• Network: FOX
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 9, 2008
Season #: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 531 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 33 out of 531
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User Reviews

  1. MikraT.
    Sep 19, 2008
    10
    A wonderful and very realistic sci-fi adventure. I was surprised to see many of methods used in my field of research being demonstrated on the show.
  2. TwilightC.
    Sep 18, 2008
    1
    I was not engaged at all. I didn't like either lead. It took the gore from x-files to an extreme and didn't do it well.
  3. RolandB.
    Sep 18, 2008
    10
    Who cares of its incredibly derivative...the shows its draws from were great but they are finished and its exciting having something like this on television again...its incredibly entertaining and seems to be building up to something that could be interesting and perhaps original...its too early to tell...but just become something draws from something else and just because the science may Who cares of its incredibly derivative...the shows its draws from were great but they are finished and its exciting having something like this on television again...its incredibly entertaining and seems to be building up to something that could be interesting and perhaps original...its too early to tell...but just become something draws from something else and just because the science may be wacky and unbelievable...if its fun who cares just enjoy it! Expand
  4. JohnM.
    Sep 17, 2008
    10
    Great cast. Great story. Great show. It keeps you watching. The mythology is strong and appears fairly deep. I'm looking forward to many seasons of this show! What is so terrible about LOST references or Altered States homages? I think that's part of the appeal to shows like this. It gives credit where credit is due.
  5. sh
    Sep 16, 2008
    0
    I think this show should be taked off the air.
  6. CharlesS.
    Sep 15, 2008
    1
    Wow what an awful script. Turned it off after 45 minutes. Would that Lab really be ther in working order after 17 years? The scientist just happened to walk right out of prison with his son and agent ? Wow.
  7. mauricioc.
    Sep 15, 2008
    10
    Show is amazing!!! This series will have a couple of seasons!!!
  8. kate
    Sep 12, 2008
    4
    I watched because of Josh Jackson and JJ Abrams. The acting was not as good as thought it would be. Josh Jackson was a disappointment unless the eye rolls and soap opera looks were supposed to be funny. The other people I had not seen before so I can.t say they were disappointing. I usually like JJ Abrams shows and unless this improves I wont be watching it.
  9. CraigA-S
    Sep 12, 2008
    2
    Like the X-Files. But stupider. Assuming of course its possible for ANY show to be stupider than the X-Files. The fact that cybernetics is referred to in the opening credits as a "fringe" science merely shows the scientific illiteracy of the people responsible for this dreck.
  10. JDub
    Sep 12, 2008
    9
    This show's first episode blew me away. First time I actually watched a TV show twice in one week. Very solid first episode and it can go only go up from here.
  11. ChrisC.
    Sep 12, 2008
    2
    An overhyped pilot with a predictable yet drawn out plot. The science is--dare I say--a joke, and the lab scenes look reminiscent of MacGyver meets Mr. Wizard. Hopefully it gets better as more of the pattern is revealed.
