an entire series.

But didn't critics have the same complaint about "Lost" and "Prison Break"? How do you take what seems like a limited concept and stretch it out over more than one season, without getting old?Well, I stopped watching Lost after the 6th episode because I got bored with it and never even tuned in to Prison Break because I knew I would.

As I said, I missed this last episode and it doesn't appear they'll be having an encore, so now I'm debating if it's even worth getting into a series I've already missed an episode of.

[Jcomp]

But didn't critics have the same complaint about "Lost" and "Prison Break"? How do you take what seems like a limited concept and stretch it out over more than one season, without getting old?

My thing about a lot of shows like this, they should be limited to about 3-4 seasons, tops. There are clearly filler episodes (and some might argue entire filler seasons) in Lost. I remember liking the first one and a half seasons of Prison Break, but after a while it just got tiresome to me.

I know that from a financial perspective they need to milk the franchise for all it's worth, but from a pure creative standpoint, I think that these franchises try too hard to stretch cool ideas into 6-7 seasons.

About Fringe, I dug the 2nd episode. I'm waiting to see how it plays out. It doesn't have the "wow" factor X-Files did when it first hit, but I think it has potential. The hype probably hurts it more than the on-screen product at this point.

[ChaosTitan]

The hype probably hurts it more than the on-screen product at this point.

Great point, Jcomp. So many shows, nowadays, get these huge advertising campaigns and production companies sink millions into making sure pilots get huge draws. Especially the expensive pilots, because producers want to make sure their baby makes money out of the gate. Sometimes it works (like with Lost). Sometimes it backfires (take your pick).

On the other hand, I never even noticed X-Files until its second season. It was a sleeper hit that got more and more popular as time went by. Of course, this was more than ten years ago, when networks were more willing to let a show find an audience.

[Shadow_Ferret]

On the other hand, I never even noticed X-Files until its second season. It was a sleeper hit that got more and more popular as time went by. Of course, this was more than ten years ago, when networks were more willing to let a show find an audience.
X-Files was already starting in reruns when I finally discovered it, probably when it was in its 3rd or 4th season. I kept hearing people talk about it at work so I finally tuned in.

Buffy was in it's 5th or 6th season before I ever watched an episode.

[ClaudiaGray]

I don't think "Fringe" has the pizazz or smarts of "Alias" or "Lost," and so far I've found it uneven. But I think the premise and casting are solid, so I will give it a few more episodes to get it together.

It had a huge ratings bump this week -- gained almost 50% from its debut audience, which is largely due to "House" bleedover but also suggests good word of mouth and excellent audience retention. So it looks like "Fringe" will probably get at least a full season to work out the problems it has so far.

[kuwisdelu]

Though I don't want them to be the same, I don't want them taking what seems like a tired convention ("I know everything, I've done everything, that's just like THIS experiment") and trying to spread it out through an entire series.
Well, I stopped watching Lost after the 6th episode because I got bored with it and never even tuned in to Prison Break because I knew I would.

Agreed. It's a good idea for an episode or two, but they better shake it up soon, because I don't think that can sustain a series.

[katiemac]

But didn't critics have the same complaint about "Lost" and "Prison Break"? How do you take what seems like a limited concept and stretch it out over more than one season, without getting old?

I never watched Prison Break, but Lost was more multi-layered than "we're on an island." They did start to lose people on the flashbacks, but they solved that issue rather brilliantly.

I think the major problem I've had is the writing. I could get behind the crazy science if it was explained better--it's not the science itself I have a problem with. I get the point is Walter's stolen experiments, but I wish he wasn't the only one who knew about them. It makes it seem all too easy. In the pilot, for example, I kind of thought it would make more sense if when Olivia was investigating him, she discovered whatever the mind link experiment was on her own, with some kind of proof it could work. Then in her desperation, she mentions it to Walter instead of crazy old man saying "woohoo! once I made up this theory, let's test it." I realize trying to rewrite a show is silly, but I'm needing the science and mad puzzles to be a little more grounded.

If Peter and Walter start working together more and making up new experiments based on Walter's, I think I could accept that a little easier.

[AdamH]

The second episode of "Fringe" was great!

But it's still only the second episode. It's obvious that the writer's have grander plotlines they're going to ease into. At this point, I've negated my nitpicking of a series until I'm at least five episodes in. Some shows take that long to hit their stride. If they haven't by then, they probably won't. Still it has great potential.

I didn't see the potential of Lost or X-Files back when they started. I watched the first episode of Lost and didn't like it. Then a friend of mine lent me the series half-way through season two. I didn't give Lost a chance that first season because I gave up on it too soon. I ended up gobbling up the first season in a week. And with the exception of a low point with the first six eps in Season 3, Lost has become one of my all-time favourite shows.
Same with X-Files, I didn't give it the time of day when it was on. Then a friend (same friend) lent me the whole series. And I couldn't believe I passed on it all those years ago.

Fringe may work...it may not work. I'll get back to you after the fifth episode. :)

[TheAntar]

It's amusing, because folks constantly complain that shows on TV are all the same. No one does anything original anymore. And here we get a show that's different from what's already been done, and we say "but it's not like the other shows."

Hmm. I just finished epi 2 and I almost turned it off twice. Once when they showed the puddle on the ground for like 5 seconds, before the bad guy drove through it with his next victim. I was like, omg a car splashing in a puddle. Never seen that before. Gah.

Second thing was with the eyeball pulled half out of the dead girl's head. It looked fake as hell, and completely, 100% pointless in the scope of the explanation given as to why.

Oh there was a third time too -- when Walter says something about how a muscle relaxant would freeze her neural pathways. What? How? Who the hell wrote that tripe line? And they didn't notice even when the actor had to say the line? Bah.

