FRINGE
Reviewed by: Cecilia Jansink
Fringe is arguably one of the most popular shows currently on the small screen. With 2,195,196 fans on just one of the Facebook pages dedicated to the show, along with forums filled with discussions on the plot twist and turns, Fringe has fans of both the Sci-Fi and Crime genres hooked.
We don’t often see this kind of crime; to mysteries to sink our teeth into and puzzle over while providing Sci-Fi fans plenty of new theories to ponder, and a Parallel Universe to explore. The inclusion of cult favourite, Lenord Nimoy in a recurring guest role gives us a good old fan-squee!
Brought to us by the combined creative genius of J.J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci the series focuses on the investigations of the “Fringe Division” of the FBI in Boston, Massachusetts under the watchful eye of Homeland Security. The team comprised of Special Agent Olivia Dunham, Dr Walter Bishop and Peter Bishop use a unique blend of “fringe science” and detective skills to solve some unimaginable and terrifying murders that are often scientific in origin. The blend of the here and now, and forays into the past, keep the show fresh and edgy. The past relationships of some of the main characters in particular, help give the storyline a deeper realist feel and a separate overlaying storyline that in my opinion often helps soften some of the more terrifying aspects of the cases the team handle.
From Dr Bishop’s hilarious one liners, to Peter’s dodgy connections and mostly
untapped genius potential, to Dunham’s search to uncover the secrets hidden in her past, Fringe will have you addicted and enthralled right from the first episode. One of the best and freshest shows to hit our screens yet. Give yourself the Fringe experience and open your mind to a whole new world.
Season 1 and 2 are out now on DVD and season 3 is shown on the Go network Wednesday nights.
Main characters
Anna Torv as Olivia Dunham (Season 1—Present), a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent assigned to investigate the spread of unexplained phenomena. Torv also plays Olivia’s counterpart in the parallel universe, dubbed by the characters of the prime universe as “Fauxlivia”.
Joshua Jackson as Peter Bishop (Season 1—Present), a jack-of-all-trades who is brought in as a civilian consultant by Olivia to work with his estranged father, Walter. Peter is actually Walternate’s son from the parallel universe, abducted by Walter shortly after his own Peter’s death at a young age.
John Noble as Doctor Walter Bishop (Season 1—Present), a former government researcher in the field of fringe science who was seen as a mad scientist and institutionalized after a lab accident in which his assistant was killed. Noble acts as the parallel universe’s Walter, named “Walternate” by the characters in the prime universe. Walternate rose to power as the U.S. Secretary of Defense and instituted the war against the prime universe after the abduction of his son Peter.
Lance Reddick as Phillip Broyles (Season 1—Present), a Homeland Security agent and Senior-Agent-In-Charge (SAIC) who runs the Fringe Division. Reddick also performs the role of the parallel universe Broyles, who finds sympathy for Olivia and sacrifices himself during season 3 to allow her to escape the parallel universe.
Jasika Nicole as Astrid Farnsworth (Season 1—Present), an FBI Junior Agent and assistant to Olivia and Walter.
Blair Brown as Nina Sharp (Season 1—Present), the Chief Operating Officer of Massive Dynamic, a leading firm in science and technology research and longtime friend of Walter and William.
Recurring characters
Kirk Acevedo as Charlie Francis (Season 1—Season 2: episodes 1-4, 11. Recurring thereafter), FBI Senior Agent, Olivia’s colleague and close friend, and the second-in-command of the Fringe Division before his demise. Though Charlie was killed early in the second season, Acevedo reprises the parallel universe version of Charlie.
Mark Valley as John Scott (Season 1, episodes 1-13), Olivia’s former FBI partner and secret lover, and whose death in ‘Pilot’ leads Olivia to join the Fringe division.
Michael Cerveris as The Observer (Season 1—Present), one of several “Observers”, a traveling chronicler and enforcer of extraordinary events. He appears in one form or another, usually in an Alfred Hitchcock-like cameo, in every episode to date. He is referred to as “September” by other Observers.
Kevin Corrigan as Sam Weiss (Season 2—Present), Olivia’s Yoda-like amateur psychologist and manager of a Boston-area bowling alley.
Seth Gabel as Lincoln Lee (Season 2—Present), an agent of the parallel universe Fringe Division.
Michael Gaston as Sanford Harris (Season 1), an old nemesis of Olivia’s assigned to assess Fringe Division.
Ari Graynor as Rachel Dunham (Season 1—Present), Olivia’s sister.
Jared Harris as David Robert Jones (Season 1), leader of the ZFT cult.
Chance Kelly as Mitchell Loeb (Season 1), an FBI agent and mole working for ZFT.
Ryan McDonald as Brandon Fayette (Season 2—Present), a scientist at Massive Dynamic.
Leonard Nimoy as William Bell (Season 1—2), Walter’s former lab partner, the founder of Massive Dynamic.
Lily Pilblad as Ella Blake (Season 1—Present), Olivia’s niece, the daughter of Rachel.
Sebastian Roché as Thomas Jerome Newton (Season 2—3), the leader of the shapeshifters, human/machine hybrids and undercover agents from the parallel universe.
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