Reasons you should watch Fringe.
Yet another tvrealm challenge, for which we had to make an argument for "why you should watch a tv show. "This was a bit hard to pick really - I love all of my shows and I think everyone should give all of them chance. This ended up being a toss-up between my current fandom loves: Fringe and Sherlock. Fringe eventually won out, because I figured if there’s one show that needs more audience it’s Fringe. I’m pretty sure Sherlock has many returns assured as long as the cast comes back. So, I present to you:
Reasons to watch Fringe
Fringe is a show that follows a special FBI division that deals with “fringe events” - that is events without any apparent cause, strange occurrences and just about anything out of the ordinary. Usually the cases involve “fringe science” - Scientific inquiry in an established field of study which departs significantly from mainstream theories. It is considered highly speculative.
1. The cast and characters
Fringe has some of the best actors on TV right now: John Noble, Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson, Lance Reddick, Jasika Nicole, Blair Brown, and Seth Gabel. Recurring guest stars are Michael Cerveris, Jared Harris, Sebastian Roché and Spock Leonard Nimoy.
I fell in love with this show not for the plots or the mythology, but for the characters. I love all of them, but Olivia Dunham, the main characters has quickly become one of my favourite characters ever. She is strong, kick-ass, and yet human and very broken. And in spite of all that, or maybe because of it, she is very very good at her job. She is the very definition of badass: saves the world, gets kidnapped, rescues herself, catches the kidnappers and goes home to cook dinner for her sister and her niece, all in about 24 hours.
I also enjoy the team dynamics. The team is more like a family, and they would do anything for each other.
Due to the nature of the show and the way it deals with alternate universes some of the actors have had the opportunity to play six different versions of their character. Each of them slightly different, and yet at the core the same character you’ve grown to love over four seasons. There’s Walter Bishop, mad scientist extraordinaire. His alternate universe counterpart Walternate. Fictional Walter “Willy Wonka” Bishop. Future!Walter. alt!Walter and alt!Walternate. There Olivia Dunham, Faux!Livia, O.Dunham, P.I., Future!Livia, alt!Livia and alt!Fauxlivia. Trust me, it makes sense when you watch it.
2. The cinematography and music
This show is absolutely beautifully shot. I think the caps speak for themselves. It’s also one of the few on TV shows that still has a proper credits sequence. The sequence changes slightly to give you clues about the set-up the episode. I also really enjoy listening to the soundtrack. I absolutely love the title theme. Just close your eyes and listen to the beautiful piano tune.
3. The mythology
Fringe is one of the shows that make you think. It requires that you pay attention and spot various repeating patterns and other important clues. The Observers appear in the background in every episode. The various universes are colour coded: the main verse is blue, the alternate is red, and the new timeline is yellow/amber. Things mentioned in an episode two seasons ago come back and turn up to be very important.
4. It’s Lost meets X Files, except that it answers all of your questions.
Fringe is show that combines elements of sci-fi and police procedural. It has long running plots and things that happen in season one become relevant again in season four. But the most important thing is that it fearlessly answers your questions. The BIG questions. And then promptly raises up other questions. But being in season 4 now, I trust that the writers will answer those new questions soon enough.
Basically this show has a bit of everything, for everybody, and it is, at it its heart, as show about human nature, what makes us who we are and what role faith plays in our everyday lives. And it is well worth your time.
Relevant links:
Fringe Bloggers is a site that has very interesting reviews, as well as recaps and analysis of the mythology for every episode.
Fringepedia is the essential knowledge base for this show. Everything you ever wanted to know about Fringe and a whole lot more.
Fringefiles is where I usually get my screencaps. Alas, the caps are all from the HD TV versions so they have various logos and aren't the highest possible quality. But I prefer gallery sites to full pack downloads, and I haven't yet found a comprehensive DVD cap archive for Fringe. They're still very workable.
Reasons to watch Fringe
Fringe is a show that follows a special FBI division that deals with “fringe events” - that is events without any apparent cause, strange occurrences and just about anything out of the ordinary. Usually the cases involve “fringe science” - Scientific inquiry in an established field of study which departs significantly from mainstream theories. It is considered highly speculative.
1. The cast and characters
Fringe has some of the best actors on TV right now: John Noble, Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson, Lance Reddick, Jasika Nicole, Blair Brown, and Seth Gabel. Recurring guest stars are Michael Cerveris, Jared Harris, Sebastian Roché and Spock Leonard Nimoy.
I fell in love with this show not for the plots or the mythology, but for the characters. I love all of them, but Olivia Dunham, the main characters has quickly become one of my favourite characters ever. She is strong, kick-ass, and yet human and very broken. And in spite of all that, or maybe because of it, she is very very good at her job. She is the very definition of badass: saves the world, gets kidnapped, rescues herself, catches the kidnappers and goes home to cook dinner for her sister and her niece, all in about 24 hours.
I also enjoy the team dynamics. The team is more like a family, and they would do anything for each other.
Due to the nature of the show and the way it deals with alternate universes some of the actors have had the opportunity to play six different versions of their character. Each of them slightly different, and yet at the core the same character you’ve grown to love over four seasons. There’s Walter Bishop, mad scientist extraordinaire. His alternate universe counterpart Walternate. Fictional Walter “Willy Wonka” Bishop. Future!Walter. alt!Walter and alt!Walternate. There Olivia Dunham, Faux!Livia, O.Dunham, P.I., Future!Livia, alt!Livia and alt!Fauxlivia. Trust me, it makes sense when you watch it.
2. The cinematography and music
This show is absolutely beautifully shot. I think the caps speak for themselves. It’s also one of the few on TV shows that still has a proper credits sequence. The sequence changes slightly to give you clues about the set-up the episode. I also really enjoy listening to the soundtrack. I absolutely love the title theme. Just close your eyes and listen to the beautiful piano tune.
Click to view3. The mythology
Fringe is one of the shows that make you think. It requires that you pay attention and spot various repeating patterns and other important clues. The Observers appear in the background in every episode. The various universes are colour coded: the main verse is blue, the alternate is red, and the new timeline is yellow/amber. Things mentioned in an episode two seasons ago come back and turn up to be very important.
4. It’s Lost meets X Files, except that it answers all of your questions.
Fringe is show that combines elements of sci-fi and police procedural. It has long running plots and things that happen in season one become relevant again in season four. But the most important thing is that it fearlessly answers your questions. The BIG questions. And then promptly raises up other questions. But being in season 4 now, I trust that the writers will answer those new questions soon enough.
Basically this show has a bit of everything, for everybody, and it is, at it its heart, as show about human nature, what makes us who we are and what role faith plays in our everyday lives. And it is well worth your time.
Relevant links:
Fringe Bloggers is a site that has very interesting reviews, as well as recaps and analysis of the mythology for every episode.
Fringepedia is the essential knowledge base for this show. Everything you ever wanted to know about Fringe and a whole lot more.
Fringefiles is where I usually get my screencaps. Alas, the caps are all from the HD TV versions so they have various logos and aren't the highest possible quality. But I prefer gallery sites to full pack downloads, and I haven't yet found a comprehensive DVD cap archive for Fringe. They're still very workable.