  12. RodericR.
    Sep 12, 2008
    10
    The show was fantastic. The cast is identifiable and distinct, and though there have been many Mulder/Scully mentions AND I was a huge X-Files fan, its so different from X-Files. To me, its Outer Limits, X-Files, and CSI and rolled into one conspiracy-laden ball of TV enjoyment. Its Lost for sci-fi nerds who demand more nerdstuff. Fringe and 24, are the only two shows my family watches The show was fantastic. The cast is identifiable and distinct, and though there have been many Mulder/Scully mentions AND I was a huge X-Files fan, its so different from X-Files. To me, its Outer Limits, X-Files, and CSI and rolled into one conspiracy-laden ball of TV enjoyment. Its Lost for sci-fi nerds who demand more nerdstuff. Fringe and 24, are the only two shows my family watches live and does not miss. Expand
  13. J
    Sep 12, 2008
    4
    To make something with outrageous "science" believable the ordinary needs to be convincing. How do you do that when an ordinary Joe and his crazy father are watching a live feed of an FBI agent interrogating a mass murder suspect and then your ordinary Joe can just walk in to the interrogation room and beat the info out of the suspect? Old and tired and bad. So bad I almost want to stop To make something with outrageous "science" believable the ordinary needs to be convincing. How do you do that when an ordinary Joe and his crazy father are watching a live feed of an FBI agent interrogating a mass murder suspect and then your ordinary Joe can just walk in to the interrogation room and beat the info out of the suspect? Old and tired and bad. So bad I almost want to stop watching Lost. Even Michael Giacchino's score is almost the same as Lost -- cue the escalating violin strings before the commercial break. Go rent old episodes of the X-Files instead. Expand
  14. blithe
    Sep 11, 2008
    5
    I think the show has promise, but the pilot was kind of a disappointment. The acting was uneven and the dialogue and premises stretched the bounds of anything even remotely like reality or logic. It was just too ridiculous and unbelievable at times, to the point where I was annoyed, and I'm somebody who loves these kind of off the wall X-Files type shows, so it isn't like my I think the show has promise, but the pilot was kind of a disappointment. The acting was uneven and the dialogue and premises stretched the bounds of anything even remotely like reality or logic. It was just too ridiculous and unbelievable at times, to the point where I was annoyed, and I'm somebody who loves these kind of off the wall X-Files type shows, so it isn't like my standards for reality are that high... ;-) But, that being said, I'm willing to give the show some time to develop into something more like what it has promise to become. Expand
  15. RaysaJ.
    Sep 10, 2008
    7
    This one stands a chance. I will take a look at another episode or two.
  16. RafaelD.
    Sep 10, 2008
    8
    Im a huge fan of J.J Abrams work , but i see a bright future for the show , its hard to judge a show just by the pilot , as we all know a lot of shows can get better and better every week. For a start , i think its a good pilot , lets see how this show develop.
  17. AdamT.
    Sep 9, 2008
    8
    While not as good as Lost (yet), I was very entertained and enjoyed the characters and story quite a bit. I'm sure there will be nay-sayers right away, but Fox kept all of you in mind too. Knowing that not everyone would enjoy the type of show Fringe is, they aired something more your speed directly after. Hole In The Wall is just the kind of show for those of you unable to enjoy While not as good as Lost (yet), I was very entertained and enjoyed the characters and story quite a bit. I'm sure there will be nay-sayers right away, but Fox kept all of you in mind too. Knowing that not everyone would enjoy the type of show Fringe is, they aired something more your speed directly after. Hole In The Wall is just the kind of show for those of you unable to enjoy good programming, such as Fringe. Expand
  18. SteveC
    Sep 9, 2008
    6
    A cross between the X-files and 24. A good start had me fully engaged, but like the others I lost interest halfway through. Too much work. Meh.
  19. josh
    Sep 9, 2008
    2
    come on why so many good reviews ? this show is obviously swill , the overblown graphics are terrible , the plot is ridiculous come on a lost son in Iraq whos a criminal mastermind , an insane prophet father , the skin rotting disease and the intro with the cliche exploding cell phone who just happens to be the guy shes in love with . its like a bad episode of bones , the x-files , and come on why so many good reviews ? this show is obviously swill , the overblown graphics are terrible , the plot is ridiculous come on a lost son in Iraq whos a criminal mastermind , an insane prophet father , the skin rotting disease and the intro with the cliche exploding cell phone who just happens to be the guy shes in love with . its like a bad episode of bones , the x-files , and csi all rolled into one .come on where is the real drama not this boring over hyped rehash we have seen so many times. Expand
Metascore
67

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 25
  2. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. 60
    The last half-hour of the pilot is by far the best part of Fringe; it’s full of twists, turns, action and suspense. And the first 20 minutes or so, in which a team of federal agents investigate a mysterious occurrence on a commercial airliner, is brisk and efficient, if (like much of Fringe) a little bombastic and overdirected. Aside from a cinematic dream sequence, the middle hour of Fringe is much more problematic.
  2. It has good characters and plenty of action. It keeps its science fiction accessible, not abstract. Maybe best of all, it has a great sense of humor.
  3. 75
    Lots of good action and lots of fun to boot.