Fringe

[gelee]

Anyone see Fringe last night?  I'm wondering what the audience reaction will be.

http://www.fox.com/fringe/

[Heradel]

Is it just me or is the partner-the-entire-episode-was-spent-saving-actually-a-traitor a bit of a trope now?

[Alasdair5000]

I really enjoyed that.  Really strong central cast, and the dynamic between the father and son looks to be interesting ground.  Plus Kirk Acevedo!  As a nice guy!  Always a plus:)

   It's been getting a lot of flak recently, it seems, due to three things; the omnipresent ad campaign, The X-Files comparison and the name JJ Abrams.  The ads I can't speak to, but the X-Files comparison worked for me in the best possible way.  This felt contemporary, felt grounded in the same way that something impossible in the Canadian woods felt right when The X-Files kicked off. 
   As to Abrams, I understand, and share, the problems some people have with Lost but this feels tighter, more controlled than either that or Alias.  Plus, interestingly, Fringe is predominantly one-off episodes in it's first year and the accessibility that brings may sidestep the wilfully obtuse running on the spot Lost was guilty of for a while.

   So yeah, I liked it:)

[DKT]

have with Lost but this feels tighter, more controlled than either that or Alias.  Plus, interestingly, Fringe is predominantly one-off episodes in it's first year and the accessibility that brings may sidestep the wilfully obtuse running on the spot Lost was guilty of for a while.

Interesting...I'm going to watch tonight (had to record it) but I'll be blown away if this works better for me than Lost does.  Although I'm a total, unapologetic geek for that show and I find it to be sublime.  (Except for Nikki and Paolo -- I can forget about them, can't I?)  But I am really looking forward to Fringe. 

I know there are a lot of people out there who dislike Abrams.  Is it because the shows he creates (namely Alias and Lost), he leaves after a few seasons to do other stuff?  Or is it something else? 

[sirana]

Well, I liked it ok, but wasn't too blown away. The writing of the first episode was ok, but not phenomenal. Actingwise I liked Anna Torf who plays Olivia Durham and John Noble as Dr. Bishop, but none of the others impressed me, Jasika Nicole as "Hello-I-am-an-assistant-with-no-personality" was especially bland.
I'll continue watching it, but if it doesn't pick up in 5 or 6 episode I'll be cutting it loose.

[gelee]

I really enjoyed that.  Really strong central cast, and the dynamic between the father and son looks to be interesting ground.  Plus Kirk Acevedo!  As a nice guy!  Always a plus:)

   It's been getting a lot of flak recently, it seems, due to three things; the omnipresent ad campaign, The X-Files comparison and the name JJ Abrams.  The ads I can't speak to, but the X-Files comparison worked for me in the best possible way.  This felt contemporary, felt grounded in the same way that something impossible in the Canadian woods felt right when The X-Files kicked off. 
   As to Abrams, I understand, and share, the problems some people have with Lost but this feels tighter, more controlled than either that or Alias.  Plus, interestingly, Fringe is predominantly one-off episodes in it's first year and the accessibility that brings may sidestep the wilfully obtuse running on the spot Lost was guilty of for a while.

   So yeah, I liked it:)

Agreed on just about every point, but as Sirana pointed out, some of the dialogue fell flat.  I never got into lost because I missed most of the first season and could never figure out what the hell was going on.  I made it a special point to watch the first episode so I would understand all the inside references.  It does compare with X Files, but in a favorable way, I think.  Also, I miss Scully and Mulder.  Getting that kind of show back on the air would be great.

[bolddeceiver]

Have to say, I was fully unimpressed.  Badly written dialogue, with the usual awful fake-science talk, and convoluted and poorly-explained phlebotinum for no obvious dramatic purpose other than to get the pretty actress half-naked and tripping.  I can't say I'm likely to watch any more.

[DKT]

Watched it last night finally.  It seemed to be trying to be a faster, sexier version of the X-Files.  I love the X-Files, but at the same time don't necessarily mind someone trying imitate the show 'cause I miss it much.  I like the concept of focusing on "fringe science" and I'm all for fast and sexy.  But for me, this felt like it was trying too hard. 

Mostly, I wasn't that impressed, though I thought the twist at the end worked kind of well. 