I'm not very impressed so far. They need to go in a bit different direction if you ask me -- letting Walter work on NEW ideas instead of everything being one of his old experiments 'gone wrong' which isn't GETTING old, it already is.

[Grrarrgh]

Ok. I just watched episode 2. Did they really hook the dead woman up to a computer monitor in order to retrieve the last image she saw from her retina? Did that happen, or did I imagine it? Because that might be the most insane thing I've seen on TV in a long time, and I've seen every episode of Lost so far.

[shawkins]

Just watched the first four eps yesterday. Not bad, but I agree with all the people upthread who said they liked a little more substance in their made up science.

It will retain its place on my TiVo, but I don't think I'll proselytize.


Oh, and if you're curious but don't have TiVo, Fox has all the episodes (full eps, not 3 min. recaps) streaming from their website.

I just meant that The X-Files practically removed all hint of humor or quirkiness from the concept. It took the subject matter almost dreadfully seriously

Did you see the X-Files episode where the actor who played Kolchak guest starred? IIRC, at one point Scully asked Mulder "Who the hell is this guy?" and Mulder answered "He did some early work on the X-Files." That tickled me.

I take humbrage to your statement that Kolchak was not taken seriously.

If it's any consolation, when I was about six I somehow managed to watch one episode that scared the living crap out of me. (Haunted black suit of armor puts the wack on...somebody). I had trouble getting to sleep for weeks. I need to track that one down and see how it holds up.

I thought the lead (Anna Torv) has a bit of a Jennifer Garner look to her.

To me she looked like a blonde Kate (from Lost). JJ Abrams has fairly particular taste in women, apparently.

[Cranky]

Hmm. I'm almost embarrassed to admit it, but I'm really liking Fringe, which is funny. I ended up watching it on FOX on Demand because I was bored, and...well, I like it.

I like the interplay between Peter and Walter, and yes, I'm intrigued about Peter's "medical condition". Amongst other things. The science stuff I'm taking with a grain of salt, because I know nothing about it, so I don't really care as long as they aren't obviously boneheaded too often.

Overall, a fun show that I'm going to keep watching, at least for now. :)

[ChaosTitan]

I like the interplay between Peter and Walter, and yes, I'm intrigued about Peter's "medical condition".

This is the clincher for me. It's not a perfect show, and the science is a little nutty. But I watch a show for the characters, and right now, Peter and Walter are one of my favorite TV odd couples (up there with Booth & Bones, and Shawn & Gus). Their interplay makes it for me.

Plus...you know....it's Pacey! :D

[Cranky]

This is the clincher for me. It's not a perfect show, and the science is a little nutty. But I watch a show for the characters, and right now, Peter and Walter are one of my favorite TV odd couples (up there with Booth & Bones, and Shawn & Gus). Their interplay makes it for me.

Plus...you know....it's Pacey! :D

Pacey? That must be a show I didn't watch. He looks familiar, though, but I don't know why...

And I'm with you on the odd couple thing. (I lurves Booth and Bones, too.)

[ChaosTitan]

Pacey? That must be a show I didn't watch. He looks familiar, though, but I don't know why...


"Dawson's Creek." ;) But I've been a fan of Joshua Jackson since he debuted in The Mighty Ducks.

[Cranky]

"Dawson's Creek." ;) But I've been a fan of Joshua Jackson since he debuted in The Mighty Ducks.

Ah, okay then. Thanks for clearing that up. It was actually bugging me a little that I couldn't place him. :D

[katiemac]

This is the clincher for me. It's not a perfect show, and the science is a little nutty. But I watch a show for the characters, and right now, Peter and Walter are one of my favorite TV odd couples (up there with Booth & Bones, and Shawn & Gus). Their interplay makes it for me.

Plus...you know....it's Pacey! :D

I'm liking it better. They've pulled back a little with the wild experiments that "just work" and the last two episodes have had Walter investigating new stuff. So, that works for me.

Plus this new creepy guy ... The Observer? Intriguing. Anyone else think he's been reanimated?


*sigh* Pacey.

[Cranky]

I'm liking it better. They've pulled back a little with the wild experiments that "just work" and the last two episodes have had Walter investigating new stuff. So, that works for me.

Plus this new creepy guy ... The Observer? Intriguing. Anyone else think he's been reanimated?


*sigh* Pacey.

Possibly. Or an alien, I suppose. His fetish for extremely hot food and warm water is a definite arrow towards the reanimation thingy. Hey! A different kind of vampire...needs hot peppers to keep him alive instead of blood. :D

[Ziljon]

I just found this show on Hulu.com this past weekend and watched all four episodes. Wow! I love it!

That actor who plays the crazy father (I'm too lazy to look up his name) is friggin brilliant! And I love the Observer--and his strange handwriting.

And I love the music. And how come I can't get a show like that to score!:(

I guess I never watch FOX because I had no idea it was a new show. What a nice surprise!

[P.H.Delarran]

so, is anyone still watching this?
it has become my favorite show this season.
this week's show had my whole bunch here on the edge of our seats, pardon the cliche.
I like how it combines suspense, intrigue, drama, and just enough creepy factor.
I was a little concerned at the direction it may take when the big guy came to investigate the Fringe team and it turned out there was history between him and Olivia. I don't know, seemed kinda unoriginal to play that card, as if it's too G rated or something so we gotta add some scumbag sexual predator to the mix to keep it competitive with all the other shock dramas out there, but so far they aren't over playing that angle.

[ChaosTitan]

I'm watching the end of Tuesday's episode right now. :) Still a fan. Still loving on Joshua Jackson and Kirk Acevedo.

[Sneaky Devil]

I absolutely love Fringe. Adore Joshua Jackson (huge DC fan) and love the character of Walter. I love how quirky he can be.

