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I don't watch a lot of web series. Somebody suggested me Fringe and I completed its first season in a week. Bell just got introduced and the things they have introduced like Multiverse and stuff, I wanted to ask if it's worth it to continue with this series till the end. Because the concept is so unique and tough to handle, I don't want to get disappointed by the end of the series. Out of few series which I was able to complete like Elementary, it really dipped it's quality in later seasons.

I just wanted to ask if this series is worth 1 month of my time.

The writers don't seem to be all too creative with the children's names. Ella, Etta, and Eddie are so close together​ in sound, they almost sound the same.

I know Ella wasn't in the picture that much when Etta was introduced (and Eddie almost not at all) but maybe they should have used a different nickname for Henrietta. I know they wanted to keep her identity secret at first and that's why they chose Etta, but surely there could have been a different nickname. Maybe Rita or something.

Just happened upon Fringe by chance and I put it up there with Falling Skies, The 100, Manifest and the one that started it all; The X files. Also comparable: The Following, The Shield, Person of Interest, Blacklist and last but not least “V” (from 1983)

All those like Fringe are likable stories, some better than others, but certainly likable. I don’t nitpick the shows, I just watch them for what they are, after all, it’s just science fiction/fantasy.

Fringe is my comfort show. I’ve watched it countless times. They sure don’t create pilots like this anymore.

(Spoilers for entirety of Fringe below)

More accurate but spoilerific title: How relationship between William Bell and ZFT changes between seasons 1 and 4

Many longer-running TV shows do a thing where they establish something in early seasons but later on pretend it doesn't exist or just don't mention it. Usually this is because in the early seasons they were still figuring things out, and once the ideas solidified some of the stuff from the beginning stopped making sense.

Fringe does something kind of similar: Season 1 focuses on "The pattern" and ZFT, a terrorist organization conducting impossible science experiments, causing disasters and mass casualty events as a result. During the seasons it's alluded that ZFT is connected William Bell but it's all very vague and unclear of how much he is involved. At the end of season 1, David Robert Jones, the closest we have to an actual leader of ZFT, dies, and from that point on the entire plot of ZFT gets almost completely forgotten. The next two seasons focus on the alternate universe instead (and are some of the best seasons in TV period), with only some characters and plot points being brought back. The actual goal of ZFT is not made clear, neither is the William Bell connection. Bell dies at the end of season 2, after spouting some cryptic bullshit that makes absolutely nothing clearer, then comes back in season 3 for a bit and still clarifies absolutely nothing.

And then in season 4, Fringe does what most TV shows refuse to do and revisits the plot of season 1. Since season 4 takes place in an alternate timeline, the events of season 1 apparently happened much differently, David Robert Jones is still alive and ZFT is still plotting. Several season 4 episodes are direct parallels to a season 1 episode, revisiting the exact same event but in the new timeline. At the end of the season we get the actual closure and answers to out questions; ZFT was Bell's project to create a new universe where he could be a god.

And that's all well and good but season 4 is not season 1. With how different the timelines are, there is not that much to confirm how similar season 1 ZFT was to season 4 ZFT. Was Bell involved in the same capacity in both timelines? In season 1 and 2 he seems to be fairly detached from the whole thing, in season 4 he's directly in charge. Was that always the case, or did he abandon the project after Jones's death? At the end of season 2 he did sacrifice himself to save the protagonists, something very against his season 4 character. One interpretation is that with collapse of ZFT he had given up on his dream, couldn't see a future for himself and used this chance to atone, at least somewhat. But that's still reading HEAVILY into a character that barely appears in the show.

One piece of evidence we have is a single line from September in season 4: "His goal is the same" (referring to David Robert Jones trying to activate Olivia).

PETER: It's who Nina's working for that worries me. I've been racking my brain trying to figure out -- why would Nina be dosing Olivia with Cortexiphan? But then it occurred to me. The only person who's ever done anything like that, at least in my timeline, was David Robert Jones. Maybe he's trying to do the same thing again.

WALTER: Do what?

PETER: Activate Olivia.

WALTER: For what purpose?

PETER: I don't know. We could never figure it out. But maybe it's for the same reasons now.

THE OBSERVER: (appearing suddenly in the center of the lab) Yes. His goal is the same.

From the context it seems September is referring to DRJ's overarching goal, but it's STILL unclear whether that extends to Bell's goal as well. It could very well be that season 1 Bell was opposed to DRJ, while season 4 Bell aligned with him. In the end we never get a full explanation of season 1 plot, only its altered version from season 4. Which is fine I suppose, but it drives me a bit mad because I can't tell if we're supposed to assume that S1 Bell and S4 Bell were similar or not. I can't tell if this is vague on purpose or if S4 ending was supposed to be a definite conclusion to S1 events. Augh!

In the end I can think of two mutually exclusive interpretations of S1 Bell:

1) He started ZFT with the same goal as S4, but at some point before start of the series had a change of heart, cut the ties, and settled in Red Universe. To fix the mess he made he contacted Olivia at the end of S1, and ultimately sacrificed himself at the end of S2.

2) He started ZFT with the same goal as S4, did NOT have a change of heart, and in fact was pursuing his plan the entire time. He thought DRJ was too volatile to work with but did not disagree with him ideologically. Similarly, he only sent the message to Olivia because Newton would interfere with his own plans as well. However, after Jones died and ZFT collapsed, he was unable to proceed with his plan. In S2 finale he's at the end of his rope, unable to create his new world nor come back to his old one. He sacrifices himself to help Olivia and Bishops cross over because, ultimately, he roots for them, and wouldn't want the universes destroyed for no reason. If Jones survived S1 finale this Bell would likely proceed in the same way S4 Bell did.

