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Coming in from the outskirts on "Fringe"Few titles could be more apropos than Fringe when it comes to describing how I first felt about a series. I was on the edge of liking it; I was on the edge of hating it. In short, I was on the fringe. But now, after three episodes, I'm on the fringe no more. I'm just hooked. I simply have to know whether Blair Brown and her creepy robotic arm are good or bad.
As one of the most hyped shows of the new season, the new J.J. Abrams series premiered with a 90-minute pilot that set up its X-Files-meets-Dr. Frankenstein sprinkled with the Bourne franchise (minus the amnesia thing) premise. Each week, FBI agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv, who could be Cate Blanchett's younger sister); the formerly mad scientist, Dr. Walter Bishop (John Nobel); and his genius grifter son Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson) track down a series of what can only be described as attacks of weird science that are part of a global conspiracy of weird science called The Pattern. Are you still with me? Do you need a sip of water? Shall we proceed?
The Pattern is the show's biggest selling point. As much as I like seeing Anna in her FBI pantsuits each week, it's the conspiracy that gets former X-Philes like myself really excited. Who is behind all these bizarre acts? Why are they doing it? And how does Massive Dynamic and Blair's robotic arm fit into everything? These are the kind of questions that can propel a series for seasons. Still, Fringe isn't perfect. While the show wants us to focus on the pseudo-science it's the simple science that trips it up sometimes. In the pilot, Dr. Bishop is sprung from the mental institution where he has been committed for the past 17 years to help Olivia. Bishop worked at Harvard before his permanent vacation to the funny farm and we're suppressed to believe his basement laboratory was left intact all those years. What, the Ivy Leagues don't need storage space?
And then, after nearly two decades, they need only pull the drop cloths off of his equipment and everything still works. Hell, I can't even get a pair of headphones to last for longer than 12 months. What's his secret? Also, in the pilot a key plot point turns on a recorded conversation. Yet, what does the scientist researching cutting-edge chemical weapons technology uses to tape the talk? A micro-cassette recorder. And then later Olivia just happens to have a micro-cassette player in her glove box. Seriously, micro-cassettes? Do they even still make those? It's small, maddening inaccuracies like those that had me on the edge of tuning out. I'm more than happy to suspend disbelief on the things I have to suspend disbelief on (like, you know, clone babies and psychic communication and human reanimation); but having to suspend disbelief on actual stuff is just lazy.
Yet, the larger questions that drive Fringe are strong enough to overshadow the petty disbelief problems, irritating as they are. Newcomer Anna is a welcome addition to the strong female character club on TV. And while I still don't quite buy
So, does Fringe have you on the edge of your seat? Is the science too weird for you? And, seriously, what's up with that robotic arm? Submitted by on September 24, 2008 - 5:00pm. |
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I heart this show
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Me Too
Sure
It has its flaws, the suspended belief amongst the suspended belief. But, honestly, I'd watch Anna Torv painting a wall, and then watching the paint dry. Hell, I'd probably even watch her if she made a random guest appearance on the Hills...
Robot arm has to be bad. Nobody except Jaime Summers has a robot arm and isn't bad. Robot arms are evil.
I get around the plotholes
I get around the plotholes thing by giving into the batsh*t crazyness. The show's obviously going for it, so who am I to stand in its way?
I'm more bothered by Lance Reddick playing the same character he always does (I mean he walks out of The Wire and into another tough law enforcement type?) and the exposition overloadtastic dialogue:
"blah blah... Willam Bell."
"Bell?"
"He founded Massive Dynamic and he shared a lab with Walter in the 70s! ... you know, like I already told you 12 times."
www.myspace.com/stopstartstall - acousticy music type stuff.
How can I watch Josh other
How can I watch Josh other than Pacey in a series? No! He will always be Pacey to me, i hope it airs soon over here!
Stand by me Tribute; http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpPf-XB-IrE
Good stuff
I'm hooked. I wasn't a serious X-Phile but I liked the plots and thinking all this weird stuff could exist (of course I was totally in love with Dana Scully). Fringe is the same way, it's great stuff. As soon as I heard JJ Abrams was a part I had it set in my mind that I would love this show (LOST!).
Being the nerd I am all the science stuff really appeals to me. Sure there's plenty of stuff I don't understand and Walter's crazy is starting to rub off on me when I watch the episodes but they come up with some really interesting stuff to investigate. Plot holes don't tend to bug me either 'cause I'm engulfed by the time the beginning scene ends.
ATTN: Does any one else think that Anna Torv's American accent (she's Australian, oh yes) sounds just like Lena Headey's in TSCC? I get so confused sometimes when I hear it.
___//♫♪ let your girlfriend do what your boyfriend can't
YES.
Fringe
OMG nooooo
...
Mind if I sit here beside you and also starting crying? I'm a big fan of shows like this but I am also completely shattered that this means no more Alex and Jessica.
*sob*
I'm really, really trying not to be bitter 'cause any show with Blair Brown is worth a consideration.
nah..
