Fringe TV series (2008-2013): A 2019 review

The cast of Fringe

*As always, my reviews aren't traditional reviews. My idea is to give a quick overview and some general thoughts. I try to not give away any spoilers, so I have to keep it simple. Consider it a "common persons" very general take on a show.*

Fringe was a TV series that originally aired in 2008 on Fox. If you haven't heard of it before it's likely because Fox, in my opinion, has a psychological fear of success. I feel Fox has this extraordinary talent for finding and green lighting incredible shows, then totally screwing them up by monkeying around with their air times and episode orders (Firefly anyone?). Not to mention when their executives try to get involved and DIRECTLY screw shows up by trying to control the creative direction. 

Of course with J. J. Abrams in charge, it's hard to make a BAD show. But Fox could have done so much better. It even had good ratings, yet still, they felt the need to make poor decisions. So if you haven't heard of it, you can blame Fox. But I'm not here to talk about the idiots over at Fox (sorry, I'm still upset about Firefly,18 years later)

Fringe Science is the core theme of the entire show (which is of course what Fringe means in the title). And season 1 very much reminds one of The X-Files. Right down to the main characters working for the FBI, and even a hinted at romance that never seems to get acted on. Also like The X-Files and most police procedurals, it starts out in a standard monster-of-the-week type format but evolves into season-long story arcs from season 2 on. 

I try very hard not to give out to many spoilers in my reviews, so I'll just give a quick overview of the basis of the show. A scientist, Walter Bishop, breaks two universes (parallel dimensions). The first 4 seasons are the main characters discovering what happened, and dealing with the fallout. The fifth and final season is about saving the world from invaders from the future. There are at least 4 different timelines and stories from two universes, not to mention more than a little time jumping.  

One of the most interesting parts of the show to me, from a "really makes you think" standpoint is the subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) differences when events get added, removed, or changed in the timelines. The way the writers, and actors, handled these changes is really thought-provoking.  I also felt there was an attempt at sharing a message about the dangers of "playing God". The age-old sci-fi adage of "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should." However, I never felt the writers were really behind the idea, they kind of play with it, but never commit to bringing the viewer along for the ride. And maybe that's for the best. In the end, all the science is really just a backdrop for the amazing cast to entertain and move you. And that, they do well!

Quickly let me cover the "core" cast, there are a lot of great main characters, but this post would get too long if I covered them all in detail. So I'll give you the core 3 the plot revolves around, and an honorable mention.

At the center of it all, we have the LSD loving "mad scientist" Walter Bishop played by the incredible John Noble. I could make an entire blog just about the talents of this amazing actor, but this post isn't about him (but it COULD be). In the show, Walter breaks not one, but TWO universes. And John Noble gets to play not one, not two, not three, but at least SIX different versions of Walter from multiple different timelines and universes. Each slightly different and discernable.  If that doesn't show his chops as an actor, nothing will!

(Here is a link to a blog post I made for the moral discussion of Walters actions)

Before I move on, I have to point out that the music in the show is on a different level. It's almost a character in itself. In fact, Walter's obsession with old vinyl has awakened in me a desire to start collecting vinyl myself! I'm up to 10 albums as of this writing, with no signs of stopping. For those interested, that's a 60's Zenith Music System with the "Circle of Sound" speaker (that funny cone-shaped thing) Walter is using in the picture. It gave 360 degree sound. You're welcome for that useless piece of trivia.

I've never stopped a show so often to look up music as I did in Fringe. There is almost always something playing in the background. From Mazzy Star to Velvet Underground to David Bowie. Of course these I knew. But many other snatches I caught I had to look up, and I was never disappointed. Whoever chose the music for this show is someone I'd love to hang out with!

Ok, now back to the show. There is one other actor who is mentioned often and has a large part to play in the plot of the show, but whom due to health reasons we don't get to see very much. And that's William Bell, played by none other than the late, great, Leonard Nimoy  Fringe would be Nimoy's last hurrah before his passing, and you can see his health going downhill during his appearances on the show. They even animated an episode where Bell was needed for the plot, but due to health reasons, Nimoy was not able to do the episode. In the end, they "froze" Bell in amber when it became obvious Nimoy would no longer be able to appear on the show. He passed two years after the end of the show. RIP to a great actor.

(here is my post about Peter and Olivia, the love story)

Peter Bishop played by Joshua Jackson is one of my personal fictional heroes. He's the son of Walter Bishop, and really the cause of this whole mess. Through no fault of his own. He's the kind of man I'd like to think I'd be if I was in his shoes. He might be a bit of a Mary Sue, but who isn't in their own imagination? If nothing else, the way he approaches love, his view of it, and what he's willing to do to protect it, really moves me. He's the kind of unwavering, steadfast protector I think all men should be. And yes ladies, I'll be waiting outside so you can string me up for saying such things. Sorry, not sorry. Women don't need protection because they are helpless, far from it. But I'm of the opinion it's simply a man's job to protect those they care about (be that a girl, a guy, or children), and also those who can't protect themselves. Peter is the definition of that viewpoint. As he's the same in all timelines. and doesn't have a double in the parallel universe, he doesn't get the chance to flex his acting muscle like most of the other actors on the show. But he does get a chance to show a version of himself devoid of emotion. And I think he does a fair job. For sure well enough not to drop you out of the story emersion.

Lastly, we have Olivia Dunham played by the beautiful Anna Torv. Olivia is a no-nonsense FBI agent who's all about the job and catching the bad guy no matter what. She's also something of a Mary Sue, but then in a way that's almost the whole point of the show. She was MADE into a Mary Sue. By none other than the aforementioned Walter Bishop and William Bell. The real props go to Anna herself. Like many of the cast she gets to play two versions of herself. And she does it so convincingly that you have no problem knowing which Olivia you're seeing at any given moment, even without other clues. By design, the two characters are very similar. In the show's own internal logic you are often much like your "doppelganger" from the alternative universe. But Anna just nails the subtle difference perfectly. It's almost freaky. She also gets to play a version of herself from different timelines, and even a version possessed by William Bell. The voice she uses I'm still a little on the fence about, but how she adopts the mannerisms and facial expressions of Leonard Nimoy is uncanny. And while the voice itself I just can't really get behind, how she mimics the way Leonard Nimoy talks is just simply amazing.

I would love to go on about all the other great actors in this show, and I may give each their own blog post down the road, but this is getting long as it is. Like all my reviews this wasn't a true "review" in a traditional respect. There are plenty of people who have already done that. This is more about a taste of what Fringe has to offer and some brief impressions. If you've read this far, and find any of this interesting, I highly suggest checking the show out. But you really need to get to at least the second season, as that's when the show really starts to get it's legs.