:D

[Cranky]

I'm skipping straight down to the reply box to avoid any spoilers...I still have Tuesday's ep on my DVR!

Thanks for bumping this, so I'll watch it tonight after homework...been too wrapped up in other things. :)

[fubar22195]

Watching FRINGE right now. Anyone know how to [for free] find out who reps Joshua Jackson? Or would be willing to share his agent's contact info if you already know it?
Thanks-
fubar22195

[Michael]

You guys have me interested.
I liked the first few seasons of Alias - until it fell apart for me with all that Rambaldi mumbo jumbo - and I love Lost.
But I'll probably have to wait until Fringe is a huge success Stateside before they show it here in Asia - at least a year from now.

Can you watch Hulu? I don't know what's available in different parts of the world, but I've watched every episode online so far. Try it, if you haven't already.

Yeah, some of it is a bit off, but I love it. Sorry, all, but personally I think this is better than X-Files (so far). I must admit the impossible feats in a short amount of time did have me raising my eyebrows, but I let it go.

Episode 11 bugged me a little too, with the "virus." Even if it's supposed to be "pseudo-science" (as the characters themselves have referred to it), I've always understood that viruses do not have cells. Can't be a complete cell if it doesn't have DNA. Now if he'd said bacterial, that's another story. I still didn't care. The rest of the show more than made up for it.

Also, I didn't really understand the lab to be completely intact after 17 years. The way I saw it, the only thing that actually remained was the tank. Everything else that was in there was just sort of thrown in for storage and had to be removed so Walter could "restore" his lab.

I'm with some of you, anyway. Best show I've seen in a long time (that wasn't anime - haha).

[katiemac]

Watching FRINGE right now. Anyone know how to [for free] find out who reps Joshua Jackson? Or would be willing to share his agent's contact info if you already know it?
Thanks-
fubar22195

Theresa Peters with United Talent Agency, as of Oct. 2008.

Oddly enough I have his (supposed) phone number. But I've never called it.

[small axe]

I enjoy FRINGE, the actors and characters are appealing, but I must admit that the overall story hasn't quite caught me up yet ... dunno why. It's not like every show has to BE the same conspiracy-rush as X-FILES, or as weird as LOST ... but FRINGE just hasn't come together for me.

At first I though "jeez, the Dawson Creek guy? Really? well, at least it's not the pumpkin headed, lantern jawed freek Dawson ..."

But I gotta admit, the one they've got is quite good.

I want a mega-conspiracy, a big ol' honkin' story arc.
Mostly, I like it when the FBI chick is floating around in the Isolation tank in her lingerie. :)

though (and it's true) the most stunning scene in FRINGE so far was the one where the mad scientist is watching TV with the cow, and he looks at the cow, and the cow looks at him, and ... well ... they exchanged a conspiratorial look, i swear!

It just needs to come together a bit, then it will rawk!

[MattW]

I've given it a chance, and I didn't dislike anything about it, but it never grabbed me.

5 episodes were on my DVR unwatched for weeks. I just deleted and have moved on...

[P.H.Delarran]

it's finally back.
did anyone watch it last night?
not as freakish as some episodes, but the drama was very compelling. the chemistry between the boy and Olivia was awesome.

[firedrake]

I love it.
I missed it and I thought last night was pretty good, especially that kicker at the end.
The cast is great, especially John Noble, he's brilliant as Walter.

[Cranky]

Oh yes, still loving Fringe. :D I liked yesterday's ep pretty well, especially, yeah, the ending, as firedrake notes.

Nice touch, that, even though I felt a bit stupid for not making that connection a bit sooner....

[firedrake]

Oh yes, still loving Fringe. :D I liked yesterday's ep pretty well, especially, yeah, the ending, as firedrake notes.

Nice touch, that, even though I felt a bit stupid for not making that connection a bit sooner....

It was a slap forehead moment for me. :D

[Cranky]

Glad to know I'm not the only one. But I love it when a show does that...gets me so wrapped up that I miss clues...excellent stage managing, so to speak. :D

[P.H.Delarran]

Walter had me rolling last night-the whole dance thing he did with the halo.

and I actually didn't make the connection at the end till just now..think I missed the actual episode but the guy was familiar maybe from scene flashes. I was wondering when they weere gonna start tying the episodes together..there's only five more in the season.

now I wanna watch the earlier ones again...

[GavinPreacher]

The whole Watcher angle is a very interesting one, especially since they tie him in and he has a history with Walter, from when he and Peter were drowning when Peter was a little boy and the Watcher saved them and in return Walter had to do him a favor in the future which turned out to be the thing with the bullet shaped cone. I hope to see more of him but i am not all that anxious to know exactly who or what he is, yet .....

This is by far my favorite show out there and i hear it connected a great deal with the X-Files. I like to think of it as an anti or opposite of the X-Files, where everything here can be explained scientifically as opposed to some of the unknowns that appeared in the X-Files.

Great show, great first Season. Does anyone know if it has been picked up for another season yet .....

[Leah J. Utas]

We missed the last few minutes of the ep. We'd recorded it and it started late so we didn't get the last few scenes. Last we saw Dunham was in the alley fight.
Please, how did it end?

[GavinPreacher]

In the last couple of minutes. Olivia sad goodbye to the boy but DID NOT give him up to the man from the CIA office that was snooping around. A lady from thw hopsital took him and as they were driving down a road the Watcher was standing on the sidewalk "watching" as the car with the child drove by.

Then Broyles was explaining to the CIA dude that the kind just kind of disappeared.

Great episode, as they all are, in my opinion .....

[Leah J. Utas]

Thanks, GavinPreacher. I love this show.

[P.H.Delarran]

thanks Gavin, for the Watcher backstory. I certainly did miss all of that.