It can still happen...all depends on the shooting schedules for the shows..these episodes of Fringe were filmed MONTHS ago..
________________________________________
Voogle
A Voogle Plea
Hooked...
I couldn't help myself. Fringe is my new favorite show. Walter cracks me up but I'm not completely sold on Pacey. Why couldn't Walter have a daughter?
One thing that bugs me is the random FBI agent. She's cute however, I would like to see her do more than fetch things for the mad scientist.
i dont know...
i keep watching, but it keeps getting more and more ridiculous. and anna torv looked strangely washed out in that last episode. plus, the dialogue is completely preposterous. for a show that's supposed to be whip-smart, a lot of the lines are just far too obvious! they dont need to explain every scientific thing - just trust the audience and let us figure things out sometimes (it's a good thing, i swear). i know the whole point was to make a show that was much more episodic and contained than lost, and also a lot more accessible. however, i think fringe is almost too simplistic.
did anyone else crack up when blair said something along the lines of, "massive dyamic is SO massive that nearly all science...". oh god, it's like rhyming 'you' with 'you'.
that being said, i have a friend at FOX who said it actually gets really good after episode 4, and i do love josh jackson, so im just going to suck it up and keep watching until he and anna torv finally hook up!
never watched DC
Loving Joshua Jackson in this show. In fact I hardly notice the female lead played by uh....how did she get this role again?
Anyhow the show is good, but not good enough to make it past season one. imo
-Nathiest
the devil is in the details
I dunnoo....
I watched the premiere episode and I was also quickly on the edge of turning it off but I didn't in hopes that maybe the end would surprise me.
Nope... TOo ridiculous and she totally looks constipated in every scene.
I don't know, maybe it's just me.
I also can't see beyond Joshua Jackson's Pacey. Pacey or dawson, Pacey or Dawson... omg.
NO.
Jasmine McLeod
Okay, I'm a huge 'McLeod's Daughters' fan and can't help but see Jasmine McLeod in Anna Torv whenever she's on screen. I keep expecting her to start talking about her past with horse racing, overcoming her fear of riding, etc. LOL!
I'm not complaining though, I really like Torv and am starting to like this show as well. So far she's my favourite, along with Walter Bishop. Don't care much about the son, Peter.
- PKiddo
Like Cabaret
Kirk Acevedo's character?
Erm...
I thought that was more of a joke to cheer her up than a confession of homosexuality.
But that lab girl is definitely cute!
Right now I like the series but there is a bit of a large amount of technobabble... I hope they get past that soon.
I'll keep watching in the mean time.
Who you gonna be if you can't be yourself,
you can't get it from t.v., you can't force it on
anybody else.-- Ani Difranco
Breaking the 'boundaries' of Fringe
While it is not the perfect show, I am sticking with Fringe. Something there makes me want to see what is going to happen. I do have issues with 'the lab'. It kind of reminds me of something out of a Frankenstein movie. You'd think the 'special unit' that is investigating the Pattern would trick out a modern lab for him.
I like Agent Dunham and I can see her evolving with each episode. Walter is a hoot, and quirky enough to keep one amused. His son is snarky but has a certain something and I can see a bond forming between him and Olivia. I keep thinking that the man that recruited Olivia is the Haitian from Heroes (he's not the same guy tho). Blair Brown is just creepy.
I enjoyed the last episode a lot and hopefully it will continue improving!
fringefancenter.com
I ADORE! Fringe! I think JJ needs to iron out the problems, I did the same thing, micro cassette? Seriously? I don't think so, dude. This man was as careful as someone walking on egg shells when he wrote Alias, well, do the same thing now and Anna Torv's Olivia will be as well loved as Sydney Bristow was -- But I'll be watching, I'm a JJ Abram's lover.
tJR
www.myfandoms.com
www.fringefancenter.com
Anna Torv
she reminds me of...
Its no x-files but its not bad
So I'm along for the ride this season.
Although I do think go go gadget arm whenever Blair Brown's Nina flexes that robot arm of hers. She is a Bad Robot creation after all.
There's an Out Lesbian Actress ..
... on the show. Her name is Jasika Nicole and she's featured in an article about being out in Hollywood in the New York Times.
Out In Hollywood: Starring Roles Are Rare
If the link doesn't work the article is from 26 September 2008, in the Style section.
God bless the interwebs!
Wow!
yeah! she plays that girl whose name walter can never remember...that's interesting, thanks for sharing
you make it real for me
Uh oh ...
... IMDB only has her listed for 4 episodes. Eek ...haven't they aired 3 by now? I'm envisioning a gruesome, translucentity death for the sistah.
But I'm using IMDB and we know how accurate they are!
i'm still on the fence with this one....
last night i finally was able to catch this series (which regrettably conflicts with other fav's at the same date/time...damn) as i caught up on video recaps on my PC...i haven't quite formed a yay or nay on this one yet...need to watch some more but certainly it has intrigued me
www.myspace.com/wickedanomaly
www.allfuqdup.blogspot.com