Continuing the hugely welcome trend for UK broadcasters to show US-imports very soon after their Stateside debuts, Fringe, while not exactly creating a storm of excitement has delivered some enjoyable, watchable sci-fi drama. Being spoiler-free on these shows is a genuine pleasure and one which will be sorely missed if the January re-starts for Lost, Battlestar and 24 don’t follow suit. However, Fringe is a tough show to review without falling into certain traps. First off, the title of any blog posting on the subject almost has to be “Fringe Benefits” (check). Secondly, one has to mention the X-Files.
Here, the name JJ Abrams on the credits, seems to guarantee a certain predictable quality. Not that this is a bad thing: there’s nothing wrong with quality after all. However, the fact that we will have mysterious sub-plots slowly unravelling in the background while the main story gives us quirky but likeable characters dabbling in odd goings-on, has been seen before in Lost and Alias beforehand.
Erm… Fringe is quite like the X-Files (there, I’ve done it). We get the FBI investigating wierd events but instead of Mulder and Scully we get Agent Dunham and Peter Bishop with a carnbon copy sexual frisson that exists between them. In place of the Lone Gunmen but in a much more significant role we get to see Dr Walter Bishop played by the chap who was the Steward in Lord Of The Rings. Even Agent Skinner gets a replacement in the form of Broyles, who acts suspiciously so that the viewer can never quite trust him. Acting wise, its all by the numbers…. not too bad but not setting the screen alight either. Some character back stories seem to be lining up to give these folk the chance to shine later on.
All in all there’s some quite enjoyable stuff, even if it is liberally sprinkled with cheese now and again (see, The Observer who fulfills that latter role with aplomb).
Tags: Fringe, Joshua Jackson, Lord of the Rings, Sky-One, X-Files
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