The acting was all okay but some of the situations felt a little...forced.  Lance Reddick was cool, though.  A lot of the dialogue could've been better.  Denethor enjoying Sponge-Bob Squarepants -- I think I understand what they were going for, but it just felt a little off to me.  And as decent as I thought Joshua Jackson was, I'm failing to understand what his overall role will be in this show.  He's not a scientist really, is he?  He's a genius.  I guess it's always good to have a genius around, but I'm waiting to figure out why.  And Dunham -- maybe I've become a cold-hearted bastard but I just didn't feel the heart of her relationship with Scott at all.  (Though the possibility of re-animating him is cool.)

It's no Lost and it's no X-Files, but I'll give  it a couple more episodes before I decide. 

[stePH]

Watched it last night finally.  It seemed to be trying to be a faster, sexier version of the X-Files. 

I liked that show better when they called it Torchwood. 

[Heradel]

Watched it last night finally.  It seemed to be trying to be a faster, sexier version of the X-Files. 

I liked that show better when they called it Torchwood. 

I don't know, Torchwood never had that element of permanent mystery about it. Thing exist, you don't just want them to.

[DKT]

Watched it last night finally.  It seemed to be trying to be a faster, sexier version of the X-Files. 

I liked that show better when they called it Torchwood. 

Haven't yet had the pleasure of watching Torchwood.  Although I have seen a few episodes of Supernatural, and I imagine it was also going for the same kind of "faster, sexier" X-Files vibe.  Just completely paranormal without any kind of science.  So I suppose Fringe and Supernatural could be interesting companion pieces...

[Alasdair5000]

Haven't yet had the pleasure of watching Torchwood
   Yeah...pleasure...hmmm...Trust me on this, skip 'Cyberwoman'.  You'll feel better for it.  In fact, there's a case for skipping a big chunk of season one and going straight to season two on Torchwood.  There's a real sense in some episodes of them figuring out how to do it much better.

Although I have seen a few episodes of Supernatural, and I imagine it was also going for the same kind of "faster, sexier" X-Files vibe.  Just completely paranormal without any kind of science.  So I suppose Fringe and Supernatural could be interesting companion pieces...
   Best description I ever heard of Supernatural was 'Dukes of Hazzard meets Angel':)  I really like it, it's one of my favourite things on TV at the moment.  Manages to capture the earthy, desperate edge of supernatural horror that a lot of things epically fail to.  Definitely worth catching up on if you haven't:)

[stePH]

Haven't yet had the pleasure of watching Torchwood
   Yeah...pleasure...hmmm...Trust me on this, skip 'Cyberwoman'.  You'll feel better for it.  In fact, there's a case for skipping a big chunk of season one and going straight to season two on Torchwood.  There's a real sense in some episodes of them figuring out how to do it much better.

I didn't mind "Cyberwoman" at all.  The hands-down worst of the first season was "Countrycide".  It was like a(nother) bad remake of Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

[DKT]

Haven't yet had the pleasure of watching Torchwood
   Yeah...pleasure...hmmm...Trust me on this, skip 'Cyberwoman'.  You'll feel better for it.  In fact, there's a case for skipping a big chunk of season one and going straight to season two on Torchwood.  There's a real sense in some episodes of them figuring out how to do it much better.

Although I have seen a few episodes of Supernatural, and I imagine it was also going for the same kind of "faster, sexier" X-Files vibe.  Just completely paranormal without any kind of science.  So I suppose Fringe and Supernatural could be interesting companion pieces...
   Best description I ever heard of Supernatural was 'Dukes of Hazzard meets Angel':)  I really like it, it's one of my favourite things on TV at the moment.  Manages to capture the earthy, desperate edge of supernatural horror that a lot of things epically fail to.  Definitely worth catching up on if you haven't:)

I really should give Supernatural another shot.  I remember it being creepy fun, I just didn't stay with it for some reason.

Saw Fringe 1.2 last night.  It was okay.  Couldn't make heads or tails out of that closing shot -- it wasn't very tight or clear and I'm not sure who that was laying there.  So I'm still kind of on the borderline about this one...

[Heradel]

Saw Fringe 1.2 last night.  It was okay.  Couldn't make heads or tails out of that closing shot -- it wasn't very tight or clear and I'm not sure who that was laying there.  So I'm still kind of on the borderline about this one...

Spoilers — Using El Tivo — It was three of the fast growing/serial killers, followed by an X-Ray-ish cross section of an apple with fetuses instead of seeds.

Honestly, I'm just finding them annoying.

[DKT]

Saw Fringe 1.2 last night.  It was okay.  Couldn't make heads or tails out of that closing shot -- it wasn't very tight or clear and I'm not sure who that was laying there.  So I'm still kind of on the borderline about this one...

