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Fringe - By J.J. Abrams

#121
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9/25/08 at 4:30pm
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Re: Fringe - By J.J. Abrams

Quote:
Originally Posted by AlexSchwarz
I love this show, it has a very unique atmosphere.

Anyway, what I wanted to ask: FOX hasn't picked Fringe up for anything more beyond the initial six episodes, or have I missed something? So three to go? ("The Arrival", "Power Hungry" and one with an unknown title)

I thought this show had a 13 episode order.
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#122
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9/25/08 at 5:00pm
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Re: Fringe - By J.J. Abrams

Quote:
I'm finding it too convenient that all roads lead to or come from Walter.

As noted above, all roads lead to Walter and Bell/Mega Dynamics. And that isn't a coincidence or lazy writing, it is a plot point. (One that they explicitly addressed in the dialogue in the most recent episode, along with the odd fact that most of these "out there" cases are happening in Boston, and involve one particular FBI agent.)

And Walter already told his son that he had hidden stuff in dozens of safe locations all over town before he was hauled off to the looney bin, so this is a matter of paying off somethinig set up before hand, rather than suddenly pulling a rabbit out of their hats.

I'm staying with the show for now, it is fun. I do wish Ron would quit watching though, for the sake of the rest of us. I promise, we'll send you a PM as soon as the show really gets going, Ron.

Joe
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#123
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9/26/08 at 4:53am
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Re: Fringe - By J.J. Abrams

Well I dropped it, there was'nt enough interest in the Characters or the premise for me to stick around, and My DVR is starting to get busy with Chuck and Life returning this week, Shield and Sons of Anarch going strong... to me Fringe feels like X-files and Millenium merged together, in the case of the X-files the leads had a stronger chemistry and there was a bit more humor to lighten things up..
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#124
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9/26/08 at 5:49am
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Re: Fringe - By J.J. Abrams

I've enjoyed the first three episodes. However, while I consider the show to be serialized, I'm not sure how I feel about the "case of the week" aspect of the show. Gives it too much of a "CSI procedural" feel, which I'm not a fan of in the least.

I could see this show being like 'Journeyman' last season, where it just gets stronger and stronger as it goes on. If that turns out to be the case, hopefully it doesn't suffer the same fate.
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#125
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9/29/08 at 9:48am
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Re: Fringe - By J.J. Abrams

I liked the first few ep's a lot. This last weeks ep however seemed very boring.


There was a series on a couple of years ago called Threshold which delt with UFO and Alien phenomena. It quickly degenerated into "Monster of the week" fair and never really seemed to get past that.

It became very stale very fast.


I hope this doesn't suffer the same fate. It got off to a great start and it has potential.

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#126
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9/29/08 at 10:49am
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Re: Fringe - By J.J. Abrams

I'm deleting it from the series link on my dvr. Don't like the characters much, don't feel any tension. No wow. I'll check in here from time to time to see if picks up. Enjoy!
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#127
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9/29/08 at 12:41pm
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Re: Fringe - By J.J. Abrams

Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Campisi
I'm deleting it from the series link on my dvr. Don't like the characters much, don't feel any tension. No wow. I'll check in here from time to time to see if picks up. Enjoy!

I Did the Same after Episode 2.
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#128
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10/1/08 at 7:45am
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Re: Fringe - By J.J. Abrams

"The Arrival" was an incredible episode, I really loved it. I'm still wondering how FOX is feeling about this show, though...whether they are disappointed they aren't getting Lost-like numbers and if they are planning to order more episodes.
Well, anyway....fantastic stuff so far.
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#129
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10/1/08 at 7:52am
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Re: Fringe - By J.J. Abrams

So are we to assume that the "observer" is an alien???

Bring back John Doe! Or at least resolve the cliff-hanger with a 2hr movie or as an extra on a dvd release.

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#130
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10/1/08 at 7:56am
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Re: Fringe - By J.J. Abrams

Quote:
Originally Posted by todd s
So are we to assume that the "observer" is an alien???
I was actually thinking he was some type of man-made machine. I was sure it would be revealed that Bishop built him back in the day, but instead we got that lame story about him saving their lives.
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#131
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10/1/08 at 8:02am
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Re: Fringe - By J.J. Abrams

Who knows. This show completely doesn't make any sense now.
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#132
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10/1/08 at 8:54am
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Re: Fringe - By J.J. Abrams

The last couple of ep's have been disappointing.

Can't really put my finger on it. I just seem to be losing interest. I found them boring and I'll probably take this of the "must see" list.


Just bring back the X-files...

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#133
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10/1/08 at 9:18am
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Re: Fringe - By J.J. Abrams

Quote:
Originally Posted by mattCR
Who knows. This show completely doesn't make any sense now.

