Fringe 2×3 “Fracture” review
October 2nd, 2009
The following contains spoilers through “Fracture,” originally broadcast 10/1/09.
The thing to love about a show like ‘Fringe’ is its ability to spin whatever kind of weekly episode it wants, and whether that means it has anything to do with an extended arc or if the subject that doesn’t happens to engage the viewer, it’s all been considered quite plainly in the premise of the series. So far, the show hasn’t done anything a fan wouldn’t have expected or a casual viewer couldn’t enjoy, and that’s high praise, to have found such a remarkable balance.
Fringe 2×2 “Night of Desirable Objects” review
September 25th, 2009
The following contains spoilers through the episode “Night of Desirable Objects,” originally broadcast 9/24/09.
The second episode of the new season proves to be either the one new fans were waiting for, or old ones. Last season I wrote a little in my reviews about the nature of ‘Fringe’ as a show that straddles the line between episodic and serialized drama, where viewers can watch from week to week either expecting to be thrilled only with that episode or catch a glimpse of an extended arc. As last season progressed, it seemed harder to escape that arc, something that to genre fans seemed like a good thing, unless you consider that genre fans have become the most critical of extended arcs, even as they have long championed them. Maybe ‘Fringe’ has found the best way to do such arcs, or maybe it hasn’t. Suffice to say, “Night of Desirable Objects” is an episode that does not need to be viewed to a certain extent if you are watching heavily for that arc.
Fringe 2×1 “A New Day in the Old Town” review
September 19th, 2009
The following contains spoilers through the episode “A New Day in the Old Town,” originally broadcast 9/17/09.
Something that’s developed in recent years, which is ironic because everyone and everything seems to be going digital these days, is the annual tradition of the new TV season kicking off with mass releases of the previous season’s shows on DVD, as a kind of expensive advertisement for viewers, ostensibly to catch up with what a series has accomplished with its prior work. It can also serve as a permanent home record for fans, and I’ve got to admit, I’ve been doing it for roughly five years now. ‘Lost’ started it. The complete first season of ‘Fringe’ was released a few weeks ago, and I haven’t gotten it yet, and I only just realized last night that I’ve had a rather large incentive to anticipate this particular set: I still haven’t seen the entirety of the first episode. But it’s okay, last night, the second season premiered, and the show was in the mood to start things a little fresh. Well, like the title of the episode says.
Legend of the Seeker Nominated for Emmy Award
July 16th, 2009
Nominations for the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards were released today (see the complete list at the futon critic) and among the shows up for a statue is Legend of the Seeker. I actually grew into a relatively big fan of the series over the course of its first season. The category is Outstanding Music Composition For A Series (Original Dramatic Score) and the episode nominated is the series premiere, “Prophecy,” for music by Joe LoDuca. I don’t often notice music in television shows so I can’t comment on the quality (I’m still disappointed the show doesn’t have proper opening credits with a theme song). But I’m sure Mr. LoDuca is thrilled to be nominated. He’s competing with five other shows: 24 and The Simpsons on FOX, Ghost Whisperer on CBS,
FOX’s 2009-2010 Schedule: What It Means For You
May 18th, 2009
FOX has revealed its 2009-2010 television schedule. As usual, it is broken into two parts: fall 2009 and winter 2010. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles is nowhere to be found and has been officially cancelled. In a surprising move, however, the network has renewed Dollhouse for a second season. It will remain on Fridays at 9PM following a new sitcom, Brothers, and a returning sitcom, ‘Til Death. Fringe moves to Thursday at 9PM for its second season after Bones. Premiering in mid season is Human Target, a new drama based on the DC Comics character.
Read all about FOX’s 2009-2010 schedule at the futon critic, Variety and The Live Feed. Hit the comments with your thoughts. Will Dollhouse sink even lower in the Nielsen ratings in its second season? Should FOX have renewed Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles instead? Can Fringe survive without additional boosts from American Idol?
Fringe 1×20 “There Is More Than One of Everything”
May 13th, 2009
Fringe
“There Is More Than One of Everything”
Originally broadcast 5/12/09
Perhaps because we got a renewal for a second season, the first one ends on a cliffhanger, a particularly wicked one, because the show finally seems ready to begin answering our questions. And yet, the ad for the next season suggests, “answers will be questioned”…
Fringe 1×19 “The Road Not Taken” review
May 7th, 2009
Fringe
“The Road Not Taken”
Originally broadcast 5/5/09
For those arc watchers, “The Road Not Taken” was pure gold, building an incredible amount of momentum for next week’s season finale. It’s not so much that the episode told us a bunch of things we didn’t already know, but the immersion into known facts in combination with a few additional new elements was like watching without mystery, the curtain finally drawn, letting us enjoy the ride.
Heroes, Fringe Officially Renewed for 2009-2010 Season
May 4th, 2009
NBC’s Heroes and FOX’s Fringe have both been officially picked up for the 2009-2010 season, the former for its fourth season and the latter for its second. Heroes, which has seen its Nielsen ratings decline throughout the season, may produce between 18 and 20 episodes rather than 25 or 26. There is also a chance it might be held until mid-season, although NBC has not indicated where it will place the drama on its schedule. The renewal was included in a press release announcing NBC’s six new scripted shows for the 2009-2010 season.
As for Fringe, it has been renewed for a full second season (presumably 22 episodes) and the announcement was given its own press release.
Fringe 1×18 “Midnight” review
April 29th, 2009
Fringe
“Midnight”
Originally broadcast 4/28/09
“Bad Dreams” was a more direct act in the season arc, but “Midnight” pushes it along a little more. The character of William Bell, a former associate and colleague of Walter Bishop’s familiar to readers of the comic book but scarcely acknowledged in the TV series until now, is shaping up nicely as the culmination point of the first season. Here we learn that he’s the founder of shady development company Massive Dynamic. But more importantly, the episode revolves around a fringe investigation that seems to tie just about everything together.
Fringe – 1×17 – “Bad Dreams”
April 22nd, 2009
Fringe
“Bad Dreams”
Originally broadcast 4/21/09
The season arc heats up again when Agent Dunham starts having dreams that’s she’s killing people, only the truth is far more complicated, and disturbing, than that. Coming off two episodes that took a break from the arc, we’re reminded of the events that took place in “Ability” in the kind of way that affirms the creative approach of the series.
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