Review of New Television Shows: Part Three Fringe
This is the third in a five part series reviewing the new television shows from this past season. The first two parts focused on Dollhouse and Life On Mars. They were not done in any particular order as the third installment in the series focuses on Fringe, which is the class of the field of new shows from this season.
One of the most hyped shows prior to the launch of the new fall lineup was Fringe. Fringe was described as similar to the X-Files and it was created by JJ Abams, who also is responsible for Lost, Alias and the movie Cloverfield. Abrams attachment may have caused excitement among many television viewers, but I had not watched much of his previous work. (I did watch Cloverfield and while not as crazy about it as some people I know I did enjoy it.) The comparison to the X-Files was not really much of an incentive for me to watch as I did not watch that show either. I decided to give it a chance anyway because reviews of the show made it sound like it could be the best among the crop of new shows. The reviews were spot on.
At times over the last few years I have contemplated renting the first season of Lost. So many people are crazy about the show that I figured maybe I had given up on it prematurely. I watched the first episode and then did not watch again after that. I do not really remember why. Maybe I forgot to watch after that or was busy, who knows. Anyway I decided I was glad not to have gotten hooked on the show as many fans complain incessantly about how mysterious the show can be. It sounds like a constant tease that reveals nothing for the most part.
“There is so much that is unexplained … until it is.” - Dr. Walter Bishop
Fringe like Lost is mysterious. The pattern is revealed slowly, but much is still unknown. Some criticisms of Lost say that nothing really happens. It sounds like a bit of a tease, but of course I don’t actually watch it so I am only going by what I have heard. It is not as though nothing happens on Fringe. Every week has a unique strange occurrence and is usually wrapped up that week. While one mystery is solved much is still not understood. This is part of Fringe’s charm in that even though much of what is going on is a mystery, each episode exists apart from the overall plot.
The show tries to create a love interest between agent Oliva Dunham, played by Anna Torv, and Peter Bishop played by Joshua Jackson. Much like the X-Files I do not really believe they are a likely couple. I cannot quite say why, but the chemistry just does not seem to be there. As for the X-Files I may be wrong since I did not watch it much at all, but I always found it an unrealistic pairing. That said everything else about the show is better than I expected.
Sure most of it is out there and not likely based in reality, but it is science-fiction. Walter Bishop the mad scientist recently released from a mental institution to help investigate the pattern manages to add much needed comic relief to the show. Even though he is discussing some crazy “Fringe” science he makes it sound believable. It is predictable that he is going to have at least one non-sequitur every show. He will be talking about what he needs to perform some experiment and he will include a record player or a root beer float.
Despite it being somewhat formulaic the show works the formula to perfection and never ceases to surprise along the way. Everyone I know who has watched this show is a fan. That is rare. The last new show I can think of which garnered that sort of reaction was Heroes and probably Sopranos before that. Even people who are not normally interested in Sci-Fi like this show. I am not necessarily a sci-fi fan although I will watch good shows of just about any genre. I am really looking forward to watching this show the rest of this year and hopefully for years to come. Embedded below is a clip from YouTube titled Fringe Walter Has the Answers.
Full Disclosure: I found the quote from Walter Bishop at TV Squad. I searched for quite sometime before finding it and I am grateful that TV squad had the quote.
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