[TheRealFnShow]

I'm really liking Fringe. Been rewatching all the episodes lately. Trying to spot the Observer in them all :P

A fair amount of interesting question that have been raised that need to be answered, which I like in a show. So long as they get the time to answer them.

[P.H.Delarran]

is he in them all?

[TheRealFnShow]

Yeah, he's been in every episode since the pilot. Just in the background, mainly. Not drawn attention too. Over at http://www.fringepedia.net/index.php?title=Main_Page they have a page showing where he is in each episode, I think.

[emc07]

We missed the last few minutes of the ep. We'd recorded it and it started late so we didn't get the last few scenes. Last we saw Dunham was in the alley fight.
Please, how did it end?

With the Fox shows, it's best to add about 3 minutes to episodes. I have to do that for American Idol too, for some reason, they have been going over the alloted time lately.

I LOVE Fringe and have seen every episode. What a cool show. I just get swept away in all the crazy! The characters are great :)

[Leah J. Utas]

emc07, thanks for the tip.
I've routinely added up to seven minutes when I set the DVR for Lost after the Hurley/Libby maneuver a few years back. I will follow your sound advice for Fringe. I hate missing the endings. Good stuff happens.

[Dommo]

The show's not bad, but the scientific rigor is lacking pretty badly although it tries to hide it.

[darkprincealain]

Watched Tuesday's episode last night. Feeling a little short-changed, here. If it doesn't pick up the pace, I'm probably not going to watch season 2.

[GavinPreacher]

Personally, i love the show. Right now it is my favorite show. I think Anna Torv does a great job and the play between her and Peter and Walter is wonderful. Walter, in my opinion, is one of the most engaging characters on tv. How everything for him is like living life all over again is fascinating. They've even shown different sides of him. He felt regret and guilt for something he created and showed compassion for a fellow scientist. A great character.

The whole idea of ZFT ui find quite interesting. Death by technology and the alternate universe and all of that has me hanging on each week waiting for the next piece of the puzzle to bne revealed. Though, i must admit, finding out that William Bell is the major financial backer of ZFT didn't surprise me in the least.

And, of course, the watcher. Who is he? More importantly, why is he?

I can't wait for a second season, if there is going to be one.

[darkprincealain]

I agree, just for some reason this episode and some of the others have lacked something... I can't quite put my finger on what.

[P.H.Delarran]

I agree, just for some reason this episode and some of the others have lacked something... I can't quite put my finger on what.
I kinda know what you mean..I wanna say anticlimatic, but not exactly. maybe it's that the format has become familiar? the first several episodes were always delivering surprises, all the way through. now I'm feeling like I'm watching other long run shows that follow a standard format in each episode.
but it's not annoying enough to turn me off on the show. still my favorite this season.

[emc07]

Walter, in my opinion, is one of the most engaging characters on tv. How everything for him is like living life all over again is fascinating. They've even shown different sides of him. He felt regret and guilt for something he created and showed compassion for a fellow scientist. A great character.

I totally agree. What an amazing character. If only mine could be as good ;)

[Enzo]

Never had the opportunity of seeing any Fringe episode, but I just read the script for the pilot episode this morning, and it is terribly exciting.
If it ever comes on in my part of the world, I'll want to watch from the beginning.
Up to now, I've never seen one of those hit series from the start - Lost, 24, Prison Break - I always jumped on the bandwagon after the hype was on.

[Cranky]

Yes! Fringe has been renewed for a second season! (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090505/ap_en_tv/us_tv_fringe_renewed;_ylt=AhPilNgAllRgkFEEADLLzCkR zJV4)

[P.H.Delarran]

oh I'm glad to hear that. I don't watch a ton of tv and would miss this.

[P.H.Delarran]

ok, I was a bit disappointed they made the mean supervisor (what's his his name? the one with bad history with Olivia) one of the bad guyss..almost too obvious-like we hate him let's watch him blow up. but on the other hand, it was rather satisfying.
I admit this one kept my brain hopping a bit, I had to stretch it to keep up, but the dual reality thing was cool. next week better be real good at pulling it together.

[GavinPreacher]

I was very happy to see that Fringe got a 2nd season renewal. It is my favorite current show and i anxiously await every week to see what will happen next.

Even though people out there dispute the veracity of the science and demonstrate how off the wall it is, that is what makes me keep coming back. I love it and can not get enough, The characters are so engaging and work so well as a unit that it just makes for a wonderfully fun 60 minutes of tuesday night.

Last night's episode was one of the strangest yet, i loved it. The scene with Walter and when Olivia came to him and thundered away at him about what he did to her made me almost cry. I could feel Walter's pain as he struggled to remember and felt bad when he couldn't. If John Noble is not in the discussion for best actor in a drama series then they should not even have the award. He, as i said in earlier posts, is a wonderful character.

I hope JJ keeps the good stuff coming.

Does anyone know if he has any other tv series in the works?

[ClaudiaGray]

Man, I loved last night's episode. I don't mind the show when it's in "X-Files Mark 2" mode, but war with a parallel dimension? THAT's the kind of crack I love.

I like Anna Torv, Jasika Nicole, and the guys who play Broyles, Charlie and Peter, but John Noble as Walter really takes the show to a whole new level. (As does Blair Brown as Nina -- hope they will do more with her.)

[emc07]

Yes! Fringe has been renewed for a second season! (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090505/ap_en_tv/us_tv_fringe_renewed;_ylt=AhPilNgAllRgkFEEADLLzCkR zJV4)


Yay!!! :hooray:

[darkprincealain]

Goodness, Tuesday's episode was good! :D Scrap my post 107. I still have reservations about that particular episode but if it stays more like this past Tuesday, I'm in for the duration.

