Considering starting Fringe

[Elemental]

Until recently, I always had the impression this was a bit of a B-rate sci-fi series. My extent of watching was limited to about 2 minutes of the premiere, however, but I lost interest in watching it after hearing so-so reviews of the first season or so. However, after hearing some hype about the final season, I decided to familiarize myself a bit, perhaps not in the best way possible, by watching a trailer for season 5. This trailer showed a lot of interesting ideas and what seemed to be a fairly in depth storyline that I wonder if I would enjoy as I love intricate, complicated plots. I love Babylon 5, Lost, The X-Files, and Star Trek. As for non-sci-fi, my favourite series would be ER and The West Wing.

-Any chance this show would be up my alley?
-How does it compare to your top favourite shows?
-Does the first season tend to lack focus or does it all come to be important later?
-Are there any highly low points for the series (I read something about season 3 being a bit of a downer)?
-Is it going to have a good opportunity to wrap up all the loose ends in its final season (nothing turns me off like an epic series that never gets to realize its conclusion)?

One of my concerns now is that I may have already spoiled myself on some of the biggest plot points by checking out this trailer a YouTube vid, and snippets from IGN's best episodes list. From what I gather, there is an alternate universe where the World Trade Center is still standing (revealed at the end of season 1 I believe with Leonard Nimoy), an evil group of people who are actually humans from the future who are up to no good, and Josh Jackson's character is from the future or something and is father to some other important female character. So, have I ruined most of the big reveals of the show?

[Brikar99]

I started watching it recently, looking to fill my X-Files void. It's alright. It lacks the artistry of the X-Files. Season one is pretty hit or miss. I'm enjoying season two more, but there's one thing about it that's bugging the crap out of me, even though I know it's kinda nitpicky: there are several episodes where the characters travel back and forth between Boston and locations like middle Pennsylvania or upstate New York multiple times within the episode, sometimes just long enough for a brief conversation and then head back! C'mon, guys, X-Files was smart enough to have Mulder and Scully get motel rooms and learn to use cell phones.

[Takeru]

Elemental wrote:

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-Any chance this show would be up my alley?

Looking at your other favorite shows I'd say yes.

-How does it compare to your top favourite shows?

My favorite shows (at the moment) are New BSG, Veronica Mars, TNG, DS9, Farscape, Buffy, Angel and Friday Night Lights (finished shows only) and compared to them Fringe beyond season 3 doesn't hold up. I love the performances and especially seasons 2 and 3 (season 1 was kinda meh, not bad, but not nearly as great), but I despise season 4 for reasons I cannot reveal without spoiling you, let's just say that something happened that killed my interest in the show, what was must see tv before became I'll watch it if I have time tv.

-Does the first season tend to lack focus or does it all come to be important later?

Not all of it becomes important later, but some things and characters do.

-Are there any highly low points for the series (I read something about season 3 being a bit of a downer)?

I think of season 3 as the series high point and season 4 as the absolute low point, with season 5 looking even worse due to certain things happening. But that's just me, many fans still love the show, but even with me hating the later seasons I highly recommend seasons 1-3 (seasons 2-3 more than 1 but it's still entertaining).
At least I still care enough about the show to hate it and the performances are as good as before.

-Is it going to have a good opportunity to wrap up all the loose ends in its final season (nothing turns me off like an epic series that never gets to realize its conclusion)?

They went into the final season knowing it would be the last, the writer's have all the opportunities in the world to wrap it up.

So, have I ruined most of the big reveals of the show?

Nope, you know some stuff and not everything you posted is 100% correct. The parallel universe scene may look like a big reveal right now, but think about what you don't know, you saw Leonard Nimoy in a still standing WTC ... that's it. It's like starting X-Files knowing that there's a conspiracy, a cigarette smoking bad guy and aliens, without context it doesn't spoil much at all.

[Warp Coil]

I took the plunge and started watching "Fringe" a couple of months ago, once it was available to stream for free on Amazon Prime. I just finished season 3 and I'm totally hooked. The first season is a little slow - the format is very freak/monster/case of the week procedural, but there's continuity and foreshadowing that builds towards events that happen later. Things pick up in season 2 and go bat shit crazy in season 3. Love it. Can't wait to watch season 4.

[Brikar99]

I'm also watching it on Amazon Prime. That there's a random Season 1 episode in the middle of Season 2 is plain bizarre, though I gather it aired that way and the audience was just as confused then.

[Delsaber]

I'm considering a run through Fringe as well, though I might wait until it's finished completely before I dive in. I only caught bits of the first season before but really liked what I saw. Not even sure why I fell off the wagon, really.

[Elemental]

Takeru wrote:

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Looking at your other favorite shows I'd say yes.