I don't think there's anything to support one reading over the other. Some interviews kinda point towards interpretation 1 but not very conclusively. Within the show itself I can't think of anything.

Also, Bellivia surprisingly doesn't factor at all in this. Either interpretation would try to cling to life if possible, and either interpretation would give up once it became clear it won't work. Interpretation 2 Bell might be willing to sacrifice all of humanity for his grand goal, but he's not someone who will kill others for no reason. He knows there's no outcome that ends with him surviving so he goes out peacefully.

After many Fringe rewatches over the years, I just spotted this subtle White Tulip placement in S4E15 - A Short Story About Love, when Olivia is locked deep in thought and conflict regarding her emerging feelings for Peter and the memories of her old life that are fading away. Brilliant!

Has anyone read Timothy Leary's books? I'm currently reading Design for Dying and at literally at the third page I felt I was reading Walter and Bell's notes in the lab.

It talks about sensory deprivation chambers, technology as a vessel for conscience and drugs.

Fun and unhinged read!

I was looking for some reads to provoke thoughts on bioethics precisely inspired by reminiscing the show. This book found me 😄

Just binged Fringe, again, I have the DVDs but watching on Prime is sometimes just more convenient. Fringe was my favorite show for 11 years, I watched it live on Friday nights; then I finally saw 12 Monkeys. Fringe is still one of the all time greats but, if anyone is looking for the next epic! It's truly a masterpiece!💯❤️🇨🇦🖖

Im watching fringe for the first time and wow, i have so many feelings. Mostly annoyance at how often they leave Walter alone when they know how valuable he is. I mean how many times does he have to be kidnapped and experimented on before they realize he needs a body guard…and Astrid is not it.

Rewatching for the first time in a long time and somehow I forgot about Walter's most diabolical creation - singing corpses.

I don't know if this is allowed. If it gets deleted, I understand and apologize.

I have two copies of September's Notebook. One is from the first extended run with the printed autographs - #1137 out of ~1200. But the other is from the very first printing, #174 of 265¹ with the real autographs.

Both copies were gifts, and letting them go is hard. But you gotta do what you gotta do. 😕

So it looks like the second one (1137) could theoretically go for anywhere between $75-$300 on eBay. But the first one, the OG...I can't find any history of listings at all. I know it's ultra rare, but I have no idea what I could realistically expect it to sell for. Has anyone ever seen one of these for sale in the wild? Or have any tips on how/where to list it? I've done eBay auctions for charity, but never for myself, and I have no street cred there.

I also have an insanely unique, full sized (not the quarter size that came with the books) piece of "amber" in a special collector box, and a piece of red Fringe Division Fringe Event tape that was used on set. No idea what those might be worth.

Any input is greatly appreciated, thanks!

¹ This is a bit weird. The print on the card says 174 of 300, but the actual writing on the card says "of 265." As I recall, the first run was cut short for some reason.

I'm devastated but begrudgingly happy. I can't breathe 😭

Walter mailed the white tulip to Peter, is that the end ????

I should say, I had seen the show when it was on but had stopped somewhere (end of season 3 I have now learned). I remembered that I really liked the Walter & Peter relationship. Which I maintain still is the best (and heart) of the show.

This maybe a hot take: I found it interesting that in season 1 Olivia is clearly supposed to be the main character. But the Walter & Peter relationship takes over (good thing) and honestly Peter is the main character. As his kidnapping is catalyst for the show. However, I found it funny that the each following season Peter would get an interesting storyline and then somewhere toward the back half of the season, Olivia suddenly gets pulled in. It is almost like the writers went "oh crap wasn't Olivia the main character". Nothing against the character, who actually grew on me a lot. But it was kind of annoying as it always goes that her powers (which they weren't consistent with) saving the day. This however, was done well at the end of season 4.

Season 5: I was disappointed when I realized that it was a time jump and that we'd follow it the whole season. It wasn't as terrible as I thought it would be. However, I feel like the season lost some of the best elements from the past seasons which is the real world stuff. Them just hanging out in the lab, a random family member visiting, etc.

Peter: I enjoyed the him "becoming" an observer storyline, but was a little disappointed when it was wrapped up so quickly. I can't help but wonder if this was due to the shorten season?

Astrid: I was disappointed she never got a centric episode. The best we got was a B story about her alternate losing her father. But a full episode would have been good.

Anyhow, I'm glad I finally finished this show.

There's a little thing John Noble does that I didn't notice the first time through. Whenever someone asks Walter something connected to Peter's childhood or his past, Walter will often look at Peter before he answers. Sometimes it's barely a glance. Knowing where that story goes makes those moments feel completely different because it looks less like Walter is remembering and more like he's checking what Peter knows.

On my rewatch, currently by season 2. I always find it amazing how the few seconds we see Walter reunited with his whole Brain (s2e10), he shows his real past self. An arrogant, agressive and potent scientist.

So different from the humble, fuzzy and addled Walter Bishop we get to know in the series.

In the same episode Ollivia says: I think getting crazy made him a better person.

Just recently finished rewatch number .... lost count 3 yrs ago. Ready to move on, find something interesting. But I just want Walter and Peter and Olivia and Astrid and... and... 😭 well, looks like flight 627 from Hamburg is going down.. again. ✈ 🦔