Now, I know I haven’t blogged for awhile, and without getting into excuses, I’m going to completely lay the blame on the month of November. Let’s just leave it there.

                                                 
I’m going to be so bold as to state the best show on TV right now is Fringe (Well, it's tied with Dexter  – but that’s another blog). You need to be watching this show; let me get back into the swing of things here and tell you why.

Fringe is made up of such a winning combination that there is just no way it could be anything but fantastic. First, it is created by JJ Abrams. Second, the X-Files-like pairing of a roguishly handsome rebel and a slightly manly, but incredibly sexy, FBI agent is a recipe that works again and again. Third, we’re dealing with some straight up sci-fi here – quality science fiction handled with realism and fed to the viewer with no apologies. Fourth, there is an abundance of great characters and even better acting.

John Noble (also referred to as Denethor in our house) is just delightful as Walter Bishop, the quirky genius struggling with madness and a less than ethical past. Everything that comes out of his mouth is pure gold. Lance Reddick (sometimes referred to as Abaddon or Lt. Daniels in our house) is, as usual, so very badass, if not completely frightening. Joshua Jackson (known as Pacey Witter in my heart) will totally blow you away with how good his acting has become. Let me tell you that Pacey has grown up a lot since his Creek days… he is way hot.  And Anna Torv (…I’ve never seen her before this…) so perfectly encompasses her character that when I see her being interviewed, talking in her real-life Australian accent, I cannot even fathom that it’s the same person. Oh yeah, and Leonard Nimoy is in the show, too...

The show began last year and is currently in its second season. Season 1 was good – good enough to really capture and hold my attention – but H-O-L-Y crap, is Season 2 not the most riveting, mind-bending, suspense packed hour of television week after week. Now, I know that you want to click away from this blog (when you’re done reading, of course) and immediately put Fringe, season 1 in your NetFlix queue or download it from some site (shame, shame on you), but I want to take a moment to tell you a little something about the plot, just to whet your appetite even more.

Agent Olivia Dunham is assigned to the Fringe Division of the FBI – a group that both uses and investigates so-called “fringe science” to understand a series of unexplainable events happening all over the world. The only scientist who has the ability to comprehend and unravel the science behind it all is Walter Bishop. Unfortunately, Walter is nuts – a true mad scientist. He's also freakin' hilarious. To keep Walter in line and tether him to his sanity, his mysterious long-lost son, Peter Bishop, is brought in to lend a hand with his many talents. A cute lab assistant named Astrid rounds out the team, and Lance Reddick plays Broyles, the leader of the Fringe division.

Do NOT be put off because you think Fringe is an X-Files rip-off.  The similarities between The X-Files and Fringe are abundant in the premise; however, the overlap between the two shows really stops there. The X-Files is a show about a quest for answers and government conspiracy; it uses science fiction to shape its storylines. Fringe is about saving all of humanity and the realization that there is so much more than we realize in the world; science fiction is the backbone of the show – the entire basis. The fact that the two shows share the same vibe is fantastic, but Fringe is unique to anything else I’ve seen on TV. It manages to be quite layered without being convoluted – you can just enjoy watching without having to be a crazy, forum-loving, pause button-hugging fan (although, there is plenty for all of us, too). There are also great special effects, belly-shaking humor, and the occasional, beautiful gross out.

I am telling you that you will not regret investing your time in this show. If you’re a sci-fi lover, there is just no excuse to miss it. But, even if sci-fi isn’t your thing, if you like superb writing and edge-of-your-seat plot twists – if you like being able to laugh hysterically and have your mind completely blown in the same hour – if you like great acting and complex characters, this is the show for you. In season 2, Fringe is finally hitting its stride, and you’d be a fool to miss out!


                     The Opening Two Minutes of Episode One



                                     Peter is a Badass