Fringe: A Tale Of Two Universes

There are few truly creative and interesting programs on television these days. But every season I manage to find four or five that I commit to. I inevitably try some of the new shows on for size, much like some people might try out a new restaurant that opens down the block. You know, out of curiosity. But if a show fails to wow me, if it fails to capture my imagination or enable me to care about its characters, I drop it. I just don’t have the time to spend watching every TV show that Hollywood sees fit to spew from its self-indulgent rubbish nozzle.

But the gems, the rare brilliant ones that can sometimes be found among the refuse, those are the programs I give my attention to, those beautiful pieces of escapist delight which, in any given episode, have the ability to be more entertaining than most films. I fondly call these shows “my stories”.

Fringe, which airs Thursday nights on FOX, is one of these gems. Its modest audience consists mostly of sci-fi junkies and former X-Philes (like myself). In fact, it resembles the X-Files in that its premise revolves around an FBI agent, Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv), who investigates cases of a somewhat otherworldly nature. Whereas The X-Files dealt with the paranormal and extraterrestrials, Fringe deals with “fringe” science, or as wikipedia terms it, “scientific inquiry that departs significantly from mainstream theory”. If you’ve been watching Fringe, then you know that definition is putting it lightly to say the least. As to how the show itself defines “fringe” science… well, let’s just say it’s right in my creepy little wheelhouse.

Agent Dunham is aided in her investigations by Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson) and his father Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble), your typical friendly neighborhood mad-scientist. Walter’s past discoveries are the basis for many dangerous technologies that nefarious forces attempt to use to disrupt life as we know it. Unfortunately, Walter has until recently been unable to remember half of those things he invented/discovered (any number of which could potentially destroy the world) in his secret lab underneath Harvard University . Something in Walter’s past precipitated a psychological break that landed him in a mental institution for many years and caused an emotional rift between him and his son, Peter.

As the Bishops help Olivia track down those who would use Walter’s work for evil, Walter strives to regain both his sanity as well as his relationship with Peter. And though Anna Torv as Olivia may be the star of Fringe, John Noble’s Walter is its heart. He is one of the most interesting and complex characters on television right now, and I have no doubt that he is one of the main reasons viewers tune in. Recently, I had the opportunity to sit in on a conference call interview with John Noble who had this to say about his character:

“Walter [is] a man that is capable of incredible laser-like thought processes, and also is childish and haphazard and random. The joy of it really is that I’m free to make those choices, that sometimes Walter will hide behind… his childishness. Other times, he will substitute a rage for a childish episode. He’s an incredibly complex character. However, I think that there is a little of Walter in all of us, and certainly, I have observed in my life the extremes that we see in Walter I’ve observed in other people. The joy for me is that every day the challenge is to make those choices as to which way I will go.”

SPOILERS BELOW

During the course of Dunham’s investigations it is revealed that there is another universe parallel to ours. This is the mystery that is at the center of the Fringe series mythology. It is a world that is like ours in almost every way, though the technology that has been developed in the other universe seems to be slightly more advanced than our own. It is also a world in which the World Trade Center buildings still tower above New York’s skyline (one of the big revelations from Fringe’s first season).

In recent episodes it was revealed that Peter Bishop is actually from this alternate universe. Tonight, all new episodes of Fringe return to FOX with “Peter” which will reveal exactly how the alternate universe version of Walter’s son came to be in our own reality. I was one of the fortunate ones who got an early viewing of this new episode, and I have to say that it is not to be missed, especially if you’re already a fan of the show. But if you’ve not been watching, tonight’s episode might be a good place to start. Sure, there’s a lot of backstory that you’re not privy to, but you just might want to read an episode guide and tune in.

END SPOILERS

Tonight’s episode not only features a compelling (and heart-wrenching) story and a dynamic performance by Noble, it’s also represents quite a technical achievement for a TV show. The majority of “Peter” takes place in 1985, during the early days of Walter’s experiments in regards to the alternate universe. This required de-aging the 61 year old Noble 25 years. Maybe the special effects geniuses behind the show didn’t quite succeed in making him look that young, but I was surprised to see how much younger they did make him look. If you happen to be an SFX buff, it’s quite impressive.

Fringe is definitely one of the best shows on TV right now. It’s worth your time. Thankfully, the show has already been picked up for a third season on FOX, but I wouldn’t mind seeing it on the air for a couple more years beyond that, especially if the writing stays smart and the character development continues to be compelling. It’s really the characters that keep me coming back every week, characters that are ably played by worthy actors like John Noble as the multi-faceted Walter, Anna Torv as the likably strong Olivia and even Joshua Jackson as the wounded lost-boy, Peter (yes, Josh… all Dawson’s Creek related sins have been forgiven).

I promise you won’t be sorry. So, tune in on Thursday nights and see what you’ve been missing. I swear I’m not an employee of FOX. I just believe in promoting quality entertainment, and I consider it a public service to steer people toward the stuff that might actually be worth the idle hours spent on TV-watching. And you’re welcome.

by Stuart Benedict