[GavinPreacher]

J.J. paved the way for a tv show being able to push the envelope and do things that are way off the charts when he created LOST. With Fringe he has taken it to a whole new level. An amazingly, fun, scratch your head, this is as much fun s tv can be kind of fun.

Season 1 Finale on tuesday was fantastic. The other reality being exposed, and found by Jones. William Bell being there already and the big reveal about Peter near the end. What about the alternate reality that still has the Twin Towers standing? Being a New Jerseyan, i found myself with a few chills running up my spine when i saw that Liv was in the Towers and that, in that reality, it was the White House that went down. I think they certainly do push the envelope as far as suspension of disbelief and their take on fringe science, but that is what makes this show so much darn fun for me. I like the way they do things and how off the wall it might seem.

The casting is perfect and they mesh all the characters so well together. Abrams has a great knack for knowing when to push down on the gass full throttle and when to coast. The timing of how events unfold here is fantastic, in my opinion, and i can only hope that season 2 is able to deliver on the promise we are left with at the end of season 1.

I, for one, can't wait for Fringe to come back .....

[Kitty Pryde]

Bump! For season 2 premiere. What did you think of it? I thought it was great. Good goofy science and awesome action and suspense. The thing with communicating via the typewriter is like my very favorite sort of sci-fi stuff. Walter is the best character ever, as usual.

Agent Charlie Francis is one of my favorite characters. Without spoiling anything, I will say that I'm very sad at the turn his character has taken. Should make for good watching this season, though :)

[firedrake]

Bump! For season 2 premiere. What did you think of it? I thought it was great. Good goofy science and awesome action and suspense. The thing with communicating via the typewriter is like my very favorite sort of sci-fi stuff. Walter is the best character ever, as usual.

Agent Charlie Francis is one of my favorite characters. Without spoiling anything, I will say that I'm very sad at the turn his character has taken. Should make for good watching this season, though :)

I loved it. I just love the way it makes my jaw drop every time I watch it.
I'm bummed about Agent Charlie Francis, but I agree, it will make for some interesting twists.

Walter is my hero, he seriously is.

[Satori1977]

I like this show. Lots of questions, similar to X-Files, but not the X-Files. Intersting characters and some jaw-dropping moments. But I keep coming back for Walter, just to see what will come out of his mouth next. I adore him.

[Leah J. Utas]

Have to agree Kitty Pryde and firedrake re:Charlie, but it will make for an interesting season.
Am I the only one stupidglad to see the cow back?

[Cranky]

I was thrilled to see Fringe back! And I agree about Charlie, too. :(

It does look like it's shaping up to be a very interesting season. Now waiting for the next ep with bated breath.

Oh, btw, did anyone see The Observer? I forgot to look. :D

ETA: I would like to see them do something with Astrid this season. Everyone else involved has something interesting going on with them, either talked about explicitly or inferred, and so I have to assume there's some kind of backstory there for her involvement with the team. I want to know about it!

[P.H.Delarran]

agents flying through windshileds, shapeshifting and typewriters from other dimensions--gonna be a killer season.

[Smileycat]

Lost and Heroes were my favorite 2 shows.

It is now, HANDS DOWN, Fringe.

[darkprincealain]

So far the first three ep.s have me hooked. :D Glad to see things are going well for them, in terms of story and characterization.

[Rachel]

I just found this thread! So glad I did. I LOVE this show!

[Cranky]

i just have to state for the record that this season is seriously messing with my head. LOVE it! So far, I think it's better than the first season.

[firedrake]

i just have to state for the record that this season is seriously messing with my head. LOVE it! So far, I think it's better than the first season.

Yup! i couldn't agree more!

Hubby watched it last night for first time this season (he goes to bed early) he was blown away.

[P.H.Delarran]

geez is it the 5th yet??

[ClaudiaGray]

This season has been awesome so far. The time slot is killing "Fringe" in the ratings, though -- I hope Fox will move it and give it a chance to grow.

[Paul]

Just watched V, possibilities, but badly miss Fringe, only seen first series, then it moved to cable (read pay) tv. Damn success!

[P.H.Delarran]

I didn't catch either last week or this week from the beginning, and could not seem to get into it mid-hour. so--I'm feeling rather behind this season and sorta losing interest--how did this happen???

[Cranky]

Did anyone else watch the new ep of Fringe tonight? Because I gotta say, did I miss something? Highlight -->Charlie's still alive? Shapeshifter Charlie or real Charlie or who knows what?
W. T. F???!!!

ETA:

Uh, nevermind. Apparently, I am a big fat idiot. Carry on. :ROFL:

[darkprincealain]

For anyone not in the know: for that ep. only, it was season 1 ep. they held, for whatever reason and ran out of order. That apparently confused a lot of folks. I had to google-fu to find the answer to that, as I had Cranky's question.

[NoahS]

Yeah, it was an unaired episode from season 1. A lot of people were confused, and you won't believe all the theories I've heard. :D

[darkprincealain]

I haven't been super fond of the show since they came back from hiatus, but last week's episode changed my vote on that. Fear, indeed! :D

[darkprincealain]

So, I have to say, the alternate titles for this week's episode cracked me up. :D

[Lhun]

Just caught up with this show and i have to say it grew on me. At the point of the incredibly stupid episode with the huge cold virus killing people and slithering around, i almost quit, but by now i quite like it. As long as the technobabble is kept down, it's quite creative, and i'm a sucker for mysterious, overarching plotlines.

[ClaudiaGray]

Tonight was amazing, as indeed the whole second season has been. I can't wait for the Big Reveal with Peter.

[firedrake]

i didn't think that the second season could top the first, but it has. It's been brilliant.

Love it and so pleased there's to be a third season.

[Leah J. Utas]

I messed up DVRing the April 15 ep and only got half. Did I miss any mythology? Has Peter been told yet? How did it end? If anyone can recap or tell me where to find one online I'd be grateful. I can't use Hulu here. Thanks so much.

