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Out on the Fringe...

S

SeaMaiden

Fringe, as in the sci-fi show that I've only just discovered and the series of which is now done.

I don't watch the usual commercial channels, few if any local channels (ok, PBS, but our local PBS station sucks), so I'd never heard of the Fox science fiction show Fringe. I love sci-fi, especially stuff that's based on actual science. I saw advertising for it last year on Science Channel, so I figured I should check it out.

Just one show and I am HOOKED. And just a little disappointed to learn that, just as I find a sci-fi show I like, it's no longer being produced.

I enjoy the humor as much as anything else. One fantastic scene, Walter Bishop quips, "I just pissed myself!" and goes on to mention that it's only a squirt. I laughed my ass off.


Who else likes it out on the Fringe?
 
Wiggs Dannyboy

Wiggs Dannyboy

Last Laugh Foundation
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Veteran
I watched every episode for all 5 seasons. I felt the same way as you for much of the series...kinda looked at it as a substitute for my beloved X Files of yesteryear. It was different than X Files though, Fringe is more based in sci-fi where X Files through in more paranormal stuff. I was quite disappointed in Fringe toward the end though, the writing got mushy, started throwing in too much melodrama trying to pull at the heart strings of viewers.

I'm pretty sure that I tried to start a thread for Fringe back when it started (under a different screen name), but found nobody was interested. That surprised me...it seems that Fringe was made for stoners, especially with Walter being a main character. How often does a TV show have a character who speaks lovingly of his LSD trips, and who will whip up a batch in a beaker when it is needed for scientific exporation?

The one criticism I've always had from the beginning was for the character of Peter, who is Walter's son. For some reason I've never liked him. Peter is supposed to be some genius who has worked in all kinds of fields that fit the show's story lines, and I've never found his character written in a way that makes him seem legit. Very smart people, generally speaking, have a certain way about them....they tend to ask a lot of questions for starters, and Peter never acts this way. Besides the way the character is written, I'm not sure I really dig the acting by the guy playing the part. But he's the only one on the show I have a problem with.

Olivia is hot. She's just the kind of woman who makes my day...beautiful in an understated way, athletically built, and intelligent to boot. I probably look beyond any faults she has in the acting dept because of my attraction to her character, but I think she did a good job conveying her character in a believable way.

Walter is great! What a perfect personality for a crazy professor on a sci fi show! And he loves LSD. And I think I remember a few shows where he waxes poetic about cannabis too, which I guess would be expected from a lover of LSD.

You've got a bunch of great shows to watch if you are just starting. I'll be interested to see if you feel the same as me about Peter, and the general addition of melodrama towards the end.
 
S

SeaMaiden

Just starting, and Dave got the first four seasons on BluRay so we're trying to keep things chronological.

I don't have the same feelings about the Peter Bishop character as you, he makes sense to me and his part is played believably to me, although... sometimes it does get a little out there as far as what he knows. Sometimes it seems that he hasn't had time yet to learn all those things. But his bitterness towards his father? That plays and feels very real.

Since I haven't seen the later seasons I can't comment. I do have to admit there have been a couple of times where I've been left feeling a little bereft, that the story needed some more fleshing out, but I think that's as much to do with where I am in it as anything else.

Walter's character is really what keeps me coming back. The other night it came on, on Science Channel, and the scene opens to the sound of a bong bubbling, camera pans across and we see a pair of hands putting the bong down. Camera pans into the room and we see Walter leaning back letting out a nice, big hit. Awesomejuice. And, frankly, so are his dubious morals.

Wanna link your other thread?
 
bombadil.360

bombadil.360

Andinismo Hierbatero
Veteran
Fringe liker here!

never saw your other thread Wiggs, been here since '06, under a diff. name too.

started to watch it with my woman about three years ago or so... we have not watched the last season though... but yeah, the last episodes we watched were not as good as the first two seasons.

if my memory doesn't fail me, Walter even has an indoor garden in his garage, and they show it in one episode I think... maybe I'm confusing it with something else? dunno.

also was my X-files replacement hehehe...

only got to watch it on-line though, well, except the first season that was on cable.

sea, chronologically is the best way to watch it, no doubt! on blue-ray it must be fantastic. the first two seasons really have a nice photography.

whatever happened to the new version of V btw? I watched the old orginal series, and watched the first season of the new one, but I think it got dumped?

also The Event was ok, at least the season or two they made...

peace!
 
S

SeaMaiden

Bombadil, that's a good question, because I thought V was moving forward with more shows. Then it seems to have just disappeared, I have no idea.
 
bombadil.360

bombadil.360

Andinismo Hierbatero
Veteran
hello ladies and gents,

on Peter, I never liked the actor either... I mean, come on, he was one of the dawson's creek kids... all the younger kids in my neighborhood would run to their homes and watch that shit and friends yuck!!! while the rest of us stayed in the football field (soccer) to smoke the necessary joints after hours of playing.

my woman loved Olivia and thought she was beautiful, at first I didn't think much of her, but slowly she really grew on me and now I think she's really pretty! live and learn.

V was cool indeed... have a friend who is way paranoid and told me they had cancelled the show because it was leaking too much truth... I'll believe him when the spaceships start appearing all over the world though.

peace!
 
mpd

mpd

Lammen Gorthaur
Veteran
I started watching last year and my kids got me all the prior shows on Blue-Ray for my birthday last year. I really enjoyed the fringe science and the Walter Bishop character who all too frequently stole the show! I will miss it dearly. It just didn't get the ratings and they never took it from Friday night so it never really had a chance.
 
