Common Sense Media Review
Moody conspiracy drama is creepy, complex, and masterful.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
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Fringe
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 9 parent reviews
Based on 21 kid reviews
Kids say the show has a captivating plot that blends action, science fiction, and some romance, although its graphic content—including significant violence and some adult themes—makes it more suitable for teens rather than younger children. While the initial season is considered slow, the series improves significantly with more engaging storylines and character development, drawing comparisons to other works by its creator, but caution is advised for sensitive viewers due to the intense gore and psychological elements presented.
- engaging plot
- character development
- graphic content
- suitable for teens
- comparisons to other shows
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
FBI agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) and the FRINGE team started off investigating a dark, international conspiracy that featured an enormously powerful technology corporation, a long-running dispute over secret paranormal research, and an honest-to-goodness mad scientist, Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble). As they dug deeper, Bishop's craziest ideas turned out be true, revealing that the plot stretched all the way into a parallel universe. The resolution of that plot has long-lasting impact on all of the characters. Also along for the ride is Dr. Bishop's son, Peter (Joshua Jackson), who's equal parts genius and rogue and has some major secrets of his own.
Is It Any Good?
J.J. Abrams excels at delivering this kind of taut, complex drama, filled with conspiracies, secret projects, and hard-to-believe scientific discoveries. The man behind Alias and Lost manages to please fans of smart sci-fi shows with Fringe, another engrossing, thrilling drama. Mad scientist Walter is an especially appealing character, the likes of which haven't been seen on television before -- he's happy to combine LSD visions, playful banter about dinosaurs, and impossibly complex theories about parallel universes.
The series' one notable flaw is really the same issue with Abrams' past hits. Fans are happy to ride along to see where he's going, but as the story has evolved, it's also become increasingly difficult to for new fans to jump aboard. Fringe is a complex and entertaining series, but there's a lot that won't make sense to people who haven't done their homework.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the appeal of shows like this one. Are theories like the ones explored here realistic? Does that matter? Is it fun to watch a show like this one precisely because it's unrealistic? Why do you think so many movies and TV shows focus on massive conspiracy theories?
Talk about the drug use in this show. Is it presented in a positive or negative light? Teens: What's your reaction to the use of drugs in the show? Do you feel any differently about drug use after watching?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 9, 2008
- Cast : Anna Torv , John Noble , Jonathan Jackson
- Network : Fox
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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