Fringe "Pilot" (2008)

The newest brainchild from J.J. Abrams has obvious similarities to The X-Files but based on this first episode it's adequately setting up its own characters and mythology and will surely stand on its own very quickly. Pilots are a tricky business, especially in a series such as this which is attempting to set up an overarching arc that will most likely pan out over the course of the series. In the pilot you already have to introduce the characters, which can be difficult enough to get their personalities down as well as how they interact with others. Fringe is also laying the groundwork for a mythology, vaguely named the Pattern, that many shows of late are attempting to establish in order to walk that fine between serialized or stand-alone episodic structures. The broad strokes are laid here with the details to be filled in as the series progresses. Unfortunately this episode suffers a bit from being the first episode in such a series. Much of the first half is devoted to introducing the characters while the second half, while not as bogged down, moves onto setting up the Pattern. The extended length also contributes to a lackluster premiere as it's more time for exposition and the episode probably could have benefited from spreading out some of the information over two episodes.

The flip side to that coin is that the series can jump right in with the next episode as all the preliminary information has been given and next week can focus on the newest case. The second half does pull the viewer in more as the investigation of what happened on Flight 627 that resulted in zero survivors. Fringe sets out to explore the more controversial areas of science: mind control, reanimation, etc. that mainstream science has determined to be unworthy of study. One of the best sequences is when Agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) enters a sensory deprivation tank, drugged on acid, and hooked to a probe which allows her mind to link with her boyfriend, Agent John Scott (Mark Valley), who's in a coma and the only one to see the man responsible for the deaths of the passengers and crew of Flight 627. It's a truly surreal experience and serves as Agent Dunham's trial by fire into a world she had never known existed. Exploring extreme areas of science such as this should make for very intriguing episodes in the future. Who knows what the future could hold? Cloning, time travel, maybe even contact with an extraterrestrial species? It will also be fascinating to see how these disparate pieces fit into a larger whole which is sure to attract more continuity-minded viewers.

While the premise of show holds great promise, the leads leave much to be desired as the only one to come off well so far, is the eccentric, and possibly insane, genius Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble). The man is an expert in many areas and his intelligence knows no bounds, but his mind has frayed due to a combination of his work and seventeen years in a psychiatric facility cut off from all contact. He's full of surprises and gets most of the laughs, but he's also going to be the key to many of the cases this new unit will be investigating and as we pry into his past a bit more we should find out more about what caused his split from reality.

The other two leads seem capable but we get nothing substantive in this first episode. Noble's wayward son, Peter (Joshua Jackson) has spent years avoiding going to see his father, ironic as he is the only one who can legally do so, and now is forced to take on the role of his father's guardian while he is away from the nuthouse. Peter also is very intelligent and the only one capable of interpreting his father's knowledge and getting through to him. These two should have considerable friction in the foreseeable future being forced to work together after being apart for so long but the work seems to be the unifying force they need in order to reconcile their differences.

Agent Dunham will be battling her own demons now that she knows her boyfriend was working against the government (or was he?) in order to obtain the chemical agent which caused the deaths on Flight 627. This will conflict with the relationship that is obviously going to bloom between her and Peter. It's been set up in the most unsubtle way by forcing her to strip down in front of him after only knowing each other a few days. She's also in the unwanted position of playing referee to the troubles that are certain to pop up between the Bishops as they work together more. Torv performs fine, but like with Jackson little is seen to develop the character so far other than to set up future events.

All in all, a flawed episode which got better as the time wore on. I have no doubts that starting with the next installment the show will be able to move at a brisker pace and be more enjoyable for it. I never judge a show based solely on the pilot as it rarely will stand as an indicator of what the show will be like in its prime. Either it will make the necessary adjustments to fix what didn't work in the premiere, or the creative heights will fail to reach their initial peak. Hopefully Fringe will fall into the former category, as its premise provides fascinating and enjoyable science fiction possibilities for the future. If the weekly episodes can be as engaging and gripping as this week's case was, without out the exposition and set-ups, then it should succeed and will find a regular viewer here.

Favorite moment: Running down the list of necessary items he will need for his lab, Walter requests a cow, which Peter tells us shares enough similar lines of DNA with humans to make for an ethical test subject. Rather than using mice or chimps as other normal labs might, Walter prefers something a bit larger. While probably not to everyone's taste, characters and viewers alike, the image of a cow being led down the hallowed halls of Harvard University is worthy of a laugh and we later find out that our new friend has been given the name Gene. Here's hoping Gene plays in the background of the series and makes the occasional appearance. I can already imagine his highlight episode, his mind is swapped with Peter's and Walter is tempted to keep Gene in Peter's body as he likes him more. Scary that on this show it could be a possibility.