Fringe: Season 4 Premiere

When Fringe first aired, it was promoted by its creator J.J. Abrams as continuing on in the legacy of his other television hit: Lost.  Instead of continuing that legacy Fringe quickly embarked on creating its own genre, voice, and identity. A science fiction show teetering on the edge of science, Fringe began its life as a typical monster of the week show. The formula fell flat and was replaced with an ever complex mythology surrounding the consequences of Dr. Walter Bishop’s (the brilliant John Noble) decision to create a portal between worlds to save his “over there” dying son Peter (Joshua Jackson) and make up for his inability to save his “over here” son. Each week the Fringe Division led by Olivia Dunham (Ana Torv) tackles seemingly unrelated cases that all eventually lead back to an inflection point – Walter fracturing space time – to save his son.

Unlike other science fiction shows that often delve into the fantastic, Fringe always totes the line between believability and imagination. Inexplicable events – such as a shape shifting killers – were explained in a way to make it believable. Unlike the X-Files you don’t want to believe when you watch Fringe… you do believe.

As mentioned, all the events in Fringe lead back to Walter’s decision to save Peter, who was taken from over there” to “over here” by Walter. Peter has been integral in helping solve a number of cases, enriching the lives of Olivia and Walter, and also saving the world from cracking apart by forcing enemies from each side to work together towards a solution.

So, when Peter’s existence was erased at the conclusion of Season 3, the universe of Fringe changed dramatically. The decision to erase Peter was shocking, but as Fringe killed Olivia’s fiancée early in season one, allowed the “over there” Special Agent Philip Broyles (Lance Reddick) to sacrifice himself to save Olivia when she was trapped in the alternate universe, and even allowed Dr. William Bell (Lenoard Nimoy) to return as an animated character, the move was not all that shocking after all.

So, how does a show pick up after erasing a central character in a way that entices new viewers, appeals to current fans, and demonstrates it has not forgotten its roots?

1. Start by revisiting said roots.

Season 4 of Fringe is akin to a friend that undergoes a makeover. You know the person is your friend, but until that friend provides you a clue, doubt lingers. The history of Fringe is now different. To remind fans that the history of Fringe remains similar, the case in the season 4 premiere was alike to the case Fringe Division tackled in the series premiere: a translucent killer(s) is running wild and committing an ever increasing number of murders. The case gave Olivia the opportunity to meet (again, but for the first time in this universe) Agent Lincoln Lee (Seth Gabel) after his partner is a victim of the clear killer and share that her fiancée was in fact still murdered in the same way fans experienced in the series premiere. After determining the identity of the killers and learning their motivations, Olivia realizes that a new breed of shape shifters has appeared, supplanting those that filled the prior Fringe universe and casting doubt about the motives of their partners in the alternate universe as the alternate Walter Bishop – known as Walternate – was responsible for the last batch of shape shifters. The case provides a view into the characters as they would have been without Peter, all while showing that Peter’s specter (literally) remains with them.

2. Show repercussions.

Erasing a character from existence is an extreme measure to take and therefore such a departure should have vast – even if yet unexplained – consequences. Dr. Walter Bishop, responsible for saving the world and resolving so many previous cases for the FringeDivision is a poorly adjusted man even after leaving the mental hospital many years before. He cannot leave his lab – literally living in an annex – while visions of his non-existent son haunt him. A sad Dr. Bishop may struggle to save the world when he is needed most. Olivia, a character closed off during most of the first three seasons of Fringe only just learned to open up due to her relationship with Peter. But no Peter means a closed off, untrusting Olivia. And Agent Lincoln Lee – essential to the “over there” Fringe Division has never met Olivia on either side, requiring the rebuilding of trust that so readily existed. In order to solve cases and save the world, these characters will need the attributes they gained by knowing Peter. Attributes they now lack.

3. Make it self-contained.

One challenge genre shows experience is capturing a new audience. So, while the Season 4 premiere was chock full of Fringe canon, such as the Watchers working to eliminate any lingering trace of Peter, the erasure of Peter’s son with the alternate Olivia, and the addition of Lincoln Lee to Fringe Division, it also offered the case of the week. Casual viewers got to watch a procedural as an FBI team tracked down a translucent serial killer by learning most attacks took place at commuter train stations, determining the killer’s motivation, and perhaps were intrigued that someone might be behind their shape shifting ways – and that someone might actually be the other Walter.

Overall, the season 4 premier of Fringe satisfied fan demand for repercussions while establishing a new paradigm for the show and preparing fans for a fun-filled season long ride.