Fringe: B+
Solid show. There are definitely some issues that need resolved with the production (the SKY HIGH ceilings at Massive Dynamics – no way they could afford that heating bill in this economy, the crazy words scrolling across the walls, some cliche’s (“Now… … we wait.”), and some cheesy dialog. Outside of Lost, however, I can’t think of any shows that I thought were perfect from episode one. What I can say is that you can usually tell when you are watching a real stinker (remember the Bionic Woman remake?) but this one seems solid.
I really like that the female lead is believable. There have been too many shows (yes, I’m picking on Bionic Woman again) where the lead has such potential to be a real ass kicker but just ends up being a typical whiny, weak character. I mean seriously, how much do women truly cry in real life (outside of watching Extreme Home Makeover and Oprah)? And when Olivia did cry, yeah baby! Talk about an ugly cry, the kind where the snot is flying and the face is all wrinkled and ugly. Now that is how a real woman cries!
Ok, they did have to throw in a gratuitous underwear scene, but it was nice that Olivia wasn’t stick thin and looked like a “real” woman. It was cool, too, that in close ups you can see some wrinkles in her face – like she’s a real person! She’s not so botoxed that her face doesn’t move.
I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about Jean (the cow) but I’m thinking I’m going to like having the bovine there. Hopefully they won’t go 4H on it and let us fall in love then kill it. I like crazy Dr Walter, too.
Surprisingly, I wasn’t thinking of the XFiles the whole show. I’m excited to have a new show on TV where the characters and the dialog is intelligent. I’m fired up and ready for more!