Fringe: The Complete First Season gets off to a slow, rocky start. It all begins when a flight lands at Logan Airport with a cabin full of passengers dead from a flesh-dissolving toxin. Special Agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) and her partner, John Scott (Mark Valley), are called to investigate and eventually discover its source. While attempting to apprehend the culprit, Scott is infected, sending Olivia in search of Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble), a mentally unstable researcher specializing in fringe science.
Before he was admitted to the mental hospital, Walter and his partner, William Bell, now the CEO of the multi-national research corporation, Massive Dynamic, conducted a series of off-the-wall experiments involving everything from teleportation to mind-reading. In other words, if you've heard about it on "Coast to Coast A.M.", Walter and William were probably working on it. Olivia discovers the toxin was derived from the duo's long-lost work, but her attempts to free Walter from the hospital are shot down. To get him out, Olivia turns to Walter's estranged son, Peter (Joshua Jackson).
On top of a strained relationship with this father, Peter is a bit of a con artist, making him reluctant to return to the States and help his father, much less the FBI. With some finagling, Olivia is able to get Peter to join and, along with his father, the two eventually join the Department of Homeland Security as part of their Fringe Division.
Fringe is X-Files for the post-9/11 era. Rather than focusing on topics like the paranormal and close encounters, Fringe's threats grow out of conspiracy and terrorist plots. While you won't see the gang taking on terrorist groups, all of the threats, whether they are a deadly toxin or a mind-melting cyber threat, share a certain domestic terror vibe. This gives the show some reality-based grounding while also allowing it to tread off the reserve with some of its plotlines.
As outlandish as some of the plots may seem, there is some science behind everything on the show. Some of it may be theoretical and far-fetched, but some of the facts are covered in the extra features, as well as sidebars for every episode and commentary-like "Docupods" on some episodes.
Unlike other Abram's shows, Fringe is less of a serialized show and more of a procedural drama. There are a number of one-off, "Monster of the Week" episodes similar to the X-Files' earlier seasons, and the characters are relatable enough that you can theoretically jump in at any time and understand what is going on. At the same time, an overall plot involving "The Pattern," a series of unexplained events related to Walter's early work happening around the world, threads through the entire series. Though the stand-alone structure makes the show more approachable and not as mythologically heavy as Lost, Fringe doesn't get interesting until serialized elements are introduced in "Safe," the mid-season cliffhanger. The mythos isn't overly confusing, but if you need a guideline, the aforementioned sidebars and commentary can help.
Character development is a big reason for Fringe's success. Olivia goes from a broken agent at the beginning of the season to a hard-nosed badass halfway through the first season. However, amidst the gunplay and ass kicking, she still manages to keep a softer, sympathetic side. The middle of the season is also good for Walter's character. He breaks out of the eccentric mad scientist role into the show's most complex, interesting and entertaining character. The only character with room to grow is Peter, who basically plays the "smart mouth skeptic" in ever episode. Despite this, his interactions with Walter make for some of the series' most memorable moments.
In addition guideline features, Fringe: The Complete First Season also includes writer Roberto Orci's production diaries, a gag reel and a look at the Fringe team's unofficial mascot, Gene the Cow.
Fringe is a slow-start, but given time will grow on you.
