Fringe

[Ehlwyen]

Fringe just aired and I am completely pleased with the extended pilot and can't wait to see how the tone of the show eventually manifests.

My respect for JJ Abrams, love of Alias, and guilty indulgence of Pacey...err...Joshua Jackson were what interested me in the show. I can't say I ever saw a commercial that seemed interesting. So I was quite happy how the show kept my attention and even had me roaring with laughter at some points.

Elements of Lost and Alias were definitely there, but used in a different way to not feel repetitive. Instead it felt that the show knew what it was doing. And with a lot of new shows, that's a rare gift.

I loved the cinematic shots invoking mazes and smallness. And the end reveal of the human element being little more than a lab rat in someone/somethings cosmic experiment was a nice finishing touch. (As to it being something drawn out and tried to be shown as a revelation 10 episodes later, when it was so obvious from the beginning. )

Even the use of 3D titles worked to capture the feeling that the barriers between the tv/reality and fiction/fact were inconsequential. It engaged you as well as scared you that maybe the ideas weren't so fantastic. Fringe definitely had the ability to take you out of the safe zone that, "Oh, it's just a show and I can leave its world in its box when I'm not playing with it." And for a show created by a man who loves boxes, I found it an interesting way to incorporate that fascination.

The truth is...out there? No. The truth is...we are obsolete. You giggle with the supposed pop culture reference and then are smacked with a realization that the world we believe we live in is just a breath away from having its illusion shaken and a new reality revealed.

I loved that the show was focused on the corporate entities that quietly rule the world. I greatly look forward to this element being explored and seeing dirty rocks turned over to expose the typical machinations that many do not fully realize.

Oh and I howled with laughter at the sneaky incorporation of the number 47, when talking about the kid who had not aged and the 46 others. I appreciated there were a lot of Alias elements. So even though perhaps the plot turns reveals were not so surprising, it gives me hope that the show will have a similar ruthless yet passionate storylines.

Since I'm having trouble remembering character names I think I'll just post some here for all.

Anna Torv ... Agent Olivia Dunham
Joshua Jackson ... Peter Bishop
John Noble ... Dr. Walter Bishop
Mark Valley ... Agent

[Jenni Lou]

Oh and I howled with laughter at the sneaky incorporation of the number 47, when talking about the kid who had not aged and the 46 others.

I also laughed when they referenced the suspect was passenger 108, a significant Lost number. Makes my Lost heart happy.

Okay, I freakin' this show! I hadn't seen any screeners and only saw some mediocre commercials but it was just awesome. he first thing that grabbed me was the score. I knew JJ would be rockin' some Michael Giacchino; he works such magic with Lost.

I had a suspicion I would enjoy this series. After all, I have yet to meet a JJ show I haven't adored (Felicity, Alias, Lost). But I also didn't have any expectations for it. I was sort of prepared NOT to like it. Especially since I am such an avid x-phile. I was fearful it might sort of veer into being too X-Filesian....sort of the way I was afraid that Supernatural would as well. But I just thought it was cool.

I wasn't even going to watch it tonight. I DVRed it but it is a chilly evening so I curled into bed to warm up and thought I would just watch part of it and finish it off later. But I just had to keep watching. I was intrigued.

And let me say, John Noble is super suave. He plays his genius alter ego with such vulnerability and elation. He was a joy to watch. And I was actually surprised by the reveal of

Spoiler:

Mark Valley's character being involved in the crazy shit (for lack of a better term! )

I wasn't really thinking too much about where things were going so it didn't occur to me.

Oh, and I also liked the way it was filmed. Very cinematic. And I like the blue filter effects that brought everything a lovely gloominess. Pretty and depressive. Me likey. Lots of interesting cinematography and I like the bold 3D title text....it's like it's a part of the story.

Anyway, I will definitely keep on watching!

[Ehlwyen]

I also laughed when they referenced the suspect was passenger 108, a significant Lost number. Makes my Lost heart happy.

Ha! I missed that one. I think I was too busy making jokes about evil twins. But there were all kinds of numbers thrown about during the episode and I kept trying to remember them to see if there was any significance...or might i say...pattern.

Of course, my memory wasn't good enough to process all that in one viewing.

And let me say, John Noble is super suave. He plays his genius alter ego with such vulnerability and elation. He was a joy to watch. And I was actually surprised by the reveal of

Spoiler:

Mark Valley's character being involved in the crazy shit (for lack of a better term! )

I wasn't really thinking too much about where things were going so it didn't occur to me.

Oh, and I also liked the way it was filmed. Very cinematic. And I like the blue filter effects that brought everything a lovely gloominess. Pretty and depressive. Me likey. Lots of interesting cinematography and I like the bold 3D title text....it's like it's a part of the story.

