Fringe (2008–2013) User Reviews

Started as X-files wannabe, then turned into so much more

[SnoopyStyle · 8/10 · 27 August 2013]

FBI agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) is forced to work with unstable scientist Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble). She recruits his estranged son Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson) to help understand him. Astrid Farnsworth (Jasika Nicole) is a junior FBI agent. As the strange cases are investigated, they may be connected to a global company called Massive Dynamic run by Nina Sharp (Blair Brown).

This is yet another JJ Abrams TV show. It is starting to become like opening another Starbucks. This starts like a copy of the X-files. Slowly the X-files retread story lines morphed into an incredible multi-verse, apocalyptic, time traveling story-web. I'm glad that they were able to stay on the air for 5 seasons to fully flesh out the story.

Strongest otherworldly show out there since x-files and 4400

[orpheus-30 · 9/10 · 11 August 2009]

When I first saw Fringe, I was immediately reminded of firstly The 4400 and secondly the X-files. Each show is similar in that supernatural incidents occur, and that only a specialized task force is capable of dealing with them. In the x-files we mostly followed the story of agents Skully and Mulder and their investigation in cases that revolved around aliens, religion and metaphysics. In 4400 it were agents Skouris and Baldwin who investigated incidents relating a group of "special" people. In Fringe, it's all about science. An investigation team researches cases where high tech inventions that border on the supernatural are being used to commit crimes, show off, or even unexplained purposes. While some cases seem to be uncomfortably similar to what we already experience in daily life, other cases are more fantastical.

There are many things to like about Fringe. The show is very professionally put together. Every episode shows a consistent progress in the storyline as the mystery unfolds. You never get the full sense of really what's going on, just as the persons in the show don't. But at the same time, you get clues and hints to what is happening, and every episode reveales a new lead that evolves the story.

The ambient music adds a thickness to scenes that would normally be tense already, and now become completely chilling.

The cast is varied and interesting enough for each viewer to have their personal favorite. Some of us will relate to the meticulous and sensible detective, while others will develop a bond with the brilliant but troubled and sometimes mad scientist. I found the acting to be very strong on all accounts, except perhaps for a few awkward interrogation scenes.

At times, so many scientific terms are being used back-to-back, that I felt like watching a Startrek Voyager episode. With Fringe though, everything is based on facts and in the rare events that things just don't make sense, the scientists in the show will assure us that they have no clue to what is going on.

More To It Than Meets The Eye

[mtrxhckr · 9/10 · 9 September 2009]

I first started following the series at launch, viewing the first 3 episodes. Then i completely forgot about it. I just recently started viewing this again and i have to say, there's more to it than the first couple of episodes let you see. The plot deepens as episodes go by, the role of the "mad scientist" becomes clearer and everything slowly ties in together like a perfect puzzle. The story is not one of the most original you'll find, but it is told in a most beautiful way, a way that will keep you hooked until the end. The characters are strong and so are the actors/actresses that bring them to life. The effects are top notch. An overall great TV show with that classical X Files feel to it but with a twist, a twist that i personally enjoy and one that made me anxiously await the second installment in the TV series. Highly recommended to all you X Files fans and also for anyone that enjoys a conspiracy plot that has some substance. An easy 9 out of 10.

The John Noble one-man show!

[martwiller-948-644122 · 10/10 · 26 September 2019]

There's an abundance of great writing, incredible performances and excellent execution on this show, but John Noble (playing the (to put it mildly) eccentric scientist Walter Bishop) steals every scene he's in. His performance is one for the ages, and it's up there with Christopher Lloyd's Dr. Emmett Brown and Terry O'Quinn's John Locke. A pure joy!

One Of The Best Shows Of All-Time

[myownme777 · 10/10 · 7 October 2013]

Just finished the show, and wiping the tears, and I have got to say that this IS one of THE BEST shows of all-time. AND you don't have to be a sci-fi fan to appreciate it. I am not a Trekkie or a Star Wars fanatic, but I do appreciate a good story, and this definitely has that. This show has it all; Adventure, Horror, Drama, Action, Comedy, Mystery, Fantasy, and Romance. I'm sad that it's ended, as with the recently finished Breaking Bad, but I know that there is so much more to be discovered. Give this show a chance and stick it out and you will be rewarded.