Why should it? It's sp early in the series, I can enjoy being clueless for a while.

Quote:
Originally Posted by todd s
So are we to assume that the "observer" is an alien???

No. The showrunners went on record stating that Fringe would remain alien-free.
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#134
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10/1/08 at 9:58am
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Re: Fringe - By J.J. Abrams

Well...whatever he is, I smell a lawsuit. Marvel Comic's "The Watcher" is also bald and eyebrowless and just watches. You can't get a look-alike doing the same thing and call him 'the observer' and think you can get away with it.

That said, if he's not an alien, what is he? He clearly existed BEFORE fringe science gone awry. During Bishop's younger days - just about the time he and Bell would be starting out. So, now you have something that existed before all the weird fringe science stuff. A possible problem in and of itself.

The episode was interesting, and the questions it raised are fascinating. But, I see more problems than anything else arising from this. Time will tell.
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#135
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10/1/08 at 10:40am
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Re: Fringe - By J.J. Abrams

What's really funny about it is, in the Ultimate universe, strange devices have started showing up and I think it was Sue Storm who figured out the devices were an intelligence that was sent to observe a major upcoming event. Hence, Ultimate Watchers. I was thinking of those in connection with the strange devices before baldy was called the observer.
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#136
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10/1/08 at 10:45am
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Re: Fringe - By J.J. Abrams

"Precognition" is listed in the list of fringe science in the beginning, and I'm guessing that's what the Observer has, among other things. I'm more interested in what the mole machines were - if the show is going to remain alien-free (which I figured would be the case from the beginning), I don't know what those suckers are for, especially since they were referred to as "beacons" at one point.

This show is growing on me more and more, though - I kind of love how Abrams/Orci/Kurtzmann/Pinker are willing to throw much more crazy than truly necessary into each episode: This week we got subterranean beacons, a weird guy who may be precognative or telepathic, a mind-reading machine(*), what looks like some sort of sonic weapon, and, oh yeah, the dead being raised as a tease. That's like a month of The X-Files.

(*) And the mind-reading machine seemed pretty similar in design to the one used on Mark Valley's character's corpse at the end of the pilot, which gives me hope that we're not just seeing things thrown around willy-nilly, but some decently considered world-building going on here.
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#137
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10/1/08 at 12:04pm
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Re: Fringe - By J.J. Abrams

This latest episode was just too much all over the place for me – but for some reason I am still watching. Some of my observations/comments:

I’m not sure about the part where Mr. Observer has what looks like simple opera glasses on the outside (the small, collapsible ones), that when you look through them you get some sort of digital enhancement/advanced zooming capabilities.

Nice “strange eating” ritual by the Observer – take a raw beef sandwich, add a whole shaker of black pepper, then a half bottle of Tabasco sauce, and a large number of hot peppers – then eat in four bites.

The ability to tap into one person’s mind, to get information that is stored in his Fathers mind – the kid really didn’t know the information. So, there is some sort of parent/child mind connection.

The main bad guy here seemed to also have powers, and a special gun – but goes down from a hand gun and is not explained what he was after or why.

These ground missiles have a history of blowing up, but no one seems to care where they are storing it – or letting this rather strange scientist run experiments on it the may actually activate this self destruct feature.

The Observers mind meld with the kid at the end – what did that accomplish? He is saying the exact same thing that I am saying at the exact same time – so I’ll spout the most random words to see if he can really do this…UM…OK…what is the point?

Back story of both of the main characters dying and being saved by the Observer seemed to be thrown in there for a shock value and didn’t make since.
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#138
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10/1/08 at 12:19pm
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Re: Fringe - By J.J. Abrams

Quote:
Originally Posted by Martino
Nice “strange eating” ritual by the Observer – take a raw beef sandwich, add a whole shaker of black pepper, then a half bottle of Tabasco sauce, and a large number of hot peppers – then eat in four bites.
...
The Observers mind meld with the kid at the end – what did that accomplish? He is saying the exact same thing that I am saying at the exact same time – so I’ll spout the most random words to see if he can really do this…UM…OK…what is the point?

Back story of both of the main characters dying and being saved by the Observer seemed to be thrown in there for a shock value and didn’t make since.
About the eating ritual, it was explained later in talking to Walter that he wouldn't taste the root beer float. Thus he needed all those spices to actually taste something. That was interesting.