My favorite shows (at the moment) are New BSG, Veronica Mars, TNG, DS9, Farscape, Buffy, Angel and Friday Night Lights (finished shows only) and compared to them Fringe beyond season 3 doesn't hold up. I love the performances and especially seasons 2 and 3 (season 1 was kinda meh, not bad, but not nearly as great), but I despise season 4 for reasons I cannot reveal without spoiling you, let's just say that something happened that killed my interest in the show, what was must see tv before became I'll watch it if I have time tv.

Not all of it becomes important later, but some things and characters do.

I think of season 3 as the series high point and season 4 as the absolute low point, with season 5 looking even worse due to certain things happening. But that's just me, many fans still love the show, but even with me hating the later seasons I highly recommend seasons 1-3 (seasons 2-3 more than 1 but it's still entertaining).
At least I still care enough about the show to hate it and the performances are as good as before.

They went into the final season knowing it would be the last, the writer's have all the opportunities in the world to wrap it up.

Nope, you know some stuff and not everything you posted is 100% correct. The parallel universe scene may look like a big reveal right now, but think about what you don't know, you saw Leonard Nimoy in a still standing WTC ... that's it. It's like starting X-Files knowing that there's a conspiracy, a cigarette smoking bad guy and aliens, without context it doesn't spoil much at all.

Thanks for the very thorough and honest response and to the others for their thoughts as well. I'm interested to hear that you've been a lot more disinterested in season 4. Is this a commonly held feeling among fans? I had checked out the tv.com to get a sense of general episode ratings and they look pretty consistent at 8-9.5 throughout.

I'm glad to hear I hopefully haven't spoiled too much, but even knowing that Josh Jackson is someone elses father bothers me a bit.

Honestly, what probably turns me off the most is probably the monster-of-the-week aspect to the first season. While I said I really liked X-Files, I should maybe clarify that I loved the mythology episodes, the MOTW could be fun enough due to the interesting cast of characters, but generally, that type of story that just showcases weird, wacky pseudo-science bores the crap out of me.

After Lost and other productions by this team however, I do put some faith into their brand. Perhaps I'll give the premiere another try or wait until the show is over and get a sense of what the general consensus is.

[Brikar99]

Elemental wrote:

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Honestly, what probably turns me off the most is probably the monster-of-the-week aspect to the first season. While I said I really liked X-Files, I should maybe clarify that I loved the mythology episodes, the MOTW could be fun enough due to the interesting cast of characters, but generally, that type of story that just showcases weird, wacky pseudo-science bores the crap out of me.

Curiously, I'm the opposite. I loved the 'monster-of-the-week' stories on X-Files, but didn't care for the mythology. With 'Fringe,' I find myself liking the mythology more than the MOTW stories.

[Ethros]

I blindly bought the Season 1-3 boxset about this time last year. Safe to say I didn't regret it.


Once the arc plot has properly kicked in by Season 2 you'll be wanting to watch episode after episode

[Elemental]

Brikar99 wrote:

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Curiously, I'm the opposite. I loved the 'monster-of-the-week' stories on X-Files, but didn't care for the mythology. With 'Fringe,' I find myself liking the mythology more than the MOTW stories.

How many non-arc related episodes do there tend to be season 1 and post-season 1?

[Elemental]

Ethros wrote:

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I blindly bought the Season 1-3 boxset about this time last year. Safe to say I didn't regret it.


Once the arc plot has properly kicked in by Season 2 you'll be wanting to watch episode after episode

It's nice to hear this seems to be the consensus but I'm wondering now too how widespread the disdain for season 4 is among most fans.

[Takeru]

Elemental wrote:

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It's nice to hear this seems to be the consensus but I'm wondering now too how widespread the disdain for season 4 is among most fans.

I'm not sure, I never interacted much with other Fringe fans but from what I've seen on message boards most fans seem to like the show in season 4 just as much as before, maybe I'm the exception.

I know some people who lost interest in Fringe during season 4 but they were only casual watchers before and probably wouldn't call themselves fans of the earlier seasons.

[Aragorn]

Elemental wrote:

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After Lost and other productions by this team however, I do put some faith into their brand. Perhaps I'll give the premiere another try or wait until the show is over and get a sense of what the general consensus is.

The Fringe team isn't the Lost team other than Bryan Burk and JJ Abrams. And Abrams may have his name on a bunch of shows, but he hasn't been the creator of any of them for a while. He often lends his name to shows he thinks he would personally enjoy to help them get going.

[Elemental]

Aragorn wrote:

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The Fringe team isn't the Lost team other than Bryan Burk and JJ Abrams. And Abrams may have his name on a bunch of shows, but he hasn't been the creator of any of them for a while. He often lends his name to shows he thinks he would personally enjoy to help them get going.

Right, thanks for clarifying. I may be getting some of them mixed up with the people involved in the new Star Trek such as Robert Orci. I knew Abrams didn't have much to do on Lost beyond the pilot.

[1001001]

I don't know whether you'll like it or not.

I love it.

It's a fun show.

Give it a shot!