Anyway, I will definitely keep on watching!

Regarding your plot spoiler:

Spoiler:

No I didn't see it coming that he was part of it. The inevitability of his death was all I could see.

It's ironic that his condition was probably poetic justice. However, I have to wonder if his hand was forced from the beginning and that his final actions were actually to help Olivia. That perhaps he was trying to eliminate leads that would pull her further down into this rabbit hole.

I love how nothing is ever as it seems in jj abrams worlds.

Oh yes, the cinematography and visuals were amazing. I was particularly blown away by the dream/shared mind experience. Wow.

I really loved Joshua Jackson's disbelieving character, Peter. It's almost scary what seemed to make perfect logical sense until he'd repeat it and it sounded like the dumbest most insane thing. Hello, let a guy who had been in a mental hospital less than 24 hours ago stick metal things in you and jack you up on LSD. Uh, sure?

I don't think I paid much attention to his dad. However Peter's interaction with his dad looked like it could be ripe with comical interactions and emotional roadblocks and breakthroughs. Oh, and daddy issues, another Abrams trademark!

[Jenni Lou]

I think I was too busy making jokes about evil twins.

Regarding your plot spoiler:

Spoiler:

No I didn't see it coming that he was part of it. The inevitability of his death was all I could see.

As soon as Joshua's character gave pause to

Spoiler:

the idea of reanimation when they were on the plane

I figured that it would probably come to play a substantial part in the showw. Foreshadowing and all..

Oh yes, the cinematography and visuals were amazing. I was particularly blown away by the dream/shared mind experience. Wow.

Yeah. Seriously with the hauntingly pretty. So gloomy and ethereal and beautiful. A strange mix of wonderful things!

When I was watching this episode, I kept thinking that it is asking for some pretty fanart!!

Hello, let a guy who had been in a mental hospital less than 24 hours ago stick metal things in you and jack you up on LSD. Uh, sure?

Best quote of the night "Excellent! Let's make some LSD."

Oh, and daddy issues, another Abrams trademark!

But of course! It is a JJ staple! You gotta have them. Even all the Felicity characters had them!

[Ehlwyen]

As soon as Joshua's character gave pause to

Spoiler:

the idea of reanimation when they were on the plane

I figured that it would probably come to play a substantial part in the showw. Foreshadowing and all..

LOL! That's very true! Actually I was just thinking Alias's pilot plotline

Spoiler:

tragic death of boyfriend sets girl on her path for truth.

But I love the idea of the 6 hours deadline. Muahaahaa! Interesting twist. Plus, it is an answer for the ever debatable ethics question of when is a person dead.

Best quote of the night "Excellent! Let's make some LSD."

Priceless.

But of course! It is a JJ staple! You gotta have them. Even all the Felicity characters had them!

Ha! Not surprising. But definitely good to know. I can appreciate a creative entity that has certain elements he prefers to work with, yet is still able to present each show in diversely revealing manners.

[Jenni Lou]

I can appreciate a creative entity that has certain elements he prefers to work with, yet is still able to present each show in diversely revealing manners.

And he does recycle ideas quite a bit...if our discussion so far is any indication. And that's only the tip of the iceberg. But he does it in refreshing and new ways. And that's nice. Because, for example, while I do love Woody Allen films, they are essentially all the same and dare I say, interchangeable. JJ shows always have a fresh edge to them.

Also....I'm a little sad not to have seen Greg Grunberg in a cameo. He's in all of JJ's pilot (Even if it was only by voice in Felicity.) But NBCs are kind of bastards when it comes to lending out their talent. I've noticed that a lot of networks are allowing their stars to guest star on opposing networks more often nowadays. But not NBC! Of course, they will take stars from another network (*coughGossipGirlfor30Rockcough*) but not lend them out. I read on Kristin's column at E!...no, wait, I think it Ausiello actually...that they won't let Sarah Lancaster and Masi Oka come shoot some cameos for the series finale of Scrubs. What jerks! (Even if ABC did steal the show from NBC..not that it matters since Disney/ABC owned it anyway and NBD canceled it.) /end rant Basically, I wanted to see some Greg...if only because he supposed to be there.

[BlasterBoy]

Can I post spoilers! in my post? (btw, that was supposed to be a warning )

I won't be able to give an in-depth review like you two did, but I gotta say: I LOVE this show. I love Lost, and I Alias, so I was extremely interested in this show. It did not disappoint at all: it exceeded my expectations.