Wiggs Dannyboy

Wiggs Dannyboy

Last Laugh Foundation
ICMag Donor
Veteran
Heads up on a new series starting soon, seem like if you enjoyed Fringe you might find this interesting as well. Its called "Defiance," and here is a description of the show:

Overview

The series is set in the near future, where aliens known collectively as Votans have come to Earth seeking a new home after their star system was destroyed. However, upon reaching Earth they found that they were not welcome. The Votans waited in orbit for six years as prolonged negotiations with Earth governments for settlement on the planet ultimately proved fruitless. With supplies on their ships running low, eventually in desperation the Votans began a war with humans to force the issue and make Earth their new home. During the war, Votan ships shot down by human militaries accidentally released terraformer technology, which made haphazard and radical changes to the biosphere and even the geology of Earth, making the planet dangerous to both humans and the aliens. The earth was scorched, chasms opened in the ground, and the surface of the planet was covered with dust and debris. After decades of war, both sides had fought to the point of mutual exhaustion, and a ceasefire was declared. Few organized governments remained for either the humans or the aliens, and both sides factionalized as their members began looking out for themselves. In several areas, local human and Votan militias began to band together when they realized that they had to cooperate if they hoped to survive on this new, almost alien planet.

The series largely revolves around the character of Jeb Nolan. Jeb was only ten years old when the Votans arrived and he served in the military during the war. With the war now over, he returns to his hometown of St. Louis to find that it is no longer the city he left; it is little more than a refugee camp renamed "Defiance." Deciding that his services are needed, Jeb takes up a position as the Chief Lawkeeper in Defiance, so he can protect the town from dangerous clashes between humans and aliens, military scavengers and other dangerous visitors who occasionally enter the town.

Wikipedia entry:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defiance_(TV_series)

Here's the trailer:

[YOUTUBEIF]4BJN2ssm8Qg[/YOUTUBEIF]
 
S

SeaMaiden

Whoa...! Now that sounds and looks like it could be really, REALLY good. It's kinda like Mad Max and A Canticle for Liebowitz and District 9, all rolled into one.

I FUCKING LOVE POST-APOCALYPTIC SCI-FI!

Sorry, had to hollah, got excited for a minute there.
 
Wiggs Dannyboy

Wiggs Dannyboy

Last Laugh Foundation
ICMag Donor
Veteran
Hey Seamaiden...I found a couple of more new shows that I want to recommend, but I don't want to hijack your thread, if you feel this post doesn't belong in your thread let me know and I will edit it out.

Just watched a brand new show last night on Fox called "The Following." Stars Kevin Bacon, retired FBI, involves a cult of serial killers. Think Jack Bauer of 24 meets Agent Starling from Silence Of The Lambs. I watched the premier episode last night and man is this show intense. Holy fuck. Three thumbs up.

A review:

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertai...iew-article-1.1242856?localLinksEnabled=false

Another show, started last May I think, but they just played the first episode 2 nights ago and the second episode last night, is called "Continuum." Think of the show "Alias," with Jennifer Garner, moved into a sci-fi scenario. Woman playing the lead character is much like Garner's character in Alias...beautiful, athletic, skilled in fighting to kick some serious ass. Time travel involved. I was surprised, its on the SciFi network, nothing like the movies they make.

Here's a review:

http://www.cinemablend.com/televisi...Drama-Makes-Its-Syfy-Debut-Tonight-51391.html
 
S

SeaMaiden

Go for it, Wiggs. This doesn't have to be specific to any program.

I've been seeing the adverts for The Following. Six degrees of Bacon is all we really need to know.


The last Jennifer Garner movie I saw was... damn it! I'm drawing a blank, I want to say 13 Going On 30, but it's too embarrassing. Electra..? Was that Jennifer Garner?
 
Wiggs Dannyboy

Wiggs Dannyboy

Last Laugh Foundation
ICMag Donor
Veteran
Wiggs Dannyboy said:
Heads up on a new series starting soon, seem like if you enjoyed Fringe you might find this interesting as well. Its called "Defiance," and here is a description of the show:

Overview

The series is set in the near future, where aliens known collectively as Votans have come to Earth seeking a new home after their star system was destroyed. However, upon reaching Earth they found that they were not welcome. The Votans waited in orbit for six years as prolonged negotiations with Earth governments for settlement on the planet ultimately proved fruitless. With supplies on their ships running low, eventually in desperation the Votans began a war with humans to force the issue and make Earth their new home. During the war, Votan ships shot down by human militaries accidentally released terraformer technology, which made haphazard and radical changes to the biosphere and even the geology of Earth, making the planet dangerous to both humans and the aliens. The earth was scorched, chasms opened in the ground, and the surface of the planet was covered with dust and debris. After decades of war, both sides had fought to the point of mutual exhaustion, and a ceasefire was declared. Few organized governments remained for either the humans or the aliens, and both sides factionalized as their members began looking out for themselves. In several areas, local human and Votan militias began to band together when they realized that they had to cooperate if they hoped to survive on this new, almost alien planet.

The series largely revolves around the character of Jeb Nolan. Jeb was only ten years old when the Votans arrived and he served in the military during the war. With the war now over, he returns to his hometown of St. Louis to find that it is no longer the city he left; it is little more than a refugee camp renamed "Defiance." Deciding that his services are needed, Jeb takes up a position as the Chief Lawkeeper in Defiance, so he can protect the town from dangerous clashes between humans and aliens, military scavengers and other dangerous visitors who occasionally enter the town.

Wikipedia entry:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defiance_(TV_series)

Here's the trailer:

[youtubeif]4BJN2ssm8Qg[/youtubeif]
Click to expand...

Just a heads up...Defiance has its 2 hour pilot episode on Monday night, 9 pm, SciFi channel.

I'm watching a special right now about how the show was made, looks like it will be good.
 
S

SeaMaiden

We were out of town, SoCal va/staycation. Gonna get it set up on the DVR. Thanks!
 
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