The mind meld thing immediately reminded me of the Doctor Who episode Midnight this season. The exact same thing happened there, but it was for a more extended period. I think Walter had mentioned that he was shy and didn't like to be touched. I think that this is what happens when he is touched and it happened when he rescued them way back when.
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#139
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10/1/08 at 12:35pm
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Re: Fringe - By J.J. Abrams

How are the ratings? It seems like this show is getting further and further from the mainstream without connecting the dots and saying, "This is what we're ultimately about." Maybe not a bad thing, but I'm not sure it'll keep an audience.
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#140
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10/1/08 at 1:20pm
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Re: Fringe - By J.J. Abrams

My eyes are still buggin' out of their sockets from this episode, I couldn't tell you what the hell was happening but it was fascinating all the same.

John Knoble is quickly creating one of TV's most eccentric characters and you never know what is going to come out of that man's mind and mouth next.

Bald dude was big time STRANGE! He reminded me of one of those men in black you hear about from alien enthusiests and not the cute and funny Will Smith/Tommy Lee Jones variety, either.

That guy's gun reminded me a little of Tom Cruise's concussion gun in Minority Report.

While the episode was very confusing for me I must point out that it was confusing in a manner where I want to know more, unlike Heroes which has gotten so confusing that i've thrown up my hands at trying to follow what was happening.
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#141
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10/1/08 at 2:47pm
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Re: Fringe - By J.J. Abrams

Quote:
How are the ratings?

I'm not sure but one of the Entertainment magazines had a
THUMBS DOWN poll by viewers as the most disappointing
show so far this season.

As for me, I'm bored by the show. The only reason I continue
to watch is because it fits into my schedule.
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#142
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10/1/08 at 4:13pm
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Re: Fringe - By J.J. Abrams

Of the three or four epsidoes so far, this is the first one I would call good.

Quote:
add a whole shaker of black pepper
Looked liquid -- maybe soy sauce?

Quote:
The main bad guy here seemed to also have powers, and a special gun – but goes down from a hand gun and is not explained what he was after or why.
Well they know what, but not why, and he's dead. He only really had the one machine-aided ability read minds; no reason he would not be susceptible to plain bullets. No follow-up on the fancy gun though.
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#143
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10/1/08 at 4:58pm
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Re: Fringe - By J.J. Abrams

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Chan
Looked liquid -- maybe soy sauce?

No it was definitely pepper. I remember noticing this because I thought maybe somehow the pepper was letting him transfer heat to the construction site or something to start fires or a bomb.
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#144
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10/1/08 at 6:10pm
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Re: Fringe - By J.J. Abrams

Ratings are doing fine. Its holding most of HOUSE's numbers and has drawn over 10 million viewers in each week.
It took The X-Files 2-3 season to catch hold but I doubt in todays instant gratification society (give up after two episodes? Why, to save room for Knight Rider?) it will have that much time to get rooted in its story.
Hopefully they are not making it up on the fly like The X-Files did.

Rick

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#145
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10/1/08 at 8:05pm
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Re: Fringe - By J.J. Abrams

Aint It Cool is reporting that Fringe got a full season (22 episodes) order.

Fox’s FRINGE Gets Full-Season Pick-Up!! -- Ain't It Cool News: The best in movie, TV, DVD, and comic book news.

Also, from the article "In adults 18-49, 'Fringe' is fall’s highest-rated new show, and has averaged 10.7 million viewers."
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#146
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10/1/08 at 10:02pm
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Re: Fringe - By J.J. Abrams

Check out this page:Fringe Easter Eggs There are things that connect all the episodes slowly to make up the pattern.
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#147
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10/2/08 at 8:47am
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Re: Fringe - By J.J. Abrams

the show is all over the place and does not make sense
Lo, there do I see my mother, and my sisters, and my brothers, Lo, there do I see the line of my people, back to the beginning, Lo, they do call to me, they bid me take my place among them, In the halls of Valhalla,where the brave may live...
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#148
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10/2/08 at 12:03pm
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Re: Fringe - By J.J. Abrams

Quote:
Originally Posted by todd stone
the show is all over the place and does not make sense

What a brilliant insight!

Perhaps, you simply don't understand the show...
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#149
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10/2/08 at 1:29pm
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Re: Fringe - By J.J. Abrams

After last week's episode and this one it looks like Fringe is starting to gain some traction. I'm intrigued enough to keep this one in the rotation.

Every man is my superior, in that I may learn from him.

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#150
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10/2/08 at 2:00pm
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Re: Fringe - By J.J. Abrams

Quote:
Originally Posted by Josh Dial
Perhaps, you simply don't understand the show...
Well, there is a lot to not understand in the show (and for that matter most of the characters in the show probably don't understand what is going on), but that is part of the attraction to me. I like puzzles and mysteries.

I am getting the feeling that this is a show that might look a lot different if you watch it again after seeing how things develop in the season.
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