One of the best sci-fi series of the late 2000s was quietly added to Hulu in December, and it’s perfect for fans who enjoy their TV with a heavy dose of mythology as seen in shows like Lost and The X-Files. Premiering back in 2008, this action-packed series was called a true spiritual successor to The X-Files when it first hit the airwaves, and was later compared to Lost for the way it weaved deep, mythological elements throughout its episodes. Considering J.J. Abrams had a hand in creating both shows, that doesn’t really come as much of a surprise.
Titled Fringe, the mind-bending sci-fi series stars the likes of Joshua Jackson, Anna Torv, and John Noble. Together, the three investigate a series of strange crimes and unexplained events which all have deeper ties to a shady biotech company and a parallel universe. Combining ambitious world-building with emotional storytelling and hard sci-fi, Fringe is a thinking person’s show that you really have to pay attention to if you want to know what’s going on, otherwise you might miss all the little things that make it such a great series. The official synopsis reads:
“FBI Special Agent Olivia Dunham (Torv) is assigned to the bureau’s Fringe Division, in which she investigates unusual crimes and occurrences. Assisting Olivia in her investigations are once-institutionalized scientist Dr. Walter Bishop (Noble), his jack-of-all-trades son, Peter (Jackson), and FBI Junior Agent Astrid Farnsworth (Jasika Nicole). As the team investigates cases of science gone awry, they discover connections to their own past and to a parallel universe. As the team solves cases in these interconnected worlds, new discoveries and complications continue to arise.”
‘Fringe’ Got the Ending That ‘Lost’ Never Did
Lasting for five seasons, perhaps the best part about Fringe is that it was actually allowed to reach a satisfying conclusion. Unlike Lost before it, the majority of fans got an ending they deserved that paid off much of the long-term storytelling that was built throughout the show. As such, many felt that Abrams and company managed to stick the landing this time, and tie everything together in a neat bow rather than leave audiences scratching their heads over an ambiguous finale.
Boasting a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Fringe has been called by critics everything from a series that’s “action-packed, suspenseful, and filled with intriguing twists,” to a show that’s “a stylish journey into fringe science with X-Files trippiness but decidedly earthbound conspiratorial overtones.” Fans hold the show in high regard as well, even now, more than 10 years after it went off the air. As one person on Rotten Tomatoes put it:
“I’m watching this in 2025, and I’m baffled by how good it is. I can’t explain how it was possible to overlook it for so many years. It seems to be underrated and lacking the promotion. The only reason I don’t give it a perfect score is the slower start. Season 1 takes about 3 episodes to really kick things off, but once it does, you’ll be hooked and falling in love with every aspect of it. Don’t overlook this one like I did!!”
If Fringe has flown under your radar for years, or perhaps you just want to relive all the fun of this mind-bending sci-fi series, all five seasons are streaming now on Hulu.