I love how the 3-D images for the locations were very reminescent of the Lost DVD menus Heh. Also, those other cool nods to Lost and Alias were great. About THIS show Well, I thought the teaser seemed strange, but after that, I really got into it. I was pulled in. Love how they went straight for the twist (wait...isn't this guy dead?) and then action within the first fifteen minutes (the chase/kaBOOM). I guessed Olivia's boyfriend being evil and then dying from the start, but I really loved the twist of the Massive Dynamics lady with the metal arm being evil, too. And what do those symbols (leaf, frog, etc.) mean? I like all the characters, Olivia, Walter, Peter....I really like Anna Torv as the lead, and I think she and Joshua Jackson had some great chemistry. I really like the actor who plays Walter's acting, cause he's just entertaining, with his mad requests. btw, the chase scene at the end was really good, too.

Lots of great action, amazing set-up to the series, introduces everything brilliantly. I'm hooked.

[Cell]

I liked it even if it was a rather pedestrian offering in terms of predictability within the plot, twists and such.

[Moviesnob]

I enjoyed the pilot. I'm a big Joshua Jackson fan, and watched it mainly for him. I really enjoyed the dynamic between his character and his dad, particularly the snarkiness when his dad was talking about how it would be possible to speak to John Scott, and his son kept making remarks to show just how crazy his dad is.

Spoiler:

At the scene where the mad scientist (Jackson's dad) picks up the medical instruments and goes to start slicing into John Scott, and Jackson grabs his hands and goes, "Doesn't this worry you??" to Olivia - awesome. It was exactly what I was thinking.

I figured that John Scott would die in the first episode, and that would be fuel for Olivia's inner turmoil for the season. When they were in the storage facility, I said, "This is where he dies a terrible death." And when they were speaking via dreaming or whathaveyou, I said, "This is where she tells him she loves him, and then he dies." Well, I was happily wrong on both accounts. I didn't see him being a bad guy, although once she started listening to the tape, I realized it someone was double-crossing here.

I wasn't really digging the main actress, but I could in the future. She really sold me on her sobbing scene in the ambulance in the end. I liked the 3D letters announcing where they were, but it was a bit much when the camera angle changed to shooting up at the heliopters in Iraq, and we saw the underside of the "B."

All in all, I enjoyed it. I really liked the X-Files, so hopefully this can hold up to be as good as that one was in it's better days. I'll stick around for next week (or as long as Jackson does, anyway).

[skinless]

I really enjoyed the series Premiere, It was so much fun to watch. Im glad Joshua is back on TV. I cant wait for next week's episode which is paired with House.

[BlasterBoy]

I really enjoyed the series Premiere, It was so much fun to watch. Im glad Joshua is back on TV. I cant wait for next week's episode which is paired with House.

Speaking of which: what!?

A Sci-Fi drama paired with a Medical Dramedy.....yeah, it should've stayed with Bones....sigh.....

[Jenni Lou]

I liked the 3D letters announcing where they were, but it was a bit much when the camera angle changed to shooting up at the heliopters in Iraq, and we saw the underside of the "B."

Yeah, I will agree. I like the 3D titles but that felt out of place to me as well.

Speaking of which: what!?

A Sci-Fi drama paired with a Medical Dramedy.....yeah, it should've stayed with Bones....sigh.....

Well, I think FOX is putting a lot if stock in Fringe; I think they think it is going to be a successful series for them and such, they want to pair it with a hit. So I take it as more of a good sign of faith in this new show. Often times they tend to pair their bigger hits with those new shows that aren't likely to make it, hoping they might get some viewers to latch on. So I am fine with it being paired with House. 'Cause I like the show and hope it sticks around. And I also watch House! And Bones for that matter.

[Risa]

I must admit I watched the pilot of this show because it had Joshua Jackson in it. And boy is he looking good. Anyway, I really like the pilot. I am not familiar with Alias or JJ Abrams so all references or similarities are lost on me, but I enjoyed the show. Fringe sciences...what a cool aspect to add to a show. Until I watched the pilot I didn't know why it was called "Fringe". Now I know. I can not wait to see what this show has to offer. Hopefully it being on FOX will not kill it after one season. We all know how FOX is a show killer.

[Jenni Lou]

I can not wait to see what this show has to offer. Hopefully it being on FOX will not kill it after one season. We all know how FOX is a show killer.

Couldn't agree more! But I think FOX is actually going to give this one a chance. They've out a lot of promotion into it, unlike what they did for Firefly, Wonderfalls, The Inside, Drive, etc. etc. The show has so much buzz and word-of-mouth I suspect FOX is going to try and let the show build an audience. I think they have more faith in this one than they did all the others!

[Rosely]

WOW


Can I just say WOW!!??

This show had me grabbed from start to finish. It really got my attention with the whole "WTF?" feeling to it all the time.

