Warner Bros. Television Distribution
Another great series that starts with a plane crash. Another great series with a smart, strong female lead. But most importantly, another great series by JJ Abrams. He gets me every damn time. With Fringe he's created Olivia Dunham played by Anna Torv who brings the Fringe FBI agent to life with both strength and vulnerability.
You’d think with all the time jumps, loops, bubbles, and displacements along with entirely alternate, yet duplicate universe (Walternates and Fauxlivias included), I’d be out, but the human connections keep me definitively IN. The primary relationship of father and son, Walter and Peter, is the emotional core of the show as they play off each other in genuine, touching, and often humorous ways. Other compelling relationships include the evolving relationship of Peter and Olivia and the mentor/mentee relationship with Walter and – Astro, Astericks, Asteroid, Aspirin, Asterix, Astra, Ostrich – Astrid. Together, the Fringe team blinds me with science in the best damn laboratory ever, in a Harvard basement with Gene, the cow.
For five seasons, this cast of characters sought their connection to the world even in the most absurd and horrifying situations (props to the make-up and special effects teams). However, when it comes to Season Five with the dystopian, 20-year time jump, where the bald-headed baddies, The Observers, take over, I’m out. I’m out on the faux baby and real baby. All the babies. Plus, I don’t like revenge or sadness or goodbyes. Cast in darkness, with no escapism and no fluff, I say, pass the Red Vines and wrap with Season Four. No offense JJ, I assure you, Fringe is still one of my very favorite things.