Fringe: Season 2 Review

Every series faces a point when they have to address and remedy the pitfalls of it's narrative, and it could be years before they reach that point. Fringe made the great decision of getting to that point as early as season two. While the first season of Fringe introduced us the crazy science of our universe, this season gave us a look at the alternate universe that seeks our destruction. The series has always been about the mad genius Walter Bishop, and his quest to right the wrongs that he's responsible for. The damage he caused in our universe is nothing compared to what he did to the alternate reality.

It's an insane concept that handled in the wrong way could've turned out horrible. However, showrunners Jeff Pinkner and J.H. Wyman know how to pull it off emotionally and make the series feel more human. That would be impossible if they didn't have the proper cast, which as it happens they do. John Noble isn't an extremely well known actor, but he is one of the best. He completely dissolves himself into the role of Walter Bishop, and makes his crazy humorous antics feel believable, and not forced. Joshua Jackson was kept in reserve for most of the season, but was able to expand on that thanks to a late season twist.

Lead actress Anna Torv to a back seat this season, and really felt like less of a nescessity to the show. Luckily she was brought back in full force by the season finale, which brilliantly puts the pieces in place for a far more interesting third season. The finale may have been a little too over hyped, but it brought the emotional tension the series is best known for, and that's high praise of a science fiction show. They still offer plenty of crazy science, but less horrifically than last season.

Unlike Lost, another series produced by J.J. Abrams (Star Trek), the shock value of Fringe comes not from the mysteries, but from the events that occur to the characters. The last scene of the season is tonally pitch black, and manages the difficult task of making our hearts sink into our stomachs. It sets up for season three to break the mold of standalone episodes the series has become notorious for. The series is now where it needs to be to excell in following seasons, and to fill the gap left after Lost has ended. There as my grade for the first season would be somewhere around 8.0, season two gets a solid

A-