Fringe

:

Season 2
  • Network: FOX
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 9, 2008
Season #: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
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Critic Reviews

  1. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Ken Tucker
    91
    Unlike The X-Files, Fringe has a sense of humor that cuts through its gloom. Credit Jackson for his raised-eyebrow dubiousness whenever things threaten to turn absurdly weird, and Noble for making his brilliant acid casualty a poignant, eager-to-please man, constantly sifting through his prodigious brain to locate the truth from fragmented memories.
  2. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Robert Bianco
    88
    Not every shift works; a newly added agent seems just as expendable as poor, underused Charlie (Kirk Acevedo). But there's a great final twist that more than compensates, and it solidifies the overall impression that a series that was once too far on the conspiracy fringe has settled into an enjoyable weekly sci-fi adventure.
  3. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: David Hinckley
    80
    Fortunately, someone finally grabs hold of the wheel and steers it back to where it belongs, as one of the great character dramas of contemporary television.
  5. PopMatters
    Reviewed by: Lesley Smith
    80
    If Fringe‘s writers--Abrams, Roberto Orci, and Alex Kurtzman--sustain the sharp wit and swift plotting they managed in this summer’s Star Trek prequel, they might maintain the series' high-speed, oddball unpredictability.
  6. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Maureen Ryan
    75
    The Season 2 premiere of the genre-tinged drama Fringe is almost the polar opposite of its bombastic Season 1 premiere, and that’s a very good thing.
  7. Time
    Reviewed by: James Poniewozik
    70
    While not as mind-blowing as the last season's finale (which had me finally buying into the show after a season on the fence), does a good enough job continuing to run with the parallel-universe scenario established toward the end of season one.
  8. Variety
    Reviewed by: Stuart Levine
    70
    After starting slow in the Nielsen race early on last year and then finding its footing, Fringe should settle in nicely.
  9. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    67
    Fringe returns in fine form for its second season.
  10. Slant Magazine
    Reviewed by: Peter Swanson
    63
    As the season progresses, it is very possible that Fringe will find its footing. But right now there is far too much padding in the form of substandard plotlines.
  11. Wall Street Journal
    Reviewed by: Nancy DeWolf Smith
    60
    For those of us who can't be bothered to decipher the mumbo jumbo, let alone take it seriously, there is diversion enough in each episode's discrete inner story, which doesn't require a mental decoder ring.

Awards & Rankings

29
#29 Best TV Season of 2009
52
#52 Most Discussed TV Season of 2009

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 242 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 219 out of 242
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 242
  3. Negative: 18 out of 242
  1. JenniferC
    Oct 18, 2010
    10
    Hard to believe it is possible, but the second season of Fringe was even better than the first. I loved "Northwest Passage" and "BrownHard to believe it is possible, but the second season of Fringe was even better than the first. I loved "Northwest Passage" and "Brown Betty." The show is fun, playful, and serious all at the same time -- It is the only show worth watching on television.… Full Review »
  2. WilC.
    Sep 25, 2009
    10
    An amazing sci-fi show that is so much better than 90% of the crap on tv today.
  3. drlowdon
    Mar 6, 2014
    8
    When watching Fringe one can’t help but me reminded of The X-Files with its team of outsiders investigating strange and unusual occurrences.When watching Fringe one can’t help but me reminded of The X-Files with its team of outsiders investigating strange and unusual occurrences. Much like the X-Files Fringe also combines stand alone episodes with an overall mythology arc. For the most part the stand alone episodes can’t quite measure up to the cult 90’s classic at its best (no episodes have the originality or imagination of ‘Squeeze’, ‘Home’ or ‘Drive’ for example) but the overall mythology is every bit as intriguing and this, along with the shows dark sense of humour, is what makes Fringe such a treat for sci-fi fans.… Full Review »
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