Originally I did not think that I would like it because of Joshua Jackson, being that he is from Dawson's Creek, but he won me over as did James Van Der Beek in The Rules Of Attraction, and he does a great job. The whole cast is great, but no one more than John Noble who plays the mad but brilliant scientist and experimenter of hallucinogenics, Walter Bishop. There are lots of episodes where he trips and the best one is in one of the last episodes where he has a Monty Python-esque hallucination.

If you are a Trekkie, you'll want to see this show for the great Leonard Nimoy, who plays a very important role on the show. It's been nice to have been introduced to Anna Torv, Jasika Nicole and Georgina Haig all three are great and all i've since fallen in love with. Lance Reddick, Blair Brown, Michael Cerveris and Eugene Lipinski(one helluva frightening performance) are definitely worth mentioning being great in their respected roles as well. Other great actors worth mentioning that appear are Jared Harris(Happiness), Martha Plimpton(Parenthood), William Sadler, Peter Weller, Brad Dourif, Christopher Lloyd and Theresa Russell(in one helluva sexy performance).

All in all it's just a great show so watch it damn it!

Ground-breaking.

[mikemikeparker · 10/10 · 2 September 2019]

I cannot understand why this is not in the top 100 of IMDB series. It's a stunning series from beginning to (magnificent) end. Great acting and great direction. JJ Abrams at his very best. John Noble is a revelation. The series feels as though each series has a direction, building to a totally plausible and hugely uplifting ending. If you love sci-fi, you'll love this.

A perfect concoction of intelligence and feelings

[flashcortex · 10/10 · 30 August 2013]

I started watching the show just when the first season was heading towards its end, and frankly I was taken aback. It was the perfect show for me, a heavenly combination of drama, action, thrills, science, fiction and characters that you can so easily relate to. You don't even notice how fond you grow of them. I've stuck with the show until the very end, and yes, there are some twists here and there that could've been dealt differently but the show ha maintained it's quality. It's not easy to watch and it's definitely not that easy to keep track of all the cases or events that come to happening but the complex nature of the show is very unique. And in a way beautiful.

Watch It In Its Entirety And Then Judge....

[nickgr-673-185560 · 10/10 · 28 April 2010]

Been watching the reviews for the show for some time now and I have to say that most people are confused. Confused on how a series is reviewed. When we speak about a sitcom comedy, by just watching one or two episodes it is fairly easy to judge the quality. But when trying to analyze a series like X-Files, Lost, Fringe and so many other, one has to watch the whole bunch of arc episodes in order to have an objective opinion. yes the science portrayed every week may be a little too much but... X-Files (which I also loved) was about aliens.... So....we believe in aliens but cannot comprehend that there may be science beyond our imagination???? As for the characters, and especially for Anna Torv.......her acting (the way see looks in the first episodes - like cold and aloof) it's just the way things should be in the beginning......then she is a cold-hearted FBI agent and that is what she shows us.......everyone who cared enough to watch all the episodes till now will see how she has changed as a character (and how well acted that character is by Anna Torv - I had never seen her before). Most of the reviews here are based on the first 3 or 4 episodes.....well.....it's a whole story that has to be said.....go through the first season and see then what your reactions will be... Yet the series is not without problems, but it will get better and better. Most of the arc episodes are thrilling and most of the rest episodes are full of mad science (got to love it). The production values are sky-high...

So always keep in mind what you're judging and give it the appropriate time...

What's with all the hate?

[Calypso0132 · 10/10 · 3 October 2009]

I had started watching Fringe when it aired in my country, and at first, I didn't really find it particularly interesting. However, I decided to persevere with it, and I'm very glad I did. This show is not perfect, but it's definitely not as bad as all these reviews tend to make out. With each episode (so far), I find myself more deeply immersed in the plot, more involved with the characters, and I can't wait until the next one airs. A lot of these other reviews say it's worse than 'Lost' - which isn't true. I tried watching Lost, for the entire first season, but I found myself completely bored, with no real plot line to follow. The opposite is true with Fringe. Each episode has two plots - One, the overall plot of the series, and two, the plot of the individual episode, such as the investigation. This is common practice, but Fringe makes it.. fresher.

All in all, don't make any decisions on whether to watch this or not based off reviews on here. There's a lot of controversy - some hate it, some love it - just watch it for a while and judge it for yourself. I personally don't like the first 10 or so episodes, so I recommend you at least for a bit after that. They honestly do get better. 9/10

Re-watching impression:

[rsvp321 · 26 March 2019]

I was hooked when this show was active, and started watching Season 1 again a few days ago.