Hadn't seen any spoilers, any commercials or nothing. Just a few lines here on the forum that made me think I should watch, and I'm glad I did.
Wonder what way this show will go, but so far I love the cast.

From the moment the guy said that he loved her, I had the feeling that something would happen to him. But I totally didn't see the plot twist coming!

Well, haven't got much to say, but I really loved it and can't wait to see the next ep!

[skinless]

Fringe sciences

After wondering A bit, I lokked this up and "Fringe sceince actually turns out to be real. Huh? I didnt know that

[LRae12]

Well I finally sat down and watched this last night. And then I watched it again....

I must admit the two draws that I initally had. 1) was it was JJ Abrams. I have obsessively loved every show of his and so of course I was going to tune in. 2) was Josh Jackson. Pacey was one of my all-time crushes

With that said I really hadn't heard anything about this show before hand. Not the concept or any commercials or anything. I was going in blind.

I must say I rather enjoyed it.

Of course, I knew that

Spoiler:

the boyfriend would die tragically, that is such a JJ thing to do *Alias*

but I really was a bit surprised that he

Spoiler:

was involved in the 'demonstration'. Bravo JJ for surprisng me.

I must say that I'm not familiar with Anna Torv, but I found her fascinating. Very rarely does an actress's performance so grab my attention so early on in a series, but I thought she was exceptional.

But Joshua Jackson. Oh how I LOVED his performance. His interactions with all of his co-stars were beautiful. I loved the father-son dynamic, and Joshua has such a knack of playing the disaffected son. But the real head-turner was his chemistry with Anna. OMG. There is just something in his eyes that very few actors have (James Marsters and Colin Firth are the only ones that come to mind at the minute that have this trait as well) where they can look at their co-star and you can actually *feel* the attraction. He's marvelous.

I loved the scene where

Spoiler:

Peter interrogated the mad-scientist. First, his motives for doing it seemed so sweet as he obviously is beginning to care for Olivia, even though he knew she was so very much involved with another. Secondly, I LOVED the line when Olivia tells him he can't do that, and he says 'no YOU can't do it' Priceless!

I also really loved the

Spoiler:

street scene where he was questioning Olivia about where John was, how he intuitively knew that something wasn't right. I thought that scene between the two of them was just so powerfully full of chemistry.

As far as the concept, I do find it a bit X-Files, but for the 21st century, and that's ok. And don't get me wrong, I loved the X-Files, but I think I'm going to enjoy this show more because I also really love the mad-genius that is JJ Abrams. This show had such an Alias-Lost-esque feel to it, but yet was completely unique, too. I just *hope* it doesn't get too bogged down with confusion as Lost seemed to do in the 2nd/3rd season. I also hope that JJ doesn't pull a JJ and create a masterful new show and then kind of abandon it as it picks up steam and let it crash and burn in the end (Felicity, Alias) etc.

Wow, I'm really glad I waited to watch this, now I only have to wait another day to see the next episode!

[Jenni Lou]

Well I finally sat down and watched this last night. And then I watched it again....

I have the urge to watch it again myself.

There is just something in his eyes that very few actors have (James Marsters and Colin Firth are the only ones that come to mind at the minute that have this trait as well) where they can look at their co-star and you can actually *feel* the attraction. He's marvelous.

Yeah, he does have something about him. He has those looks, for sure. So flirtatious. He was the only reason why Dawson's Creek was at all watchable. For realz.

I also hope that JJ doesn't pull a JJ and create a masterful new show and then kind of abandon it as it picks up steam and let it crash and burn in the end (Felicity, Alias) etc.

Yeah, I don't know what his deal is but he does tend to jump ship halfway through his series's runs. He must get bored or something. :/ Nonetheless, I really love the fourth season of Felicity. Better than 2 and 3, in fact. And Alias's fourth season was pretty damn good and the fifth wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it wold be!

Wow, I'm really glad I waited to watch this, now I only have to wait another day to see the next episode!

I'm excited that there are some folks on BF who are digging this show because I didn't want to be alone!!!

[LRae12]

I just caught another one of JJ's fun tidbits he adds to his more than one show to have fun with the fans.

I have been re-watching my Alias DVD's, and the episode in Season 2, The Abduction, in which Marshall and Sydney break into a computer facility and Marshall is shot with a tranquilizer gun....afterwards he looks down and says that he peed himself, well, just a squirt! Almost the exact same line that Peter's father used in the back-seat of the car!

Thought I'd share....

[Rosely]

Oof, The second episode was intense!

Laid out quite some questions, like 'what was that last image'?? Are there more people generated that way? And what is about Peters history? Weird stuff! Very interesting and a bit scary too.
Wonder what you guys make of it!