Jasmine Sahu is well suited with this new American drama exclusive to Dave.
Lois Cameron explains why this series is much more than your average cosy period drama.
The last episode of this series sees Sherlock and Moriarty attempt to solve the final problem with devastating consequences.
With major cast changes afoot, Jacob Martin ponders whether Being Human can live up to its own scarily high standard.
Most of you have probably never even heard of Fringe. That’s probably because it has been somewhat lurking in the background for the past two years whilst it ironed out its kinks and steadily worked towards becoming something really special. With the finale of its second season, Fringe proved why it has the potential to be the next big thing on TV. In preparation for the start of season 3, I’m going to give you some reasons why it’s worth tuning in for.
SPOILERS AHEAD!
Fringe is wholeheartedly science-fiction, in fact, due to its X-Files-ish premise, there’s very little weird science that is left untouched. Primarily, the show focuses on FBI Agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv), who works in Fringe Division investigating “scientifically unexplainable” crimes and occurrences. Working alongside her are the “father-son” team of Walter (John Noble) and Peter (Joshua Jackson) Bishop. Walter (Dr. Walter Bishop, that is) used to conduct experiments that pushed the limits of scientific development with his lab partner Dr. William Bell (Leonard Nimoy) - however, after the death of a lab assistant he was institutionalised in the mental hospital St. Claires (whilst Bell went on to create the multi-billion-dollar corporation Massive Dynamic). Walter was only released from St. Claires when his value to Fringe Division was realised. Peter was a high school dropout and has lived a nomadic life (occasionally on the wrong side of the law) but he also has a gifted scientific mind and helped get Walter to cooperate the FBI.
Instrumental to the story of Fringe is the existence of an alternate universe (“over there”). In this alternate universe there are versions of every single person and thing - but - everything is just slightly different. These two universes are at war with each other ... the type of war from which only one of them will survive. For obvious reasons, it remains very difficult to travel between the universes.
The catalyst of the war is in fact Fringe Division’s very own Walter Bishop. This is because the Peter Bishop that we grow to know over the first two seasons isn’t Walter’s son, he’s actually from the alternate world. The Peter from “our” universe died as a child and after losing his son, Walter found a way to go “over there” to heal “their” Peter of his life-threatening disease. Only, he then (sort of accidentally) stole the alternate version of his son.
Another key aspect of the story is that, as a child, Olivia was one of Walter’s human test subjects and she now has Cortexiphan-induced perceptive abilities (the true extent of these abilities remains unclear). The incredible second season finale (which took place “over there”) concluded with the Olivias from each universe (let’s call them Faux-livia and Olivia) switching places and Peter becoming aware that Walter isn't his real father (which will completely redefine the dynamic between the characters).
Fringe is often compared with another very ambitious J.J. Abrams sci-fi show, and a personal favourite of mine, Lost. And whilst there’s obviously no such thing as “the next Lost”, Fringe is about as close as you’ll get. It’s engaging television that tells rich character stories and keeps all its weird science grounded in gripping drama, rather than overly complex sci-fi. Fringe also harnesses the device of an alternate universe expertly - as it uses it to add another layer to the conflict and blur all the moral distinctions. Just imagine the story told from the other side, where the alternate Walter (“Walternate”) has his son stolen from him in the dead of night and then endeavours to go to any length to retrieve him. There aren’t really notions of good and evil in Fringe - just the choices you did make, and the choices you might have made.
Not too long ago, Fringe was committed to a “mystery-of-the-week” format but it has thankfully now evolved beyond that simplistic style of storytelling. During the second half of season 2 it became must-watch TV that is prepared to take risks and that has the ambition to be something truly unique. Above all, it is accessible and the story is hardly complicated... literally anybody can jump right in at the beginning of season 3 and understand what is going on (and that’s something I never could say about Lost). I really believe that Fringe is amongst the best of the current batch of TV shows and now that Lost is finished, it is perfectly poised to have its best season yet.
Fringe returns to Sky1 tonight at 10pm
You must log in to submit a comment.