Spoilers — Using El Tivo — It was three of the fast growing/serial killers, followed by an X-Ray-ish cross section of an apple with fetuses instead of seeds.

Honestly, I'm just finding them annoying.

Ah, thanks. I couldn't tell if it was him, Agent Scott, or maybe Peter.  No HD for me, obviously.

Also, yeah there are some really annoying technical aspects of this show.  The thing that bugs me the most right now is the COOL LOCATION CARDS that pop up whenever the scene shifts locations.  So very distracting/annoying.  Didn't actually notice the fetus apple seeds, but I was finding all those little icons annoying, too.

[Talia]

woops, silly me wandering in here when I hadn't finished watching the pilot. Heh.

I'm liking it so far...

[Loz]

Haven't yet had the pleasure of watching Torchwood. 

Hold on to that feeling. Seriously.

[sirana]

seen the second episode. still on the fence...

[gelee]

Just watched the third.  Better than episode 2, but still not really there.  Some nice character conflict going on between father and sun.  I think that may be the thing that makes this series work, if they don't screw it up.
I DO wish they would stop trying to make the wonky stuff look like actual science.  It really ruined the second episode.

[DKT]

Just watched the third.  Better than episode 2, but still not really there.  Some nice character conflict going on between father and sun.  I think that may be the thing that makes this series work, if they don't screw it up.
I DO wish they would stop trying to make the wonky stuff look like actual science.  It really ruined the second episode.

Total agreement. I thought it was the best episode yet, and the father/son stuff is some of the most intriguing stuff.  That said, I'm getting a little annoyed with the "Massive Dynamics has ALL OUR ANSWERS" plotpoints.  It really annoyed me last episode, slightly less this time around. And the conspiracy stuff...I loved that in the X-Files and maybe that's why I'm not liking it here, I don't want to get burned again.  Still, definitely a good episode. Hopefully the show will only get better.

I wonder who they're going to get to play Bell...

[sirana]

I DO wish they would stop trying to make the wonky stuff look like actual science.  It really ruined the second episode.

Yeah it did and it came close in the third one again. If it doesn't improve in the next two, I'm outa there. There is simply too much good tv to watch to be content with the mediocre stuff (at least if you have Bittorrent ;-)

[Heradel]

Just watched the third.  Better than episode 2, but still not really there.  Some nice character conflict going on between father and sun.  I think that may be the thing that makes this series work, if they don't screw it up.
I DO wish they would stop trying to make the wonky stuff look like actual science.  It really ruined the second episode.

Total agreement. I thought it was the best episode yet, and the father/son stuff is some of the most intriguing stuff.  That said, I'm getting a little annoyed with the "Massive Dynamics has ALL OUR ANSWERS" plotpoints.  It really annoyed me last episode, slightly less this time around. And the conspiracy stuff...I loved that in the X-Files and maybe that's why I'm not liking it here, I don't want to get burned again.  Still, definitely a good episode. Hopefully the show will only get better.

I wonder who they're going to get to play Bell...

I keep mistaking them for Global Dynamics in Eureka, which I've been enjoying this season, though I wish they had a little more depth to the overall plot-arc.

[Listener]

Just watched the third.  Better than episode 2, but still not really there.  Some nice character conflict going on between father and sun.  I think that may be the thing that makes this series work, if they don't screw it up.
I DO wish they would stop trying to make the wonky stuff look like actual science.  It really ruined the second episode.

Total agreement. I thought it was the best episode yet, and the father/son stuff is some of the most intriguing stuff.  That said, I'm getting a little annoyed with the "Massive Dynamics has ALL OUR ANSWERS" plotpoints.  It really annoyed me last episode, slightly less this time around. And the conspiracy stuff...I loved that in the X-Files and maybe that's why I'm not liking it here, I don't want to get burned again.  Still, definitely a good episode. Hopefully the show will only get better.

I wonder who they're going to get to play Bell...

I don't think MD showed up in episode 4 (the one with the metallic buttplug).

I like the humor, but I prefer the Bishops to Dunham. She's just annoying and a governmental deus ex machina.

[DKT]

You're right. MD wasn't there. Perhaps that's part of what I liked so much about it. Well, that and it seemed to be trying for something more.

And you're right about Dunham.  Right now, she's a very vanilla character.  I think I'd be much more into this show if it was primarily about a mad scientist and his son.  But Dunham's not as bad Asterid what's her name.  She's got to be one of the worst characters on TV right now.  She's had no character development and might as well be a standup cardboard figure.  Her name's more interesting than anything else about her, which is a bad sign.