The premise, FBI agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) is assigned to investigate incidents of paranormal activity with a team of civilian scientists. While the basic theme bore some resemblance to the X-Files, Abrams created plenty of differences in terms of the characters and the plot, to make sure that Fringe was distinctively its own series. The X-Files was a real mystery series; the answer was out there ‘somewhere.’ In contrast, the Fringe team was in on the action directly. They knew what was going on; the answers was right there, likely to bite your face off.
In the first season, the show pretty much stuck to a “monster of the week” format, where the Fringe team would investigate some sort of threat, each of them apparently unrelated. Even then though, you couldn’t help but feel like it couldn’t be this cut and dry. There had to be more to it. Too many of the incidents seemed somehow tied into Dr. Walter Bishop’s (John Noble) earlier research. As the series moved into its second season, the “monster of the week” was largely abandoned in favor of a “myth arc.” Changing storytelling styles was certainly a risk, but most Sci-Fi benefits from an ongoing arc, and most fans would likely agree that Fringe became a much more engrossing experience. The initial arc dealt with the threats by cult leader David Robert Jones (Jared Harris), and whether the shapeshifters have been working for him. Eventually, they were sidelined by the alternate universe.
The introduction of an alternate universe gave most of the cast a change to show significant range. Other then Joshua Jackson’s Peter, who as it turned out only actually existed in the alternate universe, the alternate versions of each of the characters was markedly different. The alternate universe plotline was also engaging enough to help drive the series for an extended period of time. The people aren’t all good or all bad; there are shades of gray. They are, like everyone else, driven by a simple desire to survive.
Admittedly, things got a little odd in the fourth season. It was almost as if the writers weren’t sure where to go with the alternate universe. They altered the timeline, and even went so far as to bring back cult leader David Robert Jones. Beyond that, several other story ideas from previous seasons were recycled in one form or another. While there were brief moments of intrigue, there’s no doubt that the fourth season was a low point for the series.
When the fifth season rolled around, the writers and producers were aware it was to be the series last year, and they were given a tidy 13 episodes to wrap things up. Set in the future, the Observers, who had always seemed rather harmless, are now ruling the world with an iron fist. Peter and Olivia’s now grown up daughter, Henrietta (Georgina Haig) is the leader of the resistance, and the Fringe team is there because they were able to able to seal themselves in amber to avoid capture shortly after the Purge. Placing things in the far future does present a few issues. This season feels somehow separate from the rest. The explanation for the observers change in behavior comes late in the season—the first group was just scouts, unaware of their world’s larger plans. There is some exploration of what it means to be human, but on the whole, this season felt more like a sequel than a continuation of what came before.
The five season mark was probably a good place for Fringe to hang it up. I read somewhere that John Noble said that a feature film is a possibility, and that is certainly intriguing. Fringe was an intelligent series, with consistently strong writing and performances. After revisiting the series again, I’d have to say that John Noble’s portrayal of Dr. Walter Bishop is sadly underrated and he likely deserved an Emmy nomination or two along the way. While I can’t go as far as to say that Fringe reached the same heights as X-Files, it had flashes of greatness that make it a worthy addition to any Sci-Fi fans Blu-ray library.
This complete series set simply bundles all five single season releases together in a nice box.
The 1080p video is presented in the 1.78.1 aspect ratio throughout, and looks quite good through the entire series. The audio in the box sets First Season and Second Season is provided via a 640kbps Dolby Digital 5.1 track. Subsequent seasons are equipped with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track.
Special features:
Season One:
- Audio Commentaries: Series creators Alex Kurtzman, Robert Orci, and J.J. Abrams on the “Pilot.” J.R. Orci (not to be confused with Robert) joins co-writer David Goodman and executive producer Bryan Burk for “The Ghost Network.” Writer/director Akiva Goldsman and executive producer Jeff Pinker discuss “Bad Dreams.”
- Deciphering the Scene: A roughly 3-minute featurette available for all the episodes.
- Dissected Files: A collection of deleted and extended scenes found on several discs.
- The Massive Undertaking: EPK’s found over several discs.
- Spoilerific Production Featurettes: Found on disc 4 & 5, you don’t want to watch these until you’ve watched the season.
- Robert Orci’s Production Diary: Available on disc 5.
- Unusual Side Effects: Goofs and flubs.
- Gene the Cow
- Fringe Pattern Analysis (HD)
- BD-Live Functionality:
Season Two:
- Audio Commentaries: Showrunner Jeff Pinker’s assistant Jill Risk, writers’ assistants Matthew Pitts and Danielle Dispaltro, script coordinator Justin Doble and music supervisor Charles Scott, IV discuss “Momentum Deferred.” TV Guide’s Damian Holbrook moderates a conversation between actors John Noble and Blair Brown about the episode, “Peter.” “Brown Betty” has co-producer Tanya Swerling, co-music supervisor Billy Gottlieb, composer Chris Tilton and effects supervisor Jay Worth. Showrunners Jeff Pinkner, J.H. Wyman and Akiva Goldsman take on “Over There, Part 2.”
- The Unearthed Episode: Disc 4
- Analyzing the Scene: Discs 1-4
- Dissected Files: Discs 1-4
- Beyond the Pattern: The Mythology of Fringe: Disc 4
- In the Lab: Disc 4
- Unusual Side Effects: Disc 4
- BD-Live Functionality
Season Three:
- Audio Commentaries: Executive producer Jeff Pinker, writer/co-executive producer Monica Owusu-Breen and editor Timothy A. Good discuss “The Plateau.” Producer Tanya Swerling, editor Luyen Vu and visual effects supervisor Jay Worth go over “Lysergic Acid Diethylamide.”
- Maximum Episode Mode: Glimmer to the Other Side: Disc 3
- Duality of Worlds: Disc 4
- Constructing an Extra-Sensory Soundscape: Disc 4
- Secrets of Fringe: The First People: Disc 4
- Gag Reel: Disc 4
- Animating “The Lysergic Acid Diethylamide” Disc 4
- Network Promos: Disc 4
- BD-Live Functionality
Season Four:
- The Culture of Fringe
- A World Without Peter
- The Observers
- Beyond the Comic Book
- Beyond the Fringe – Peter and the Machine Excerpt
- Have You Seen Walter Lately?
- Gag Reel
- UV Digital Copy
Season Five:
- Audio Commentary: Executive producer J.H. Wyman and editor Jon Dudkowski discuss “Black Blotter.”
- A Farewell to Fringe
- Season 5 Comic-Con Panel
- Dissected Files
- Gag Reel
- Finale Script (HD)
- UV Digital Copy
