Fringe

Staff Writer: DL Mullan

3 ¼ out of 5 Shovels
On the outside, Fringe doesn’t look to different from past science fiction television. The female protagonist (FBI Agent) is met by testy bosses, mystery characters, and dangerous men. Then our lead is to seek and recruit a “mad scientist.” With the help of the scientist’s son, the agent begins to unravel the mystery of the airplane passengers’ and her partner’s toxic illness.

A combination of the X-Files, Alias, and perhaps Moonlighting, Fringe may turn around its flat introduction. The pilot could have done more if the plot had time to develop. Though commercials were cut down, the pilot needed to be fleshed out throughout the two hours. Instead FOX wanted viewers to sit through a game show.

Don’t count Fringe out yet. Many talented people abound in front and behind the camera:

Executive producers:
J.J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Jeff Pinkner, Bryan Burk, Alex Graves

Producer:
Robert M. Williams Jr.;

Director:
Alex Graves

Writers:
Abrams, Kurtzman, Orci.

Actors:
Olivia Dunham - Anna Torv
Peter Bishop - Joshua Jackson
Walter Bishop - John Noble
Phillip Broyles - Lance Reddick
Charlie Francis - Kirk Acevedo
John Scott - Mark Valley
Nina Sharp - Blair Brown
Astrid Farnsworth - Jasika Nicole

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