[joeyc]

I messed up DVRing the April 15 ep and only got half. Did I miss any mythology? Has Peter been told yet? How did it end? If anyone can recap or tell me where to find one online I'd be grateful. I can't use Hulu here. Thanks so much.

It was an okay episode. No, Peter hasn't been told yet. It had one moment that made it worth watching.

[Leah J. Utas]

And that was?

[joeyc]

And that was?

A little exchange between Walter and another scientist. I won't spoil who if you're going to watch the episode. Really, the episode was supbar for certain reasons, but this one scene and the scene at the ending were two of the bes in the SERIES.

[CalynMorgan]

I am so in love with show. I haven't been this excited for a tv show since The X-Files.

[AdamH]

Totally! Fringe is blowing my mind on a weekly basis...and it's just plain fun to watch. You never know what they're going to do from week to week.

Love how it's turning out that it's Walter connected to everything that's been happening this season so far.

[darkprincealain]

I never quite know what to say when Fringe has a fun, weird episode. This past episode was particularly whacky but it was nice to see some people sing. :D Esther Ficklesworth? :ROFL:

[GavinPreacher]

Has it been decided yet if the show will get a third season? it is my favorite show and i am wondering what the status is.

The finale next week looks to be another super episode and i can not wait .....

[Smileycat]

I read that it would likely be renewed here:

http://www.tv.com/fringe-gets-renewed-for-season-3/story/21797.html

[Geeks]

Fringe has shot itself in the foot in my opinion. The first season was pretty awesome, but the second season has to much filler and has ruined all the good that was done in the first season. Not to mention that most of the big twists in S02 were obvious. Walternate = Secretary (bad guy pulling the strings from the other side) = obvious = FAIL.

Not to mention they've made a mess of Walter. They ruined the question of Walters sanity, and whether he is/was a monster. It's like saying the Joker was abused as a child or something...

Other than that, the procedural and protocol stuff is ridiculous. "Oh, there's an unexplained virus/threat that may kill everyone but don't worry, we'll send it to our unsecured lab at Harvard and pray that our team of unpredictable but brilliant misfits can deal with it because we don't have any other sort of plan..."

And who knew how far you could get with "I'm with the FBI..."

[veinglory]

I think that as Walter became more sympathetic I became more interested--and it is fairly well explain as a byproduct of his loss of brain material rather than a moral thing. The filler is much less dense than for, say, X-files. I was a little disappointed that they treated the other special kids as redshirts.

[GavinPreacher]

i was really happy to see that link talking about a third season. Fringe caught me from minute 1 and has quickly risen to be my favorite tv show, maybe of all time. It had been the X-Files which will always be close to my heart but Fringe is a different level of fun and crazy for me.

[veinglory]

I think Fringe has a much more coherent backstory to explain the weirdness.

[Jcomp]

I think it says quite a bit about the show that the twist ending "switch" was telegraphed and predictable but still effective (at least for me). That ending has me on edge for the possibilities of season 3. I'm officially on board enough to not just watch the show, but recommend it to others, something I haven't done since... ever?

[veinglory]

I liked the bit where it was revealed that Walter was behind his own brain-disablement whatever it was.

[ColoradoMom]

I think it says quite a bit about the show that the twist ending "switch" was telegraphed and predictable but still effective (at least for me). That ending has me on edge for the possibilities of season 3. I'm officially on board enough to not just watch the show, but recommend it to others, something I haven't done since... ever?


I felt the same way. I kept thinking that the end was too neat - it couldn't possibly end happily, how do I know that isn't the "other" Olivia. So even though I was thinking it the entire time I had fooled myself into believing this might just be the only season finale that ends well.

So the final shot was an oh shit moment for me. I don't care if that makes me - what? Dumb? Naive? It worked for me and that's all that matters. ;)

And I loved the White Tulip episode - in fact now that I think back I feel the show has gotten better since they came back from the break.

Fringe is my new X-Files...

[CalynMorgan]

And I loved the White Tulip episode - in fact now that I think back I feel the show has gotten better since they came back from the break.

Fringe is my new X-Files...

I Looooved the White Tulip episode. Fringe definitely holds the spot in my heart that X-Files once held.

I don't think enough happened with Peter in the season finale. They hyped it up for several weeks that he was potentially going to be the reason for the end of the world, but then when the moment came Olivia showed up and all was right with the world. I know the switcharoo they did will have potential for peter going back to his own universe to save Olivia but I was not impressed with the season finale.

[AerostarMonk]

Is anyone else excited for the new episode of Fringe tonight? I know I am!

[Leah J. Utas]

It's a long, tough wait. I love this show.

[dirtsider]

LOL - just found this show and picked up the first two seasons. I'm just a little over half way through the first season but I'm enjoying it. I'm glad that not everything is based on Walter's experiments (although a number of them either are or deal with theories he toyed with).

[AerostarMonk]

I loved the subtle nods in the season 2 opener that suggested that Fringe actually is the X-Files but simply set in a parallel universe. I always geek out when it comes to things like.

[Carlene]

I hate the parallel universe stuff and wish they'd get back to the weird yucky stuff. I'll watch next week but if it doesn't get better, bye-bye.

Carlene

[Leah J. Utas]

Loved the season opener. Had a hmmmm moment at the end with Peter and Olivia. It doesn't add up (may be a spoiler for those who haven't seen it yet) up so I think it might be a hint that someone on this side has caught on re: the switch.

[Forbidden Snowflake]

Am I the only one who didn't see the switch at the end of Season 2 coming? I was 'huh' for a second but I didn't actually piece it together. I was pretty amazed that I didn't in the end. But yeah, can't wait to catch Season 3.

