TV Series FRINGE - Episode Discussion Thread

I just got through watching the pilot of the new anticipated series Fringe. Not only is it about what we are about here at AboveTopSecret.Com, even in the dialogue, the guy says "This Is Above Top Secret". It is a fast paced roller coaster and has all the makings of a top notch Sci-Fi blockbuster. I haven't been this excited about an Alternative Topics show since X-Files.

If you saw the pilot, would love to hear your thoughts. We might try and get an interview with J. J. Abrams who is the mastermind behind this endeavor.

Dave

09-10-2008: This thread has now been changed in concept to the intelligent discussion of Fringe episodes and how they may relate to topics or ATS MIX Shows on AboveTopSecret.Com.


[edit on 9/23/2008 by Dave Rabbit]

Great, can you give us a video feed of the show? I would like a preview too... If you are this pumped up it must be really good stuff.

I really wish the mainstream movie producers would stop putting out unbelievable movies and television series. Fringe was a big disappointment because I know we don't have any chemical agent that can dissolve human flesh that fast with such a small quantity administered.

Do they think we are all retards or something, and that because it has numerous flashes and explosions we will overlook the absurdity of the science. Just more of the same old crap that plays down to most of us.

there is a discussion going on about Fringe here

It seems I posted too soon. It gets even more absurd as it goes along. It might be a blast to watch if your on some kind of psychoactive drug though.

cheers for the heads up.. dl the HD pilot episode now

Ill let you guys know what i think ( is there a token scotsman in it?? )

Look forward to seeing this. J.J. Abrams is a genius and has one hell of an imagination. Although his directorial abilities still need work, Cloverfield was a bit of a let down, but his ideas are great.

Bit of info at IMDB for those who don't know about Fringe:
www.imdb.com...

[edit on 10-9-2008 by Sendran]

reply to post by TH3ON3


It's TV, it's supposed to be like that. Spotting things like the chemicals used, and the technotransdiscombobulater's actually just a toilet brush with some tinfoil on it, doesn't matter, it looks like it might do the job the character says it does to the audience.

All TV has holes in it, they wouldn't have many viewers if the programmes were accurate to the finest detail.

But I know what you mean, it can take the shine off of it. Sometimes being intelligent has major downfalls.

OK, I watched the pilot last night, and I have to comment on this. The X-Files was a MUCH better show. By far!

The dialogue last night was very poorly written, cheesy, and at times made me want to gag.

Come on, the female agent goes around barking orders to everyone, and they all do what she wants, even her supervisor?

The dusty Harvard basement was renovated into a sophisticated lab in about 5 minutes, and the mad scientist's son who supposedly had not been in contact with his dad somehow knew exactly what to do to help. Oh, and they synthesized '___' in a couple of hours.

I can suspend my disbelief when the show is good, but last night's episode did NOT leave me wanting more. The best part of the show were the special effects, which did not make up for the bad writing or lame plot.

If they were going to spend all this time, effort, and money to make a new show, couldn't they have at least hired some decent screenwriters?

Anyway, my .02. YMMV.

I try to pretend I'm a 10 year old when I watch TV, everything is so much more amusing/scary/interesting. Actually I try and do that everywhere, view as if I've never viewed before. (I'm stupid, it's easy for us dummies )

Like if you drive to work, look outside as you're driving (still pay attention to the road please) and notice the things you don't notice, like actually look at the details...

That's how I try and watch new shows, not with a perspective that comes from x-files (actually I've only watched that show maybe 20 times). Sure it was cheesy, and in some parts lame, but I still liked it

People that were in chat last night when I watched it saw me, I was typing "YES, AWESOME!". Yeah, I realize what happened isn't possible (or at least extremely unlikely, I mean come on) with science (like making lsd in a few hours) as it is now, but it doesn't take away from the fact that a new scifi show is starting from a promising writer. Even famous Quarterbacks have terrible rookie seasons. Try and enjoy the show, who cares how unrealistic it is, or how cheesy the dialogue is.

I like pepperjack cheese btw.

reply to post by TH3ON3


The chemical skin thing was right out of X-Files The Movie as they too had something extremely similar. Like it or not, the show deals with conspiracies of things that are going on without the world's knowledge. I grant you that the topics may or may not have a thread of truth in some of them, maybe even all of them..... but no one that has been on ATS for any length and have seen the investigative digging of the intelligent community over the past 10 years here at ATS, can't possibly believe that there isn't secret agendas going on by the government or other Intel agencies that never see the light of day.

IMEO, of course.

