TV-Fringe

Fringe premiered Tuesday night, and it was very intriguing. It is always hard to judge a series by the first episode, it can go either way, either totally bomb by diverting from what makes it work, or really build on it.

Fringe seems like it will build well on this premier, which was very good. Very X-Files-ish, in that it tackles creepy eerie freaky stuff. Somewhat Lost in that there are many mysteries.

It starts with a bit of gross out...a flight to Boston has some trouble. Just a little thing...all the people on the flight melt...you know, run of the mill stuff. Anna Torv plays an FBI agent, Olivia Dunham, who is immediately involved in the investigation, and gets deeper and deeper into it, as her lover, also an FBI agent, contracts the same disease as the people on the flight.

The show is created by JJ Abrams, and that gives it some cred right there. Abrams created Felicity, Alias and Lost, and is putting together the new Star Trek movie. Like Alias and Lost, there is a lot hinted at in the first episode...who can be trusted, who is good and who is bad, what is the conspiracy and who is behind this incident and other strange incidents that have been going on recently.

As Dunham gets more into the case, she enlists the help of Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson), the son of an eccentric scientist, who is in an insane asylum. Peter Bishop helps her get his father out the asylum and the three become a team within the FBI, starting an investigation into strange events. The title comes from the Dr. Bishop's area of expertise, fringe science (esp, telekinisis, out of body epxerience, astral projection...good stuff like that).

There is great chemistry among the cast, the story brings you in, and has you wondering from the first episode; wondering who is really who they say they are.

I will be giving Fringe three episodes before I say yes or no, but first indications are a big yes to add to my viewing list. Even my wife enjoyed it, and she is not a big Sci-Fi type fan.

BTW--Anna Torv is pretty darn good. Reading some feedback on her, there are many remarks about who she looks like. Many mention Cate Blanchett, and I agree, but a cross between Blanchett and Poppy Montgomery from Without a Trace.

I will let you know after three eps if it lives up to the pilot.