Fringe Obsessed
I usually approach TV shows that become faves in the same fashion: First, I’m a little late to the game, discovering a show in its third, maybe fourth season (fifth season with Lost). This turns out to be perfectly meant to be, because as I proceed to go into obsession mode, I can enjoy uninterrupted viewing, thanks to sites like Hulu and services like Netflix and Blockbuster-via-mail. No commercials (ok, maybe one or two if I’m Hulu-ing), and no waiting a week for answers to JJ Abrams cliffhangers due to scheduled programming.
Obsession mode with Lost (courtesy of Hulu) was intense, as I had five seasons to get through before the sixth and final season started the following month. At an average 22 episodes per season…you do the math. My approach: if I wasn’t working, eating or sleeping, I was obsessing. Sometimes sleeping took a hit – I recall one weekend when I watched back-to-back episodes starting on a Friday continuing well into Saturday morning, took an exhaustion nap, then picked right back up through Sunday. Eating, fortunately, is something I could do simultaneously.
The whole thing was triggered by my friend Rich’s comment, “I can’t believe you haven’t seen Lost. It combines three things you love: science, the supernatural, and Hawaii. You have to watch it – you’re gonna love it.” Thus began my love for JJ Abrams shows, which brings me to my most recent obsession: Fringe.
I can write about it now because my Fringe obsession is currently on vacation. Yes, I was Fringe obsessed up until about a week ago. And I will be Fringe obsessed once again come Season 4 on January 13th, though in a very controlled, more paced, may-even-DVR-it way.
So, most importantly than how obsessed I am is WHY, why do I love this show so much? Same reason I loved Lost: science and the supernatural (if Fringe were set on a remote beach, you’d never hear from me again). It’s a sci-spi show, and that’s the holy grail of media for me, but even more so than Lost, Fringe dives deep into high concept science and the ultimate idea for me: an alternate universe with a slightly different version of each of us in it, and infinite potential to answer the questions of who we are and why we’re here.
Fringe follows troubled but special FBI agent Olivia Dunham and her Fringe Division team – mad scientist Dr. Walter Bishop, his IQ-of-190-but-you’d-never-know-it-cause-he’s-so-the-opposite-of-bookish-plus-he’s-hot son Peter Bishop, and the lovely assistant agent Astrid Farnsworth.
(Walter is the one in brown. You can guess the rest.)
Here’s why I love this show, specifically:
∞ The show starts with you thinking that it’s going to be just another Law and Order SVU, but in between the catch-the-culprit plot points, you get exposed to electromagnetism, quantum entanglement, bilocation, teleportation, psychokinesis, multi-verses and more sci-spi stuff I find fascinating.
∞ Walter, “the Einstein of our generation”, will feel, smell, taste and otherwise “examine” anything to solve a case.
∞ The show reveals the unraveling of a bigger plan beyond cops and killers, beyond our world even, and our very existence as a race is at stake.
∞ The idea that an act of love could destroy the world – and a sacrifice may save it – is intriguing.
∞ Walter makes custard in beakers and Bunsen burners and is concocting, among cures for never-before-seen infectious diseases, parasites and viruses, the formula for the perfect strawberry shake.
∞ We get the feeling – and evidence – that the human brain is capable of much more than we could ever imagine.
∞ Peter and Olivia are in love – and will cross time and space to prove it. I’ve always thought love is the single human energy that is the key variable for evolution and elevation, and a sci-spi show with a solid love plot is just good sense (and good science).
∞ Walter can’t ever remember Astrid’s name and refers to her as, among other things, “asterisk”.
∞ Walter tampered with the very fabric of the universe, and we learn a lot from his mess.
∞ Walternate (Walter’s other-dimensional self) is smarter, richer and meaner than Real Walter, while Fauxlivia (what Walter calls Olivia’s other-dimensional self) is happier, cooler, and stronger than Real Olivia, all of which makes you wonder how your own other selves would be.
∞ Walter, Walter, Walter. And Peter. And not just ‘cause he’s cute and brilliant. More because, even though he is the single key to save the existence of multiple universes, he’s not an egomaniac but a noble, kind, and sweet regular guy. And a little sarcastic (it’s like Luke Skywalker and Han Solo in ONE. Lord have mercy.)
The show creators took care of even the slightest detail – the intro credits change depending on the universe you’re about to observe, for example, and check out the promo pic up on top: Olivia’s hair is arranged in a nautilus. There are also serial killers and seriously disturbing biochemically-challenged shape-shifting beings, as well and fungi that emotionally connect with young minds, so don’t say I didn’t warn you. I’m not an advocate of any media related to death, fear and unnecessary drama unless it has a message/lesson, but that’s just it – this show is not sci-fi porn, not weirdness for the sake of shock. It’s science-meets-spirituality, conspiracy, saving the world, the potential for very probable parallel realities not much different than our own, and the idea that love can conquer all. Or can it?
Fringe’s fourth season will premiere January 13th at 9 p.m on Fox, and I’ll be watching.
Multidimensionally yours,
Marylternate
(Images courtesy of Fox.)