Dave

reply to post by Dave Rabbit


I agree that the subject matter of the show is cool in and of itself, especially the gov. conspiracy angles. I just think they could have written the dialogue much better.

reply to post by keeb333


Well, if memory serves the pilot of X-Files as well as the first few shows weren't exactly barn burners themselves. I didn't even get into X-Files until the second season. I happened to be bored one Friday Night and watched one. I was hooked.... then I began my quest to watch every one from then on out up to, and including, the latest one which was a huge disappointment for me personally.

Dave

Originally posted by Dave Rabbit
reply to post by keeb333

 

Well, if memory serves the pilot of X-Files as well as the first few shows weren't exactly barn burners themselves.

Dave

Ha, fair enough! I also didn't get into the show until about the 2nd season, so by the time I watched all of the first season I was all into the show, and probably didn't notice the lameness of the first few episodes. I'm sure I'll be watching Fringe again next week, but I really hope it gets better!

reply to post by Dave Rabbit



Granted dave, but can't they at least give it a possibly valid scenario instead of treating us to fare only a grade school kid could ever believe.

I mean it might have been believable if maybe it (the chemical) was tied into something they recovered from say a crashed UFO. But to tie it in with what we as intelligent people know of how chemical agents work and expect us to believe that is ludricrous to say the least.

Take ironman, it made millions, but I walked out of the theatre within the first half hour. They expect me to believe that a genius guy built a mega-joule power unit from some things he threw together from salvaged parts while being held captive in a cave.

Why couldn't they have used a possible scenario like again a highly advanced power supply found in a crashed UFO? Now I know many don't believe in UFOs, but at least it has ome credibility for being something derived from the unknown.

Get your act together you hollywood doofuses.

reply to post by TH3ON3


Great points all.... and, to a degree, I understand exactly what you are saying. Still..... with all the BS that we all deal with on a daily basis with planet Earth, I personally like the mindless entertainment aspect of movies and TV shows. By the way, I loved Iron Man.

Like I said.... from an intellectual standpoint.... Fringe may not be everyone's cup of tea..... but for entertaining the Rabinator for 90 minutes so he didn't have to deal with reality of his own life for that period of time, it was great.

Thanks for your always insightful posts.

Dave

reply to post by Dave Rabbit


Yup, it has all the earmarks of being a hit show for sure. My wife, who wasn't really into X-Files much (yes, I admit that), really likes how this one started out. Man, it was a bit freaky watching skin melt off like that but it just goes to show what the human mind can come up with to kill/attack another human being.

This show will touch on ALL of the 'controversial' subjects found on this site and I can't wait for them to air.

Maybe we can do a weekly debate on each show as they air. Looking forward to it.

Originally posted by TH3ON3


I really wish the mainstream movie producers would stop putting out unbelievable movies and television series. Fringe was a big disappointment because I know we don't have any chemical agent that can dissolve human flesh that fast with such a small quantity administered.

Do they think we are all retards or something, and that because it has numerous flashes and explosions we will overlook the absurdity of the science. Just more of the same old crap that plays down to most of us.

Sorry to hear that. I believe what the show is touching on are the 'theories' that something like this has been worked on. Not that it was successful. But showing that it didn't work wouldn't have really made for much of a show now would it?

It's more about the 'what ifs' and the 'what has our government worked on' than the 'they have actually done this'.

Originally posted by keeb333
OK, I watched the pilot last night, and I have to comment on this. The X-Files was a MUCH better show. By far!

The dialogue last night was very poorly written, cheesy, and at times made me want to gag.

Come on, the female agent goes around barking orders to everyone, and they all do what she wants, even her supervisor?

The dusty Harvard basement was renovated into a sophisticated lab in about 5 minutes, and the mad scientist's son who supposedly had not been in contact with his dad somehow knew exactly what to do to help. Oh, and they synthesized '___' in a couple of hours.

I can suspend my disbelief when the show is good, but last night's episode did NOT leave me wanting more. The best part of the show were the special effects, which did not make up for the bad writing or lame plot.

If they were going to spend all this time, effort, and money to make a new show, couldn't they have at least hired some decent screenwriters?

Anyway, my .02. YMMV.

You are entitled to your opinions of course but let me explain how I witnessed the actions as you describe above.

First, she starts taking leadership on this which is obviously what her 'supervisor' wants. That is why he then offered her the 'above top secret' position. He felt she was ready for it through her leadership and actions. How else were the directors going to portray this in 90 minutes?

As for the lab, it was NOT renovated. It was already there. Simply shut down after the scientists running it were put away. His son was a clarified genius with an IQ of 197. This was established right off the bat.

So, if your complaints are on those points I seem to have experienced the message a bit differently than you. As for it not being better than the X-Files, well, I have to agree there because the X-Files was on for many years and 2 movies. This was a pilot.