It is far superior to most of the sci fi we're tortured with, today.

Just sci fi, no distractions. Season 5 brings it all home, even bringing in items from the previous four seasons to be used as weapons!

EDIT/ADDED: =====================>>>>>>

I just finished a marathon watch of all five seasons, and considering that this series ended a mere 5,6 years ago, I am in awe at it's ahead-of-its-time brilliance, and in shock to realise how absolutely awful most current sci fi series have become in comparison!

Today, social agendas, special interest group pandering, and identity politics are the central focus of plots, driving towards the proverbial ex cathedra morality chastising of the audience, and a big group hug for the cherry.

Fringe is just sci fi, timeless and I'll be re-watching every five or six years.

The only other "10" rating I've ever given here at IMDb is "The Expanse".

Starts great and then it gets complicated!

[leon_staples · 7/10 · 3 May 2021]

I did like the show overall but I wished it had continued to be more like series 1 or 2 because as the seasons go on, it gets more complicated. When it first started it had a very x-files feel to it. Agents investigating the paranormal (is an obvious connection I guess) but once they start going into multiple universes, 2 of everyone etc. They drag it on for far too long and at times I quite honestly did not know what was even going on.

It's a shame because even the one off episodes are always force tied into the bigger storyline when they didn't have to be. They should have taken out the whole parallel universe arc and just continued to have them investigate one of events, a different character / story each episode. Then they could have added a simple overall story that runs along with each series and it would have been far better.

I gave it a seven because it starts exceptionally well and there are some fantastic episodes peppered into each season. The very last season is hard to get through because the story takes a sharp (unnecessary turn) and I just don't care for that part of the story line. I think this is an example of a show that was trying to be too clever when a more simple approach would have seen this run for much longer.

With improvement could be Abrams masterpiece!

[Eatmybolonga · 10/10 · 19 August 2009]

I have only two words for you, John Noble, John Noble and yes you guessed it, John Noble.

Many people will tell you "its X-files without out the X" but these same people will also say "Lost- why would I watch a show about people on an island".

Fringe brings great story together along with an entertaining cast, John Noble really brings his A-Game and shines through the eccentric and senile Walter Bishop. I would go so far as to say to watch Fringe if only to witness his superb portrayal of the character.

The characters will keep you entertained, the story will keep you on your toes and scientific experiments will blow you away.

This is a show not to be missed!

Don't worry about the logic, just enjoy the drama

[LouE15 · 6/10 · 22 October 2009]

Incomprehensibly negative reviews here: what heights of TV brilliance were all these disappointed people expecting? Seriously, this is just 'mad science' packaged beautifully for mid-evening TV (after work, brain no longer required), and it does, I think, exactly what it says on the tin. I understand that creator J J Abrams was behind "Alias" and "Lost". OK, yes, pretty good. But...er...the soaring expectations were based on what, exactly? (And no, I'm not counting his wonderful "Star Trek" - different medium, different ball game.)

The formula is familiar to us all from countless scientific exploration/forensic/detective shows, so to me there was no great leap to understand the setup, and definitely no questioning of it. It's not deep – add one part crime detection, two parts quirky "work family", one part dysfunctional father-son relationship, and four parts pseudo-science, conspiracy government plot science. Do we actually mind that it's "X Files" for a new generation? Or that the detecting conclusions leapt to through impossible scientific bounds are tenuous in the extreme? Who cares?! Does it actually need to make sense if it's addictive and well made?

I don't spend my mid-evening TV time worrying about continuity and logic, especially not for shows like this which make throwing logic out of the window sort of a point of honour. Provided - as in this case - it loosely ties together, the characters are not cardboard cut-outs and have interesting inter-relationships, and it looks pretty good and keeps the low-IQ part (of course it's only a part!) of my brain entertained, I pretty much got what I came for. I like Agent Olivia's fearless stares; I like Peter Bishop's murky past (a little at odds with his boyish face under the beard); I like the supporting cast, especially Broyles (forever Lt. Daniels in my mind!) and, crowning glory, I adore Dr Walter Bishop, bless his delightfully unhinged self-medicating cotton socks. I love it. And now despise me if you dare.

