"Fringe" Blind Buy?

[Nardpuncher]

I saw the 1st season for sale and was wondering what you all think.
I like "Lost" a lot but have never been into "X-Files" if that helps.

 

[OsmiumJohnnycake]

it's a lot more x-filesy than losty

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

Yes, Fringe is a blind buy.

 

[Cicero]

The series makes very little sense. Scientifically, it's not up to 19th Century standards, let alone 20th or 21st; many events of the show are completely ludicrous, but masquerade as "fringe" science. What Fringe offers would be better described as bad pseudoscience.

If you remember middle school physical science or high school biology, it's unwatchable.

 

[Obiwanshinobi]

yes. but then you have to think. It's just a show. Enjoy it. or not.

 

[Cicero]

yes. but then you have to think. It's just a show. Enjoy it. or not.

I understand that line of thinking. I loved Transformers 2. But Fringe purports intelligence, which makes its ludicrousness difficult to watch.

(Actually, granting the miracle exception of the all-spark's effect, Transformers 2 was much more scientifically plausible than Fringe. The series really does play as though it's made by people who didn't pay attention in middle school science class.)

 

[Starbreaker]

Yeah, I don't know what you're talking about. None of this stuff is supposed to be real. The first few episodes are kind of weak, but then it really picks up steam at the end of the season, then it goes to being mediocre at the beginning of Season 2. There are some really great episodes though.

 

[startrekwatcher]

The 1st half of the season with one or two exceptions is very mediocre. I nearly gave up on the show. It isn't nearly as good or as serialized as LOST. The standalone mysteries weren't that interesting or fresh. They were poor rehashes of stuff done better on XF and had a bad habit of giving away too much to the audience in the teaser making us sit through the hour waiting for the characters to figure out what we were already tipped off to. I didn't care much for the characters either and the show seemed unertain of how it wanted to handle one particular character. And while it is a sci-fi show the "scientific explanations" come across more as mumbo jumbo than sci-fi explanations.

Then it picked up a lot in the second half thanks solely to the focus onto a unique mythology for the show. Those episodes were much more involving and not nearly as stale as the one-off standalones. It actually ended pretty strong.

I guess since I sat through it I'd recommend it on the whole since the good for the most part outweighed the bad. It won't ever be considered great sci-fi. Since you've never seen the XF I'd actually recommend watching it over this if you have time for just one series to pick up and watch. XF is much better.

 

[Starbreaker]

Yeah, I agree. Go get the X-Files. Wal-Mart has S1 and S2 bundled for $20.

 

[Aragorn]

Yeah, I don't know what you're talking about. None of this stuff is supposed to be real.

Some people need Dean Devlin to say, "Godzilla is 100% scientifically accurate and I stand behind those words."

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Marginal (hah) -- rent, don't buy. The second season has declined into being a bit dull. I'm hoping it'll pick up when the mytharc kicks in again. Yes, the science is silly, but the pseudoscience in the 70's was even sillier. I like the show's premise that some of it was even remotely valid.

 

[Michael Chris]

The series makes very little sense. Scientifically, it's not up to 19th Century standards, let alone 20th or 21st; many events of the show are completely ludicrous, but masquerade as "fringe" science. What Fringe offers would be better described as bad pseudoscience.

If you remember middle school physical science or high school biology, it's unwatchable.

It's not a class in school. It's entertainment. Oh, and yes, it is absolutely my favorite Sci-Fi show on the air (only surpassed by The Office, 30 Rock, Chuck, and Psych for non Sci-Fi too!!). It's utterly fantastic. The first few episodes are not as good though.

 

[Trubinator]

It was OK for a while because the crazy doctor is really funny, but it quickly got old. The premise is stupid and strains believability, the core concept is a poorly executed X-Files ripoff and most of the characters are bland and uninteresting. Don't get it.

 

[Cicero]

The series makes very little sense. Scientifically, it's not up to 19th Century standards, let alone 20th or 21st; many events of the show are completely ludicrous, but masquerade as "fringe" science. What Fringe offers would be better described as bad pseudoscience.

If you remember middle school physical science or high school biology, it's unwatchable.

It's not a class in school. It's entertainment. Oh, and yes, it is absolutely my favorite Sci-Fi show on the air (only surpassed by The Office, 30 Rock, Chuck, and Psych for non Sci-Fi too!!). It's utterly fantastic. The first few episodes are not as good though.

I gave up after the first few episodes (maybe it improved). I understand that it's not a class - I like shows like the Transformers movies, Underworld, etc. But the episodes I saw of Fringe misunderstood very basic concepts. To use a non-science analogy, it's as though the series is set in Seattle, Florida, home of the Statue of Liberty.

 

[sidious618]

It's fantastic, buy it. It's my favorite show that's on now and it will only move to second spot when LOST comes back on.

 

[Agony_Boothb]

I watched the first episode of fringe when it aired in australia, and switched off due to believing at the time the episode was poorly written. However last week i was quite desperate to get into a new sci fi show and after reading a few things around here about fringe i decided to give it a shot and blind bought the DVD set.

I do not regret buying this series for one second. I was absolutely hooked after watching 'The Arrival'. Sure the science may not be realistic but who cares. Go buy it now.

 

[Hyperspace05]

I do not regret buying this series for one second. I was absolutely hooked after watching 'The Arrival'. Sure the science may not be realistic but who cares. Go buy it now.

Just wait until you get to "Safe"... That mid-season finale really kicked Fringe into gear.

 

[Aragorn]

Fringe needs to embrace its mythology in order to really get going. But I'm guessing we won't see Alternate Universe John Scott until after Human Target is canceled (which will probably be shortly after it airs).

 

[1001001]

Fringe is a great show. Lots of fun.

The "science" is ridiculous, but if that's what you're looking for, then science FICTION is probably not your bag anyway....

 

[Capn Flukie]

It's fantastic, buy it. It's my favorite show that's on now and it will only move to second spot when LOST comes back on.

I feel the same way, it's a lot of fun.