[Smileycat]

Loved the season opener. Had a hmmmm moment at the end with Peter and Olivia. It doesn't add up (may be a spoiler for those who haven't seen it yet) up so I think it might be a hint that someone on this side has caught on re: the switch.


He should be able to tell it wasn't his Olvia Dunham he kissed.

[Kitty Pryde]

Yeah, the amount of time Peter and Olivia have spent together, just being together he should be able to tell it's not her. The S3 premiere didn't thrill me that much--the start was SUPER slow and the whole thing seemed to drag. Oh well, I'll keep watching. Walter is by far the most interesting character on tv.

[Smileycat]

Yeah, the amount of time Peter and Olivia have spent together, just being together he should be able to tell it's not her. The S3 premiere didn't thrill me that much--the start was SUPER slow and the whole thing seemed to drag. Oh well, I'll keep watching. Walter is by far the most interesting character on tv.

I agree it was a tad slower than normal, but they needed to set up the situation better than they left it I think.

I agree about Walter. John Noble - I have a greater respect for his talent now, don't you?

[veinglory]

I feel a bit... meh, about them finally getting together when it isn't really her.

[Overkill]

It says that Fringe is being moved to Friday nights, starting in Januray, with new episodes. Does this mean anything as far as the showing moving to a fourth season or benig cancelled or whatever?

[Smileycat]

And so, Olivia is mad at Peter for not realizing it wasn't her he slept with. I knew it. Uncaring, insensitive male. For shame, Peter.

[Smileycat]

It says that Fringe is being moved to Friday nights, starting in Januray, with new episodes. Does this mean anything as far as the showing moving to a fourth season or benig cancelled or whatever?

Traditionally, this isn't good news. Shows moved to Friday often marks the beginning of the end. I hope not.

[JohnnyGottaKeyboard]

And so, Olivia is mad at Peter for not realizing it wasn't her he slept with. I knew it. Uncaring, insensitive male. For shame, Peter.Glad to see someone else is annoied by this. Personally, I think she should do a call-in to the SavagePodcast and get over it.

[Christine N.]

I just caught up on my DVR'd episodes. I hope they're not cancelling. I'll watch on Fridays - unless it clashes with my CSI:NY, then I'll have to watch it in DVR :) I like the taped episodes anyway; I can zip through the commercials and watch a bunch all at once, so I don't have to wait a week between.

[Smileycat]

Glad to see someone else is annoied by this. Personally, I think she should do a call-in to the SavagePodcast and get over it.

As in Michael Savage? lol

[JasonP]

This is my favorite show on TV right now. Very concerned with the move to Fridays. I hope the show doesn't get canceled. I've already lost Lost :)

[Stormhawk]

They are well aware of the implications of being in the death slot...the next episode is called "Firefly"...

[Kitty Pryde]

As in Michael Savage? lol

Good lord, I should hope he meant Dan Savage!

This season has been mostly sucking IMO. The few good things have been: more Charlie, and that cab driver who helps out Olivia. The only episodes that were actually interesting to me were the one with Broyle's kidnapped kid and the one where Olivia returned. Other than that, I say BLAH to boring Alternate Astrid, Alternate Olivia being evil, Peter being too stupid to notice who he's boning, and Walter doing nothing interesting. I'm very glad the gang is back together now and there's more good body horror and Walter antics and Astrid and amusing Olivia/Peter UST, because that's what makes the show good.

[JohnnyGottaKeyboard]

I'm very glad the gang is back together now and there's more good body horror and Walter antics and Astrid...I am always eager for more Walter and Astrix... Asteroid... Astrid!

(And, yes, Dan Savage. Not sure, but isn't the other guy a rightwing lugnut?)

[Katie Broughten]

Love love love that show!

[Smileycat]

Okay, okay, OK. Dan Savage, the crtic then.

Michael Savage is funny. Dan Savage is not.

[Leah J. Utas]

Got the complete first two seasons for my birthday. It's so good to review. Peter's original storyline about being involved in illegal stuff seems to have dropped off in the second season. Walter is a joy to watch. And I'm so happy Gene the Cow is still there.

[Smileycat]

Moo.

John Noble for President (as Walter in our universe). :tongue

[darkprincealain]

Well, I don't know what to think. This episode was nice. Maybe she called in to the Savage Podcast? :D

[darkprincealain]

Egh. More angst. And the coffee thing bothers me. I'm on record elsewhere as not using BSC. So can I just say that all this wangstyness is making me banana psycho crazy?

[the bunny hugger]

I think the suggestion that choosing the wrong girl makes our universe go 'boom' (and choosing either one makes someones' universe go 'boom') gives the wangstyness some gravitas.

[darkprincealain]

While I agree, I just have to admit my whole brain went, "soap opera" at that moment.

[Smileycat]

Frankly, I love where this season is taking us. I don't watch it thinking something will happen. I watch it to see what they will do to develop the story and characters and still make it interesting for us viewers. They're doing a terrific job as far as I'm concerned. My favorite show.

[JohnnyGottaKeyboard]

"soap opera"The minute boyfriend put the ultrasound to Fauxlivia's tummy I said: "Pregnant!" And the subsequent hospital scene would not have been out of place on any installment of General Hospital.

But, man, Joan Chen has held up better than any other Twin Peaks alum (as proved by a recent episode of Psych).

[Smileycat]

The minute boyfriend put the ultrasound to Fauxlivia's tummy I said: "Pregnant!" And the subsequent hospital scene would not have been out of place on any installment of General Hospital.

But, man, Joan Chen has held up better than any other Twin Peaks alum (as proved by a recent episode of Psych).

Agree about Joan Chen. I am so envious!

[darkprincealain]

Loved her on Twin Peaks. And as much as I'm dissing this season, this is still one of the better written shows that is still on my list.