It had a lot of potential

[filmfreak_london · 5/10 · 9 April 2023]

I am almost at the end of season 3 now. That moment when Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) suddenly is William "Belly" Bell was the cringiest moment so far. Like what the fringe. With my all due respect to the late Leonard Nimoy, but his characters was already annoying by himself. I don't know. This reflects kind of the whole show. Good characters in their very roots and they all do some great acting. John Noble is amazing. And the father son thing and the love story and all that are probably the best recipes. But I feel they just got tied up in in that parallel universe maze and spent too much time and energy on that. The cases get more and more random too and not scary or anything. It's sad. I think with a better story and a darker setting the show could have lasted even longer. I hope this Olivia being William Bell thing is not gonna last long. By far the best thing in the entire show is Henry the cab driver.

For science!

[rach-ll · 10/10 · 17 August 2013]

I first watched this show when it started airing on TV in the Netherlands. I instantly really liked it, watched it every week, until I lost track of it. A few years later, I came across some GIFs of the show and thought hey.. I know that show. That show is excellent. So I watched all of it, and then a third time with my boyfriend last year. Even after seeing it several times, it's still an excellent show. It's clever, the acting is great (gets better throughout the seasons), it has a very distinct science-theme, and after a while I found myself really becoming attached to the characters. I LOVE Anna Torv (who plays Olivia). She's a wonderful actress, and even when wearing a long, shapeless, black trench coat and hat she still somehow manages to be sexy. John Noble is of course brilliant as Walter, a character that provided me with a lot of chuckles and some very useful information (such as; eat eggs when you've been drinking, it sucks up some of the alcohol and makes you feel less drunk, and hungover the next day).

There's plenty of other actors that deserve mention, but that would take forever. Suffice it to say; they're all excellent. This show is one of my favorites of all time. It's mentally stimulating in a way that I haven't experienced with any other show to date, and you're missing out if you haven't watched it. If you are, however, the type of person that wants dumb mindless action all the time and isn't up for some brain gymnastics (more so in the later seasons), this isn't for you. That doesn't make it a bad show, it just makes you a dumb-ass. Go watch some 24 or something.

FRINGE is the best!

[MoonIndy · 10/10 · 15 October 2018]

The stories, the characters - especially Walter Bishop! No spoilers here, just watch it and be drawn into an amazing world!

10/10 the best!

This show is exceptional

[desertdogoman · 10/10 · 28 June 2020]

Prepare for the trauma of loss as you approach the last episode...it's that good!

This show rates as one of the best of all time. The character development is exceptional. The storyline develops depth with every episode. JJ Abrams is a genius.

Awesome main story and development

[surfisfun · 8/10 · 11 August 2020]

Great to also Re watch skipping episodes not developing the Main story line. Online search have list of recommended episodes.

------------------------------------------------------------ My sincere thanks for such an enjoyable performance by the Scientist Character ! I wonder how much improvisations he did , he is a great actor! Watch it and story will grow on you.

Read the spoiler review by tifa4evr 23 May 2020 " Seasons 1 - 3 were spectacular, it should have ended there though". IF YOU SAW IT ALREADY!!

That review is very helpful to understand why it somehow crashed on S4 and S5 . But after rewatching , I think season 4 was very decent but some personality changes made the fringe crew less attractive a bit. Season 5 seem to have less $budget , less fringe type events to resolves. Final episode is acceptable .S5 would have required more effects, better sets and story to make it "plausible" in itself.

I dont think it was worst then the easy out finale of Lost. But I still think FRINGE was the best in it genre, much better then xfiles. That is if soapy drama dosent phase you out...press Forward button, I sure did on re watching all Seasons.

I liked this show a lot more then X files for its intensity, characters,story arc, good cast with the exceptional j. Noble in top 5 most memorable TV AND MOVIE crazy scientist. OMG , /.

Brilliant

[ajkbiotech · 10/10 · 24 March 2021]

Fringe is so very perfect that if you have not watched it twice over, you're not cool enough to even converse about tv.

Great show, don't listen to the critics...

[joura-2 · 8/10 · 7 August 2009]

This is a great show with talented actors and great storyline. You have to see every episode to know whats going on. Nothing for viewers who watches a episode every other week. The people who calls the storyline bad doesn't get it. It's very smart and like "Lost" you have to use your mind to find out the secrets revealed throughout the show. JJ Abrams is a brilliant writer and the cast is perfect. I strongly recommend you who haven't seen this show to have a look. -FROM THE BEGINNING- otherwise you will not understand a thing.

Best regards joura-2

More reviews are coming soon.....

Worst show Ever !!

