FRINGE: why you must watch it?

“When you open your mind to the impossible, sometimes you find the truth.” 

-Dr. Walter Bishop-

September, 2008 - January, 2013
5 seasons

100 episodes

I dedicate my first post recommending my favorite TV series ever: FRINGE

This is a science-fiction show where the FBI’s Fringe division investigates the weirdest cases you’ve never imagined, all of them inside what is called fringe science. Things like: genetic mutation, pandemic, psychokinesis, hypnosis, mental transference, reanimation, teleportation, parallel universes, alternate timelines... Anything is possible!

From the pilot episode you’ll be immersed in a very well conducted storyline full of mystery and as the show goes on you just realize that every little answer leads to more questions and it makes you look forward to watching another episode as soon as you can. 

Why I liked Fringe? There are lots of elements that I loved:

• Science: although it’s a science-fiction show, the word science must be emphasized. The series takes some real scientific theories that can’t be explored in real life (...yet ;P ) and develops them, creating plots that will blow you away.

• Reality: even though the world is going crazy and lots of strange and creepy things are happening, the show remains anchored to real life. You will see normal people, with normal lives, some referrals to our reality (like historical events, music, books, movies...) and I think that point gives credibility to the show. You just finally think that any of those puzzling things could happen in your world! 

• Characters: perhaps one of the things I like most about Fringe is the characters and their evolution. I think this aspect is very well done!. I don’t want to be a spoiler, so I’m not going to explain anything else... People who watched the series know what I mean ;)

• Mystery and Mythology: If you are that kind of people who like mind puzzles definitely Fringe is for you. There are lots of dots that you need to connect trying to find the best explanation. But don’t worry, the screenwriters will give you the information bit by bit, so   you’ll be theorizing all the time and believe me: you’ll be almost always wrong! The show is also full of tiny details and symbology that compound its mythology. You’ll find information about that in fringepedia.net, but be careful! it might spoil you. 

• Action: You must not forget that this is about FBI investigations, so there are plenty of chases, car crashes, explosions, shooting, murders, autopsies, interrogations...

• Drama: Both storyline and characters’ personal history are pretty dense, deep and dramatic. 

• Humor: the show is full of wacky scenes between the drama which are amusing :D

• Love: and finally that’s the reason for all things. Fringe is about love, it's about children and parents, and friends... it's about becoming a family and taking care of each other. How far could you go, what lines would you cross for the people you love?

• Actors: if I haven’t been convincing enough for you to watch this show, I’ll tell you that it’s worth watching just because of the great John Noble (in the role of Walter Bishop) simply sublime! The rest of the casts are pretty good too: Joshua Jackson, Michael Cerveris, Lance Reddick, Jasika Nicole, Blair Brown, Kirk Acevedo, Seth Gabel... And personally, I was surprised by Anna Torv (in the role of Olivia Dunham) she resolved the complexity of her role brilliantly. 

• Finale: the series finale is awesome. The storyline is perfectly closed. Every question, every doubt has its answer and its reason at the end of the show, and if you don’t find your answer I suggest you re-watch the show because they’re there. But, of course, there are some lines that are opened on purpose at the end, the screenwriters want you to think and theorize about them just like you did during the show. The show must be alive somehow after its ending!

Things I didn’t like? I’m a big fan of the series so I find it difficult to say that there was something I didn’t like, but trying to be objetive:

• The series format started as stand-alone episodes at the beginning. Every episode is about a case and has its introduction, development and ending. This format was a little bit obtrusive for me because I just wanted to know more and more information about the overall story and it’s shown very very slowly between cases. This kind of format was a Fox’s requeriment at the beginning, but it changes later becoming more serialized. Anyway, the second time I watched it this format wasn’t a problem and I enjoyed it a lot, so, just be patient!

• For a few moments, like the end of season 3, I think things could have been explained more slowly in order to keep the anchor to reality I was talking about a few lines before. But everything is okay if you are thinking that this is pure fiction.

• There are lots of details which are important for the understanding of the entire plot, but they’re forgotten when you are watching one episode per week and then some months off until the next season. But this is not a problem now when the series is finished... The show is much more enjoyable if it’s watched back to back, so I recommend you watch it that way.

• The plot is very well conducted and everything fits perfectly at the end, but there are some storylines unexplored in the show whose development I would have liked to watch. More seasons would be necessary for that, so... I'm afraid it won’t be possible.

Summarizing: this is a great great show full of science, mystery, action, humor, drama, love... with an excellent cast and a very crazy and complicated storyline that will keep your mind really busy. I’m sure you’ll loved it.

Please, let me know if you watch it! I’m interested in your opinion :)

FRINGE - PILOT EPISODE TRAILER

Follow this link if you can't watch the video correctly: http://ves.cat/fuup