On Fringe: The New X-Files?

Series Premier September 9th, 2008

Starring: Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson, and John Noble.

Though some characteristics of Fox's new series are similar to that of The X-Files, it is not an exact copy of the hit 90's television show. From writer/producer J. J. Abrams (Next Years Star Trek installment, Lost, Cloverfield, Alias, Armageddon to name a few...) and writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci (Transformers, Star Trek, Alias) comes Fringe, a television show centered around FBI Agent Olivia Dunham and her quest to solve cases that involve so-called pseudo-science. So far, the show to be based around people breaking the law by their scientific experimentation, and not ghosts or UFO's like the X-Files; not right off the starting line at least, though it wouldn't be a tough transition to make within the confines of the revealed plot. J. J. Abrams says a couple of his big influences behind the show are Nightstalker (one of Chris Carter's influences behind The X-Files) and Twin Peaks, so perhaps we could see a paranormal plot-line further on down the road, along with, perhaps, a midget and Laura Palmer.

(Both for some reason contain David Duchovny within their credits. Odd.)

In the pilot episode, we are introduced to Olivia Dunham, an FBI Agent played by Anna Torv, who could easily be a long lost twin of Cate Blanchett. She is quickly called to investigate a plane thats landed on auto-pilot at Boston's Logan Airport and who's interior is covered in blood. It is quickly discovered that whatever killed the passengers and crew is an unclassified pathogen of unknown origin. The investigation quickly leads to a storage facility, where Agent Dunham's partner, Agent John Scott (Mark Valley), with whom Agent Dunham also has a romantic relationship, is almost killed in an explosion and becomes afflicted by the strange pathogen. Now Dunham finds herself in a race against both time and whatever it is eating away at Agent Scott.

She tracks down one Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble, Lord of The Rings) whom is a brilliant scientist, institutionalized on a manslaughter charge and prone to urinating on himself. However, she can only get in to see him through a living relative, so she tracks down his son Peter Bishop, played by Joshua Jackson, whom has stared in such gems as Dawson's Creek and Shutter (sarcasm implied). She then travels to Iraq, tricks him into coming back home with her and uses him as a conduit in order to gain access to Dr. Bishop, who due to his past, has some insight into whatever it is effecting Agent Scott and could be the key to saving his life. It soon becomes apparent, however, that they must push the boundaries of science in order to do so.

Now, Fringe definatly does seem to have its moments, however, overall I would say that it feels rushed. The circumstances Agent Dunham finds herself in, the relationships between the characters, and their immersion into the story, all seem to lack substance. In addition, there seem to be large gaps in the investigation and you may find yourself puzzled at how they got from point A to point B. Furthermore, Agent Dunhman is able to bypass any beauractic red tape in situations which logically warrant it. I am not well versed in federal law or statutes, but even I found this extremely intriguing, as well as the fact that a 17 year old abandoned lab seems to have been curiously updated with all modern equipment. Despite these things, however, the most annoying aspect of the show is; instead of having an X-Files-style small typeface at the bottom-left of the screen giving the settings location, they instead decide to be original in portraying this information and incorporate it into extremely obtrusive three-dimensional graphic that overtakes the scene. You will see what I mean if you do catch the show, for their is no way you can miss the overbearing information.

What the show does have is a creepy old-school sensory depravation chamber reminiscent of "Altered States" and, in fact, perhaps it truly is an homage, for Blair Brown, who plays Emily Jessup in the 1980 movie, makes an appearance as Nina Sharp. Also, there are some gross-out moments, which bring back memories of the X-Files, and like the X-Files a couple of scenes where you just have to wonder why someone won't flip on a light switch. At any rate, there is a great twist at the end of the pilot, the special effects are of a better quality and budget then The X-Files, and the show in reality does have some great potential to sustain it, though I believe the writing itself may have to improve from the Pilot to lock in viewers.

I cannot very well rate the series at a whole just yet, for it hasn't even premiered, so I will have to rate it on a purely episodic basis; that is just on the Pilot itself. So, I will have to give it 2 out of 4 Laura Palmers; and how, exactly, am I aware of what the pilot contains? Would you believe I utilized several drugs and a sensory depravation chamber?

Fringe: Pilot Trailer