Movie review: Fringe

With unexplained phenomena popping up FBI agent Olivia Dunham is at a loss. But when she teams up with a formerly-institutionalized scientist and his son she finds reality may be more strange than she ever imagined.

Anna Torv (Olivia), Joshua Jackson (Peter), John Noble (Walter), Jasika Nicole (Astrid), Lance Reddick (Broyles), Blair Brown (Nina), Michael Cerveris (Observer), Leonard Nimoy (Bell).

Fringe is the name of the division created when Olivia begins working with Walter and Peter. Walter, a formerly-institutionalized scientist, was formerly working on fringe science and is able to explain much of the strange phenomena taking place. But with his involvement Olivia realizes there is much more to the world than she ever imagined. Fringe does a wonderful job of weaving together the entire series, taking imagination and time travel in amazing directions.

Acting was good with Torv delivering nicely throughout the series, including in dual roles. Jackson was enjoyable with nice presentation and apparent chemistry with others. Noble was incredibly entertaining and pulled off a difficult part very well. Nicole was enjoyable, fun, and just plain cute. Reddick, Brown, and the remainder of the supporting cast also did quite well.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were nicely done with plenty of variety throughout the series. CGI and effects were good and plentiful and supported the storyline well. Dialogue was enjoyable with good depth and breadth throughout. Sound and soundtrack were solid.

Fringe is a surprisingly well done and varied sci-fi that actually matures before your eyes. Starting as a fairly simple sci-fi, the series progresses into a twisted time-travel multiverse web with morality and ethics thrown in, well, just because. Sci-Fi fans should enjoy this one a lot until they realize the series has concluded.

Some mild adult situations, violence, and potentially disturbing images but really this should be fine for teens and above.

Released: 2008-2013
Reviewed: 4.29.16
Star rating: 5 out of 5
Genre: TV Sci-Fi, TV Sci-Fi Drama, TV Mysteries, TV Supernatural Sci-Fi, Time Travel

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel