Review of Fringe (2008 -2013)

How did I totally missed out on watching Fringe (2008 -2013)? Before my Google search for FBI shows to review, I don’t recall ever hearing about this procedural sci-fi series created by JJ Abrams. I loved and viewed every episode of Alias and Lost, so why not Fringe?

Here’s the premise: FBI Special Agent Olivia Dunham is assigned to the bureau’s Fringe Division, in which she investigates unexplained phenomena. Assisting Olivia in her investigations are the once-institutionalized scientist Dr Walter Bishop, his jack-of-all-trades son, Peter, and FBI Junior Agent Astrid Farnsworth. As the team investigates cases of science gone awry, they discover connections to their own past and to a parallel universe. As the team explores life and solves cases in these interconnected worlds, new discoveries and complications continue to arise.

With plots featuring shared dream states, rapid aging, radioactive weaponry, alternate earths, genetic experiments, and mutation, the series made no attempt to follow FBI policy and procedures.

Fortunately, the show’s writers did not try to straddle fantasy and reality, which meant I could just sit back and enjoy the show without having to yell at the TV monitor, “That would never happen!” Because none of it would. Creative compromises are made in the entertainment world every day. Books and films
succeed or fail based on their ability to capture and engage an audience. These creative compromises
regarding how the FBI really works are used to move the story at a certain pace, create conflict, and provide entertainment—that’s the key.

Just like with The X-Files, which I have also enjoyed watching but didn’t review for FBI accuracy, I can’t critique Fringe for not being what it never tried to be.

The show stars many well-known actors. Anna Torv, who most recently portrayed FBI consultant Dr. Wendy Carr in Mindhunter, played SA Dunham. Veteran actor Lance Reddick played the role of her superior (Reddick was the LA Police Chief in Bosch). Leonard Nimoy played Dr. William Bell and even Meghan Markle showed up in a couple of episodes as a junior FBI agent.

Do you remember Fringe? Perhaps I missed it because I was away on assignment in an alternate universe.

That’s not too far from the truth. I confess to bingeing the first season and several episodes from the other seasons before time traveling to the series finale.

I streamed Fringe for free on Amazon Prime, but it’s also currently available on HBO Max.

You can watch the official trailer for here.