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Sep. 26th, 2011 10:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkatWatching Fringe S2 again, it is markedly better than S1, but still far too many derivative Monster Scientists of the Week. My favorite so far is the cosmonaut who picks up the weird organism which leaves his body like a shadow, and disintegrates people by feeding off the radiation inside them. Creepy episode. That one could give you nightmares. As Astrid comments, "That thing followed him home from the hospital? Now, I'm not going to sleep for a week."
Just watched, one episode that basically combined the O'Henry short story the Ransom of Red Chief with the Twilight Zone episode about the psychotic kid with something out of either Fire Starter or Ender's Game.
But the characters just keep getting more interesting as does the twisty back-story connecting them. It's admittedly a bit over-the-top and cliche in places. Olivia Dunham was experimented on by William Bell and Walter as a child, enabling her to travel between dimensions. Also, an ability for facial recognition and pattern recognition that defies description. She's a smart character and well performed by Anna Torv. Walter is a scientist who did things, he probably shouldn't have. And is the most interesting of the three. Teetering between Shakespearean pathos and humor, Noble does a tightrope act as the character that is a joy to watch. Unfortunately, the writers' seem to realize he's the strongest and most interesting bit, and rely far too much on it. Peter Bishop...is supposed to be an edgy dangerous rogue, but Jackson plays him a bit too sympathetic, I never quite buy that he was a con man or a rogue, nor to be fair does the writing truly emphasize it. To date Peter is the weakest link in the trio. Astrid is sort of growing on me, in Ransom of Red Cheif, she was wearing an aluminium hat along with Walter in the belly of Massive Dynamic. Olivia thinks they are trying to avoid mind control. No, they tell her, they are worried about Massive Dynamic downloading their thoughts - better to be safe than sorry.
If Chris Carter loved the evil government conspiracy, JJ Abrhams likes the evil corporate conspiracy (which while more realistic, is also sketchy...since that would require a lot more cooperation than human beings at that level of power are capable of. People who have a lot of power, don't tend to be very good collaborators or listeners. Ego and hubris often jumps in the way. )
Sort of like the weird interdimensional threat - of two worlds on a collision course, one remaining at the end - that's actually new. Too many of these shows copy each other. This one at least seems to be a little innovative about its approach. And the scientific plot arc makes a lot more sense than Lost's and is a lot less...sentimental. I wouldn't say Fringe is better written than Lost - it's not, really. But the science is more interesting as is the plot, which is a lot tighter. Lost - the characters were a bit more interesting and complicated as well as numerous.
There's no John Lock or Ben here. But we also don't have to suffer a Jack or Kate.
It's also a lot creepier than Lost due to that Twilight Zone vibe. Apparently Abrhams is a Twilight Zone fanatic.
Eight - Nine episodes in? I'd say it's better than S1, but still not quite there...a good show, but uneven, with far too much reliance on the metaphor monster of the week.
Just watched, one episode that basically combined the O'Henry short story the Ransom of Red Chief with the Twilight Zone episode about the psychotic kid with something out of either Fire Starter or Ender's Game.
But the characters just keep getting more interesting as does the twisty back-story connecting them. It's admittedly a bit over-the-top and cliche in places. Olivia Dunham was experimented on by William Bell and Walter as a child, enabling her to travel between dimensions. Also, an ability for facial recognition and pattern recognition that defies description. She's a smart character and well performed by Anna Torv. Walter is a scientist who did things, he probably shouldn't have. And is the most interesting of the three. Teetering between Shakespearean pathos and humor, Noble does a tightrope act as the character that is a joy to watch. Unfortunately, the writers' seem to realize he's the strongest and most interesting bit, and rely far too much on it. Peter Bishop...is supposed to be an edgy dangerous rogue, but Jackson plays him a bit too sympathetic, I never quite buy that he was a con man or a rogue, nor to be fair does the writing truly emphasize it. To date Peter is the weakest link in the trio. Astrid is sort of growing on me, in Ransom of Red Cheif, she was wearing an aluminium hat along with Walter in the belly of Massive Dynamic. Olivia thinks they are trying to avoid mind control. No, they tell her, they are worried about Massive Dynamic downloading their thoughts - better to be safe than sorry.
If Chris Carter loved the evil government conspiracy, JJ Abrhams likes the evil corporate conspiracy (which while more realistic, is also sketchy...since that would require a lot more cooperation than human beings at that level of power are capable of. People who have a lot of power, don't tend to be very good collaborators or listeners. Ego and hubris often jumps in the way. )
Sort of like the weird interdimensional threat - of two worlds on a collision course, one remaining at the end - that's actually new. Too many of these shows copy each other. This one at least seems to be a little innovative about its approach. And the scientific plot arc makes a lot more sense than Lost's and is a lot less...sentimental. I wouldn't say Fringe is better written than Lost - it's not, really. But the science is more interesting as is the plot, which is a lot tighter. Lost - the characters were a bit more interesting and complicated as well as numerous.
There's no John Lock or Ben here. But we also don't have to suffer a Jack or Kate.
It's also a lot creepier than Lost due to that Twilight Zone vibe. Apparently Abrhams is a Twilight Zone fanatic.
Eight - Nine episodes in? I'd say it's better than S1, but still not quite there...a good show, but uneven, with far too much reliance on the metaphor monster of the week.