[OldClassics · 30 October 2008]

This show is Rip-off of many shows together which includes LOST, X-files, Twin peaks , Twilight zones and the OMEGA factor First of all to be HONEST i respect JJ Abrams he created many classic shows like " LOST " (And i think he should stick with that) and " Alias " another good show , the reason this two shows rocked was creativity and originality of the Concept on the other hand Fringe was build upon FAKE science , no creativity , BAD acting and Writing

ANNA Torv who is suppose to be the leading actress of the show has given the terrible performance one could ever imagine, She is always acts WOODEN and her Weird expressions as if she is Constipating all the time adds upto the misery of the show , The only saving Grace of the show that i consider is the Mad scientist and his son played by JOSHUA JACKSON (which always reminds me of Mighty ducks) their acting is upto the mark and their characters are well written

The main problem of this show is in the Writing department the stories are very weak and seems to be Far fetched

i would recommend Viewers to watch the Best and Classic show ever to deal with Paranormal stuff " The X-files " from the scratch or if your looking for new Material.... i would recommend " Supernatural ' another great show

Fails Miserably, J.J Abram Disappoints

[shekhark4 · 6/10 · 15 November 2008]

Just finished watching first six episodes and boy, does it disappoints. The whole cast is annoying and leading the pack is protagonist Anna Torv. She looks like she is suffering from indigestion and about to throw up anytime. Joshua jackson is bearable with is his occasional P.Js. The "supposedly know it all" john noble as walter bishop is really irritating.

Comparisons with x files is inevitable and still there is no comparison. X files had great acting, good character development and excellent cinematography, especially in the first six seasons. Instead of all that, what we get here is poor script, implausible explanations and did i mention annoying characters. There is absolutely no chemistry between cast members. The only saving grace is occasional CGI but i am not sure how long it will carry the show on its shoulder. They desperately need some good scripts and even better actors.

A must-watch for all sci-fi lovers.

[kaity-oakes · 10/10 · 14 July 2013]

I've noticed that most of the horrible reviews here are those that didn't get past the first four episodes. Granted, these were not the most exciting and well-written story lines presented to viewers, but afterwards, the ball really gets rolling.

Anna Torv is AMAZING as Olivia Dunham. She's tough, but vulnerable. She's pretty, but not overly attractive. She has real responses and emotions to the stresses in her life. And (this is the big one for me, because TV always seems to speed up romance), it doesn't take her 5 episodes to fall in love. It takes a couple seasons.

All the other characters add so much dimension to this show, but arguably, the most fun is Dr. Walter Bishop. He's zany, likable, high most of the time, and absolutely freakin' brilliant.

I can't get into the storyline too much without ruining it, but I don't think I've ever watched a show with such amazingly crafted plot twists. Fringe is one show that I want to keep on watching, hour after hour.

Heads up, it's on Netflix now, steaming four seasons! Go watch it! Like, NOW!

good but not powerful.............

[lycan_prince · 7/10 · 17 June 2008]

Just saw the pilot and din't see any comments here. Technically the episode was sound. Good Camera-work. Sharp editing. And a commendable background score though it mostly will be altered for the actual series premiere. The story on the other hand is fairly interesting even if the science involved borders on the ridiculous. As with 'Lost', some scheme of a grand scale is hinted at leaving the writers good room to manoeuver in. The characters, each with his or her own dilemmas and troubles, are likable but the casting looks weak. Anna Trov (a watered down version of Naomi Watts imo) looks more like a lost mother than an FBI agent under stress and Joshua Jackson looks nothing like the eccentric genius he's supposed to be (and I don't mean he should be wearing thick glasses and sport a weird hairdo). All in all Fringe was good but the knockout punch that a series premiere is supposed to deliver (think Prison Break, The Black Donnellys, Life et al) was somehow missing.

Genius without pants!

[saeedsaberpour · 5/10 · 19 May 2023]

Maybe it was a good hit back when it was first aired but looking back at it back in 2023, it doesn't do the deal. There were some catchy episodes and interesting topics now and then but in general they stretched it too much for so long that at some point even the writers forgot what the story is all about let alone the viewers.

Overall a medium series that lost all purpose and the consistency it had at the beginning of the 3rd season. Happens when you play with the timeline and parallel universes one too many times!!

Here are some of the names the smartest man in 2 universes Walter Bishop mistakenly called his cute assistant Astrid throughout the series: Asterisk Astro Asteroid Astringent Aspen Aspirin Esther Ashram Ascot Athos Alex Astral Astriff Agnes Asner Asgard, and my very favorite Ostrich!!