I guess I'm just nostalgic for how the second season seemed to be so much better than the first.

[JohnnyGottaKeyboard]

Is anyone else uncomfortable with Anna Torv's impersonation of Leonard Nimoy? At first I just had a hard time looking at the screen. Now, I fight giggles. I hope it doesn't last.

[Smileycat]

Is anyone else uncomfortable with Anna Torv's impersonation of Leonard Nimoy? At first I just had a hard time looking at the screen. Now, I fight giggles. I hope it doesn't last.

Yes, and it's because Nimoy doesn't force himself to talk that way. He talks that way because that's what comes out of his vocal cords. So, maybe she should have copied mannerisms and not tried to do a bad imitation of his voice. That idea is stupid, as a matter of fact.

[darkprincealain]

Yeah, that particular choice bothers me. On the whole though, after catching up on hulu last night, I liked the episodes I missed.

But yeah, it's difficult to watch Anna Torv during this part. And Paula Malcomson is everywhere since Caprica got cancelled.

[veinglory]

The voice is dumb. And annoying. She could have imitated his cadence and body language--that would have made a lot more sense.

[Smileycat]

we agree

[Stormhawk]

IT'S BEEN RENEWED FOR A FOURTH SEASON!

*collapses with happy*

[Smileycat]

I'm so happy!

[darkprincealain]

I've finished catching up at least until Friday. Curiosity to see what happens next is killing me!

[Aaron Wilder]

Honestly I've always loved the show but the whole animated sequence was a shark jumping moment for me. The whole wonder of the show is the possibility of strangeness in the real world. Bad, bad misstep in that episode.

[JohnnyGottaKeyboard]

Honestly I've always loved the show but the whole animated sequence was a shark jumping moment for me. The whole wonder of the show is the possibility of strangeness in the real world. Bad, bad misstep in that episode.Did you know, when I was a kid there was an episode of Happy Days where the Fonz actually did jump over a shark! Best Episode Ever!
.
.
.
.
Yes, I watch Community. Great line tho; I wish I'd thought it up!

[veinglory]

*Really* intrusive product placement in this episode.

Sadly it is starting to feel shark-jumpy.

[Underthelivingmoon]

Frankly, I love where this season is taking us. I don't watch it thinking something will happen. I watch it to see what they will do to develop the story and characters and still make it interesting for us viewers. They're doing a terrific job as far as I'm concerned. My favorite show.

I completely agree (except that Bones is my favorite show- Fringe is a very close second). Did anyone watch last night's episode? So good and such a cliffhanger- I won't give it away but Walter with the freakin' kite had me giggling :)

[veinglory]

I arrived a little late, turned on the TV and literally thought I was watching a Ford Contour advertisement. I found that really off-putting.

[cherita]

I completely agree (except that Bones is my favorite show- Fringe is a very close second). Did anyone watch last night's episode? So good and such a cliffhanger- I won't give it away but Walter with the freakin' kite had me giggling :)

We have the same taste in TV shows, apparently! And I absolutely adore Walter. I think I'd watch for his character alone.

[Leah J. Utas]

Caught the season finale last night finally. Much as I enjoyed the twist I didn't see coming I wonder how the writers will get themselves out of this one.
It's turning into another Alias in many ways such as the exciting machine, the drawings of people important to the exciting machine, and the father issues that were always part of it.
Thoughts?

[JohnnyGottaKeyboard]

Caught the season finale last night finally. Much as I enjoyed the twist I didn't see coming I wonder how the writers will get themselves out of this one.
It's turning into another Alias in many ways such as the exciting machine, the drawings of people important to the exciting machine, and the father issues that were always part of it.
Thoughts?Oh, you said the A-Word. That show was the fastest (and most thorough) transition from spectacular to trainwreck I ever saw. I hopw Fringe isn't headed there.

I agree that the ending left me quite unnerved. For one thing: if Peter never existed, what did Walter do to cause the Universes to collide? And of equal importance: How is Joshua Jackson going to fit into the show now?

[MichelleJean]

I recently read that Fringe is being brought back for its final, shorter, season. So disappointed by that - I love this show. How else do I get my John Noble fix every week?

[JohnnyGottaKeyboard]

I recently read that Fringe is being brought back for its final, shorter, season. So disappointed by that - I love this show. How else do I get my John Noble fix every week?Well, they've got more plots than Arlington Cemetery. At least we'll get some closure.

Personally I prefer shows that go into their final season knowing it's their last. I always feel like the writers are at least trying to get somewhere other than the next season.

[MichelleJean]

Personally I prefer shows that go into their final season knowing it's their last. I always feel like the writers are at least trying to get somewhere other than the next season.


I read this interview (http://www.tvguide.com/News/Fringe-Postmortem-Season5-Spoilers-1047429.aspx) today (Contains some SPOILERS) and I found it answered a lot yet left even more questions than I had after watching the finale this past Friday.

But I am definitely looking forward to the final season, even though it's the final.

[Leah J. Utas]

MichelleJean, thanks for posting the linkie. Something I hadn't considered in a scene in the finale I will now be mulling over until I see why it happened.

[MrWrite]

I have never watched this show but we just bought season 1. I can't wait to start watching it.

[Max Vaehling]

I didn't know next season is supposed to be the last one. Pity, especially since it took me until season three to really warm up to the show.

But I gotta agree - I like a show that has an ending and knows it. If they just go on until they're canceled, there willl always be a point of no closure. Especially in a show like this that really tells a continuous story - it's not like you can lean back after a season finale and say, well, that's it. I'm good."

Although a good season finale should do that anyway. I did like Fringe's this time. Nikita, too. But it's become rare. More often than not, it seems to be all cliffhanger and no resolution. Alacatraz, terra Nova (though they did have a climactic fight), Burn Notice...)