Fringe

[Ubik]

So, I'm working my way through Fringe on Netflix, nearing the end of Season 3. I totally missed the show when it aired, but it's absolutely brilliant. Great characters, and is a superb spiritual successor to the X-Files.

I like that there's an ongoing story arc, and to me it seems leaps and bounds ahead of LOST (which I disliked for it's vagueness and meandering story).

So far, I love it. Most of all, it's the characters! Walter is amazing!

[babylonlurker]

So, I'm working my way through Fringe on Netflix, nearing the end of Season 3. I totally missed the show when it aired, but it's absolutely brilliant. Great characters, and is a superb spiritual successor to the X-Files.

I like that there's an ongoing story arc, and to me it seems leaps and bounds ahead of LOST (which I disliked for it's vagueness and meandering story).

So far, I love it. Most of all, it's the characters! Walter is amazing!

I love Fringe, strong characters (you gotta love Walter) and good arc. I did catch it while it was running.
Almost every season finale could have been a series finale, but with enough unresolved material for continuing the story.
Like B5, it starts a bit slow in Season 1, then picks up. The season 3 finale is spectacular, you are in for a treat.
Season 4 has a bit of a special twist (I will say no more), and season 5 is spectacular, at least imho.

[Ubik]

I love Fringe, strong characters (you gotta love Walter) and good arc. I did catch it while it was running.
Almost every season finale could have been a series finale, but with enough unresolved material for continuing the story.
Like B5, it starts a bit slow in Season 1, then picks up. The season 3 finale is spectacular, you are in for a treat.
Season 4 has a bit of a special twist (I will say no more), and season 5 is spectacular, at least imho.

Yeah, I'm one episode off the end of Season 3. Can't wait to watch it tonight. It's some of the best SF I've seen in recent years, it really took me by surprise as I find Abrams stuff to be strictly 'okay' most of the time. The charactres are what drives it, but the concerpts and overarching plot are also top notch. I have a feeling this will be up there with B5 in my 'best shows' pantheon.

Always wonderful to discover shows after they've completed.

[Jonas]

I think that parts of the arc make no sense whatsoever, but the characters are so strong that it doesn't really matter. I got very attached to the show, especially seasons 3-5.

[babylonlurker]

. . . . I have a feeling this will be up there with B5 in my 'best shows' pantheon.

Always wonderful to discover shows after they've completed.

Yes, then you don't have to wait.

Fringe is high on the ladder for me, but B5 is in a league of its own.

[Ubik]

Yes, then you don't have to wait.

Fringe is high on the ladder for me, but B5 is in a league of its own.

I think there are a few (non genre/non-SF) shows that are equal to or have surpassed B5 in terms of quality. I’d cite shows like The Wire, I Claudius, Rome, Deadwood. But, it’s worth noting that TV has evolved a great deal since B5 first aired and that evolution is, in part, because of B5. However, let me be clear that B5 has no real equal in terms of SF/genre TV. I always feel B5 needs to be appreciated in the context of the time period in which it originally existed. At the time there were just no other TV shows doing what it did. There were definitely no other SF shows taking that tact either. Anyhow, I’m getting slightly off topic, as we’re meant to be discussing Fringe.

Historically speaking, Fringe is obviously indebted to the X-Files for its basic feel / setup, but really does its own thing once it gets going.

[Babel-17]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Tulip

Imo, that's a great episode to point your SF minded friends to as an example of the heights Fringe can rise to.

It's a good stand-alone episode though it does make effective use of Walter's character arc.

[Ubik]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Tulip

Imo, that's a great episode to point your SF minded friends to as an example of the heights Fringe can rise to.

It's a good stand-alone episode though it does make effective use of Walter's character arc.

I agree, that’s a rather wonderful little episode. I love the concluding scene. The episode stands alone, but it remains very relevant to the ongoing series.

I think Fringe builds a very rich mythology / world and believable well fleshed out characters. I’m enjoying it so much. Netflix has been a real asset in terms of discovering shows I missed when they aired. (Hence my insistence that B5 on Netflix should be a key part of the #FreeBabylon5 campaign).

I think my love of Walter as a character is equal to Londo Molari, i.e. my favourite B5 character, especially in the way his arc has worked thus far.

[Ubik]

Still enjoying this greatly. Half way through Season 5 now, and it strikes me that the core of the show is about love, and what it means to be human. I like the ‘invasion’ slant of the fifth season, and would never have seen it coming if it weren’t for the flash forward that was planted earlier on. I’d always had the observers pegged as custodians of the timeline, not aggressors. At least, that’s the general impression I got initially. Perhaps that’s what they were meant to be to begin with, but were morphed into a ‘big bad’ to give the final season a substantial climax. Once the William Bell / Alternate dimension issues were resolved in Season 4 there really wasn’t much left for the team to tackle.

Taken as a whole, the show is by no way seamless, but it’s been quite satisfying in terms of storytelling. It’s flip flopped a bit here and there, but never to the extent that it lost my interest. Even if it had really dipped, I think I’d have kept watching for the strong characters.

Walter Bishop is just such a marvellous creation. John Noble is utterly superb in this role. I’m watching ‘Black Blotter’ now, replete with Monty Python tribute acid trip. Splendid!

I can picture Walter and Londo on a tear in B5’s casino. “Astro, get me another Jovian Sunspot!”

[babylonlurker]

John Noble is utterly superb in this role.

He is, indeed, gotta love Walter.

BTW nice Easter Egg in the two part finale. (you know when you see it)

- and, of course the finale of season 4 : "They are coming !"

[Ubik]

Finally finished Season 5. It wrapped up very nicely. Perhaps one of the best conclusions I’ve seen in years. Most recent SF shows seems to always fall at the final hurdle, having not worked out where their story is going, or how things wrap up. (I’m looking at you BSG and LOST!).

If anyone hasn’t seen Fringe, give it a go. It’s definitely up there with some of my fav SF TV of recent times. It manages to be serious without being ‘gritty’ for the sake of it, and maintains a great sense of humour and warmth throughout. Top marks.